A LinkedIn post attributed to the Muppet character Elmo humorously stating he had been laid off went viral online this week, appearing as the children's program Sesame Street navigates changes to its distribution agreements. The post seeking new employment opportunities arrived as the long-running series confirmed it is seeking a new streaming home.
The post, widely shared across social media platforms, presented Elmo looking for his "next opportunity." It listed skills including providing hugs, spelling his name, and expressed openness to full-time or freelance roles, mimicking typical professional networking profiles.
The post connected the fictional job loss to budget reductions, stating it was due to "cuts from federal funding to public broadcasting." It encouraged individuals to reach out to Congress to support public broadcasting services, implicitly linking the character's plight to potential funding challenges faced by outlets like PBS, where Sesame Street has aired for decades. This Elmo LinkedIn post about getting laid off is sad, hilarious and genius highlighted the blend of humor and seriousness in the widely circulated message.
Meanwhile, Sesame Street itself is undergoing changes in its streaming availability. The program is not canceled but is ending its deal with Max for first-run episodes after Season 55.
Warner Bros. Discovery has opted not to renew its licensing agreement for new episodes beyond the upcoming 55th season. A Max spokesperson indicated that new episodes are not currently central to the platform's content strategy, which is shifting focus.
Max will continue to license and stream the extensive library of past Sesame Street episodes through 2027, ensuring a backlog of content remains accessible to subscribers for several years.
Sesame Street producer Sesame Workshop confirmed the partnership extension for the existing library and stated plans to invest in future programming. The organization is reportedly in discussions to secure a new streaming partner for original episodes beginning with Season 56. Potential distribution platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV+, and Prime Video are considered possibilities.
Season 56 is also expected to feature a significant format revamp, shifting away from the long-used magazine-style structure towards longer, narrative-driven segments. While the show's first-run streaming home is changing, Sesame Street has continued to air on PBS since 1970, maintaining a free broadcast option for viewers.
