Sesame Street
TV Show • 1969
ReportSynopsis
On a special inner city street, the inhabitants—human and muppet—teach preschoolers basic educational and social concepts using comedy, cartoons, games, and songs.
| Season | |
| Episode |
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Both
Yes
No
Your Triggers
Yes
4
No
41
Needs More Answers
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
2
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Abandonment
Yes
2
No
3
Yes
5
No
38
Yes
5
No
1
Abuse
Yes
4
No
40
Yes
3
No
5
Yes
10
No
8
3
It happens in the video seen here: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/activities/responses-trauma-age-age-video/
2 comments | Add comment
Are there abusive parents?
69 supporters
Yes
4
No
3
0
Feels weird to mark yes on Sesame Street of all things, but a very special skit showcases two parents arguing, with there being an implication that the father hit the mother. It wouldn't be too far out of left field to assume that he may have put his hands on the children or come close to doing so.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
6
Is someone gaslighted?
46 supporters
Yes
9
No
13
7
does the whole "zoe and rocco" thing count?
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
5
Does the abused become the abuser?
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)
36 supporters
Add comment
Yes
4
No
85
Is someone stalked?
29 supporters
Yes
5
No
86
0
no where not
2 comments | Add comment
Addiction
Is there addiction?
33 supporters
Yes
12
No
5
5
Karli's mother is a drug addict. She's getting better but is still in group therapy.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
28
Yes
13
No
6
6
Karli's mother is a drug addict, so Karli was temporarily fostered, but now Karli is back with her mother, who has dropped her drugs but is now in group therapy.
1 comment | Add comment
Animal
Are animals abused?
313 supporters
Yes
4
No
86
-2
You’re one to talk . I’m probably just gonna report your ass to support at this point
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
5
No
43
Yes
20
No
16
6
One episode is about them trying to figure out why Elmo is so sad, and it turns out that it's because Bubbles the fish died.
Another fish dies in a cartoon skit.
Another fish dies in a cartoon skit.
1 comment | Add comment
Does a pet die?
264 supporters
Yes
7
No
9
0
In one episode, Elmo mentions having a fish named Bubbles who died.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
7
Yes
3
No
85
Is there a dead animal?
191 supporters
Yes
11
No
14
3
Elmo's fish is implied to have passed away
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
3
No
24
Is an animal sad?
152 supporters
Yes
8
No
2
1
Also, Baby Bear and Curly Bear are sometimes shown sad.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
4
Are there spiders?
76 supporters
Yes
10
No
7
3
The spider who frightened Miss Muffet away sometimes appears. Ironically, he's afraid of humans.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
32
Are there bugs?
52 supporters
Yes
16
No
7
4
Plenty of bugs, including several Oscar keeps as pets, a song about a fly, and a song about a ladybugs' picnic. The bugs are harmless though.
3 comments | Add comment
Are there snakes?
27 supporters
Yes
8
No
6
1
Sammy the snake. Also a two-headed snake was featured in one segment.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
2
Yes
5
No
1
Assault
Yes
13
No
144
14
People who say yes are just trolling. No rape is shown or mentioned.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
93
Yes
2
No
5
Is rape mentioned?
121 supporters
Yes
1
No
7
0
No, just no, if they ever where to go down the road of consent (idk if they have or not) they woukd handle this VERY gently and would most likey use other less graphic examples such asking permition before hugs, and things like that
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
6
Yes
2
No
87
Yes
2
No
7
Yes
3
No
8
Yes
3
No
1
Is someone beaten up by a bully?
1 supporters
Yes
3
No
2
2
Telly punches a penguin in an imagine spot.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
0
2
Sounds very weird to mark yes but it’s implied in a video covering domestic violence
1 comment | Add comment
Bodily Harm
Yes
3
No
84
Yes
2
No
87
Yes
4
No
84
Is there genital trauma/mutilation?
119 supporters
Yes
3
No
92
5
Well, I sure hope not!
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
85
Is there finger/toe mutilation?
82 supporters
Yes
4
No
14
3
Characters haven't gotten finger or toe injuries worse than a paper cut or a stubbed toe.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
14
Yes
3
No
10
Yes
3
No
87
Yes
1
No
4
Yes
4
No
85
Yes
2
No
3
Is there cannibalism?
