The definition of co-viewing is when members of the same household watch television together, and parent/child co-viewing is a key component of children’s television. It is important for parents to not only monitor the content their children intake but partake in said content. The best way to assure parent/child co-viewing is to pander to parents as well, and, “for every five lines Elmo directs to the kids… there’s one slipped in for the parents” (Neal 3). Most of the celebrities that take a stroll on Sesame Street are unfamiliar faces to children watching but parents can enjoy the cameos. Sesame Street has racked up an impressive list of guest stars. From singers, actors, and television personalities to authors,activists, and first ladies, …show more content…
Everything that airs is thoroughly and professionally researched and kid tested. Educators, child psychologists, and even specialized research agencies work with Sesame Street to create the best, and most child-friendly, content. Afterwards, skits and scenes are “aggressively tested via focus group to see what works” (Tankersley 5). This is why Robert Thompson claims, “there is nothing like Sesame Street. It’s still the closest thing to truly educational TV for kids” (Johnson 5), but Sesame Street is not the powerhouse it once was. At its peak, 130 episodes aired in a year. Now that number is down to 26, and the show is ranked 15th amongst children’s television (Guernsey 2). While viewership has decreased due to competing programs, Sesame Street still broke a lot of ground in the world of television. In both on-screen diversity and education, Sesame Street set high standards for generations of television to come, and its influence is apparent throughout modern children's programming.Todd VanDerWerff concluded his article for Vox Media by summing up the significant impact of the show saying, “ television is unquestionably a better medium because Sesame Street exists, but it’s also possible the world itself is a better place”