Murray explores the word “challenge.”
What’s the Word on the Street?
What’s the Word on the Street? was a regular feature on Sesame Street from Season 38 to Season 45.
Murray Monster hosts this segment which precedes the corporate sponsor spots before each episode. Each segment begins with a shot of him saying, “Hi, I’m Murray from Sesame Street, and I’m looking for… the Word on the Street!” He then speaks with folks about what today’s word means and usually instructs the audience to “keep listening for the word today on Sesame Street!” The word is later featured in the “street scenes” and highlighted again as the Word of the Day.
Shalom Sesame and Plaza Sésamo have created their own versions of the segment.
In Season 46, the segment was removed and replaced with special cold opens for each episode of different Muppets introducing the topic of the day.
Season 38:
- Squid (First: Episode 4135)
- Newspaper (First: Episode 4136)
- Dog (First: Episode 4137)
- Lazy (First: Episode 4138)
- Pumpernickel (First: Episode 4139)
- Ballet (First: Episode 4140)
- Tricycle (First: Episode 4141)
- Disappear (First: Episode 4142)
- Ticklish (First: Episode 4143)
- Frustrated (First: Episode 4144)
- Prepared (First: Episode 4145)
- Family (First: Episode 4146)
- Mystery (First: Episode 4147)
- Mail (First: Episode 4148)
- Predicament (First: Episode 4149)
- Windy (First: Episode 4150)
- Apology (First: Episode 4151)
- Gigantic (First: Episode 4152)
- Rhyme (First: Episode 4153)
- Amazing (First: Episode 4154)
- Expert (First: Episode 4155)
- Practice (First: Episode 4156)
- Pretend (First: Episode 4157)
- Sigh (First: Episode 4158)
- Angry (First: Episode 4159)
- Struggle (First: Episode 4160)
Season 39:
- Octagon (First: Episode 4161)
- Pirouette (First: Episode 4162)
- Laundromat (First: Episode 4163)
- Compliment (First: Episode 4164)
- Insect (First: Episode 4165)
- Subtraction (First: Episode 4166)
- Toss (First: Episode 4167)
- Persistent (First: Episode 4168)
- Unanimous (First: Episode 4169)
- Rhythm (First: Episode 4170)
- Glockenspiel (First: Episode 4171)
- Half (First: Episode 4172)
- Disguise (First: Episode 4173)
- Curly (First: Episode 4174)
- Frightened (First: Episode 4175)
- Stuck (First: Episode 4176)
- Brush (First: Episode 4177)
- Cheer (First: Episode 4178)
- Penguin (First: Episode 4179)
- Mustache (First: Episode 4180)
- Friend (First: Episode 4181)
- Distract (First: Episode 4182)
- Cactus (First: Episode 4183)
- Scrumptious (First: Episode 4184)
- Robot (First: Episode 4185)
- Fabulous (First: Episode 4186)
Season 40:
- Habitat (First: Episode 4187)
- Pair (First: Episode 4188)
- Pollinate (First: Episode 4189)
- Nature (First: Episode 4190)
- Season (First: Episode 4191)
- Quest (First: Episode 4192)
- Hibernate (First: Episode 4193)
- Surprise (First: Episode 4194)
- Brilliant (First: Episode 4195)
- Machine (First: Episode 4196)
- Crunchy (First: Episode 4197)
- Garden (First: Episode 4198)
- Camouflage (First: Episode 4199)
- Separate (First: Episode 4200)
- Metamorphosis (First: Episode 4201)
- Canteen (First: Episode 4202)
- Speedy (First: Episode 4203)
- Stumble (First: Episode 4204)
- Inspect (First: Episode 4205)
- Bones (First: Episode 4206)
- Miniature (First: Episode 4207)
- Booth (First: Episode 4208)
- Concentrate (First: Episode 4209)
- Spectacular (First: Episode 4210)
- Humongous (First: Episode 4211)
- Exquisite (First: Episode 4212)
Season 41:
- Challenge (First: Episode 4213)
- Journal (First: Episode 4214)
- Comfort (First: Episode 4215)
- Cling (First: Episode 4216)
- Pasta (First: Episode 4217)
- Activate (First: Episode 4218)
- Investigate (First: Episode 4219)
- Appetite (First: Episode 4220)
- Binoculars (First: Episode 4221)
- Float (First: Episode 4222)
- Allergic (First: Episode 4223)
- Hexagon (First: Episode 4224)
- Accessory (First: Episode 4225)
- Arachnid (First: Episode 4226)
- Incognito (First: Episode 4227)
- Recipe (First: Episode 4228)
