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For 35 years, Sesame Street has been consistently honored for its contribution to generations of children's development and remains the benchmark for the best in educational programming. Season 35 begins with "Elmo's World" where Elmo learns about Sesame Street through a journey in flashbacks of the show. Elmo's other adventures range from wanting to have a "Little Furry Red Monster Parade" and starting his own singing group, "The Cute and Fuzzy Four."

Celebrate the show's 35th anniversary with Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster, assistant content director for Sesame Street. They were online Friday, May 28 at 3 p.m. ET to discuss the longstanding PBS children's program.

A transcript follows.

Washington Post Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Detroit, Michigan: I remember when "Sesame Street" started many years ago, Elmo was not yet on the program. When did he make his debut? He seems to be the most popular character among young children. (He certainly was to my daughter when she was younger.) What do you feel is the reason behind his high appeal to young children?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: He started on the show in 1980 and he's three and a half years old and he's very positive so children get that from him. He's featured in Elmo's World, which is very popular among them. He's very curious and always asking questions which is what a two and three year old does to find out more information about the world.

Arlington, Virginia: I want to congratulate you on your involvement with Sesame Street, one of the best television shows ever developed. I learned to read from Sesame Street (and the Electric Company) some 30+ years ago, and now my 2 1/2 year daughter is a huge fan of the show. Sesame Street continues to create wonderful shows that appeal to both children and adults. (I loved the Sesame Street karaoke episode, laughed out loud when you introduced "Dr. Feel," and cannot say enough good things about the "Let's Make Music" DVD.)

My question is: As I recall Sesame Street from my youth, there seemed to be more of a focus on teaching the concepts of letters (and reading) and numbers than there is now. (For example, I remember the "letter of the day" as being highlighted throughout the show, rather than for the 2-3 clips that now, typically, involve that letter). Is my memory flawed? And, if not, would you consider taking steps to give those concepts more emphasis on the show? (For instance, I could imagine "Elmo's World" displaying words that begin with the letter of the day on the screen when they arise in Elmo's discussion of the topic of the day.)

(Oh, and one little pickly point -- I know that "fishes" is technically an appropriate plural form of "fish", but it is not the principal form used in English. I tend to cringe through that particular segment of "Elmo's World"!)

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Literacy and math are still huge content areas for Sesame Street and we dedicate two segments -- letter of the day with Cookie Monster and rhyming, new vocabulary and words on screen. We have focused more on math than we did before such as the Count using numbers in counting, early addition and subtraction, measurement and at the end Gordon and Oscar and Slimey come back to repeat the letter and the number of the day.

In regards to fishes -- we always want to use the correct word and context and we don't dumb down any words. Fishes is correct among fish of various species rather than one species. Our researcher had found that out through a marine biologist.

Newport Beach, California: Does Elmo have a family... brothers or sisters? Will Elmo go on tour soon?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Yes, Elmo has a lot of brothers and sisters and a mommy and daddy too!

New York, New York: Hello Elmo, I, Lyanna, wanted to know if you like airplanes. I love airplanes. They are my favorite.

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo loves airplanes especially when I go in them with mommy and daddy. And Elmo loves when daddy picks him up and plays airplane with him too!

Lyme, Connecticuit: Elmo, you're too young to be this old. You're as old as you feel. How do you feel?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo's mommy says that he's three and a half going on 42.

Wooster, Ohio: Elmo, Are you ever mad at anyone, ever?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo was angry at Zoe for ripping his blanket but we are still good friends.

Arlington, Virginia: How did Jim Henson's passing several years ago affect Sesame Street?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: The fact of the loss of not having him around was felt and we difinitely would be putting more magic in the programs if he was around. He left us with a huge legacy and the way the muppets are on Sesame Street and we continue to strive for the same quality.

Salt Lake City, Utah: Elmo and Sesame Street have been popular for years and yet have remained fresh and with the times it seems. What, in your opinion, is the key to keeping the show fresh and progressive without insulting or alienating the audience?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: We are constantly paying attention to the needs of preschoolers throughout times. We recognize that they have different needs today then they may have had years ago and we remaindynamic as to what is popular and being in tune with what's happening around the kids today.

Recently, we had Dr. Phil and we have a parody now called Dr. Feel. We get the adults to enjoy watching with the kids. We remain dynamic with the look as well in terms of bringing in computer generated animation.

Columbia, South Carolina: I wanted to know how old your goldfish Dorothy is.

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Dorothy is six years old (in fish years).

Vienna, Virginia: Hi Elmo you are my most favorite puppet in the universe! My mommy said I can only ask one question: Where are you most ticklish and why?

Love-Gabby

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo's tummy and I don't know why!

Washington, D.C.: Why isn't Kermit ever on Sesame Street anymore?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Kermit is very busy these days. It's just like relatives where you don't see them all the time. He's definitely still around.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Elmo, Will you ever go back to Grouchland?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Yes. Elmo has made a lot of friends there and would love to see the Trash Queen again.