57 supporters
Yes
6
No
93
1
He eats anything in regards to food. He doesn't eat other people or muppets
3 comments | Add comment
Is there shaving/cutting?
56 supporters
Yes
5
No
7
2
A few episodes mention haircuts.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
89
Yes
3
No
87
Yes
3
No
73
Does someone struggle to breathe?
45 supporters
Yes
4
No
8
3
One character does say that he can't breathe while being hugged, but he's more joking than anything. Three characters have asthma, but none of them are seen having an attack.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
71
Yes
2
No
87
Does someone break a bone?
42 supporters
Yes
3
No
83
1
Luis breaks his arm once.
1 comment | Add comment
Are any hands damaged?
33 supporters
Yes
4
No
1
2
Big Bird accidentally bites the Count’s finger.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
5
Yes
3
No
10
Yes
2
No
3
Yes
2
No
2
Yes
3
No
3
Yes
3
No
85
Does someone become unconscious?
1 supporters
Yes
7
No
3
3
Gina faints in one episode
2 comments | Add comment
Children
Is a minor sexualized?
139 supporters
Yes
5
No
101
6
Y'all trolls ain't funny.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
4
No
86
Yes
2
No
10
Creepy Crawly
Yes
1
No
3
Death
Does a non-human character die?
55 supporters
Yes
7
No
5
1
Uncle Jack, Mr. M, and Bubbles.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone die?
26 supporters
Yes
8
No
0
3
Uncle Jack, Mr. Hooper, Mr. M, and Bubbles.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
84
Does a major character die?
0 supporters
Yes
7
No
1
3
Mr. Hooper died with his actor. It’s handled with tact and grace, very beautifully.
2 comments | Add comment
Disability
Yes
2
No
89
Is someone disabled played by able-bodied?
33 supporters
Yes
4
No
3
2
Several disabled muppets have able-bodied voice actors.
1 comment | Add comment
Drugs/Alcohol
Yes
2
No
84
Family
Yes
3
No
6
Does a parent die?
41 supporters
Yes
13
No
4
4
Elmo's uncle Jack dies, who was the father of a little girl Jessie, and Jessie is seen grieving.
1 comment | Add comment
Does a family member die?
32 supporters
Yes
5
No
0
3
Elmo’s uncle Jack died
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
87
Yes
3
No
12
Fear
Yes
3
No
10
Yes
1
No
3
Yes
2
No
6
Are there clowns?
17 supporters
Yes
11
No
3
4
One episode actually addresses fear of clowns.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there a shower scene?
15 supporters
Yes
11
No
4
6
A major character bathes a lot but he is a puppet
2 comments | Add comment
Are there ghosts?
8 supporters
Yes
5
No
4
3
In “Elmo Says Boo”.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there mannequins?
8 supporters
Yes
6
No
3
3
There’s a sketch in which Ernie finds a mummy statue that looks like him. It’s pretty creepy.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
1
Yes
3
No
85
Gross
Yes
3
No
11
Yes
3
No
84
Yes
1
No
5
Is someone eaten?
50 supporters
Yes
2
No
4
-1
Cookie Monster has pica.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone wet/soil themselves?
33 supporters
Yes
5
No
9
5
It is talked about in the song "Accidents Happen" in "Elmo's Potty Time" when Elmo and Grover say that it's normal for children just being potty trained to have an "accident". However, nobody actually has one onscreen.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
3
Does someone spit?
20 supporters
Yes
13
No
4
3
Characters sometimes spit after brushing teeth, and Curly Bear (who's about two) spits out her porridge because she hates it.
3 comments | Add comment
Large-scale Violence
Are there 9/11 depictions?
8 supporters
Yes
22
No
3
16
An early 2000s episode where Elmo is traumatized by seeing a fire burn down a building is clearly intended to teach children how to get over the trauma of 9/11-like situations.
1 comment | Add comment
Law Enforcement
Is there copaganda?
51 supporters
Yes
8
No
4
3
Some older episodes to some degree have messages about respecting police officers as neighborhood heroes in the way a lot of children’s media around this time did, although this been REALLY toned down in recent years with even one special counterbalancing this with Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism at least telling children they have the right to protest
1 comment | Add comment
Is there incarceration?
8 supporters
Yes
6
No
0
3
Alex’s dad is in jail.