- Galoshes (First: Episode 4229)
- Identical (First: Episode 4231)
- Healthy (First: Episode 4232)
- Reporter (First: Episode 4233)
- Gem (First: Episode 4234)
- Celebration (First: Episode 4235)
- Volunteer (First: Episode 4236)
- Dozen (First: Episode 4237)
- Transportation (First: Episode 4238)
Season 42:
- Engineer (First: Episode 4257)
- Experiment (First: Episode 4258)
- Liquid (First: Episode 4259)
- Observe (First: Episode 4260)
- Transform (First: Episode 4261)
- Baile (Dance) (First: Episode 4262)
- Fragile (First: Episode 4263)
- Exchange (First: Episode 4264)
- Include (First: Episode 4265)
- Empathy (First: Episode 4266)
- Embarrassed (First: Episode 4267)
- Fascinating (First: Episode 4268)
- Sibling (First: Episode 4269)
- Compare (First: Episode 4270)
- Ingredient (First: Episode 4271)
- Balance (First: Episode 4272)
- Amphibian (First: Episode 4273)
- Measure (First: Episode 4274)
- Stubborn (First: Episode 4275)
- Soggy (First: Episode 4276)
- Deciduous (First: Episode 4277)
- Senses (First: Episode 4278)
- Prickly (First: Episode 4279)
- Conflict (First: Episode 4280)
- Magnify (First: Episode 4281)
- Stupendous (First: Episode 4282)
Season 43:
- Nibble (First: Episode 4301)
- Champion (First: Episode 4302)
- Remember (First: Episode 4303)
- Careful (First: Episode 4304)
- Patience (First: Episode 4305)
- Grimace (First: Episode 4306)
- Career (First: Episode 4307)
- Tool (First: Episode 4308)
- Proud (First: Episode 4309)
- Veterinarian (First: Episode 4310)
- Vote (First: Episode 4311)
- Brainstorm (First: Episode 4313)
- Paleontologist (First: Episode 4314)
- Splatter (First: Episode 4316)
- Amplify (First: Episode 4317)
- Reinforce (First: Episode 4318)
- Innovation (First: Episode 4319)
- Choreographer (First: Episode 4321)
- Attach (First: Episode 4322)
- Inflate (First: Episode 4324)
- Sculpture (First: Episode 4325)
- Vibrate (First: Episode 4326)
Season 44:
- Jealous (First: Episode 4401)
- Respect (First: Episode 4402)
- Fragrance (First: Episode 4403)
- Sturdy (First: Episode 4404)
- Relax (First: Episode 4405)
- Texture (First: Episode 4407)
- Author (First: Episode 4408)
- Furious (First: Episode 4409)
- Impostor (First: Episode 4411)
- Courteous (First: Episode 4412)
- Strategy (First: Episode 4414)
- Translate (First: Episode 4415)
- Disappointed (First: Episode 4417)
- Adventure (First: Episode 4418)
- Unique (First: Episode 4419)
- Confidence (First: Episode 4421)
- Athlete (First: Episode 4423)
- Plan (First: Episode 4424)
- Imagination (First: Episode 4425)
- Absorb (First: Episode 4426)
Season 45:
- Strenuous (First: Episode 4501)
- Repair (First: Episode 4502)
- Skin (First: Episode 4503)
- Flexible (First: Episode 4504)
- Enthusiastic (First: Episode 4505)
- Fiesta (First: Episode 4506)
- Diagram (First: Episode 4507)
- Ridiculous (First: Episode 4508)
- Astounding (First: Episode 4509)
- Coach (First: Episode 4510)
- Popular (First: Episode 4511)
- Empty (First: Episode 4512)
- Resist (First: Episode 4513)
- Awful (First: Episode 4514)
- Anxious (First: Episode 4515)
- Pattern (First: Episode 4516)
- Grouchy (First: Episode 4517)
- Friend (First: Episode 4518)
- Divide (First: Episode 4519)
- Artist (First: Episode 4520)
- Greeting (First: Episode 4521)
- Nimble (First: Episode 4522)
- Applause (First: Episode 4523)
- Technology (First: Episode 4524)
- Focus (First: Episode 4525)
- Explore (First: Episode 4526)
Behind the scenes
Chris Lange served as creative director and art director for the segments, Joey Mazzarino as the writer, Jolene Lew as producer, with music composed by Richard W. Meyer of Modern Music, and sound design by Dale Goulett of Wow & Flutter.
Many of the segments were filmed in Brooklyn, New York City.
Carly Tamer, a 6-year-old, was one of the kids in the segments; both the Sesame segment and Team Umizoomi (created by the creators of Blue’s Clues) where Tamer voiced a character, have the same sound crew.