Barrio Sésamo

Barrio Sésamo
Genre	Children's
Based on	Sesame Street (CTW) original series
Written by	Lola Salvador, Alberto Aguilar, José Miguel Hernán (First Season)
Directed by	Enrique Nicanor (First season)
Presented by	let's go
Starring	Caponata, Perezgil, Nisi, Angela, Braulio, Manolo, Carmen, Cuqui, Jose, (Spain) Ernie, Bert, Kermit, Grover, Cookie Monster, Count von Count (USA)
Country of origin	Spain
Original language	Spanish
No. of seasons	7
Production
Producer	Alberto Espada (First season) Antonio Torets (other seasons)
Production locations	TVE, Prado del Rey studios, Madrid, Spain
Running time	25 min. x episode
Production companies	Televisión Española Children's Television Workshop/Sesame Workshop
Release
Original network	TVE
Picture format	PAL
Original release	24 December 1979 (1979-12-24) – 2000 (2000)
Chronology
Related shows	Sesame Street

Barrio Sésamo (Sesame Neighborhood in English) was the Spanish co-production of the popular U.S. children's television series Sesame Street produced by Televisión Española and Sesame Workshop (formerly Children's Television Workshop) from 1979 to 2000. All American characters adopted Spanish names while for the title of the series a more appropriate Spanish name was chosen: barrio (Neighborhood) instead of Street (calle).

Ábrete Sésamo (1974-1978) (1st Run)[]

Previously, from November 3, 1974 to March 29, 1978, segments of the American Sesame Street were simply acquired and dubbed into Spanish to be aired with the title Ábrete Sésamo (es. Open Sesame) as part of a program "container" called Un globo, dos globos, tres globos

Barrio Sésamo - 1st season (2nd Run)[]

In 1978, (RTVE), Televisión Española and Children's Television Workshop (CTW) agreed the terms for a co-production, after years where RTVE simply aired the original Sesame Street dubbed segments. Duncan Kenworthy (CTW) was in charge of the USA production and Enrique Nicanor was assigned by (TVE) as Director of the Spanish new show and designer of the two Spanish new original muppets "Caponata" and "Perezgil"

• Caponata was a red, orange and yellow feathered (female) hen with curly pink hair similar in height (2 meters) to Big Bird. Actress Emma Cohen was in charge of working inside the muppet' body and provide the voice and psychology of a 6 years old girl, naïve and curious about everything.
• Perezgil was a green big snail with round glasses and curly green hair. He presumed to be an intellectual character, big reader, writer, poet and advisor of everybody in the neighborhood. Actor Jesús Alcaide was in charge of working the muppet as well as providing its voice.

Other real actors performed the different characters living together with a lot of children in the neighborhood.

• Nisi: Juan Margallo, the bar owner
• Angela: Petra Martínez, Nisi's wife
• Braulio: Manolo Aleixandre and/or José Riesgo, the newsstand owner
• Manolo: Manolo Vallejo, the Garage owner
• Carmen: Concha Goyanes
• Cuqui: Gabriel Fariza, the radio reporter
• Jose: Marcelo Rubal

American characters adopted Spanish names:

• Bert: Blas
• Ernie: Epi
• Kermit the Frog: Gustavo, la rana
• Grover: Coco
• Cookie Monster:Triqui
• Count von Count :El Conde Draco

Media confusion about the show title and characters[]

The popularity of the series among children and adults, years after the series was aired and new times came with internet and globalization created confusion with the original American series so most of the media in Spain named the US series as "Barrio Sésamo" as well as named "Big Bird" as "Caponata" (Big Bird never appeared in the Spanish series).

End of the first season: controversy[]

The First Bario Sésamo season was cancelled by the station (RTVE) in 1981 when the station denied the authors to keep their rights on the characters. An agreement was reached where the authors granted full commercial rights to the station except the right to be mentioned as authors and the right to deny the use of the muppets for commercial advertising of carbonized drinks and unhealthy products for children. (Same rights that Jim Henson always kept with all his own characters). As a result, the station canceled the series anyway firing the first creators and banned all the characters to appear in the new season despite the popularity of the show with young audiences. The person responsible for the Children's department at the station made the decision to ban the series with their characters of Caponata and Perezgil, commissioning the American co-production company, CTW USA, to create and provide new "Spanish" muppets with new names for the subsequent seasons. With that action, Barrio Sésamo was not longer a co-production with Spanish-created characters.^[1]

In 1983, one year after the re-invented new season started, a new government won the elections in Spain and new responsible officials were appointed as DG of RTVE (José Maria Calviño) the new staff fired the responsible people involved in the banning of the original series. The creator^[2] of the banned first season was called by the station and was appointed as new Head of the Children' Programmes Unit and later Director of the TVE-2 channel. He avoided to take any action against the new format of the programme itself and kept the new production format on air for the following years for the sake of the continuity of the excellence of the Sesame Street educational formula, actors and team created.

