News

Bob McGrath, the actor and musician best known for playing the original human character Bob Johnson on the long-running children’s show Sesame Street, has died. He was 90. The actor’s family confirmed McGrath’s passing on his official Facebook page on Sunday, December 4, writing, “Our father, Bob McGrath, passed away today. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family.” A cause of death has not been revealed as of writing. McGrath appeared in the 1969 pilot of the beloved kid’s program and went on to become a series regular, starring in 45 seasons. He eventually exited the show in 2016. Alongside series matriarch Susan Robinson (Loretta Long), McGrath was one of the two longest-lasting human characters on the series since the show’s debut. He also contributed many original songs to the series, including “People in Your Neighborhood,” “Sing a Song,” “If You’re Happy And You Know It,” and...

Click here to read the full article.

Bob McGrath, the Sing Along With Mitch tenor who portrayed the friendly music teacher Bob Johnson for more than four decades as an original castmember on Sesame Street, died Sunday at home with his family in New Jersey. He was 90.

“Hello Facebook friends, the McGrath family has some sad news to share,” McGrath’s family posted on his Facebook page Sunday. “Our father Bob McGrath, passed away today. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family.” (Hollywood also paid tribute to the actor on social media.)

Born on a farm in Illinois, McGrath was one of the four non-Muppet castmembers when Sesame Street debuted on public television stations of Nov. 10, 1969.

With no acting experience, producers always told him to be himself. Over the years, he sang dozens of the show’s signature tunes, including “Sing, Sing a Song” and “The People in Your Neighborhood,...

Rolling Stone interview series Unknown Legends features long-form conversations between senior writer Andy Greene and veteran musicians who have toured and recorded alongside icons for years, if not decades. All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. Here, these artists tell their complete stories, giving an up-close look at life on music’s A list. This edition features backup vocalist Michelle Cobbs.

Every few days, Michelle Cobbs turns on the radio en route to her job at a Long Island hospital and...

In today’s TV news roundup, Sesame Workshop announced a premiere date for “Sesame Street’s Historic 50th Anniversary Celebration” and “Brave New World” adds Sophie McIntosh.

Casting

New Zealand actress Sophie McIntosh has been cast in USA Network’s “Brave New World” series, Variety has learned exclusively. She will play the recurring role of Jane, and joins a cast which includes Alden Ehrenreich, Harry Lloyd and Jessica Brown Findlay. McIntosh is repped by Echo Lake Entertainment, Johnson and Laird Management in New Zealand, and Bloomfields Welch Management in the U.K.

Dates

Iliza Shlesinger’s fifth original Netflix comedy special will premiere Nov. 19 on the streaming platform. In the hour-long special, the newly married Shlesinger will pull back the veil on the dangers of having a zombie bachelorette army while also discussing wedding planning, garters and honeymooning.

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind “Sesame Street,” announced the historic 50th season...

Tonight’s installment of Detective on Investigation Discovery probes the double murder of a couple at Ohio State University in Columbus. The episode, titled Campus Killer, pieces together the fateful night in January 1999 when Loretta Long and her boyfriend, Patrick Pryor, planned to watch a movie at her campus apartment. A roommate later discovered their bloody bodies, which had been gunned down. Police’s investigation of the killings apparently accelerated after they found out Loretta was being stalked. Long, 21, and Pryor, 20, both died from multiple gunshot wounds. Police were initially baffled by the incident, as drugs didn’t appear to be involved and...read more...

Read More: Watch: 'Sesame Street's' Caroll Spinney Embodies Michael Keaton for 'Big Birdman' For 46 years, Caroll Spinney has been playing "Sesame Street's" Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch - and at 81 years old, he has no intention of stopping. A loving portrait of the man in the yellow suit, "I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story" features extraordinary footage of Spinney's earliest collaborations with Jim Henson as it traces his journey from bullied child to childhood icon. And as the yellow feathers give way to grey hair, it is the man, not the puppet, who will steal your heart. In the exclusive clip above, fellow "Sesame Street" cast members Dr. Loretta Long and Bob McGrath recall a hilarious issue with a microphone, a couple of randy truckers and Bid Bird being stabbed in the neck (okay, not actually stabbed, just watch the clip.) "I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story...

