The Sesame Street Characters Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
The Sesame Street Characters Quiz
Image: Glen Stubbe/Corbis

About This Quiz

Sunny day! Sweepin' the clouds away. It's time to take a stroll down "Sesame Street" and see what you know about some of your favorite TV characters — both human and otherwise.
What show name was nixed by "Sesame Street" creators for being too New York-specific?
"123 Avenue B"
"Alphabet City"
"Central Park Place"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The show name "123 Avenue B" was initially considered, which would have put the location across from Tompkins Square Park at 8th Street, but creators decided it was too New York-specific.

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Where is "Sesame Street" supposedly located?
a mix of streets in Harlem, the Bronx, the Upper West Side and where "West Side Story" was set.
Alphabet City
the Bronx and Harlem
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Designer Charles Rosen based the set on a mix of streets in Harlem, the Bronx, the Upper West Side and the blocks where "West Side Story" was set.

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What is the address of Luis and Maria's iconic brownstone?
ABC Sesame Street
123 Sesame Street
1 Sesame Street
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The brownstone where Maria and Luis live is located at 123 Sesame Street.

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What Sesame Street character(s) live in the garden apartment below Luis and Maria at 123 Sesame Street?
Olivia Robinson
Gordon Robinson
Bert and Ernie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bert and Ernie share the garden apartment at 123 Sesame Street.

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What characters were NOT part of "Sesame Street" on its debut on November 10, 1969?
Kermit, Grover and Cookie Monster
Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, and Oscar
Snuffleupagus, The Count, Elmo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Big Bird, Kermit, Bert and Ernie, Oscar, Grover and Cookie Monster are all original characters. Snuffleupagus debuted in 1971, The Count in 1972 and Elmo in 1984.

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What "Sesame Street" character was the first to be a balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Grover
Kermit
Cookie Monster
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kermit became the first "Sesame Street" character to be part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1977.

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During a Thanksgiving Day episode in 1983, who did adult characters on "Sesame Street" explain had died to Big Bird?
Mr. Hooper
Mr. Robinson
Linda the librarian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When actor Will Lee, who played grocery store owner Mr. Hooper, died in 1982, "Sesame Street" writers used this scene to help explain death to its young audience.

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In 2002, what new "Takalani Sesame" ("Sesame Street's" South African edition) puppet created controversy?
Zuzu
Moshe
Kami
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Takalani Sesame" created Kami, an HIV-positive Muppet, who lost her mother to AIDS. Critics said the show was promoting homosexuality and prematurely educating children on the disease, but UNICEF disagreed and declared Kami a "Champion for Children" in 2003.

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What president appeared in a PSA with Kami?
Bill Clinton
George H. Bush
George H.W. Bush
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bill Clinton and Kami appeared in a UNICEF-sponsored PSA discussing the importance of talking to children about HIV and AIDS.

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What "Sesame Street" character, which appeared from 1970 to 1975, was eventually retired because viewers complained he portrayed a negative stereotype of African-American children?
Harvey Kneeslapper
Roosevelt Franklin
Frank Oz
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Roosevelt Franklin was an African-American Muppet who had his own school that taught lessons about the geography of Africa and other issues. He was eventually retired because he portrayed a negative image of African-American children.

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Who was the first celebrity to make a guest appearance on "Sesame Street?"
James Earl Jones
Michael Landon
Diana Ross
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

James Earl Jones was the first celebrity to appear on "Sesame Street."

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Which "Sesame Street "character's first words were “Don’t bang on my can! Go away”?
Oscar
Grover
The Lecture Lady
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oscar was just as grouchy when the show debuted in 1969 as he is today. But that is what makes him so endearing.

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What female "Sesame Street" character was added in 2006, the first new female lead in 13 years?
Zoe
Grundgetta
Abby Cadabby
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The pink fairy-in-training "Abby Cadabby" moved to Sesame Street in 2006 to inspire young girls and demonstrate positive female relationships. She was the first new female lead character added since 1993.

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What "Sesame Street" puppet is the only character to have testified before Congress?
Elmo
Big Bird
Kermit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2002, Elmo testified before the Education Appropriations Subcommittee to urge more spending on music research and musical instruments for school programs.

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What character's favorite thing are triangles and playing with his best friend Baby Bear?
Telly Monster
Super Grover
Big Bird
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Telly Monster loves watching TV, playing with his best friend Baby Bear and looking for triangle shapes.

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Who is Big Bird's best friend?
Susan
Snuffleupagus
Bert
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Snuffleupagus was Big Bird's imaginary best friend until 1985, when he was finally revealed to the rest of the cast.

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"Sesame Street's" 46th season includes a new cast member. What is her name?
Rita
Nina
Luisa
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nina is a young bilingual Hispanic woman who uses her wit, compassion and charisma to help the furry residents of "Sesame Street" solve their daily dilemmas.

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What "Sesame Street' character teaches children about vocabulary and introduces them to letters and numbers?
Rosita
Count Von Count
Murray
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While all "Sesame Street" characters reinforce letter and numbers, Murray is "Sesame Street's" ambassador for teaching vocabulary, letters and numbers.

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Which character did Jim Henson originally create for a cracker commercial three years before "Sesame Street" debuted?
Cookie Monster
Grover
Oscar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jim Henson originally designed an early version of Cookie Monster in 1966 for a cracker commercial.

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How tall is Big Bird?
8 feet 2 inches
7 feet 9 inches
7 feet 11 inches
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Big Bird is 8 feet, 2 inches tall.

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Oscar the Grouch wasn't always green. What color was he originally?
orange
blue
gray
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oscar the Grouch was originally orange. He changed to his trademark green color in the second season.

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In 1980, what famed characters from "Star Wars" visited "Sesame Street?"
C-3PO and R2-D2
Chewbacca and Han Solo
Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

C-3PO and R2-D2 visited "Sesame Street" to deliver a special message to Oscar the Grouch.

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What actor retired in 2015, after spending 44 years on "Sesame Street" as a writer and the character Maria?
Gabriela Rose Reagan
Sonia Manzano
Sara Compton
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sonia Manzano, who played Maria on "Sesame Street" since 1971, was nominated for two Emmys as Outstanding Performer and won 15 Emmys as a writer for "Sesame Street."

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Which "Sesame Street" character is the only one with a single to make it on the Billboard charts?
Ernie
Big Bird
Elmo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ernie's song "Rubber Ducky" was released as a single in 1970, and it made it to No. 16 on the Billboard charts.

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What does Super Grover sell for Acme, Inc.?
doorknobs
umbrellas
capes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Super Grover, the alter ego superhero of Grover, sells doorknobs door-to-door for Acme.

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Who gave Big Bird his teddy bear Radar?
Mr. Hooper
Maria
Snuffleupagus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mr. Hooper gave Big Bird the teddy bear Radar, which he sleeps with every night.

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What is Mr. Hooper's first name?
Sam
Leonard
Harold
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Harold Hooper ran the grocery store until his death in 1982.

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Guy Smiley is a recurring character on "Sesame Street." What is his job?
game show host
news reporter
politician
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Guy Smiley is the self-proclaimed America's Favorite Game Show Host.

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What are the small creatures who live in Ernie's window box with his flowers?
Twiddlebugs
Tattlesticks
Piddlepats
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Twiddlebugs are colorful bugs living in Ernie's window box. They first appeared in Season 2, but the main Twiddlebug family was introduced in Season 5.

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You Got:
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Glen Stubbe/Corbis