in:International Sesame Street Shows,Plaza Sésamo

Plaza Sésamo


Premiere	1972
Finale	2016
Network	Various
Seasons	15
Episodes	1,237

PlazaSesamoTC — Plaza Sésamo title card.

PlazaSesamoSesameStreet — Abelardo,Lola, andPancho Contreras with their American friends fromSesame Street

Plaza Sésamo is the original Latin American co-production ofSesame Street. The series was discontinued in 2016 and all material produced for the Latin American market was rebranded simply asSésamo until 2022, when it was reverted back into its original name.

Premiering in November1972 and co-produced withTelevisa, the series initially featured a mixed cast of Panamanian, Argentine, and mostly Mexican performers, featured "neutral Spanish", and was meant for kids up to 8 years old. It aired at 2:30 pm on Canal 2. As the years progressed, the series more explicitly reflected Mexico, where the show is shot; in addition to airing in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and throughout Spanish-speaking Latin America, the series debuted onPBS on April 3,1995, broadcast primarily in Southwest markets on Saturday mornings. The program is also seen on UniMás. It is the onlySesame Street co-production that can be widely seen in the United States.

Abelardo Montoya once visited his cousinBig Bird onSesame Street in the USin an episode that aired on Cinco de Mayo.

The series was a regional semi-finalist for the 2006International Emmy Awards, up against5, Rue Sésame, another co-production ofSesame Street.

A number of episodes from season 9 are available for purchase fromThe iTunes Store.

Sesame Workshop description[]

Plaza Sésamo premiered in Mexico and Latin America in 1972. The acclaimed Spanish-language television series for preschool children depicts a colorful neighborhood, the Plaza, which is home to a mix of families, children, and Muppets. Like its counterpart, Sesame Street, the show intertwines animation, live action films, studio segments and original music videos that teach basic literacy and numeracy and help children gain a better understanding of the world around them. In2003, Plaza Sésamo celebrated its 30th anniversary. Three decades after launching in Mexico and Latin America the series continues to educate and delight children through its television broadcast and in other media, including; books, videos, toys, and a Plaza Sésamo theme park in Monterrey, Mexico.In 2006, the first of three exciting new seasons of Plaza Sésamo will air on Televisa, Discovery Kids Latin America, Univision Puerto Rico, and TeleFutura. Additionally, Sesame Workshop will distribute the show throughout the Latin American marketplace and the US Hispanic marketplace. The new episodes of Plaza Sésamo will see the return of Abelardo, Lola, and Pancho, as well as favorites Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert, and Ernie. Regional live action films, produced by local producers from throughout Latin America, will highlight the rich cultural diversity of the region. In addition, ten new 60-minute Plaza Sésamo home video titles, including a holiday special, will be produced along with seasons 9, 10 and 11.

History[]

For a list of episodes seePlaza Sesamo Episodes.

Test pilot: 1971[]

Sesamopilot — The cast of the pilot film

Plazapilot2 — The shop of the pilot film

Plazapilot3 — Global information about the pilot that came with these pictures

The idea ofPlaza Sésamo came when several government representatives and Latin American teachers asked theChildren's Television Workshop for permission to dubSesame Street into the Spanish language. Refusing the offer under the impression that the American-based characters of the show would not work as well in a foreign environment, the CTW instead decided to assist in creating a Latin-based version of the show.

Developed by 11 consultants and psychologists across South America, a test pilot was filmed in the summer of 1971. It was shown to forty-eight different Latin American consultants and tested on children in the fall of 1971. This initial pilot featured a bird counterpart toBig Bird, rather than the reptilian one who would follow. The cast includedCarlos Ancira as shopkeeper Don Ramón, Juan Ángel Martínez as mechanic Gonzalo,Luisa Huertas as nurse Rosita, and Dunia Zaldívar as Maria Luisa. They continued in these roles for the 1972 series.

Roughly 50% of the content that made up the pilot was content previously run onSesame Street and dubbed, a trend that would follow into the show itself.

A few scenes from the test pilot were also broadcast onDutch television in1972, followingan episode from the original American production, similarly to demonstrate howSesame Street could also be adapted for the Netherlands.

