Season 46 (2016)

Sesame Street
Premiere	Fall 2015 (4601)
Finale	N/A

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Chris and Cookie Monster in the new, retro-designed Hooper's Store.

Behind-the-scenes filming of an episode for the season

Sesame Street's 46th season is expected to air in fall 2015.

Season overview

The show's focus this season tightens in on certain, select characters:

“The cast of Muppets, which has mushroomed over the decades, will be pared down to focus on a core six: Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Grover, Big Bird and Oscar. The others will still be on the show, but the core cast will be the daily focus.”

The season also marks the show's move to a new channel. The episodes will debut first-run on HBO and will air on PBS following a nine-month window. The season also introduces a shortened, half-hour format, completely dropping the hour-long run time.

Episodes include Elmo and Abby posing as "Boo-Boo Busters," a special Mothers Day episode and an episode featuring guest star Alan Cumming as Grouch explorer "Mucko Polo." Another episode is titled "When Dinosaurs Walked on Sesame Street."

Following the retirement of Fran Brill the previous fall, Stephanie D'Abruzzo will take over over the role of Prairie Dawn and Jennifer Barnhart is cast as Zoe. Sonia Manzano will also not be returning this season to play Maria.

Music Director Bill Sherman revealed at the "On The Street Where You Learn" panel at Lincoln Center in January 2015 that a new version of the "Sesame Street Theme" would debut this season.

Set changes

The season introduces new changes to the set in an effort to get viewers to associate the Muppet characters with locals, as well as to modernize the look of the street. Changes include:

• Elmo's room is now located in the first floor cornerstone of 123 Sesame Street.
• Cookie Monster takes up new residence above Hooper's Store, which is given complete facelift to resemble its initial design.
• Big Bird's nest area is no longer hidden by used construction doors and is now sitting within a small tree.
• Oscar's trash can is relocated to the front of 123 Sesame Street. Oscar is also given the ability to appear from trashcans around the street.
• An expanded garden area is added in the arbor, maintained by Abby Cadabby.
• Other additions include a community center in the carriage house (with rooftop sitting area) and a Newsstand.

The changes were designed by David Gallo. The new set elements were constructed by Showman Fabricators and Gotham Scenic (who built Oscar's new enclosure, the newsstand and Big Bird's nest).

Oscar's trash can

New garden area

Big Bird's nest

Community Center

Elmo's new residence in 123.

Abby's Garden

Production

Initial elements for the season were taped in early February 2015, with primary filming taking place from April 14 to June 5. Word of the Day and other celebrity segments began filming in Los Angeles the week of March 30, 2015.

The season marks the first use of a StediCam in studio for the show.

Guest stars

Celebrity guests for the season will include Fifth Harmony, Gwen Stefani, Gina Rodriguez, Tracee Ellis Ross, Ne-Yo, Sara Bareilles, Aloe Blacc, Nick Jonas, and Alan Cumming.

Alan Cumming on the set with Elmo and Oscar

Gina Rodriguez and Abby Cadabby

Sara Bareilles and the Muppets

Gwen Stefani and the Muppets

Gwen Stefani and Elmo

Fifth Harmony on the set

Ne-Yo and Grover

Tracee Ellis Ross and Big Bird

Aloe Blacc and Abby

Aloe Blacc and the Count

Nick Jonas and Elmo

Abby and Grover

Grover on the set

External links

• Inside the new 'Sesame Street' set: M is for Makeover at Mashable

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