Was Morgan Freeman a part of Sesame Street? Explained

One of the most beloved children's TV shows, Sesame Street has been airing since 1969 and has featured multiple iconic actors and performers. However, Morgan Freeman was never a part of the show and hasn't made an appearance in any of its seasons. That being said, Freeman was part of another educational children's show called The Electric Company. Contrary to what social media rumors have been claiming, Morgan Freeman was never a part of Sesame Street.

The Electric Company was a PBS show that ran from 1971 to 1977 and catered to older children who had outgrown Sesame Street. It was one of Morgan Freeman's most well-known TV roles and he had multiple parts in it. He was known for his roles as "Mel Mounds," "Easy Reader," and "Count Dracula" in The Electric Company. The PBS show was a big part of Freeman's early acting career. He also became known as a versatile actor who could engage with younger audiences.

While Morgan Freeman only worked on The Electric Company, he has often been inaccurately associated with Sesame Street as well. Freeman made important contributions to children's TV by playing fun and educational parts on The Electric Company.

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How Old Was Morgan Freeman on The Electric Company?

When Morgan Freeman joined The Electric Company in 1971, he was 34 years old. In the show, Freeman had a special energy and personality that showed off his charm and skill, making him relatable to younger audiences.

Due to his age and experience at the time, Freeman brought a lot of depth to his parts in The Electric Company. He could keep young fans interested and teach them, which set him up well for a future in movies and TV shows.

In The Amazing Life Of Morgan Freeman, author Matt Green writes that Freeman was working in stage plays when he auditioned for The Electric Company. The author noted that during the audition, Morgan Freeman was shown several sketches of colorful puppets, and he went "over-the-top" in his performance.

The actor was reportedly trying to "captivate the silly nature of the television show." According to Green, it was Freeman's "zaniness" that helped him land the job.

Green also added that Freeman debuted on The Electric Company in 1971. It was a show that used sketch comedy to "present basic educational content" for children who were in elementary school. Freeman often played comedic characters and had to interact with puppets and animated characters as well.

"The Electric Company had a talented cast bolstering it, including already-famous Bill Cosby and Rita Moreno. Young up-and-coming actors and comedians such as Joan Rivers and Gene Wilder also appeared in some of the sketches. Freeman was given some memorable characters, such as an exaggerated portrayal of Count Dracula," Green wrote.

He further described how Morgan Freeman felt, noting that he thought that his career was "somewhat grounded." While his stage work was successful and he got Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations, Freeman felt like The Electric Company wasn't doing much to advance his career.

Green noted that the PBS show was a steady job with a cast of "successful actors," making Freeman believe that it wasn't pushing him closer to his dream of appearing in feature films.

"Few casting agents for more serious material were perusing episodes of children television to look for potential new stars. When the Electric Company as canceled in 1976, Freeman felt as if [he] were back at square one with his acting career, still having to scrape by at odd jobs and go to audition after fruitless audition," the writer described.

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Who Owns Sesame Street?

Currently, Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit committed to producing kid-friendly educational materials, is the owner of Sesame Street. Nine months following its release, HBO is the only network to have first airing rights for the new episodes, followed by PBS and other networks that may run the episodes

The ownership of Sesame Street has evolved over the years. In 2000, the Jim Henson Company, which originally owned the characters and shared revenues, sold its rights to Sesame Workshop for $180 million. This sale solidified Sesame Workshop’s control over the brand, allowing it to continue its mission of educational outreach.

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Is Sesame Street Based on a True Story?

Sesame Street is not based on a true story, but it was made to meet the real educational needs of children. TV director Joan Ganz Cooney and the vice president of the Carnegie Corporation, Lloyd Morrisett, created the show, which premiered on November 10, 1969. The creators wanted to make Sesame Street to help young kids get ready for school with the help of a TV show that used its teaching potential.

Research in developmental psychology and early childhood education had a big impact on both the content and creation of the show. Sesame Street was the first TV show to use a detailed curriculum with measurable educational goals. This was possible because the show was based on the study. The show has changed over time to represent changes in society and the importance of education.

With over 150 Emmys and 11 Grammys, Sesame Street has made a big difference. The show celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009, and by that time, it had been aired in over 120 countries, with 20 copies being made for other countries. The show's ability to adapt and stay relevant is a testament to its main goal of improving education.

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Both The Electric Company and Sesame Street were important in the field of educational television, but Morgan Freeman only worked on the former. His performances on that show made a lasting impact and showcased his skills, which helped him rise in the entertainment business.

Meanwhile, Sesame Street keeps doing well under the direction of Sesame Workshop, rising to new challenges while keeping true to its educational purpose.