"Sesame Street" wins 4 Children’s & Family Emmy Awards!

The 4th annual Children and Family Emmy Awards were held Monday night with Sesame Street fittingly taking home 4 awards. 

For the first time, the ceremony was held in New York City at Jazz at Lincoln Center. John Tartaglia of Sesame Street, Johnny and Sprites, and Fraggle Rock fame hosted the show while Sesame performers Frankie Cordero, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, and Jen Barnhart presented. 

Sesame Street won:

Outstanding Preschool, Children’s or Family Viewing Series

Outstanding Short Form Live Action Program: Andrew Garfield and Elmo Explain Grief, Sesame Workshop YouTube Channel

Outstanding Directing for a Live Action Series: “A Trip to the Moon"

Outstanding Puppetry Performer: Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Abby Cadabby & Tango

In addition to these awards, a few long-time Henson-related contributors to family entertainment were inducted into the Academy’s Gold and Silver Circles.

Michael K. Frith was honored into the Gold Circle, while Alan Muroka and Rosemarie Truglio (Senior Vice President of Global Education at Sesame Workshop) were inducted into the Silver Circle. 

You can watch the entire ceremony here. 

Sesame and Henson Nominated for Children’s & Family Emmys!

The nominees for this year's Children’s & Family Emmy awards have been announced and Sesame Street is up for several awards including Outstanding Preschool, Children’s or Family Viewing Series as well as the Jim Henson Company up for Outstanding Preschool, Children’s or Family Viewing Series and Outstanding Fiction Special.

Below are the categories Sesame Street and the Jim Henson Company are nominated in:

Outstanding Preschool, Children’s or Family Viewing Series

Jane
Apple TV+ (Sinking Ship Entertainment)

Kids Baking Championship
Food Network (Sonic Dog)

Ms. Rachel
Ms. Rachel – Toddler Learning Videos YouTube Channel (Songs For Littles, LLC/Lifeboat Productions)

Odd Squad
PBS Kids (Sinking Ship Entertainment/BBC Studios/Fred Rogers Productions)

Sesame Street
HBO Max (Sesame Workshop)

Outstanding Fiction Special
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip
Disney+

Descendants: The Rise of Red
Disney+ (Disney Branded Television)

Girl Haunts Boy
Fifth Season (Wonder Worldwide)

Henry Danger: The Movie
Nickelodeon


Outstanding Short Form Live Action Program

Andrew Garfield and Elmo Explain Grief
Sesame Workshop YouTube Channel

Girls’ Voices Now
Here TV

My Way
PBS Kids (Fred Rogers Productions)

Together We Can
PBS Kids (Sesame Workshop)


Outstanding Puppetry Performer

Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Abby Cadabby & Tango
Sesame Street
HBO Max (Sesame Workshop)

Frankie Cordero as Purple Panda, Turtle-Lou & Penguin Referee
Donkey Hodie
PBS Kids (Fred Rogers Productions/Spiffy Pictures)

Stephanie D’Abruzzo as Duck Duck, Harriett Elizabeth Cow, Mama Panda & Doc Skunk
Donkey Hodie
PBS Kids (Fred Rogers Productions/Spiffy Pictures)

Ryan Dillon as Elmo & Felix
Sesame Street
HBO Max (Sesame Workshop)

Carmen Osbahr as Rosita
Sesame Street
HBO Max (Sesame Workshop)

Outstanding Children’s Personality

Tabitha Brown
Tab Time
Tab Time YouTube Channel (Kids At Play)

Yvette Nicole Brown
Cookie Monster’s Bake Sale: Block Party
HBO Max (Sesame Workshop/RIVR)

Perdita Felicien
All-Round Champion
BYUtv (Blue Ant Studios)

Alia Pope
Chip Kids
East Tennessee PBS YouTube Channel (East Tennessee PBS)

June Squibb
Storyline Online
Storyline Online YouTube Channel (The Story Garage)

Outstanding Directing for a Live Action Series

The Chamber
Malory Towers
BYUtv (King Bert Productions)

Journey
Heartstopper
Netflix (See-Saw Films)

Kevin Haddock
Time Bandits
Apple TV+ (Paramount Television Studios/Anonymous Content/MRC Productions)

Love in the Forest
A Real Bug’s Life
National Geographic (Plimsoll Productions)

Stay Out of the Basement, Part I
Goosebumps: The Vanishing
Disney+ (Sony Pictures Television)

This Could Be a Real Adventure
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Disney+ (Lucasfilm Ltd.)