Chicago, Illinois: (Question for Elmo transcribed by a parent of a four year old): Will you get old some day? How old are you? Are you friends with Cookie Monster?

Thank you!

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo would love to get old someday to go to school. Elmo loves Cookie Monster especially when he shares his cookies which is once in a while.

Morrisville, North Carolina: Why did the grownups have to discover that Mr. Snuffaluffogus was real? Not that I'm, like, bitter or anything over it.

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: We do a lot of research where we show children Sesame Street to find out how they feel about it and how the are reacting to it. And we found it was frustrating to kids that Big Bird that Snuffy existed but nobody else believed him so we empowered Big Bird by letting him set up a meeting where Snuffy meets everyone for the first time.

19th & L Streets, NW, Washington, D.C.: Congratulations on 35 years! Which character(s) have been on the show the longest?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Big Bird, Kermit and Oscar were the first. Then came Ernie, Bert, Cookie, Grover and the Count.

Zoe and Curly Bear are some of the new characters.

Fort Benning, Georgia: Elmo, Is it difficult to play the piano with only six fingers?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo has 4 fingers on each hand which means he has 8 fingers. No it is not hard playing piano with 8 fingers!

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Elmo, what is your favorite desert?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo loves pistachio ice cream!

Alexandria, Virginia: Hi! I wanted to ask Anna how she feels about the fact that Elmo has a little-kid voice but is trying to teach kids about growing up, asking questions, etc. Do you think those two things are contradictory? I know a lot of people who change the channel when Elmo comes on, due solely to the voice (no offense!)-- but I think a lot of kids must love it. Thanks!

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: We don't create these characters for adults but to teach what we need to teach kids with the muppet characters who have childlike qualities. He's not going to have an adult voice and the majority of people have said they liked the voice.

Kids really do respond well to the high pitched sound of Elmo's voice and he is a role model for young kids and we want him to be as a child asking questions and seeking out information as a child. We have a balance of adults and the childlike muppets on Sesame Street.

Manchester, Connecticuit: Hello, Elmo: My daughter is very very fond of you. The other night we had terrible thunderstorms and it scared her. What does Elmo do during thunderstorms?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo goes and cuddles with his mommy and daddy. Or Elmo will sing songs with Dorothy and that makes him feel better and not so scared.

Washington, D.C.: Elmo: What is your favorite food?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Wasabi!

Reston, Virginia: Elmo, what do you think of the cicadas?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster:Elmo: Elmo used to get scared of the sound but now he likes it because it doesn't last very long.

Washington, D.C.: Would you please tell me how to spell Snuffy's full name? Thank you.

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: S-N-U-F-F-L-E-U-P-A-G-U-S

Arlington, Virginia: is there any chance to have old Sesame Street episodes on DVD?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: No, they are not available on DVD but the classic segments are used in new shows and within home videos and specials.

Chandler, Arizona: Hi Elmo, Why are you red?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo was just born that way. Thanks for asking

East Windsor, Connecticuit: Elmo, What are you favorite types of books to read?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo can't read but his mommy and daddy read Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz. And one of his favorite Dr. Seuss books is Green Eggs and Ham.

Millersville, Maryland: Why did Bill Irwin leave as Mr. Noodle and what will happen now that his replacement, Michael Jeter, has passed away?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Actually, he was shooting the Grinch and couldn't do that season but once that was over, he came back again. We're not replacing and can't replace Michael Jeter.

Pikesville, Maryland: Hi Elmo! I love playing your games on Sesame Street online. Are there any plans for you to do a movie? I love you!

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Thanks! Elmo loves you too!

Buffalo, New York: Who was the most memorable guest star you worked with?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Rosie O'Donnel, Whoopi and Maya Angelou was Elmo's favorite friends!

Reston, Virginia: When is Elmo's birthday?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo's birthday is February 3rd.

Reston, Virginia: What does Elmo do on holidays?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo loves spending holidays with best friends and family.

Washington, D.C.: Hi Elmo! I was wondering what you were doing for Memorial Day? Are you doing anything with your family? Maybe going down to the Mall?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo's daddy will cook some food on the grill. Elmo loves grilled food! No, Elmo is not going to the Mall, Elmo is going to the beach this year with his mommy and daddy.

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster:Elmo: Maybe next time you invite Elmo and he will come!

Silver Spring, Maryland: Elmo -- can you tell us anything about the person who is "behind" your success?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo just knows that he has a guardian angel adn his is much taller than Elmo and he is not red.

Question about SesameStreet.com: I'm always singing a little tune I remember from my childhood Sesame Street watching days called "Ma-na-ma-na." I heard it again on the sesamestreet.com radio but I haven't heard it since. Is there a CD that might have this tune and others from Sesame Street (Bert singing "Doing the Pigeon" etc.) on it?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: We haven't done the Ma na ma na song for a long time. Jim Henson originated doing that song with The Muppets in local television and he did sing the song again on The Muppet Show and used it on Sesame Street. The most recent time we used it was during the show for the 35th season and it was at the end of the credits.

