Sesame Workshop retains Brown Johnson as consultant

Brown Johnson, an influential former Nickelodeon programming executive, is working as a consultant with Sesame Workshop.

Johnson is the second prominent Nickelodeon executive to join Sesame Street, the television home for Elmo, Big Bird, Oscar and other denizens of the New York-based nonprofit educational organization.

In September, former Nickelodeon executive Jeffrey Dunn was hired as chief executive of Sesame Workshop, replacing Mel Ming, who retired. Dunn became the first external hire to join as CEO.

Johnson started at Sesame Workshop earlier this month as a creative consultant. She is expected to provide input on programming and other creative elements, a spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday.
Johnson was the Nickelodeon executive most responsible for helping create Dora the Explorer, which exploded into a cultural and commercial tour de force in children’s programming. She spearheaded the Nick Jr. preschool brand, which was known for incorporating educational elements into the story lines.

She worked at Nickelodeon for about two decades, including four years as its animation chief.

Johnson left the Viacom Inc.-owned children’s network two years ago as the network experienced a dramatic ratings slide amid seismic shifts in children’s viewership patterns.

Twitter: @MegJamesLAT