A Trip to the Moon
Sesame Street
HBO Max (Sesame Workshop)

Outstanding Cinematography and Technical Arts for a Multiple Camera Live Action Program

Happy Trails
Bunk’d: Learning the Ropes
Disney+ I Disney Channel

Nigh is Now
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
Disney+/Disney Channel (Entertainment Force/Potato Monkey Productions)

A Trip to the Moon
Sesame Street
HBO Max (Sesame Workshop)

Outstanding Editing for a Preschool or Children’s Live Action Program

Abby Taps into Kindness
Sesame Street
HBO Max (Sesame Workshop)

Love in the Forest
A Real Bug’s Life
National Geographic (Plimsoll Productions)

Pan troglodytes
Jane
Apple TV+ (Sinking Ship Entertainment)

People We Care About
Secrets at Red Rocks
BYUtv (Libertine Pictures)

The Primrose Railway Children
BYUtv (BBC Studios)


Outstanding Original Song for a Preschool Program

“Grow Your World”
Rise Up, Sing Out
Disney+/Disney Jr.

“I’m on My Way”
Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band
PBS Kids (GBH Kids/Global Mechanic)

“I Want to Go Home”
Kindergarten: The Musical!
Disney+ I Disney Jr. (Oddbot Inc)

“Music, Music”
Sesame Street
HBO Max (Sesame Workshop)

“One Colorful Ocean”
Disney Jr.’s Ariel
Disney+ I Disney Jr. (Wild Canary)

“The Show Will Go On”
RoboGobo
Disney+/Disney Jr. (Brown Bag Films)

You can view the entire list of nominees here.

Winners will be announced during the 2025 Children’s & Family Emmy ceremony March 1 and 2, which will be held in New York City for the first time, at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall. 

Winners in the Juried Individual Achievement in Animation categories will be announced early next year, as will the Lifetime Achievement honoree and ceremony host and presenters.

Henson Related Shows Nominated for Multiple Children’s & Family Emmys!

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for this year’s 2nd Annual Children’s & Family Emmys.

While no date or place has been set, last year winners were announced during two ceremonies—one focused on creative and technical arts, and the other to performances and programming on December 10 and 11.

Also of note, earlier this year the Academy created two new Emmy categories - puppetry performance and puppet design/styling and a public service initiative Emmy for campaigns that include both an on-air and off-air component.

Below are all the 2023 Henson- related nominees for Children’s & Family Emmys:

PRESCHOOL SERIES
Helpsters (Apple TV+)
Sesame Street (HBO Max)

Sumberkins (Apple TV+)

CHILDREN’S OR FAMILY VIEWING SERIES
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)

FICTION SPECIAL
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock – Night of the Lights (Apple TV+)


SHORT FORM PROGRAM
Sesame Street: Wes’ First Barbershop Haircut (YouTube)
Sesame Street’s #ComingTogether Word of the Day Series (YouTube)


PUPPETRY PERFORMANCE
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Abby & Tango, “Sesame Street” (HBO Max)
Frankie Cordero as Purple Panda, Penguin Referee & Gregory, “Donkey Hodie” (PBS Kids)*
Ryan Dillon as Elmo, “Sesame Street” (HBO Max)
Haley Jenkins as Donkey Hodie, “Donkey Hodie” (PBS Kids)*
Eric Jacobson as Bert, Oscar & Grover, “Sesame Street” (HBO Max)
Eric Jacobson as Animal/Baby Animal, “The Muppets Mayhem” (Disney+)

*Not nominated for a Henson-related show but is former or current Henson performer.

NOTE: Eric Jacobson is competing against himself in this category for his work on both Sesame Street and The Muppets Mayhem.

