Nick Martel

and all-star voice actor and pronouncer James Earl Jones.

and all-star voice actor and pronouncer James Earl Jones.

and all-star voice actor and pronouncer James Earl Jones.

The show also gets more diverse in later seasons. Ironically, after Mississippi banned them for too much diversity, Hispanic groups protest over the show's lack of Latino representation. So in season three, Sesame Street adds actors Emilio Delgado and Sonia Manzano to play Luis and Maria, the pair that run Sesame Street's fix-it shop.

The show also gets more diverse in later seasons. Ironically, after Mississippi banned them for too much diversity, Hispanic groups protest over the show's lack of Latino representation. So in season three, Sesame Street adds actors Emilio Delgado and Sonia Manzano to play Luis and Maria, the pair that run Sesame Street's fix-it shop.

The show also gets more diverse in later seasons. Ironically, after Mississippi banned them for too much diversity, Hispanic groups protest over the show's lack of Latino representation. So in season three, Sesame Street adds actors Emilio Delgado and Sonia Manzano to play Luis and Maria, the pair that run Sesame Street's fix-it shop.

And in the coming years, they'll add a cast member who is deaf, Asian cast members, a Native American singer-songwriter, and a little boy with Down syndrome who changes people's assumptions about kids with learning differences. Of all the boundary-pushing shows on TV, it's the one for little kids, Sesame Street, that is breaking the most barriers.

And in the coming years, they'll add a cast member who is deaf, Asian cast members, a Native American singer-songwriter, and a little boy with Down syndrome who changes people's assumptions about kids with learning differences. Of all the boundary-pushing shows on TV, it's the one for little kids, Sesame Street, that is breaking the most barriers.

And in the coming years, they'll add a cast member who is deaf, Asian cast members, a Native American singer-songwriter, and a little boy with Down syndrome who changes people's assumptions about kids with learning differences. Of all the boundary-pushing shows on TV, it's the one for little kids, Sesame Street, that is breaking the most barriers.

And being able to talk about hard things and deal with tough emotions, it's baked into Sesame Street's curriculum. But in 1982, something happens that's going to force Team Sesame to deal with hard things, whether they like it or not. It's quiet on set. The giddy, chaotic energy of a typical Sesame Street production, it feels muted.

And being able to talk about hard things and deal with tough emotions, it's baked into Sesame Street's curriculum. But in 1982, something happens that's going to force Team Sesame to deal with hard things, whether they like it or not. It's quiet on set. The giddy, chaotic energy of a typical Sesame Street production, it feels muted.

And being able to talk about hard things and deal with tough emotions, it's baked into Sesame Street's curriculum. But in 1982, something happens that's going to force Team Sesame to deal with hard things, whether they like it or not. It's quiet on set. The giddy, chaotic energy of a typical Sesame Street production, it feels muted.

The day's filming is almost over, but the cast has one last scene to shoot. Inside Big Bird's suit, Carol Spinney gets ready for his big moment. Not with gleeful anticipation, but with sadness. The human actors take their places. They have an important task in front of them. They have to explain to Big Bird where Mr. Hooper's gone.

The day's filming is almost over, but the cast has one last scene to shoot. Inside Big Bird's suit, Carol Spinney gets ready for his big moment. Not with gleeful anticipation, but with sadness. The human actors take their places. They have an important task in front of them. They have to explain to Big Bird where Mr. Hooper's gone.

The day's filming is almost over, but the cast has one last scene to shoot. Inside Big Bird's suit, Carol Spinney gets ready for his big moment. Not with gleeful anticipation, but with sadness. The human actors take their places. They have an important task in front of them. They have to explain to Big Bird where Mr. Hooper's gone.

The beloved actor, Will Lee, the guy who played the shopkeeper, Mr. Hooper, he passed away in December of 1982. So Sesame Street has a big decision to make. What to do about Will Lee's passing. They could write his character off the show. Mr. Hooper's in his 70s after all. It's easy to imagine him retiring to the Florida Keys.

The beloved actor, Will Lee, the guy who played the shopkeeper, Mr. Hooper, he passed away in December of 1982. So Sesame Street has a big decision to make. What to do about Will Lee's passing. They could write his character off the show. Mr. Hooper's in his 70s after all. It's easy to imagine him retiring to the Florida Keys.

The beloved actor, Will Lee, the guy who played the shopkeeper, Mr. Hooper, he passed away in December of 1982. So Sesame Street has a big decision to make. What to do about Will Lee's passing. They could write his character off the show. Mr. Hooper's in his 70s after all. It's easy to imagine him retiring to the Florida Keys.

They also could pull a Dumbledore, Jack, and replace the deceased actor. But something about a casting swap feels wrong. The show exists to teach kids, right? Maybe this moment of human sadness, something every human will go through, is actually the exact topic Sesame Street should take head on. The more Joan and her team think about it, the more right it seems. Let's just tell the kids the truth.

They also could pull a Dumbledore, Jack, and replace the deceased actor. But something about a casting swap feels wrong. The show exists to teach kids, right? Maybe this moment of human sadness, something every human will go through, is actually the exact topic Sesame Street should take head on. The more Joan and her team think about it, the more right it seems. Let's just tell the kids the truth.