News

Sesame Workshop has named Sherrie Westin its new chief executive officer, shifting from the interim position she was named to by the nonprofit’s board of trustees earlier this year.

Previously, Westin served as the president of the organization behind “Sesame Street” since 2021. She was appointed interim CEO upon the exit of chief Steve Youngwood in February. The appointment of Westin to fulltime CEO makes her the first woman to be named CEO of Sesame Workshop since “Sesame Street” creator Joan Ganz Cooney.

“After an extensive CEO search, the Sesame Workshop Board of Trustees unanimously selected Sherrie Westin, who has proven herself to be deeply knowledgeable, tireless in her efforts on behalf of children and families, and passionately committed to our mission,” Sesame Workshop board of trustees Gaby Sulzberger said. “Sherrie is the inspirational leader the Workshop needs, and she has the Board’s absolute confidence and support as she...

Sesame Street has a new boss.

Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization that produces the iconic kids TV series, has named Sherrie Westin as interim CEO as Steve Youngwood steps down.

Youngwood, who is also exiting as a member of the board of trustees, has been with the group for nine years and was named CEO in 2021.

Westin, who is President of Sesame Workshop, will now take over as the board hires a recruitment firm to find a permanent CEO.

Sesame Street, which has produced close to 5,000 episodes, originally aired on PBS but moved to HBO in 2016 and is now streaming on Max.

Gabrielle Sulzberger, Chair of the Sesame Workshop Board of Trustees, said, “Under Steve’s leadership, Sesame Workshop has expanded its reach and impact globally, and is well positioned for ongoing success. On behalf of the Board, I thank Steve for his commitment to Sesame Workshop, our mission, and...

Sesame Workshop will be getting a new chief executive.

The non-profit that produces Sesame Street and other programs says that Steve Youngwood has stepped down as CEO and as a board member, with president Sherrie Westin tapped as the interim CEO.

Sesame Workshop says that it has hired an executive search firm to identify a permanent CEO.

Youngwood will remain available as an informal adviser for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition, the organization says.

The leadership change comes at a critical moment for the organization, with the next season of Sesame Street (season 55) set to be the last under its current rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. Given how rights are negotiated, it is likely that discussions over future seasons will begin this year.

The Hollywood Reporter also reported exclusively last year that Sesame Street will be getting “reimagined” beginning with season 56, which will air in...

Sesame Street is preparing for its 56th season in 2025, with a shift towards a more narrative-centric format and a new animated series titled Tales From 123. This transformation aims to maintain the essence of the show while resonating with contemporary viewers and providing relatable stories for young minds. The reimagined format will feature two 11-minute story segments that delve deeper into characters and educational content, offering a more dynamic and emotionally engaging storytelling experience.

Sesame Street is preparing to pivot once more for its 56th season in 2025. The beloved series is gearing up to reimagine its approach, trading its magazine-style format for a more narrative-centric one, complemented by a fresh animated series titled Tales From 123.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Sesame Workshop's CEO, Steve Youngwood, frames this shift as a natural evolution that stays true to the show’s core values. It's about maintaining the essence of Sesame Street while ensuring...

Sesame Street's 56th season will see a change in the formatting of the show, as well as the introduction of a new segment.

In 2025, Sesame Street will drop its original format of clips and small segments to adopt a more long-form narrative format that they are hopeful will appeal to young audiences. Per THR, Sesame Workshop CEO Steve Youngwood stated, "We felt like this was a moment to step back and think bigger about how we evolve it." Sesame Street's new addition to the show will be called Tales from 123, and will serve as the animated segment that will become the middle portion of the show.

Related: Sesame Street Fans Are Shocked by Cookie Monster Sharing His Real Name

Sesame Street was introduced in 1969 as an educational children's television program, helmed by Joan Ganz Cooney, Lloyd Morrisett, and Jim Henson. It premiered on PBS, with original episodes moving...

Sesame Street is set to undergo some major renovations.

The long-running children’s series will be getting a creative overhaul for its 56th season, which will debut in 2025.

“With any change you have evolutions, and then you have things that are slightly bigger steps, while still staying core to who we are,” says Steve Youngwood, the CEO of Sesame Workshop, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “We felt like this was a moment to step back and think bigger about how we evolve it.”

The most significant change will see the program drop the “magazine”-style format it has long used in favor of two longer, more narrative-driven segments, which will be paired with a new animated series, Tales From 123. The new format will feature two 11-minute story segments, with the new animated series sandwiched in between them.

“It’s going to give us an opportunity to dive further into the narrative,...