3 comments | Add comment
LGBTQ+
Yes
1
No
6
Yes
1
No
6
Is there deadnaming or birthnaming?
48 supporters
Yes
2
No
4
0
S27
E58
Episode 3453 has a bit of anti-name change lesson
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
3
Yes
1
No
87
Live Theatre
Is there audience participation?
1 supporters
Yes
3
No
0
0
But in a Dora the Explorer/Blue's Clues type of way that a lot of kids shows used to have.
1 comment | Add comment
Loss
Yes
2
No
4
Medical
Are needles/syringes used?
54 supporters
Yes
10
No
2
4
Characters have gotten shots and blood tests, but the emphasis is on how those are good and there's nothing to be afraid of.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
85
Yes
2
No
11
Is there a hospital scene?
22 supporters
Yes
14
No
3
3
Maria goes to the hospital once to give birth and once because she has a stomachache. Big Bird once goes to the hospital for pneumonia.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
1
No
6
Yes
3
No
11
Mental Health
Does someone die by suicide?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
127 supporters
Add comment
Yes
5
No
86
Does someone attempt suicide?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
122 supporters
Add comment
Yes
3
No
86
Yes
6
No
91
0
yes, infact thats why he was removed, kermit the frog used to interview this pianist named don music, who when trying to whrite hes songs would often bang h8s head on the piano whenever frustrated
1 comment | Add comment
Is there autism specific abuse?
65 supporters
Yes
3
No
12
6
There's only one autistic character, Julia, and while she is a bit stereotypical, no one abuses her for being autistic.
2 comments | Add comment
Does someone have an eating disorder?
52 supporters
Yes
5
No
86
-2
Cookie Monster has pica.
1 comment | Add comment
Is autism misrepresented?
50 supporters
Yes
3
No
9
3
as an autistic person, i think that julia is good autism representation
4 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
4
Is a mentally ill person violent?
46 supporters
Yes
2
No
87
0
Not on the show itself, but Northern Calloway (David) got himself banned from Canada due to his dangerous mental issues.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone say "I'll kill myself"?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
41 supporters
Add comment
Yes
3
No
89
Does someone suffer from PTSD?
39 supporters
Yes
7
No
5
4
Elmo’s friend Zozo is triggered after a bookshelf falls.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
4
Yes
4
No
84
Yes
6
No
91
Yes
4
No
5
Yes
4
No
0
Yes
7
No
2
Is there ABA therapy?
22 supporters
Yes
3
No
4
4
Not in the show itself although unfortunately it had past partnerships with Autistic Speaks which used their branding to promote it. Fortunately they later broke off it but it’s still a stain on their past
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
83
Does someone have a mental illness?
15 supporters
Yes
3
No
1
3
Karli’s mother is addicted to drugs.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone have a meltdown?
12 supporters
Yes
6
No
0
3
S47
E15
Julia has a sensory meltdown due to the sounds of fire trucks
1 comment | Add comment
Noxious
Are there flashing lights or images?
62 supporters
Yes
8
No
1
0
Especially in earlier seasons, some of the animated segments (e.g. the pinball counting song) have flashing lights.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
1
Does a baby cry?
27 supporters
Yes
10
No
0
4
One baby named Rocky cries and then sings a song about why he's crying. The newborn Curly Bear also cries in her debut episode.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
4
No
2
Yes
3
No
1
Yes
2
No
85
Yes
6
No
0
Paranoia
Yes
4
No
1
Is the fourth wall broken?
15 supporters
Yes
14
No
0
3
Characters talk to the viewers a lot.
1 comment | Add comment
Pregnancy
Yes
3
No
88
Yes
4
No
62
Does a pregnant person die?
37 supporters
Yes
2
No
65
3
Three women have gotten pregnant over the course of this series, and all of them survived.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there childbirth?
37 supporters
Yes
13
No
1
5
Maria, Mama Bear, and Eartha the worm have all gone into labour at different episodes, but no inappropriate parts are seen and in Maria and Mama Bear's cases the delivery took place offscreen.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there babies or unborn children?
21 supporters
Yes
13
No
1
5
Many instances. Elmo frequently "asks" babies during Elmo's World (the babies of course always have nothing to say). Natasha and Curly Bear are Muppet babies (not that type lol).
2 comments | Add comment
Are there abortions?
