Forced Retirements on Sesame Street

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Forced Retirements on Sesame Street

Postby jon » Thu Jul 28, 2016 1:09 pm

G is for Goodbye: Sesame Street cuts 3 longtime cast members
'The show has gone under a major turnaround,' says original star Bob McGrath
By Jessica Wong
CBC News
Posted: Jul 28, 2016 2:21 PM ET
Last Updated: Jul 28, 2016 2:26 PM ET

Sesame Street is losing three familiar faces from its neighbourhood, with the actors who play Bob, Luis and Gordon let go from the enduring kids' series.

Bob McGrath revealed at a Florida convention this month that he and two other veteran actors on the show — Emilio Delgado (Luis) and Roscoe Orman (Gordon) — are leaving the show. Sesame Street confirmed the news via social media on Thursday.

"As of this season, I have completed my 45th season this year. And the show has gone under a major turnaround,, going from an hour to a half-hour. HBO has gotten involved also," McGrath said during a Q&A session at Florida Supercon in early July.

"They let all of the original cast members go, with the exception of Alan Muraoka —- who is probably 20 years younger than the rest of us -— and Chris Knowings, who is also young."

He noted, however, that Loretta Long, who has played Susan since the show's debut in 1969, will also remain with the show.

McGrath's comments were shared this week by The Muppet Cast, a site and podcast dedicated to the work of Jim Henson and the Muppets.

Veteran actors

The 84-year-old McGrath — the familiar voice of songs such as People in My Neighbourhood and One of These Things is Not Like the Other — had appeared on Sesame Street since its debut and was one of the final original cast members left.

Another early cast member, Sonia Manzano, who portrayed Maria, retired in 2015.

Delgado, 76, had played Manzano's on-screen husband and Fix-It Shop owner Luis. He joined the show in 1971. Orman, 72, joined the program as school teacher Gordon in 1974.

Muraoka, the 53-year-old actor and theatre director who plays Hooper's Store owner Alan, joined the cast in 1998. Former child performer Knowings, 36, began his run on Sesame Street in 2007.

On Thursday, Sesame Workshop called McGrath, Delgado and Orman "a beloved part of the Sesame family."

However, the statement also noted that the show is "constantly evolving" and, as a result, "our cast has changed over the years."

Sesame Workshop, the non-profit group that produces the beloved series, said it "retains sole creative control over the show. HBO does not oversee the production" — a response to criticism of the show's newest broadcasting partner.

In August 2015, after years of financial challenges, Sesame Workshop announced a five-year partnership with the premium cable channel, one that would provide "critical funding" to continue production of Sesame Street as well as keep it on PBS, its traditional home.

As part of the deal — which came into place for the premiere of the show's 46th season this past January — new episodes of Sesame Street debut on HBO exclusively and move to PBS and its member stations nine months later.
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Re: Forced Retirements on Sesame Street

Postby the-real-deal » Sat Jul 30, 2016 3:52 am

Why should Sesame Street be any different than any other commercial broadcaster ?

F as in FIRED, plain and simple.

I is for idiots, the people who run commercial radio and tv.

R is for racism, as in broadcasting is a white man's game, controlled by whitey.

E is for elitism, hire your white friends and those you know, and shun everyone else.

D is for dreadful, as in the state of today's on-air talent, lack of commitment to journalism, mispronunciation of words and the butchering of the English language.
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