Jalan Sesama

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Jalan Sesama is the Indonesian version of Sesame Street, slated to debut on Indonesian television in late-2007. The show is produced locally by Creative Indigo Productions, in association with Sesame Workshop, and is expected to broadcast through 2010, with a total of 156 episodes over three seasons.^[1]^[2]

[edit] History

The program, announced in March 2006, is funded in part by the United States government.^[3]^[4]

Jalan Sesama means "street for all" and was inspired by the concept of togetherness and diversity. ^[5] In addition to the basics of letters and numbers, Jalan Sesama will also educate diversity, environmental awareness, and positive character building.^[6]

In addition to the regular characters of Sesame Street, such as Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, and Elmo, it will also feature new characters and Muppets created specifically for this version, such as Momon, a five-year-old boy who learns to draw letters and loves drawing and counting; Putri an active young girl who is always asking Momon for help; Tantan a wise female orangutan that settles every dispute on Jalan Sesama; and Jabrik, a baby rhinoceros that is always complaining and laughing^[1]^[5].

Several Muppets will wear Islamic veils as part of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's broader message that Western culture can co-exist peacefully with moderate Islam^[7].

Jalan Sesama is not Indonesia's first experience with Sesame Street -- Boneka Sesame, the Indonesian-dubbed version of Sesame Street's international package, Open Sesame, was originally seen in this country.

Trans 7 aired the show as of February 2008.