Vila Sésamo

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Vila Sésamo is the Brazilian version of the American children's show Sesame Street.

[edit] History

Vila Sésamo is the Brazilian version of the popular American educational children’s show, Sesame Street. Originally airing in Brazil to critical acclaim from 1972-1977, São Paulo based Brazilian broadcaster TV Cultura and Sesame Workshop (the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street, formerly known as the Children’s Television Workshop) are returning the show to Brazilian airwaves with a new Vila Sésamo branded block of programming in October 2007.

Vila Sésamo was the first international adaptation of Sesame Street, and spent five years on the air as one of Brazil’s top-rated shows for pre-schoolers. The show was hosted by Garibaldo, a large, friendly cousin of Big Bird who will be returning to host the show in 2007. Much like its American counterpart, Vila Sésamo emphasized educational objectives and featured live action films, music, humor, animations, segments with Brazilian muppets and domestic Sesame Street characters dubbed in Portuguese, as well as popular Brazilian celebrities. The show garnered a number of prestigious local awards, including the Troféu Helena Silveira award for Best Actress Sonia Braga, the Troféu Helena Silveira award for Best Cultural Program and Prêmio APCA for Best Program. By combining education with entertainment, the show set the stage for other co-productions of Sesame Street to be produced around the world, in countries as diverse as Mexico, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Egypt, the Netherlands, Israel, Russia, India, and many others.


The new Vila Sésamo hour will feature Portuguese language segments of Play With Me Sesame, Global Grover and Elmo’s World, unique, newly produced live action films celebrating Brazil’s rich diversity, and be hosted by two original Brazilian muppets: the much beloved Garibaldo and Bel, a vivacious pink three-year-old monster. The Vila Sésamo block will air on TV Cultura’s main terrestrial channel. Vila Sésamo will continue to provide quality educational content for the preschool audience, with a special focus on school readiness and environmental awareness.


Despite having been off the air for over three decades, nostalgia for Vila Sésamo amongst adults who grew up with the show is high. Eighteen years after the show went off the air, the Hopi Hari theme park in Brazil opened a Vila Sésamo themed area in 1998, and the original series was released on DVD in 2004. Parents who grew up watching the show when they were young look forward to sharing the experience with their children.

[edit] Characters (1970s)

  • Garibaldo (Laerte Morrone), a giant, shy bird; similar to Big Bird. Is blue in this version.
  • Gugu, a green Muppet monster with a blue nose and orange cheeks. Similar to Oscar the Grouch.
  • Beto and Ênio, Bert and Ernie's names in the Portuguese-dubbed version.
  • Juca (Armando Bógus), a toy maker who taught children about his craft.
  • Ana Maria (Sônia Braga), a teacher and Juca's cousin.
  • Gabriela (Aracy Balabanian), wife of Juca
  • Funga-funga, a red Muppet elephant who didn't like how others looked at him.

[edit] Characters (2007)

  • Garibaldo (Fernando Gomes), a giant yellow Bird who is especially friendly and likes to meet new people.
  • Bel (Magda Crudelli), imaginative, outgoing, pink three-year-old monster
  • Beto and Ênio (Marcelo Torreão), Bert and Ernie's names in the Portuguese-dubbed version.
  • Elmo (Alexandre Moreno), the ultra-popular red monster from the original American skits, at Bel's same age.
  • Come-Come (Luiz Carlos Persy), Cookie Monster's name in the Portuguese-dubbed version.
  • Grover (Mauro Ramos), the cute furry blue monster friend also from the domestic Sesame Street segments.
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