Sesame Street

Right now you can watch Sesame Street in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix and HBO Max Amazon Channel — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. 56 seasons of it means there is plenty to get through without ever feeling padded. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Frank Oz's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

There is a reason Sesame Street keeps coming up in conversation. Sesame Street gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. On a special inner city street, the inhabitants—human and muppet—teach preschoolers basic educational and social concepts using comedy, cartoons, games, and songs. Frank Oz and Sonia Manzano lead a cast that never overplays a joke. The series ran for 56 seasons (1969–2026), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. Sesame Street earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Sesame Street is a strong candidate. Fans of Pee-wee's Playhouse will recognise the sensibility here immediately. 56 seasons in, there is no shortage of material once you get started. Frank Oz is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.

Sesame Street is currently airing new episodes, created by Lloyd Morrisett, Joan Ganz Cooney and Jim Henson — so there's no better time to catch up before the story moves forward. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.