First run: 1972-1973[]

42400255 — A 1973 issue of the comicChiquilladas, withPlaza Sésamo characters on the cover.

In revising the show for air,Abelardo was redesigned as a Latin-themed reptillian creature to add to the nationalized appeal, andPaco, a parrot, was added to fill a role similar to that ofOscar the Grouch. Of the content that was tested, musical-based content such as theJazz Numbers failed to appeal to children, and were dropped in the final show.

The series debuted in November of 1972 in Puerto Rico, January 8, 1973 in Mexico and throughout spring 1973 in the majority of Latin America.^[1] The cast consisted ofMexican performers and featured "neutral Spanish." Four human characters occupiedPlaza Sésamo; Don Ramon, the shopkeeper; Gonzalo; Rosita; and Maria Luisa. The setting was a plaza that resembled a typical city block in Central or South America with a center fountain, benches, vacant lot with playground equipment, houses, a combination grocery store-cafe, and a mechanic's repair shop.^[2] The curriculum for this season was to teach whole "slight words" that children can learn through repetition and memorization. The show also taught children about hygiene and the importance of cleanliness.^[3] The overall pace of the show was slower than that ofSesame Street to allot for the length of Spanish words and slower pace of life in Latin American countries.

First revamping: 1975[]

A second season of 260 episodes, officially namedPlaza Sésamo II in-house, debuted on February 2,1975. The show was heavily re-tooled to have a stronger Latin curriculum and episodes focused on issues afflicting Latin American society, including gastroenteritis. Alongside a small facelift to the plaza set and a revision to the puppet characters' designs, the cast of human characters was replaced and recast, adding an Argentinian actress and a Panamanian actor to diversify the makeup of the cast, bringing the total of the human cast from four to six.^[4]

Second revamping: 1981[]

PlazaSesamo1980sCast — ThePlaza Sésamo cast in the 1980s

Title card from the 80s

PlazaSesamoEarly90sTitleCard — Title card as used for video releases during the early 1990s

MEXICO TV GUIDE 1984 PLAZA SESAMO AD — TV Guide ad from 1984.

The series was revamped for a third season in 1981. In this incarnation, Abelardo and Paco were replaced by Montoya, a big parrot, and a brown grouch namedBodoque. While the first era lasted for two differentiated seasons, this revamp only lasted one.

In 1985, an earthquake in Mexico City caused a 10-ton antenna to collapse intoTelevisa's south tower, in the process destroying masters for many shows includingPlaza Sésamo's first 3 seasons.

In 1993, the first series ofPlaza Sésamo videos were released, featuring new stories with Montoya and Bodoque.

Third revamping: 1995-2001[]

PlazaSesamo90Cast — ThePlaza Sesamo cast in the 1990s.

Plazasesamo — Cast fromPlaza Sésamo andSesame Street

Plaza Sesamo 1995 Title Card — *Plaza Sesamo* title card from 1995

PlazaSesamo19981999TitleCard — *Plaza Sesamo* title card from 1998 to 2000.

During this time, Bodoque was taken out of the show and replaced by two new characters:Lola, an energetic female monster who speaks in the third person, andPancho Contreras, a blue monster who's always busy. Montoya was also renamedAbelardo (but he kept the name Montoya for his surname) and his personality became more playful and childlike.

New cast members were also added, some of which continue to appear to this day, includingDon Boni andLa Abuela. It was also during this period that the newAnything Muppet-type characters, theMultimuppet andMultimonstruo were added, allowing many new recurring characters.

This version also added the current Plaza Sesamo theme which would be modified in later seasons.

"Mercado" era: 2005-2016[]

PlazaSesamo13 1 — The Cast of Plaza Sésamo's 13th Season

PlazaSesamo2011Elmo&Group — Elmo on Plaza Sésamo's 14th Season

Plaza_Sesamo_Show_Open — Plaza Sesamo Show Open
The show's opening since 2005.

During the planning for new episodes of the show in2003, the researchers of Latin America felt the set could use a re-vamping so it could be something all kids in Latin America could relate to.^[5] The set designers created a set based on amercado, small marketplaces that are plentiful in Latin America. The new set also used bright vivid colors like typical mercados and bright lights to reflect the bright, Mexican sun. The set debuted in season 9 in2005.