La Cometa Blanca (3rd Run)[]

From 1981 to 1983, a different Televisión Española children's program, La Cometa Blanca, included some sketches from Sesame Street. This program was directed by Muppet fan Lolo Rico and featured some actors who would later appear in Barrio Sésamo, mainly Mari Luz Olier, Alfonso Vallejo and the child-actress Ruth Gabriel (then known as Ruth Abellán).

Barrio Sésamo - 2nd, 3rd and 4th seasons (4th Run)[]

The Sesame Street sketches in La Cometa Blanca were so successful with their young audience that the Spanish-version was given another chance in 1983. Only José Riesgo as Julián returned from the first season. Caponata and Perezgil were replaced by two new Muppets totally designed, this time, and constructed by CTW. The main character was Espinete, a large pink hedgehog that replaced Caponata. Like Caponata, Espinete was a full-body Muppet and was the main character on the show, played by Chelo Vivares. He became famous for sleeping in pajamas in spite of being "naked" the rest of the day. Some of the friends of Espinete were:

• Don Pimpón (Alfonso Vallejo): Another full-body Muppet. This farmer was an undetermined brown being, similar to a Sesame Street monster.
• Chema (Juan Sánchez): The baker of Barrio Sésamo.
• Ana (Isabel Castro): The young friend of everybody.
• Don Julián (José Riesgo): The old owner of a mobile news stand.
• Matilde (Mari Luz Olier) and Antonio (José Enrique Camacho): married owners of an horchata shop
• Roberto (Roberto Mayor) and Ruth (Ruth Gabriel, as Ruth Abellán): Matilde and Antonio's children

The show finished around April 1988 and was replaced by Los Mundos de Yupi, a similar program fully produced by Televisión Española, featuring three extraterrestrial characters.

(Lack of the full list of the First Season here below. Please help to find out -with credited references-)

List of the First season 1979-1980[]

Prima programa (1979) Seganda programa (1979) Programa piloto (1980) Caponata y Perjil (1980-1981)

List of 1980s series episodes[]

