Sesame Workshop Receives Three Hugo Television Awards
(New York, NY, April 19, 2011) Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, has been honored with three Hugo Television Awards. Sesame Tree, Northern Ireland’s version of Sesame Street, won a Gold Plaque for Season 2. Sesame Street’s Big Bird Looks at the World, China’s version of Sesame Street, won a Silver Plaque Children’s Program for the episode Tree Use. Finally, Shalom Sesame, a twelve-part DVD series offering North Americans an introduction to Jewish life and Israel, won a Certificate of Merit Children’s Program for the DVD It’s Passover, Grover! The Hugo Television awards aims to recognize the most innovative and outstanding members of the television community.
The Hugo Television Awards were founded 47 years ago to acknowledge those who keep the television medium vibrant and shape its future. The Hugo TV Awards are presented annually in Chicago in by the Chicago International Film Festival.
Sesame Tree is co-produced by Sixteen South Television and Sesame Workshop. Sesame Tree aims to encourage children to explore and appreciate the world around them, promoting respect and understanding through engaging educational messages. Sesame Tree successfully aired on BBC Northern Ireland last March before being picked up by CBeebies and becoming an established favorite of young children and their families across the UK.
The winning episode, “Tree Use”, of China’s Sesame Street’s Big Bird Looks at the World, emphasizes the importance of nature. Lily learns her actions have consequences after one of her kung fu kicks damages a tree and disturbs a bird and its nest. Along with her friends Elmo and Big Bird, Lily learns how trees help keep our environment healthy and clean and they work together to save the tree. The show was made possible by Sesame Workshop, Toonmax Media, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group; and MSD, a global leader in developing innovative health solutions.
The winning Shalom Sesame DVD, “It’s Passover, Grover!” focuses on the themes of teamwork and problem solving. In the episode, it’s almost time to celebrate Passover, and there is no horseradish to be found. Grover and Anneliese van der Pol, who are visiting Israel, together with Avigail, a beloved muppet character who lives in Israel put their heads together to track it down. Shalom Sesame is co-produced by Sesame Workshop and Channel HOP!, the leading children’s channel in Israel. The series is designed to introduce Jewish culture and tradition, as well as the diversity of Israeli life, to American children and their families, by focusing on storylines drawn from Jewish cultural traditions, introducing Hebrew language and celebrating Jewish values and concepts.
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children’s television programming with the landmark Sesame Street. The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs, seen in over 140 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company. Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.
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Contact:
Beatrice Chow
Sesame Workshop
(212) 875 6586
