If you're anything like this writer, you were shocked and appalled to hear that the beloved Sesame Street might be canceled at HBO. As one of the longest-running series that's essentially been a part of all our lives, the thought of a world without Elmo, Big Bird, or Grover is truly a scary notion.
The reality of the matter is that Warner Bros. and HBO have made the decision not to renew the series for new episodes. This doesn't mean that it's going away, but it does mean the show needs a new home to continue. As HBO/WB pursue more adult entertainment options, there might be a prospective buyer at the House of Mouse.
Selling Sesame Street?
The idea of the beloved series from Children's Television Workshop is absolutely jarring, but there might be hope yet. As things begin to change at 123 Sesame Street, it might be time for someone else to take the wheel before Elmo and his friends wind up on some less-friendlier streets.
A recent report from Variety shares the following situation.
"'Sesame Street' is hitting the market, as Warner Bros. Discovery has opted not to renew its deal for new episodes of the long-running children’s program.
"Max will continue to license episodes from the 'Sesame Street' library through 2027, but the upcoming 55th season of the show will be the last to debut on the streamer. It was previously announced that the 56th season, expected sometime in 2025, would be 'reimagined' with more of a narrative focus."
In this writer's opinion, there will never be a world without the beloved show, but the creatives and puppeteers behind our favorite characters of fur and felt might need to take a brief intermission. That said, there's one buyer who might jump at the chance to welcome them tothe happiest streaming service on earth.
It's no secret that Disney has a certain appetite for intellectual properties, and Sesame Street just might be the next acquisition on the menu. Given the history Disney has had with the Muppets, it seems only natural that their colorful counterparts make the transition as well.
Disney has owned the Muppets for 20 years, and the studio played no small part in making Kermit and his friends into household names. While the mouse doesn't have a claim to projects like Fraggle Rock or Sesame Street (yet), it feels like this would be a natural step.
Since Disney helped the Muppets achieve more acclaim through various TV shows, specials, and even Disney World attractions, imagine what they could do with Sesame Street under the mouse-eared banner. Not only would it revitalize the series, but it would also make it much more accessible to a wider range of families through Disney+.
For all the readers out there clutching their pearls at the idea of Disney meddling with something as iconic as Sesame Street, keep in mind that the House of Mouse would (in theory) be acting in more of a distributor role. Similar to how Disney+ keeps us up to our ears in Bluey episodes, the same fate could be in store for Big Bird and company.
The ax hasn't fallen yet, but that doesn't mean viewers aren't upset by the news. Honestly, it's pretty taboo to even want to see Sesame Street canceled, especially after the tremendous amount of good it has done for viewers of all ages over the years. Elmo and all his friends might be on thin ice for now, but it's only a matter of time before someone swoops in and brings them home.
Viewers can still enjoy the backlog of Sesame Street's episodes on HBO Max.