''Susam Sokağı'' is the Turkish co-production of American

children's television program Children's television series (or children's television shows) are Television show, television programs designed specifically for Child, children. They are typically characterised by easy-going content devoid of sensitive or adult themes and are ...

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational television, educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Worksh ...

''. It aired on weekday mornings at 9 am on TRT, the state television in Turkey, in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Production

The show was coproduced by

Children's Television Workshop Sesame Workshop (SW), originally known as the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), is an American nonprofit organization and television company that has been responsible for the production of several educational children's programs—includin ...

and Turkish Radio and Television. Filming began in 1989. Two seasons, for a total of 250 episodes, were filmed. Funding from CTW was $825,000 for the first season and $625,000 for the second season.

Content

The show used an original street design, modeled after a traditional neighborhood, on which to film original content, and also translated and adapted older ''Sesame Street'' material. Content was aimed at preparing children for school, and also included messages related to health and safety. One segment, for example, featured two contenders in a

boxing ring A boxing ring, often referred to simply as a ring or the squared circle, is the space in which a boxing match occurs. A modern ring consists of a square raised platform with a post at each corner. Four ropes are attached to the posts and pulled p ...

who engage in a toothbrushing contest.

Characters

Humans: *Tahsin Usta: ''lit. Master Tahsin'' A repairman and Sabiha Teyze's husband. (Alp Öyken) *Zehra Teyze: ''lit. Aunt Zehra'' A greengrocer. (Güven Hokna) *Nihat Amca: ''lit. Uncle Nihat'' A

stationery Stationery refers to writing materials, including cut paper, envelopes, continuous form paper, and other office supplies. Stationery usually specifies materials to be written on by hand (e.g., letter paper) or by equipment such as computer p ...

store owner. (Alpay İzbırak) *Hakan Abi: ''lit. Bro. Hakan '' A young man who plays the

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

in the neighborhood. (Tevfik Tolga Tecer) *Zeynep Abla: ''lit. Sis. Zeynep '' A young woman living in the street. (Aslı Öyken Taylan) *Sabiha Teyze: ''lit. Aunt Sabiha'' A

tailor A tailor is a person who makes or alters clothing, particularly in men's clothing. The Oxford English Dictionary dates the term to the thirteenth century. History Although clothing construction goes back to prehistory, there is evidence of ...

and Tahsin Usta's wife. (Betül Arım) Muppets: *Minik Kuş: (played by Hakan Odabaşı) ''lit. Little Bird'' Adaptation of Big Bird. He is red in color and is called "little bird" despite his large size. *Kırpık: (played by Erdinç Doğan) Adaptation of

Oscar the Grouch Oscar the Grouch is a List of Sesame Street Muppets, Muppet character created by Jim Henson and Jon Stone for the PBS/HBO children's television program ''Sesame Street''. He has a green body, no visible nose, and lives in a Sesame Street (fiction ...

. Lives in a wooden basket larger than the original one. *Edi ve Büdü: Adaptation of

Ernie Ernie is a masculine given name, frequently a short form (hypocorism) of Ernest, Ernald, Ernesto, or Verner. It may refer to: People * Ernie Accorsi (born 1941), American football executive * Ernie Adams (disambiguation) * Ernie Afaganis ...

and Bert. Taken from the idiom "Edi ve Büdü", based on a folktale, which is used for two people getting along well, particularly used for older couples. *Kurbağacık: ''lit. Little Froggie'' Adaptation of Kermit. Kermit's name is Kermit as usual in the '' Muppet Show'' episodes shown in Turkey and only adapted into Kurbağacık in ''Susam Sokağı''. *Kurabiye Canavarı: Adaptation of

Cookie Monster Cookie Monster is a blue List of Sesame Street Muppets, Muppet character on the PBS/HBO children's television show ''Sesame Street.'' He is best known for his voracious appetite and his famous eating catchphrases, such as "Me want cookie!" As ...

. *Açıkgöz: ''lit. Alert'' Adaptation of

Grover Grover is a blue Muppet character on the PBS/HBO children's television show ''Sesame Street''. Self-described as lovable, cute, and furry, he is a blue monster who rarely uses contractions when he speaks or sings. Grover was originally perfo ...

References

1980s children's television series 1980s Turkish television series 1989 Turkish television series debuts 1990s children's television series 1990s Turkish television series Sesame Street international co-productions Turkish Radio and Television Corporation original programming Turkish television series based on American television series Puppetry in Turkey Turkish-language television shows {{Child-tv-prog-stub