I’ve always loved gathering around with friends and family for a good trivia night. There’s something so nostalgic and heartwarming about testing your knowledge on childhood favorites like Sesame Street! Whether you’re planning a themed party, looking for ice breakers at a family gathering, or just want to take a trip down memory lane, these Sesame Street trivia questions are perfect.
I’ve put together over 100 fun questions covering everything from classic characters to memorable songs and behind-the-scenes facts about this beloved children’s show. My kids and I tested these questions during our last family game night, and let me tell you, even the adults were stumped by some of these!
General Sesame Street Trivia
Let’s start with some general knowledge questions about Sesame Street. These range from easy questions that most fans will know to some trickier ones that might surprise even dedicated viewers. I’ve included questions about the show’s history, its setting, and some basic facts that every Sesame Street fan should know!
- What year did Sesame Street first air? Answer: 1969
- Who created Sesame Street? Answer: Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett
- What network has traditionally aired Sesame Street? Answer: PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)
- What is the name of the street where most of the action takes place? Answer: Sesame Street
- What was the original target audience age range for Sesame Street? Answer: 3-5 years old
- What is the fictional New York City borough where Sesame Street is located? Answer: Queens
- What is the address of the famous brownstone building on Sesame Street? Answer: 123 Sesame Street
- What company produces Sesame Street? Answer: Sesame Workshop (formerly Children’s Television Workshop)
- How long was each episode of Sesame Street when it first aired? Answer: 60 minutes
- Which streaming service acquired the rights to new Sesame Street episodes in 2016? Answer: HBO (later HBO Max)
- What anniversary did Sesame Street celebrate in 2019? Answer: 50th anniversary
- What famous phrase appears on the Sesame Street sign? Answer: “CTW” (Children’s Television Workshop)
- How many Primetime Emmy Awards has Sesame Street won? Answer: Over 200
- What was Sesame Street’s original working title? Answer: 123 Avenue B
- Which puppeteer created the Muppets used on Sesame Street? Answer: Jim Henson
- What revolutionary educational concept did Sesame Street pioneer for children’s television? Answer: The “CTW Model” (combining entertainment with education)
- In what decade did the character Elmo become a major focus of the show? Answer: 1980s
- What famous department store is mentioned in the Sesame Street theme song? Answer: None (trick question!)
- What was the original target demographic of Sesame Street when it first aired? Answer: Inner-city children
- What is the name of the convenience store on Sesame Street? Answer: Hooper’s Store
- What common testing method was used to ensure Sesame Street’s educational value? Answer: The Distractor Method
- Which U.S. President appeared on the show’s 10th anniversary special? Answer: Gerald Ford
- What is the name of the theater on Sesame Street? Answer: The Around the Corner Theater
- How many countries have their own versions of Sesame Street? Answer: Over 150
- What is the name of Gordon’s wife on the show? Answer: Susan
Need more challenging questions to test your trivia knowledge? Our math trivia questions are perfect for testing a different part of your brain!
Character-Specific Trivia
Sesame Street wouldn’t be the same without its colorful cast of characters! From the grumpy-but-lovable Oscar to the always hungry Cookie Monster, these questions will test your knowledge of the show’s most iconic residents. My daughter is obsessed with Elmo, so we definitely included plenty of questions about the little red monster!
- What species is Big Bird? Answer: Canary
- What is Cookie Monster’s real name? Answer: Sid
- What color is Oscar the Grouch now? Answer: Green
- What color was Oscar the Grouch originally? Answer: Orange
- Who is Elmo’s pet goldfish? Answer: Dorothy
- What is Count von Count’s favorite thing to do? Answer: Count things
- What is Bert’s favorite hobby? Answer: Collecting paper clips and bottle caps
- What kind of animal is Mr. Snuffleupagus? Answer: A Snuffleupagus (similar to a woolly mammoth)
- Until what year did adults on Sesame Street believe that Snuffleupagus was Big Bird’s imaginary friend? Answer: 1985
- What is the name of the baby in Ernie and Bert’s family? Answer: There is no baby (trick question!)
- What type of animal is Zoe? Answer: Monster
- What is Grover’s superhero alter ego? Answer: Super Grover
- What food is Cookie Monster known to occasionally eat besides cookies? Answer: Vegetables, especially in newer episodes
- What is the name of Oscar’s pet worm? Answer: Slimey
- What relation is Baby Bear to Papa Bear and Mama Bear? Answer: Their son
- What is Rosita’s full name? Answer: Rosita, La Monstrua de las Cuevas
- What language does Rosita speak besides English? Answer: Spanish
- What is the name of the Count’s girlfriend? Answer: Countess von Backwards
- What does Telly Monster collect? Answer: Triangles
- What is the name of the character who owns Hooper’s Store after Mr. Hooper? Answer: Alan
- What is the name of Elmo’s father? Answer: Louie
- What is the name of Big Bird’s teddy bear? Answer: Radar
- What is Abby Cadabby’s mother? Answer: The Fairy Godmother
- What is the name of the large wooly mammoth-like friend of Big Bird? Answer: Mr. Aloysius Snuffleupagus
- What character was added to help address autism awareness? Answer: Julia
- What is the name of the friendly monster who first appeared in 2017? Answer: Rudy
- What is the name of Elmo’s cousin? Answer: Chester
- What is Cookie Monster’s mother’s name? Answer: Mommy Monster
- What language does the character Kami speak? Answer: Setswana (she’s from the South African co-production)
- Who is Ernie’s best friend? Answer: Bert
Looking for more fun questions to ask at your next get-together? Check out these interesting questions to ask a guy for great conversation starters!
