Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas

Sesame Street Christmas special

Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas is a one-hour Sesame Street Christmas special that first aired on HBO on November 25, 2016, and on November 22, 2017, on PBS. It was the franchise's first Christmas special in ten years.

[edit] This article's plot summary needs to be improved. Please help do so. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. (December 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) On Christmas Eve, Elmo's father Louie tells his son about how Sesame Street was a dreary place in the 19th century as its inhabitants lack the Christmas spirit enough for Santa Claus to not make a stop there and is enforced by a constable that is Mr. Johnson's ancestor. Elmo's great-great-great-grandfather of the same name has moved there as he works to get everyone into the Christmas spirit with the help of some Sesame Street inhabitants that support his motives.

[edit] Jim Gaffigan as Santa Claus Zosia Mamet as Bella Audra McDonald as Caroler Alan Muraoka as Alan Suki Lopez as Nina Muppet performers[edit]

Pam Arciero Billy Barkhurst as Ernie Jennifer Barnhart as Holly Tyler Bunch as Louie Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Abby Cadabby, Becky Frankie Cordero Stephanie D'Abruzzo Ryan Dillon as Elmo Jamie Donmoyer Liz Hara Chris Thomas Hayes Haley Jenkins Eric Jacobson as Bert, Grover, Two-Headed Monster (Left head); Oscar the Grouch (puppetry only) Kathleen Kim Tim Lagasse Spencer Lott Lara MacLean Joey Mazzarino Andrew Moriarty Carmen Osbahr as Rosita Martin P. Robinson as Hot Pink Muppet Elf David Rudman as Cookie Monster, Two-Headed Monster (Right head) Caroll Spinney as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch (voices only) Matt Vogel as Count von Count, Constable, Big Bird (puppetry only)

[edit] In The New York Times, Neil Genzlinger called the special "pleasant and witty" and noted that the casting of Zosia Mamet, a series regular on HBO's Girls, reflected Sesame Street having moved from PBS to HBO earlier in 2016. Genzlinger wrote that while other holidays got brief attention, the focus was on Christmas. Zack Teibloom mentioned that he enjoyed Mamet offering "a Chanukkah lesson for balance." In a 2017 interview, Caroll Spinney cited the special as an example of how Sesame Street sometimes engages with spiritual values. In Mashable, Annie Colbert noted David Gallo's sets, which "took modern Sesame Street back to the 19th century with sepia tones, ivy-covered iron gates and laundry dangling by clothespins over the familiar cobblestone."

[edit] The show won the 2017 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program. Writers Geri Cole and Ken Scarborough won a WGA Award for their script at the 69th Writers Guild of America Awards.

[edit] A tie-in book of the same title was also published in 2017. Written by Geri Cole and adapted by Robin Newman, it was illustrated by Tom Brannon. The special was released on DVD as part of Sesame Street: My Favorite Holidays.

[edit] "Holiday Lights" "Let Santa Know We're Here" "Two is You and Me" "Deck the Halls" "Kindness"

For households that aren’t regular viewers, the 2016 special works as a low‑commitment introduction. Its hour‑long runtime fits neatly into a typical Christmas evening schedule, leaving room for dinner and crackers. The storyline weaves familiar characters into a simple, heart‑warming plot that avoids the frantic pacing of the daily show, making it ideal for younger children who might struggle with longer episodes. Parents can use the pause function to discuss the themes of giving and community as they arise, turning a passive viewing experience into a mini‑lesson on holiday values.

The ten‑year hiatus before this release reflects a broader shift in how children’s programming approaches seasonal content. In the early 2000s, holiday specials were often produced as stand‑alone events; by 2016, streaming platforms demanded higher production values and more inclusive storytelling. This special incorporates diverse cultural references while retaining the classic Sesame Street charm, signalling a move towards holiday programming that mirrors the UK's multicultural society. Understanding this evolution helps viewers appreciate the nuanced updates in set design, music, and character dynamics.

The special is available on both HBO and PBS, meaning you have a choice between subscription streaming and free broadcast. If you already have an HBO account, the on‑demand version allows you to start the film at any convenient time and enjoy ad‑free viewing. For households relying on free‑to‑air TV, checking the PBS schedule in advance ensures you don’t miss the repeat airing in December. Consider setting a reminder on your TV guide or using a streaming app’s watchlist feature, so the thirty‑minute buffer before the programme begins isn’t wasted on scrambling for the remote.