Elmo’s Playdate is sure to be a lot more entertaining than your work Zoom sessions, though. Kids can sit down with their on-screen friends and participate in songs, dance breaks and other games, according to Sesame Workshop, the non-profit that runs Sesame Street.
It will also feature a list of celebrity guests like Tracee Ellis Ross, Anne Hathaway and Lin Manuel Miranda. They’ll guest star beside your favorite Sesame Street characters like Big Bird, Bert and Ernie and Abby Cadabby.
Elmo issued a digital invite to his friends around the world. “Oh, hi! Elmo is so happy to see you!” he said. “Elmo knows it can be hard to be away from your friends, so Elmo’s mommy and daddy are helping Elmo set up a video playdate. Yay!”
Cookie Monster is even bringing virtual snacks for everyone, according to the promotion.
A press release from Sesame Workshop explains there will be moments of gratitude in the special, too. “Celebrating everyone from the EMTs, doctors, and other everyday heroes who are helping families through the health crisis as well as things like the simple pleasures of baking cookies at home, the playdate takes the form of a cozy video conference that will feel very familiar to today’s viewers,” it said.
The special is a part of the #caringforeachother initiative started by Sesame Street last month. It advocates for online learning while Sesame Street—and the rest of society—hits pause, and has built a website full of digital resources. “Our site is filled with content you can use all day long to spark playful learning, offer children comfort, and focus a bit on yourself, too. After all, it’s important that we take care of ourselves, so that we can best care for our families,” the website explains.
So how can you watch the digital hangout?
It will air Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET both on TV and computer. The primetime special will air for a half-hour on stations HBO, HBO Latino, Boomerang, TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, PBS Kids and truTV. It will also be available on PBS streaming platforms.
If you don’t live in America, you can still catch the special on PBS stations throughout the month. Starting April 15, Elmo’s Playdate will air in the U.K., Mexico, Singapore and Canada.