Sesame Street Songs and Segments
The songs and recurring segments on Sesame Street are what many of us remember most fondly. From “Rubber Duckie” to “C is for Cookie,” these musical moments and educational bits have stayed with us long after childhood. I still catch myself humming “Sunny Days” when I’m having a good morning!
- What is the name of the opening theme song for Sesame Street? Answer: “Sunny Days” (or “Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street”)
- Who sings “Rubber Duckie”? Answer: Ernie
- What letter of the alphabet does Cookie Monster’s famous song celebrate? Answer: C (for Cookie)
- What Sesame Street song features the lyrics “Mahna Mahna”? Answer: “Mahna Mahna”
- Which recurring segment features a different number each episode? Answer: “The Count Counts”
- What is the name of the segment where Grover repeatedly runs back and forth? Answer: “Near and Far”
- What segment features animated shorts about the number of the day? Answer: “The Number of the Day”
- Who sang “Put Down the Duckie”? Answer: Hoots the Owl (with Ernie)
- What letter of the alphabet does every episode of Sesame Street usually spotlight? Answer: The show typically features a different letter each episode
- What famous Beatles song did the Muppets parody with “Letter B”? Answer: “Let It Be”
- What catchphrase does Elmo say at the end of “Elmo’s World”? Answer: “Elmo loves you!”
- What object does Ernie sing about in the bathtub? Answer: His Rubber Duckie
- What is the title of Cookie Monster’s healthy eating song? Answer: “A Cookie Is a Sometimes Food”
- What recurring Sesame Street segment featured kids in different environments? Answer: “Global Grover”
- What popular segment teaches sign language? Answer: “Word on the Street”
- In “Elmo’s World,” what does Elmo always ask at the beginning? Answer: “What is Elmo thinking about today?”
- What recurring sketch features Prairie Dawn organizing a pageant? Answer: “The Number of the Day Pageant”
- What instrument does Zoe like to play? Answer: Triangle
- What is the title of the song where Ernie sings about living with Bert? Answer: “I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon”
- What historical figure is often parodied in Sesame Street shorts? Answer: Albert Einstein (as “Professor Albert Einstien”)
- What famous children’s rhyme do Bert and Ernie adapt for bedtime? Answer: “The Goodnight Song”
- What segment features real kids talking about their families? Answer: “Small Talk”
- What famous game show has been parodied on Sesame Street? Answer: “Family Feud” (as “Family Food”)
- What song does Big Bird sing when feeling sad about Mr. Hooper’s death? Answer: “It’s Not Easy Being Green” (though this was originally Kermit’s song)
- What popular segment features Murray Monster talking to real children? Answer: “Murray Has a Little Lamb”
For those looking to dive into deeper conversations, check out our philosophical questions that will really get you thinking!
Behind the Scenes Facts
There’s so much that happens behind the cameras on Sesame Street! These questions explore the creative forces, real people, and production details that have made the show so impactful for over 50 years. When I toured the Sesame Workshop once, I was amazed at all the work that goes into creating each episode!