1 supporters
Yes
3
No
66
8
If someone appears on Sesame Street and is pregnant, that means she's going to have a baby, no ifs or buts.
1 comment | Add comment
Prejudice
Yes
4
No
87
Yes
3
No
88
Yes
4
No
86
Are there "Man in a dress" jokes?
55 supporters
Yes
6
No
7
4
Cross dressing is common in Muppet productions ,but it’s rarely done in a malicious way. I refer you to the Muppet Wiki for a full list for the sake of time: https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Cross-dressing_characters?so=search
1 comment | Add comment
Is there ableist language or behavior?
52 supporters
Yes
4
No
64
4
None of the disabled characters are chastised for being disabled. Elmo once forgets that Linda is deaf, but that was a mistake and not done out of malice.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
4
No
62
Are there usages of the n-word?
40 supporters
Yes
4
No
94
9
Whoever voted yes to this, you need to talk to your therapist.
2 comments | Add comment
Is there hate speech?
40 supporters
Yes
8
No
7
3
S25
E5
Gina and Savion receive a reportedly disturbing and hateful phone call but we only hear their end so the exact details are left to the imagination
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
40
Yes
2
No
89
8
Mr. Hooper was Jewish, and so are the Bear family, and they're treated as equals. Non-Jewish characters are interested in Jewish festivals and don't berate the Jews for celebrating them.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
61
Yes
2
No
89
Race
Yes
1
No
5
Relationships
Yes
3
No
87
Religious
Is religion discussed?
16 supporters
Yes
5
No
2
4
Jewish holidays.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
4
Sex
Yes
9
No
94
Are there incestuous relationships?
National Sexual Assault Hotline 800.656.4673
101 supporters
Add comment
Yes
4
No
91
Is there sexual content?
84 supporters
Yes
7
No
71
8
its sesame street wtf
2 comments | Add comment
Are there nude scenes?
69 supporters
Yes
9
No
97
2
Just bathing. Also most of the muppets don’t wear clothes.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
88
Is there BDSM?
37 supporters
Yes
2
No
6
1
No, there is no BDSM on Sesame Street.
2 comments | Add comment
Does someone lose their virginity?
22 supporters
Yes
2
No
4
-2
Maria.
1 comment | Add comment
Sexism
Is a male character ridiculed for crying?
27 supporters
Yes
2
No
89
6
There are many songs and episodes that talk about how crying is perfectly acceptable, including for boys.
1 comment | Add comment
Sickness
Yes
3
No
2
Yes
3
No
86
Yes
5
No
4
Is there dementia/Alzheimer's?
1 supporters
Yes
3
No
7
0
Forgetful jones could be interpreted by some as having one of these conditions
1 comment | Add comment
Social
Are there anti-abortion themes?
45 supporters
Yes
1
No
6
0
It's not loudly pro-life or pro-choice, but it's worth mentioning that of the three pregnancies on Sesame Street, the idea of terminating them never came up once.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
6
Yes
3
No
3
Is someone homeless?
4 supporters
Yes
12
No
1
4
There’s an episode meant to educate children about homelessness
3 comments | Add comment
Spoiler
Does it have a sad ending?
90 supporters
Yes
2
No
89
2
Depends on which episode you're watching, but most episodes end well.
1 comment | Add comment
Is Santa (et al) spoiled?
10 supporters
Yes
2
No
14
6
Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy exist.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there end credit scenes?
1 supporters
Yes
3
No
2
1
There are sometimes previews of the next episode shown.
1 comment | Add comment
Vehicular
Yes
5
No
84
Does a car honk or tires screech?
16 supporters
Yes
9
No
2
2
Oscar’s car driving Maria to the hospital.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
5
No
83
Yes
4
No
86
Violence
Is there blood/gore?
80 supporters
Yes
3
No
68
5
Nobody bleeds more than a skinned knee.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
84
Is there gun violence?
41 supporters
Yes
5
No
62
2
Trolls need to leave. This is Sesame Street. If ever they do address gun violence on the show it would be off-screen and addressed with tact and grace. There WAS a book released to help kids deal with the effects of violence in a more general sense but, again, handled with tact and grace.
3 comments | Add comment
Is there a nuclear explosion?
1 supporters
Yes
4
No
88
2
This “brodeez” person is not being helpful. There aren’t nukes on Sesame Street.
1 comment | Add comment
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