Since it first premiered on PBS (then called NET) in 1969, Sesame Street has been a true pioneer in Latino representation, so much so that we recently wrote about the extensive cast of Latino characters who have at one time or another called Sesame Street their block. But now it seems the folks over at the show’s Sesame Workshop production company are bringing their commitment to Latino audiences one step further. According to a recent announcement, the new Spanish-language series Sesame Amigos premiered on Univision August 1, 2015.
Targeted toward bilingual preschoolers in the United States, Sesame Amigos will feature the same cast of inoffensive monsters, plush humanoids, and giant, anthropomorphic birds we’ve all grown to love from the original, along with a rotating cast of Spanish-speaking guest stars to ensure a level of cultural and linguistic familiarity for the show’s target audience. Continuing with Sesame Street’s stated mission of helping kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder, Sesame Amigos was designed to equip children from Spanish-speaking households with the tools necessary to thrive in the United States. The show will undoubtedly grow to be a cherished childhood institution for an entire generation of U.S. Latinos.
The 26-episode first season will kick off with Mexican heartthrob and human muppet Diego Luna, while other guest stars include Carlos Calderon, Primer Impacto‘s Tony Dandrades, and Univision sportscaster Pablo Ramirez. Whether we will finally have the chance to see a Cuban Big Bird, a Mexican Cookie Monster, or a Peruvian Elmo is yet to be seen, but we can find on Saturday mornings on the Planeta U children’s programming block.
Sesame Amigos airs Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. on Univision.