- Who performed as Big Bird for over 50 years? Answer: Caroll Spinney
- Who was the original puppeteer for Elmo? Answer: Kevin Clash
- How tall is the Big Bird puppet? Answer: 8 feet, 2 inches
- Which Muppet character was created specifically to help children understand death? Answer: None, but Mr. Hooper’s death was used to address this topic
- What children’s book author has been a frequent collaborator with Sesame Street? Answer: Maurice Sendak
- What was the profession of Mr. Hooper on the show? Answer: Storekeeper (owned Hooper’s Store)
- What real-life event prompted Sesame Street to introduce the character Julia? Answer: Increasing awareness of autism
- How much does the Big Bird costume weigh? Answer: Approximately 10 pounds
- What was unique about the puppeteer who played Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird? Answer: Same person (Caroll Spinney) played both characters
- Who was the first female puppeteer on Sesame Street? Answer: Fran Brill
- What major change happened to the show’s format when it moved to HBO in 2016? Answer: Episode length reduced from 60 to 30 minutes
- What university collaborated with Sesame Street creators to develop the show’s curriculum? Answer: Harvard University
- Who composed most of the early Sesame Street songs? Answer: Joe Raposo
- What early research finding helped shape Sesame Street’s approach to children’s attention? Answer: Children pay more attention when adults and puppets appear together
- What famous musician wrote “One of These Things (Is Not Like the Others)”? Answer: Joe Raposo
- What is the name of the Muppet workshop where Sesame Street puppets are created? Answer: Jim Henson’s Creature Shop
- Who replaced Kevin Clash as Elmo’s puppeteer? Answer: Ryan Dillon
- What was originally controversial about the character of Roosevelt Franklin? Answer: His portrayal of African American culture
- What is the puppeteering technique used for most Sesame Street Muppets? Answer: Hand puppetry
- How many people typically operate the Big Bird puppet? Answer: One (inside the costume)
- What materials are Muppet puppets typically made from? Answer: Foam, fleece, and felt
- Which First Lady appeared on Sesame Street to plant a vegetable garden? Answer: Michelle Obama
- What was the first Sesame Street character to be operated by computer animation? Answer: Abby’s Flying Fairy School characters
- Why was Snuffleupagus made visible to the adults on the show in 1985? Answer: To encourage children to tell adults about serious matters and be believed
- What was the name of the research division of Children’s Television Workshop? Answer: CTW Research
If you enjoy testing your knowledge with fun trivia, you might also enjoy our 90s movie trivia for another nostalgic challenge!
International Sesame Street
One of the coolest things about Sesame Street is how it’s been adapted for countries all around the world! Each international version has its own unique characters and cultural elements while maintaining the core educational mission. My family visited Mexico last year, and my kids were thrilled to recognize Plaza Sésamo characters from YouTube videos we’d watched!
- What is the name of the South African version of Sesame Street? Answer: Takalani Sesame
- What is the name of the German version of Sesame Street? Answer: Sesamstrasse
- What is the Mexican co-production of Sesame Street called? Answer: Plaza Sésamo
- Which international version introduced a character with HIV? Answer: Takalani Sesame (South African version)
- What is the name of the HIV-positive character on the South African version? Answer: Kami
- What is the name of the Muppet character created specifically for refugees? Answer: Zari
- What is the name of the Japanese version of Sesame Street? Answer: Sesame Street Japan
- What is the name of the water monster in the Chinese co-production? Answer: Hu Hu Zhu
- What country’s version features a character named Samson who is similar to Big Bird? Answer: Germany
- What is the name of the Israeli version of Sesame Street? Answer: Rechov Sumsum
- What country’s version was specifically designed to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians? Answer: Israel/Palestine (Rechov Sumsum/Shara’a Simsim)
- What is the name of the Dutch version of Sesame Street? Answer: Sesamstraat
- What is the name of the giant snail character in the Nigerian version? Answer: Zobi
- What is the UK version of Sesame Street called? Answer: The Furchester Hotel (UK-specific spin-off)
- Which international version features a character named Khokha? Answer: Alam Simsim (Egypt)
- What international version features a character named Pong Pagong, a turtle? Answer: Sesame! (Philippines)
- What is the name of the Indian co-production of Sesame Street? Answer: Galli Galli Sim Sim
- What is the name of the character who replaced Big Bird in most international versions? Answer: Various large bird or creature characters unique to each country
- In which country’s version does a character named Basil live in a garbage can, similar to Oscar? Answer: UK (The Furchester Hotel)
- What was the first international co-production of Sesame Street? Answer: Vila Sésamo (Brazil)
Need something to lighten the mood after all this trivia? Check out funny ways to say hello for some conversation starters that will make everyone smile!
Why Sesame Street Trivia is Perfect for Everyone
Sesame Street has been teaching and entertaining kids (and let’s be honest, adults too) since 1969. What makes Sesame Street trivia so special is that it spans generations – grandparents, parents, and kids can all participate! Just last month, I hosted a family reunion where we played Sesame Street trivia, and I was amazed at how my 70-year-old aunt remembered details that my teenage nephew had never heard of.
This kind of trivia isn’t just fun; it’s educational too. You’ll learn interesting facts about the show’s history, its impact on education, and how it’s evolved over the decades. Plus, it’s a great way to spark conversations about childhood memories and favorite TV moments.
Looking for more ways to engage your friends and family? Check out our collection of two truths and a lie ideas for another fun game night option!
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey through over 50 years of Sesame Street history! Whether you’re a lifelong fan who grew up watching the show or introducing these beloved characters to a new generation, these trivia questions are a fun way to celebrate this iconic program.
The next time you need an ice breaker or family-friendly activity, pull out these questions and see who knows their Sesame Street best. My family has a tradition of Sesame Street trivia on rainy days, and it always leads to sharing memories and lots of laughs.
Did you know all the answers? Which questions surprised you the most? I’d love to hear about your favorite Sesame Street memories in the comments below!
For more fun trivia and conversation starters, check out our other collections like sports trivia questions or would you rather questions for your next gathering!