Season 9 also brought new recurring segments used at the program's start or end. "Lola Aventuras" was introduced as a way to encourage girls to be active and productive (as well as attracting a male audience also). Other sketches include "Hazlo Tu Mismo" and "Los Monstruos También Lloran, which spoofsTelenovelas with celebrity guests. As well, a new opening theme was produced, featuring the main Muppet characters (as well as Elmo and Grover) in an animated environment, discovering the letters that spell "Plaza Sesamo".

In2006, season 10 of the show debuted. The season focused onhealthy habits, featuring various plots about food and exercise. Many episodes also ended with a special message from a celebrity and one of the Muppet characters about exercise, eating healthy and other health-related tips. Introduced this season was a family fromArgentina that moved to the plaza. However, they debuted late in the season and did not appear after the season.

In2008, the series celebrated its 35th anniversary. Season 11 debuted that year in March. During this season, several changes were made, including new actors to playLa Abuela andDaniela. As well, a newLavender Multimuppet as added to the cast.Abby Cadabby also was added to the show, appearing at the start of some episodes in three-part sketches where she performs a magic trick with an ordinary object. Two new recurring segments debuted also: A brief segment that is shown shortly after the first scene where one of the main Muppet characters introduces the letter of the day, and "Pancho Visión", a daily segment in which Pancho Contreras presents a film about his friends all over the world.

Season 12 of the show debuted in October2009 with the main curriculum ofecology.^[6] A new actor for Manuel appears.

Themercado was again revamped inseason 13 (which debuted in late September 2010), and new Muppet characterGaby was added.

In 2011, Season 14 debuted in August and featuredElmo as a new character on the plaza and a new Muppet character, Camilo, who is in a wheelchair.^[7] Javier Williams, producer of the broadcast, says about the new muppet character, "We made it important that working with this Telethon, from the ages of 3 or 4 years will leave a small message that no matter where a child is in a wheelchair, is still like any other." New cast members were also added including Rafael and Natalia, the first Argentinean couple.^[8] The curriculum will focus on diversity of places, customs, and conditions. Guest Stars includeMaite Perroni fromRBD andJuanes who will appeared in a "Word of the Day" segment.^[9]

2012 celebrates the 40th anniversary of the show.

For Season 15, 52 episodes debut in December 2013, the street scenes move to RCNColombia. The new Muppets were "tech-savvy friends"Chip (owner of Café Clic) andGina, and human cast additions were Luisa and Martin. In addition to the existing health, diversity, and literacy themes, the season added a focus on math.

Cast[]

Muppet Cast in the 70s:

Abelardo (first Abelardo):Justo Martinez

Paco: Justo Martinez

Muppet Cast in the 80s:

Montoya (early Abelardo):Alberto Estrella

Bodoque:Jaime Vega

Muppet Cast 2005:

Abelardo:Eugenio Bartilotti,Héctor Loeza

Lola:Rocío Lara

Pancho:Odín Dupeyrón,Marypaz García (assist)

Elefancio:Itzel Tapia,Marcia Coutiño (2005)

Other Muppets and Monsters ("Multimuppet yMultimonstruo"):Alejandro Abaroa, Santiago Alonso,Alejandro Benítez, Raul Buendia,Igor Cruz, Eduardo De Juanbelz, Flavio Ruiz, Carlos Martello

Muppet Cast 2009:

Other Muppets and Monsters ("Multimuppet y Multimonstruo"): Liz Serrano, Enrique Madrid, Alicia Paola Sanchez, Leticia Amezcua, Gerardo Zardain

Muppet Cast 2010:

Pancho:Alfonso Soto,Maripaz García (assist)

Gaby:Verenice Callejo

Other Muppets and Monsters ("Multimuppet y Multimonstruo"): José Luis Arévalo,Carlos Marttelo, Eduardo de Juanbelz

Muppet Cast 2011:

Elmo:Carlos Marttelo

Gaby: Verenice Callejo

Camilo: Diego Monsiváis

Modesto Microfono: José Luis Arévalo

Mano de Pancho: Gabriel Guzmán