Nick Martel
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
And so do public figures like Jesse Jackson, Orson Welles, even the president of the United States at the time, Richard Nixon. Although that won't stop that president from later trying to cut Sesame Street's federal funding, but that's a story for another pot. The show is also producing at a pace that would make Dora the Explorer blush. Sesame Street is producing 130 episodes every 26-week season.
And so do public figures like Jesse Jackson, Orson Welles, even the president of the United States at the time, Richard Nixon. Although that won't stop that president from later trying to cut Sesame Street's federal funding, but that's a story for another pot. The show is also producing at a pace that would make Dora the Explorer blush. Sesame Street is producing 130 episodes every 26-week season.
Sometimes they're doing five episodes a day. And it's not just the quantity. We got to talk about the money, Jack, because at this point in 1970, they're spending about $28,000 per episode. That's over $225,000 in today's money. And it's a lot compared to your average episode of Captain Kangaroo. Yeah, it's like Disney Channel money. But... What's the payoff for that investment?
Sometimes they're doing five episodes a day. And it's not just the quantity. We got to talk about the money, Jack, because at this point in 1970, they're spending about $28,000 per episode. That's over $225,000 in today's money. And it's a lot compared to your average episode of Captain Kangaroo. Yeah, it's like Disney Channel money. But... What's the payoff for that investment?
Sometimes they're doing five episodes a day. And it's not just the quantity. We got to talk about the money, Jack, because at this point in 1970, they're spending about $28,000 per episode. That's over $225,000 in today's money. And it's a lot compared to your average episode of Captain Kangaroo. Yeah, it's like Disney Channel money. But... What's the payoff for that investment?
Well, they're also reaching an estimated 7 million children five days a week, year round, including reruns. I mean, Jack, that works out to about one penny per child. And that is a massive bargain. Joan Cooney and Lloyd Morissette are giddy with excitement. This is everything they dreamed of and more. But that dream is about to get interrupted because Sesame Street is about to get banned.
Well, they're also reaching an estimated 7 million children five days a week, year round, including reruns. I mean, Jack, that works out to about one penny per child. And that is a massive bargain. Joan Cooney and Lloyd Morissette are giddy with excitement. This is everything they dreamed of and more. But that dream is about to get interrupted because Sesame Street is about to get banned.
Well, they're also reaching an estimated 7 million children five days a week, year round, including reruns. I mean, Jack, that works out to about one penny per child. And that is a massive bargain. Joan Cooney and Lloyd Morissette are giddy with excitement. This is everything they dreamed of and more. But that dream is about to get interrupted because Sesame Street is about to get banned.
Now, Jack, we said that Sesame Street's learning goals aren't just about letters and numbers, right? They're also about social skills, acceptance, being a good person, and how your friends don't have to look like you or have the same color skin. Well, the state of Mississippi, Jim Henson's birthplace, they ain't happy about that in the year 1970.
Now, Jack, we said that Sesame Street's learning goals aren't just about letters and numbers, right? They're also about social skills, acceptance, being a good person, and how your friends don't have to look like you or have the same color skin. Well, the state of Mississippi, Jim Henson's birthplace, they ain't happy about that in the year 1970.
Now, Jack, we said that Sesame Street's learning goals aren't just about letters and numbers, right? They're also about social skills, acceptance, being a good person, and how your friends don't have to look like you or have the same color skin. Well, the state of Mississippi, Jim Henson's birthplace, they ain't happy about that in the year 1970.
So six months into Sesame Street's run, the Mississippi State Commission for Educational Television bailed Joan Cooney is devastated. She calls it a tragedy, both for the white children and the black children of Mississippi. But then, Joan's assistant gives her an update that lifts her spirit back up. Mississippi residents speak up about this.
So six months into Sesame Street's run, the Mississippi State Commission for Educational Television bailed Joan Cooney is devastated. She calls it a tragedy, both for the white children and the black children of Mississippi. But then, Joan's assistant gives her an update that lifts her spirit back up. Mississippi residents speak up about this.
So six months into Sesame Street's run, the Mississippi State Commission for Educational Television bailed Joan Cooney is devastated. She calls it a tragedy, both for the white children and the black children of Mississippi. But then, Joan's assistant gives her an update that lifts her spirit back up. Mississippi residents speak up about this.
Just like the letters of praise that flowed into that Boston TV station, suddenly, letters of protest start flooding the Mississippi Education Board. The commission members get so embarrassed, they actually reverse their decision after just 22 days. And a few months later, the Sesame Street cast visits Mississippi's capital to do some outreach. But Sesame Street's outreach doesn't stop there.
Just like the letters of praise that flowed into that Boston TV station, suddenly, letters of protest start flooding the Mississippi Education Board. The commission members get so embarrassed, they actually reverse their decision after just 22 days. And a few months later, the Sesame Street cast visits Mississippi's capital to do some outreach. But Sesame Street's outreach doesn't stop there.
Just like the letters of praise that flowed into that Boston TV station, suddenly, letters of protest start flooding the Mississippi Education Board. The commission members get so embarrassed, they actually reverse their decision after just 22 days. And a few months later, the Sesame Street cast visits Mississippi's capital to do some outreach. But Sesame Street's outreach doesn't stop there.