You can probably purchase the song on one of The Muppet Show CDs.

New York Ciry, New York: Elmo, you are such a great dancer. Are there any particular performers, pop stars or musicians who have influenced your moves?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo loves a lot of dancers -- Prince, Fred Astaire and Beyonce.

Fairfax, Virginia: Elmo, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo wants to be a teacher.

U-Street & 13th, Washington, D.C.: In regards to Big Bird? Will he ever get married? Will there ever be a time when one of the characters on the show actually grows up? Wouldn't this provide children with a lesson in family and family values? Eliminating all of the adult topics of course, but allowing to see Big Bird get married and start a family of his own and maybe have children and show him rearing those children. I think it would make a great season. Don't you?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: The dynamic of Sesame Street is that the muppets are there for the children to relate to. The adults in the show are there to show adult life like Maria and Luiz getting married or Susan and Gordon adopting a child.

Arlington, Virginia: In your reply as to why Sesame Street remains popular, you mentioned that perschoolers today have different needs? What are those differences?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: The world that children are growing up in today in the U.S. is a media saturated society. Kids just need to know a lot of different skills that they didn't need to know in the past. In our show, we have been focusing on reasoning skills and how to think things through. In response to September 11, we have developed four shows helping kids cope with emotions of loss, bullying, getting along with others and fire safety.

Every year we encourage asking questions and never being afraid to ask them, and that is the strength that we see in what Elmo.

Our research with adults shows that parents and teachers do want kids to think for themselves and ask questions. It's not just about knowing facts. It's about taking the steps to investigate further as children develop a lifelong love of learning.

Abby and Zach in Houston, Texas: Hi Elmo! We wanted to know why your fish is named Dorothy. Our fish is named Dorothy, too!

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo thinks that you have really good taste in names.

Washington, D.C.: Elmo: I am 5 years old. My Mommy and Daddy work for Congressmen. They took me to see you when you came to the Capitol to testify. Did you like the Capitol? Did you like Congress?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo loved it! Elmo loves old buildings and he got to meet new friends.

Chattanooga, Tennessee: I just wanted to say thanks to everyone at Sesame Street. Having the chance to learn what it meant to have friends and family (of all shapes and sizes) had a huge impact on me growing up.

What do you think the biggest change on the show has been through the years?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: The format changes during season 33 were the biggest change to the show in the history of Sesame Street.

Dover, New Hampshire: Hi Elmo! Is Big Bird soft when you sit with him or are his feathers all prickly? I've wondered this for years. Also, are you very good friends with Kermit the Frog? I haven't seen him around Sesame Street so much anymore.

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Big Bird is really comfy, like a pillow without the pillowcase and just the feathers. Yes, Elmo sees Kermit once in a while and sometimes Kermit takes Elmo out for ice cream.

Arbutus, Maryland: Elmo, My 9 month old daughter loves you!! Her face just lights up every time you come on tv or she hears your voice (I'm actually a little jealous). How do you do it? What is your appeal to babies? It has to be your voice but I can't understand the appeal. Of course, I'm not a baby so how can I understand? Keep up the fine work!! -World's Greatest Dad

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo loves you and your daughter very much.

Germantown, Maryland: Elmo, My kids love you and so do I! I'm so glad that you came to Sesame Street. I grew up watching the show and I still love to watch it with my three kids. Sometimes, I think I enjoy it more than them. I am so glad that Sesame Street continues to make quality programs for kids. I hope that you (Elmo) and the show are on for a long, long time! Elmo, what do you like to watch on TV?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Elmo likes to watch DragonTales, Barney and Elmo still watches Mr. Rogers even though he is not with us anymore. Elmo doesn't want to forget Sagwa!

Arlington, Virginia: An old school question here. I remember watching Sesame Street when Mr. Hooper died. How difficult was it to incorporate his death into a children's program? Was it ever said what he actually passed away from?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: It's not easy to focus on hard topics like death in a children's program but the show thought it was very important to do that since Mr. Hooper was an important part of the program. Everyone has a family member that passes away adn we thought it was important to focus on it. It came to be a closure for not only our audience but also the cast for losing Will Lee. It was never said what he died of in the show but he died of pneumonia. The focus of the show was to help Big Bird cope with his emotions and his feelings of loss after Mr. Hooper his friend passed away and in an age appropriate and sensitive way, we modeled strategies that children who were watching could maybe using in their own lives.

High Point, Wisconsin: I heard that ther really is a Sesame Street in NYC. Is that how you got the name for your show? And why Sesame Street?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: There's no Sesame Street in New York other than where we shoot the show in the studio in New York. The first title was Open Sesame but that didn't work and changed it to Sesame Street -- which works because it's about a neighborhood in a city.

East Windsor, Connecticuit: Elmo, Does Cookie Monster ever share his cookies with you?

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo: Yes once in a while and only when Elmo shares his milk!

Elmo and Anna E. Housley-Juster: Elmo and Anna want to thank you so much for spending time with us. It was fun chatting with you! Have a great weekend!

© 2004 The Washington Post Company

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