New Muppet Hits 'Sesame Street' To Raise Hunger Awareness (VIDEO)

In the past, "Sesame Street" has tackled HIV-AIDS with the muppet Kami and provoked musings on Bert and Ernie's sexual orientation. Now, the show explores another hot-button topic: hunger.

This Sunday, "Sesame Street" will introduce Lily, a 7-year-old girl who is food insecure. Lily doesn't know where her next meal will come from, representing the one in four children who are food insecure, according to the USDA.

PBS will air the special "Growing Hope Against Hunger" Sunday, October 9 at 7 p.m. CST. The goal is to show children who are food insecure that they aren't alone, according to a PBS press release.

Lily will meet Elmo and Grover, along with Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams Paisley, at a food drive and a local community garden, according to the release.

Sesame Street Workshop, the nonprofit producer of the show, was deliberate in making Lily's character realistic. For example, she looks down at the ground instead of being assertive when speaking to other characters, the New York Times reports.

"She wants to talk about this topic," Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop's senior vice president for outreach and educational practices, told the Times, "because she knows it will help many other families and children, but it isn't an easy topic to talk about in the first place."

Sesame Street recently launched the series "Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget" as a way to help fight childhood obesity as well as hunger.

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Comments

[LMPE]

06:07 PM on 10/08/2011

Have any ideologues attacked this as anti-American yet?

[nicolerowan]

07:27 AM on 10/06/2011

Saddest character ever :(

[Wilwright7]

04:47 PM on 10/05/2011

I hope they also have a character called "Bernie the Banker" to show how he gets more assistance from tax payers in the form of subsidies and tax breaks than this girl gets in the form of food.

[Giglawyer]

09:12 AM on 10/05/2011

OK - Sesame Street never did anything to provoke musings about Bert and Ernie's sexuality. That was provoked by others with an agenda. Maybe - just maybe - we can let a kids show be a kids show, and not have to tackle such weighty issues (or force such issues upon them).

[Amanda PP]

07:04 AM on 10/05/2011

Kudos, SS. :) I loved you when I was a child, and I'm happy to let my child watch now. I hope this new character inspires children to help out even more.

[Bor Zoi]

07:00 PM on 10/04/2011

We are in serious trouble as a society when a character designed to be sympathetic to 1 in 4 children who do not know where his or her next meal will come from creates this much animosity.

This has nothing to do with a liberal agenda.
This has nothing to do with challenging the heart of those who do or do not donate.
This has nothing to do with demonizing Republicans.

This is about how one child in four who does not understand unemployment, a stagnant economy and financial instability sees his or her world in a manner proportional to one who is of age for Sesame Street.

Please stop making Our Country worse with your hatefulness.

[JFaye]

04:43 PM on 10/04/2011

A+++ for Sesame Street... Volunteered as a counselor for many years at a food and clothing pantry. Mothers would often come in for assistance with their young children in tow. Our church established a play room for the young children to play while waiting for their parent/s. Toddlers may not fully comprehend the financial burden of their parents, however they most certainly feel the stress. Kudos to the producers of SS...

[Marco 5]

01:36 PM on 10/04/2011

More liberal indoctrination of children.

[TheGnome]

01:55 PM on 10/04/2011

So are you saying that there is no hunger in our country. Or are you saying that conservatives have no interest in feeding the hungry?

[Marco 5]

02:25 PM on 10/04/2011

Why do liberals always ask: Are you saying? Are you saying? Read it again. I said what I said. I didn't say anything else.

[Giglawyer]

09:24 AM on 10/05/2011

It sounds more like he is saying that we ought to let a kids show be a kids show, and not have to use it to press issues that are beyopnd the comprehension of the child audience. Yes, there are hungry (or even starving) schildren in America. But kids (at least of the age watching Sesame Street) don't understand the whys and hows of hunger, and they certainly don't understand the economics or politics of it all.

Sesame Street is there to introduce basic learning to children in the areas of math, reading, spelling, etc. It is also there to teach basic messages to children about life - sharing, respect, safety. But the complexities and ecomonics of hunger in America can also incorporate political doctrines and platforms a swell, and that is something that should not poison the well of Sesame Street.

[chesscub]

02:40 PM on 10/04/2011

Consideration for one's fellow man. Oh noes, the horror.

/clutching pearls

[Marco 5]

01:32 AM on 10/09/2011

Consideration for fellow man: Translation: Don't worry about self reliance but instead learn about all of us taking care of each other.

[Evan Pritchard]

01:20 PM on 10/04/2011

This is incredible. Fine work the Sesame Street folk do, fine work indeed.

[chesscub]

12:23 PM on 10/04/2011

It's another bold decision for Sesame Street. It's not an easy or comfortable topic to discuss but it is an important one.

[Florida1966]

04:36 PM on 10/04/2011

Sesame Street is aimed at children 5 and under. Why are they being exposed to "important topics" that are better suited to adults?

[hannah87]

05:39 PM on 10/04/2011

Because some of those children themselves are going hungry. Why shouldn't those children be represented and talked about on Sesame Street?

[Conuly]

03:25 AM on 10/08/2011

Why do you think children should not be allowed to talk about important things? If you treat them like children, that's how they'll remain.

[garystartswithg]

12:16 PM on 10/04/2011

america -- the land of the selfish and greedy. buy a lexus and house in the burbs or feed children? shame on you.

[Anne Mccormick]

01:20 PM on 10/04/2011

Some Americans actually do all three. they have the house in the burbs and the lexus. but they also contribute to charities that provide food to children.

[garystartswithg]

03:30 PM on 10/04/2011

and how much more you could contribute if you weren't a greedy pig. disgusting.

[Marco 5]

01:37 PM on 10/04/2011

American private citizens collectively donate more of their personal income toward charities than any other nation's private citizens on earth. And the USA sends billions of tax dollars in food and health aid to many foreign countries every year, more than any other country in the world. And yet, we still hear stupid comments from poeple like you who call America greedy. YOU are the one who should be ashamed.

[axt113]

05:54 PM on 10/04/2011

Well its because more Americans can afford to do so, but the fact that American children are without food and healthcare and the GOP is talking about cutting what little they have is proof its not enough.

So Tell me Marco, why do you baggers hate children?

[tbeals46]

11:14 AM on 10/04/2011

This is what Sesame Street is all about. It's not just a 'babysitter', like some kids' shows today, all fluff and no substance. It actually teaches kids something. I know Jim Henson is probably looking down on those who made this decision and smiling, knowing they are following his vision for what the show should be.

[garystartswithg]

12:18 PM on 10/04/2011

i think its wise to teach kids, old dogs obviously don't learn new tricks. people in this country go to vote and think reagan is still on the ballot. i find it rather awkward we need puppets to teach us about hiv and poverty, but i guess thats life in the 21st century.

[chesscub]

12:22 PM on 10/04/2011

I learned from Avenue Q that what the Internet is for.

[Florida1966]

04:38 PM on 10/04/2011

why exactly do 5 y/o and younger need to be concerned with HIV? Oh I guess that's life in the 21st century, where even the youngest minds are fair game for political agendas.