A New Year’s Romp for ‘Sesame Street’ Set

When you’re 25 years old, New Year’s Eve is a time for a monster party. And that’s just what “Sesame Street” has on the agenda this week.

The Children’s Television Workshop production continues its 25th anniversary celebration with an international extravaganza focusing on New Year’s traditions throughout the world, “Sesame Street Stays Up Late! A Monster New Year’s Eve Party.”

The one-hour special (Thursday at 8 p.m. on Channels 28 and 50, Friday at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 15) also marks “Sesame Street’s” first collaborative effort with international partners in Mexico, Portugal, Japan, Israel, Germany and Norway.

“There was nothing on television in this country for kids on New Year’s Eve,” explained executive producer Nina Elias Bamberger. “Traditionally, it’s a time that parents leave their kids at home and go off to their own celebrations. So we wanted to make this a New Year’s special that could be seen for many years.”

During the show, the American “Sesame Street” cast prepares for the New Year while watching Monster News Network reports of children’s celebrations in the six other countries.

The Monster News reports, created and shot on location by the international partners, provide the “Sesame Street” monsters--and the little critters watching at home--with several good ways to ring in the New Year, as well as a sampling of original songs and music from around the world.

In Mexico, children are shown making and playing with pinatas. Portuguese celebrants eat 12 grapes--one for each month--and make wishes. Japanese children pound rice for cakes, play games and paint the faces of the losers. The Jewish New Year, marked three months ago in Israel by the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn), includes dipping apples in honey and asking forgiveness from friends. Garman youngsters go door to door, banging pots and pans, chanting the Rummel Pot song and asking for treats. Norwegian children participate in a candle-lighting ceremony and sing a farewell song to the old year.

(Parents are forewarned and should be forearmed that their children may ask to emulate many of the international traditions, particularly after Big Bird and a child make wishes on grapes near the end of the program and express their desire for friendship, happiness and peace everywhere.)

“Sesame Street’s” international appeal already is well established. The English-language version of the show airs in about 40 countries. (In countries such as Poland and Japan, it draws large audiences of teen-agers eager to learn English.)

Separate productions with different characters, goals and themes have been done in Mexico, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands for more than 18 years, and for up to five years in Portugal, Turkey and Norway.

The New Year’s special shows off several of the international characters: Oofnik the Grouch and Kippy the Porcupine of Israel’s “Rechov Sumsum,” Alpha Bjarne and Max Mekke from “Sesam Stasjon” in Norway, “Rua Sesamo’s” Tita in Portugal and “Sesamstrasse’s” Tiffy in Germany.