WRITING FOR A PRESCHOOL OR CHILDREN’S LIVE ACTION PROGRAM
Helpsters (Apple TV+)

Sesame Street (HBO Max)

DIRECTING FOR A SINGLE CAMERA PROGRAM
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)


DIRECTING FOR A MULTIPLE CAMERA PROGRAM
Sesame Street (HBO Max)

ORIGINAL SONG FOR A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
“Community is Everything,” Sesame Street (HBO Max)


EDITING FOR A SINGLE CAMERA LIVE ACTION PROGRAM
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)


EDITING FOR A MULTIPLE CAMERA LIVE ACTION PROGRAM
Sesame Street (HBO Max)


SOUND MIXING AND SOUND EDITING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM
Sesame Street: The Nutcracker, Starring Elmo and Tango (HBO Max)


CASTING FOR A LIVE ACTION PROGRAM
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)


PUPPET DESIGN AND STYLING
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock – Night of the Lights (Apple TV+)
Helpsters (Apple TV+)
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)
Sesame Street (HBO Max

This is the big one, every nominee in this category but one is a Henson-related show.

Below are the total Emmy nominations for each series:

Sesame Street:12
The Muppets Mayhem: 6
Helpsters: 3
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock: 2

Slumberkins: 1

Last year Muppet Babies won for Outstanding writing for Preschool Animated Program, Muppets Haunted Mansion tied with Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock for Outstanding Art Direction/ Set Decoration/Scenic Design, and Sesame Street won for Outstanding Song and Preschool series.

Congrats to all the talented people behind the these shows and good luck on Emmy night. 

Henson Shows Win Children and Family Emmys!

The inaugural Children’s & Family Emmys were held over two night over the weekend.

JoJo Siwa hosted the Creative Arts ceremony on Night 1 and Jack McBrayer hosted Night 2 with the remainder the categories.

And the winners were:

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM:

Muppet Babies (Disney Junior)
Writers: Max Beaudry, Hanah Lee Cook, Sarah Eisenberg, Ghia Godfree, Francisco Paredes, Becky Wangberg
Story Editor: Robyn Brown

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG:

Sesame Street (HBO Max)

“Friends with a Penguin” 
Composers: Kathryn Raio-Rende, JP Rende
Lyricist: Ken Scarborough

OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION/SET DECORATION/SCENIC DESIGN:

Muppets Haunted Mansion (Disney+)
Production Designer: Darcy Prevost
Art Director: Kathryn Molenaar
Set Decorator: Jeanine Ringer
Virtual Production Art Director: Mark D. Allen
Virtual Production Art Directors, CG Supervisors: James Dastoli, Robert Dastoli

which tied with.....

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (Apple TV+)

Production Designer: Tyler Bishop Harron
Art Directors: Brentan Harron, Bill Ives
Set Designer: Evan Spence
Set Decorators: Paul Healy, Alan McCullagh, Ian Nothnagel

OUTSTANDING PRESCHOOL SERIES:

Sesame Street (HBO Max)
Executive Producers: Benjamin Lehmann, Kay Wilson Stallings
Supervising Producer: Sal Perez
Senior Producers: Karyn Leibovich, Stephanie Longardo
Coordinating Producer: Mindy Fila
Producers: Michael J. Cargill, Todd E. James, Andrew Moriarty, Ken Scarborough, Matt Vogel, Kimberly Wright, Autumn Zitani
Associate Producers: Christina Elefante, Kelly Ferrara, Bryce-Loren Walker
Line Producer: Aimee Blackton

During the ceremonies Sesame Street cast members Alan Muraoka and Martin P. Robinson introduced the “In Memoriam” segment by sharing personal memories of Bob McGrath and Emilio Delgado.

Sesame Street Muppet Performers Frankie Cordero and Haley Jenkins presented with Donkie Hodie characters. 

and Gobo (John Tartaglia) and Red Fraggle (Karen Prell) joined NATAS Chairman Terry O'Reilly then cam back to close the show with Jack McBrayer  to sing "Magic be with you."

Night Two highlights: 

1:10- Gobo & Red

1:37 - In memoriam

2:39 - Gobo & Red return to sing "Magic Be with You"

You can watch both nights of the ceremony at the Emmys.tv.