• "La bicicleta" (6- 4-1983)
• "Vamos a jugar" (7-4-1983) (7-11-1983)
• "Dietética sana" (8-4-1983) (19-12-1983)
• "El invento de Don Pimpón" (13-4-1983) (23-11-1983)
• "Las cosquillas" (15-4-1983) (22-11-1983)
• "El cubo" (20-4-1983)(20-12-1983)
• "Fiesta de piñata" (21-4-1983)
• "Hay que divertirse" (22-4-1983) (14-11-1983)
• "La tortuga" (2-5-1983)
• "Los mayores saben jugar" (3-5-1983)(2-9-1983)
• "El plátano" (4-5-1983)(5-8-1983)
• "El cumpleaños de Teresa" (5-5-1983)
• "El juego" (6-5-1983)(9-2-1984)
• "La familia Pelaez" (9-5-1983) (30-11-1983)
• "La vaca" (10-5-1983)
• "Los cubiertos" (11-5-1983) (1-8-1983) (30-1-1984)
• "Socorro" (12-5-1983)
• "Singular persecución" (13-5-1983) (7-12-1983)
• "La familia Ortiz" (18-5-1983) (14-12-1983)
• "Los sacos" (19-5-1983) (22-2-1984)(20-5-1987)
• "La electricidad" (20-5-1983) (2-8-1983) (1-2-1984) (11-5-1987)
• "El teatro" (25-5-1983) (25-7-1983)(11-1-1984) (2-7-1987)
• "Inventando juegos" (19-7-1983)(21-12-1983)
• "La imprenta de patata" (20-7-1983)(26-12-1983)
• "Don Pimpón tiene calor" (21-7-1983)(9-1-1984)
• "Singular persecución" (22-7-1983)(4-1-1984)
• "La huerta de Julian" (27-7-1983) (18-1-1984) (7-7-1987)
• "Viendo la televisión" (28-7-1983)
• "Los gorros" (29-7-1983)
• "El extranjero" (3-8-1983)
• "La higiene del cuerpo" (4-8-1983) (6-2-1986)
• "La bolera" (18-8-1983)
• "Una tarde en casa" (30-8-1983) (22-2-1984)
• "El enfado de Espinete" (31-8-1983)
• "Los faroles" (1-9-1983)
• "La cuerda" (20-10-1983)
• "Bromas" (25-10-1983) (28-12-1983)
• "El cohete de Espinete" (1-11-1983)
• "La puerta" (2-11-1983)
• "Verdad o mentira" (3-11-1983) (12-4-1984)
• "El cuadro de Espinete" (4-11-1983) (26-4-1984)
• "Son como niños" (8-11-1983) (11-4-1984)
• "El día de la compra" (11-11-1983) (18-5-1984)
• "La máquina" (16-11-1983)
• "El mensaje secreto" (18-11-1983)
• "El encantador de serpientes" (25-11-1983)
• "Jugando al circo" (29-11-1983) (22-5-1984)
• "La caseta" (28-11-1983)
• "Espinete de La Mancha" (2-12-1983) (21-5-1984)
• "El sillin nuevo" (5-12-1983)
• "La película de Espinete" (8-12-1983) (27-4-1984)
• "Espinete tiene hipo" (12-12-1983)
• "La taquilla" (13-12-1983)
• "El muñeco mecánico" (22-12-1983) (21-5-1984)
• "Espinete y el bosque" (31-1-1984) (12-6-1984)
• "La viejecita simpática" (16-2-1984)
• "El gato" (20-2-1984)
• "Jugando con palabras" (23-2-1984) (11-6-1984)
• "El mural" (29-2-1984)
• "Personajes famosos" (1-3-1984)
• "La pelota se pincha" (5-3-1984)
• "Mi zapato" (7-3-1984)
• "Profesiones" (8-3-1984)
• "Majo,Mimo,mago" (14-3-1984) (28-6-1984) (20-7-1987)
• "El chatarrero" (15-3-1984) (26-6-1984)
• "La riña de Espinete" (19-3-1984) (8-7-1984)
• "Las bromas de Don Pimpón" (21-3-1984) (27-6-1984)
• "La cometa" (29-3-1984)
• "El sillon" (5-4-1984) (19-6-1984)
• "Conozcamos a los animales" (10-4-1984)
• "Que desbarajuste" (19-4-1984) (24-11-1987)
• "Circuitos y Espinete" (20-4-1984)
• "Qué cisco de circo" (8-6-1984)
• "Espinete y el arbol del tesoro" (1-10-1984)
• "Noche de reyes" (4-1-1985)
• "La bola" (1-7-1985)
• "Pregunta y acierta" (26-3-1986)
• "Máquina de disfraces" (7-4-1986) (19-11-1986)
• "Espinete lobo de mar" (14-4-1986) (13-11-1986) (1-2-1988)
• "El globo de Espinete" (1-5-1986) (5-4-1988)
• "La curiosidad de Espinete" (13-5-1986) (30-9-1986)
• "Concurso de disfraces" (19-6-1986) (18-12-1986) (18-2-1988)
• "Gambas con gabardina" (24-6-1896)
• "Abrete Sésamo" (25-6-1986) (18-12-1986) (14-3-1988)
• "La naranjada" (2-10-1986) (5-11-1986) (14-4-1988)
• "Espinete domador" (8-10-1986) (4-12-1986) (25-1-1988)
• "El mundo del reves y Espinete" (14-10-1986) (16-12-1986) (7-3-1988)
• "El viaje de Espinete" (3-11-1986)
• "Espinete bebé" (17-11-1986) (28-1-1988)
• "No te manches" (26-11-1986) (28-3-1988)
• "El hermano de Espinete" (9-12-1986) (11-2-1988)
• "Espinete Superstar" (19-12-1986) (30-3-1988)
• "El show de Barrio Sésamo" (1-1-1987)
• "La inauguración" (8-1-1987)
• "El guaperas" (13-1-1987)
• "El vendedor ambulante" (11-2-1987)
• "Visto y no visto" (13-2-1987)
• "Los trogloditas" (19-2-1987)
• "Llama que te llama" (23-2-1987)
• "Los trogloditas atacan de nuevo" (9-3-1987)
• "La banda y Espinete" (3-7-1987)
• "El balón de Espinete" (1-10-1987)
• "Espinete y el buzón" (5-10-1987)
• "Los trucos de Espinete" (16-11-1987)
• "El trabalenguas" (26-11-1987)
• "Vivan los novios,Espinete" (1-12-1987)
• "El tren de Espinete" (2-12-1987)
• "Las palabras" (3-12-1987)
• "Especiál navidad" (24-12-1987)
• "Especial reyes" (5-1-1988)
• "Espival de Sesamot" (6-1-1988)
• "La amiga de Espinete" (7-1-1988)
• "El hipnotizador y Espinete" (12-1-1988)
• "Los sombreros" (13-1-1988)
• "La bruja Piruja" (19-1-1988)
• "El reloj de cuco" (20-1-1988)
• "Don Pimpón y los piratas" (26-1-1988)
• "El maharaja de Kapuratala" (27-1-1988)
• "Ojo, mancha" (2-2-1988)
• "Mama Momias" (3-2-1988)
• "Espinete guardia urbano" (4-2-1988)
• "El armario de luna" (9-2-1988)
• "Gran jefe indio" (10-2-1988)
• "El doctor Herborin" (16-2-1988)
• "Espinete escayolado" (17-2-1988)
• "Camúflate Espinete" (23-2-1988)
• "Arroz para todos" (24-2-1988)
• "El mono titiritero" (25-2-1988)
• "El médico y Espinete" (2-3-1988)
• "El hombre del maletin" (3-3-1988)
• "El zoo de Espinete" (4-3-1988)
• "Espinete quiere ser camarero" (8-3-1988)
• "La máquina de los disfraces" (9-3-1988)
• "Voy a navegar" (10-3-1988)
• "Las pesas" (15-3-1988)
• "Un día tranquilo" (16-3-1988)
• "Con tenedor y cuchara" (17-3-1988)
• "El grillo" (22-3-1988)
• "Problemas con la decoración" (23-2-1988)
• "Palomitas de maíz" (24-32-1988)
• "Espinete y su grupete" (29-3-1988)
• "La visita del medico" (30-3-1988)
• "Bebe nuevo" (6-4-1988)
• "Los sonámbulos" (7-4-1988)
• "Las pintadas" (12-4-1998)
• "Misterio en el bazar" (13-4-1988)