After the passing of a beloved pet or relative -- or in the mournful aftermath of horrific tragedies like the Sandy Hook school shooting -- parents often struggle to find a suitable way to discuss death with their kids.

If you can't imagine how you would even start the conversation, Jezebel has an idea.

On Monday, the blog posted this moving "Sesame Street" clip, commenting: "t'll break your heart about fifty times in one viewing."

In the video, taken from the famous "Sesame Street" episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper," which first aired on November 24, 1983, Big Bird learns that Mr. Hooper, the original owner of Hooper's Store, has died.

"Mr. Hooper is not coming back," Susan, played by Loretta Long, tells Big Bird gently. "When people die, people don't come back."

As the nation mourns in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre, the video, despite being almost three decades old, has gone viral this week,...

Sesame Street's producers have launched a search for one of the original stars from their pilot episode. A clip from the Children's Television Workshop pilot from 1969 has surfaced featuring Bob McGrath, Loretta Long and an unknown actor in the role of Gordon. When the children's series finally went to air, Gordon was played by Matt Robinson. Hal Miller replaced Robinson in season three and Roscoe Orman has held the role since season six. However, producers have been unable to identify the original Gordon pilot actor and have requested help from anyone who can shed light on his identity. "We don't know who he is, and we'd like (more)...

Loretta Long has been rushed to hospital after being hit by a car near her New Jersey home, according to Us reports. The Sesame Street star said she was "doing well" after sustaining a fractured leg and head injuries in the collision. "I feel good," she told the New York Post from her hospital bed. "I'm going to be fine." Long, 71, who has (more)...

Sesame Street star Loretta Long has been hospitalised after she was hit by a car in New Jersey.

The veteran actress, who has appeared on the children's classic as Susan Robinson since it began in 1969, was crossing Route 130 at Dutch Neck Road on Tuesday when she was struck by a vehicle and carried 70 feet (21 metres).

Long was taken into Capital Health at Fuld Hospital in Trenton, New Jersey, suffering from head injuries and a broken shin.

The 69 year old is reportedly "in good spirits" at the medical facility, while undergoing scans to determine the extent of her injuries, reports RadarOnline.com.

A motorist has been questioned by cops following the incident.

A police representative says, "The matter remains under investigation by the East Windsor Police Department's Unit and Mercer County Serious Collision Response Team."...

By Times of Trenton

Longtime "Sesame Street" actress Loretta Long, 71, was struck by a car and carried about 70 feet Tuesday evening and was hospitalized in fair condition.

Long, who has played block matriarch Susan Robinson on the landmark PBS children's program since the show's debut in 1969, suffered head wounds as she tried to cross Route 130 at about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday.<img id="StoryAd/Njonline/Spacer_NJ_RoS_06/Spacer_SpanMJX.html" width="2" height="2" alt="" src="http://ads.nj.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_lx.ads/www.nj.com/xml/story/trenton_times/ng/ngx/L10/980111913/StoryAd/Njonline/Spacer...

On this day in 1969, the National Educational Television network premiered a show from the Children's Television Workshop, with songs, animation, Bob McGrath, Loretta Long, Caroll Spinney, Carol Burnett, and Muppets.

Forty years later, Sesame Street has become the longest running American children's program, having helped educate generations of children worldwide. And Bob McGrath, Loretta Long (Susan) and Caroll Spinney (Big Bird and Oscar) are still there. (Think of it-- 40 years as an 8 foot tall bird.)

The effect of the show is so powerful and widespread, this song made it up to #16 on the Billboard charts in 1970:

Make sure you catch the season premiere today, with special guest Michelle Obama. Check your local PBS station for times and listings-- or (sign of the times) get the Sesame Street podcast on .