Many Henson Series Nominated For First Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards!

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for the first annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards and many Henson-related (both directly and indirectly) received nominations. 

The Children’s & Family Emmy Awards are the first standalone expansion of the Emmys competition since 1979. 

And the Henson-related categories are...

OUTSTANDING PRESCHOOL SERIES
Helpsters, Apple TV+
The Not-Too-Late Show Eith Elmo: Game Edition, HBO Max
Sesame Street, HBO Max
Tab Time, YouTube Originals
Waffles + Mochi, Netflixvision Academy.


OUTSTANDING CHILDREN’S OR FAMILY VIEWING SERIES
The Astronauts, Nickelodeon
The Baby-Sitters Club, Netflix
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, Apple TV+
Raising Dion, Netflix
Secrets of Sulphur Springs, Disney Channel


OUTSTANDING FICTION SPECIAL
Better Nate Than Ever, Disney+
Muppets Haunted Mansion, Disney+
See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special, HBO Max
Sneakerella, Disney+
Spin, Disney Channel
Waffles + Mochi’s Holiday Feast, Netflix


OUTSTANDING NON-FICTION PROGRAM
Hi I’m Sevy, Magnolia Network
Kids Baking Championship, Food Network
Nick News, Nickelodeon
Sesame Street in Communities: Talking About Race, YouTube.com
Who Are You, Charlie Brown?, Apple TV+


OUTSTANDING SHORT-FORM PROGRAM
Ciao Alberto, Disney+
Little Bird, Vimeo
Rhymes Through Times, Noggin
Sesame Street in Communities – Explaining Race | #ComingTogether, YouTube.com
We the People, Netflix


OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A LIVE ACTION PRESCHOOL OR CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
The Baby-Sitters Club
See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special
Sesame Street
Waffles + Mochi
Who Are You, Charlie Brown?


OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM
Ada Twist, Scientist
Alma’s Way
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
Molly of Denali
Muppet Babies


OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A MULTIPLE CAMERA PROGRAM
Raven’s Home
The Quest
Sesame Street
Top Chef Family Style
Zero Chill


OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM
Ada Twist, Scientist
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
Go! Go! Cory Carson
Muppet Babies
Stillwater
Storybots: Learn to Read


OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG
“Friends with a Penguin,” Sesame Street
“If You Have a Dream,” Fancy Nancy
“In Your Shoes,” Sneakerella
“It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown
“Kicks,” Sneakerella


OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN FOR A LIVE ACTION PROGRAM
Donkey Hodie
Endlings
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses
High School Musical: The Musical – The Series
Sesame Street


OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A LIVE ACTION SINGLE CAMERA PROGRAM
Better Nate Than Ever
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Sneakerella
Waffles + Mochi


OUTSTANDING EDITING FOR A SINGLE CAMERA PROGRAM
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock
Sneakerella
Sweet Tooth
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Who Are You, Charlie Brown?


OUTSTANDING EDITING FOR A MULTIPLE CAMERA PROGRAM
Making Fun
The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo: Game Edition
Sesame Street
The Quest
Top Chef Family Style


OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A LIVE ACTION PROGRAM
Better Nate Than Ever
Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.
Heartstopper
Muppets Haunted Mansion
Sweet Tooth


OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION/SET DECORATION/SCENIC DESIGN
The Barbarian and the Troll
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock
Muppets Haunted Mansion
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Sneakerella


OUTSTANDING SPECIAL EFFECTS COSTUMES, HAIR AND MAKEUP
Danger Force
Muppets Haunted Mansion
Odd Squad
The Quest
Sweet Tooth


For those keeping score that's Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock - 4
Muppets Haunted Mansion - 4, Muppet Babies - 2, Sesame Street - 6, Sesame Street in Communities: Talking About Race, YouTube.com - 3, See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special- 2. The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo: Game Edition - 2,

Plus non-Henson series Barbarian and the Troll, and Helpsters, which were created and or star Muppet performers. 

Congrats to all the nominees!

The Children’s & Family Emmy Awards will be presented on Saturday, Dec. 10 (Creative Arts) and Sunday, Dec. 11 at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles.