Macklemore recently milked some more shine out of his 2012 hit, “Thrift Shop” during a Sesame Street appearance. Decades ago, it probably would’ve been impossible to picture a rapper on a kids’ show.
But the (rumored) domestic partnership between Bert and Ernie should be a sign that Sesame Street is surprisingly progressive when it comes to guests. Check their history in this brief rundown of Sesame Street‘s 14 Trillest Guests.
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Photo: Sesame Workshop/Children’s Television Workshop screen capture
Willie Dynamite
Before he was “Gordon” on Sesame Street, Roscoe Orman held down the role of Willie Dynamite in one of the most slept-on blaxploitation films.
Wendy Williams
Hello! You know Wendy Williams has achieved mainstream success when she’s on an episode of Sesame Street.
photo: WENN
Ice-T
Ice-T didn’t appear with the puppets, but he taped a segment about one of his favorite subjects. Rhyming.
Ice Cube
Ice Cube is gangster enough to pull this off and still not let you forget about his N.W.A days.
Richard Pryor
This is one of the many reasons Richard Pryor was a legend.
James Gandolfini
You had to love to contradiction of mafia don Tony Soprano being afraid of haircuts, the dark, and giant vegetables.
photo: WENN
Chris Brown
Breezy shot an episode of Sesame Street around 2009. You can guess why it was shelved and never aired.
Lupita Nyong’o
Beautiful, Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o rocked a mean side part and talked to Elmo about skin.
Michelle Obama
First Lady status…you already know.
Macklemore
Macklemore recycled he and Ryan Lewis’ hit single with Oscar for the kids.
Maya Angelou
The late, great Dr. Maya Angelou helped Elmo get his rhymes on point.
Katy Perry
During an episode brought to us by the letters double-D, Elmo had trouble making eye contact. This actually got banned from TV N.O.R.E. style.
Miri Ben-Ari
From Kanye’s album to Sesame Street. Only in America.
Arthur Ashe
Days of grace, even with the short shorts and the afro.