English translation of episode list[]

• "Cycling" (6 - 4-1983)
• "Let's play" (04/07/1983) (07/11/1983)
• "Healthy Diet" (8-4-1983) (19-12-1983)
• "The invention of Don Pimpón" (13-4-1983) (23-11-1983)
• "Tickling" (15-4-1983) (22-11-1983)
• "The Cube" (20-4-1983) (20-12-1983)
• "Piñata Party" (21-4-1983)
• "You have to have fun" (22-4-1983) (14-11-1983)
• "Tortoise" (02/05/1983)
• "Seniors can play" (3-5-1983) (2-9-1983)
• "The banana" (4-5-1983) (5-8-1983)
• "Teresa's Birthday" (05.05.1983)
• "The Game" (06/05/1983) (09/02/1984)
• "The Pelaez family" (9-5-1983) (30-11-1983)
• "The Cow" (10-5-1983)
• "The covered" (11-5-1983) (1-8-1983) (30-1-1984)
• "Relief" (12-5-1983)
• "Singular persecution" (13-5-1983) (7-12-1983)
• "The Ortiz family" (18-5-1983) (14-12-1983)
• "Bags" (19-5-1983) (22-2-1984) (20-5-1987)
• "Electricity" (20-5-1983) (2-8-1983) (1-2-1984) (11-5-1987)
• "Theatre" (25-5-1983) (25-7-1983) (11-1-1984) (02/07/1987)
• "Inventing games" (19-7-1983) (21-12-1983)
• "The potato printing" (20-7-1983) (26-12-1983)
• "Don Pimpón is hot" (21-7-1983) (09/01/1984)
• "Singular persecution" (22-7-1983) (01/04/1984)
• "Julian's garden" (27-7-1983) (18-1-1984) (07/07/1987)
• "Watching TV" (28-7-1983)
• "The Hat" (29-7-1983)
• "The Stranger" (08/03/1983)
• "The hygiene of the body" (08/04/1983) (02/06/1986)
• "The bowling" (18-8-1983)
• "One evening at home" (30-8-1983) (22-2-1984)
• "The anger of Espinete" (31-8-1983)
• "Lanterns" (01/09/1983)
• "Rope" (20-10-1983)
• "Jokes" (25-10-1983) (28-12-1983)
• "The rocket Espinete" (1-11-1983)
• "The Door" (2-11-1983)
• "True or false" (3-11-1983) (12-4-1984)
• "The Espinete box" (4-11-1983) (26-4-1984)
• "They are like children" (8-11-1983) (11-4-1984)
• "The day of purchase" (11-11-1983) (18-5-1984)
• "The machine" (16-11-1983)
• "The secret message" (18-11-1983)
• "The Snake Charmer" (25-11-1983)
• "Fun at the Circus" (29-11-1983) (22-5-1984)
• "The house" (28-11-1983)
• "Espinete of La Mancha" (2-12-1983) (21-5-1984)
• "The new saddle" (5-12-1983)
• "The film Espinete" (8-12-1983) (27-4-1984)
• "Espinete hiccups" (12-12-1983)
• "The box office" (13-12-1983)
• "The mechanical doll" (22-12-1983) (21-5-1984)
• "Espinete and forest" (31-1-1984) (12-6-1984)
• "The nice old lady" (16-2-1984)
• "The Cat" (20-2-1984)
• "Playing with Words" (23-2-1984) (11-6-1984)
• "The Mural" (29-2-1984)
• "Famous People" (03/01/1984)
• "The ball is punctured" (03/05/1984)
• "My shoe" (07/03/1984)
• "Professions" (03/08/1984)
• "Majo, mime, magician" (14-3-1984) (28-6-1984) (20-7-1987)
• "The Junk" (15-3-1984) (26-6-1984)
• "The quarrel Espinete" (19-3-1984) (08/07/1984)
• "The banter of Don Pimpón" (21-3-1984) (27-6-1984)
• "The Kite" (29-3-1984)
• "The chair" (5-4-1984) (19-6-1984)
• "Meet the Animals" (10-4-1984)
• "That mess" (19-4-1984) (24-11-1987)
• "Circuits and Espinete" (20-4-1984)
• "What circus cisco" (06/08/1984)
• "Espinete and treasure tree" (1-10-1984)
• "Twelfth Night" (01.04.1985)
• "The Ball" (01/07/1985)
• "Question and improvement" (26-3-1986)
• "Costume Machine" (7-4-1986) (19-11-1986)
• "Espinete Sea Wolf" (14-4-1986) (13-11-1986) (02/01/1988)
• "The balloon Espinete" (1-5-1986) (5-4-1988)
• "The curiosity of Espinete" (13-5-1986) (30-9-1986)
• "Costume Contest" (19-6-1986) (18-12-1986) (18-2-1988)
• "Prawns with raincoat" (24-6-1896)
• "Open Sesame" (25-6-1986) (18-12-1986) (14-3-1988)
• "The orange" (2-10-1986) (5-11-1986) (14-4-1988)
• "Espinete tamer" (8-10-1986) (4-12-1986) (25-1-1988)
• "The world upside and Espinete" (14-10-1986) (16-12-1986) (07/03/1988)
• "The journey of Espinete" (3-11-1986)
• "Espinete Baby" (17-11-1986) (28-1-1988)
• "Do not manches" (26-11-1986) (28-3-1988)
• "Espinete's brother" (9-12-1986) (11-2-1988)
• "Espinete Superstar" (19-12-1986) (30-3-1988)
• "The show Sesame Street" (01/01/1987)
• "Opening" (01/08/1987)
• "The spunky" (13-1-1987)
• "The Peddler" (11-2-1987)
• "Seen and Unseen" (13-2-1987)
• "The troglodytes" (19-2-1987)
• "Call calling you" (23-2-1987)
• "The troglodytes attack again" (03/09/1987)
• "The band and Espinete" (07/03/1987)
• "The ball Espinete" (1-10-1987)
• "Espinete and mailbox" (5-10-1987)
• "Espinete tricks" (16-11-1987)
• "The twister" (26-11-1987)
• "Night of the Hunter, Espinete" (1-12-1987)
• The train Espinete" (2-12-1987)
• "Words" (3-12-1987)
• "Christmas Special" (24-12-1987)
• "Special kings" (01/05/1988)
• "Espival of Sesamot" (06.01.1988)
• "Espinete's friend" (01/07/1988)
• "The hypnotist and Espinete" (12-1-1988)
• "Hats" (13-1-1988)
• "The witch Piruja" (19-1-1988)
• "The Cuckoo Clock" (20-1-1988)
• "Don Pimpón and the Pirates" (26-1-1988)
• "The Maharaja of Kapuratala" (27-1-1988)
• "Eye, blemish" (02/02/1988)
• "Mama Mummies" (03/02/1988)
• "Espinete traffic cop" (02/04/1988)
• "The cabinet Moon" (09/02/1988)
• "Great Indian Chief" (10-2-1988)
• "Dr. Herborin" (16-2-1988)
• "Espinete plaster" (17-2-1988)
• "Camúflate Espinete" (23-2-1988)
• "Rice for all" (24-2-1988)
• "The monkey puppet" (25-2-1988)
• "The doctor and Espinete" (03/02/1988)
• "The briefcase man" (03/03/1988)
• "Espinete Zoo" (04/03/1988)
• "Espinete want to be a waiter" (03/08/1988)
• "The costumes machine" (03/09/1988)
• "I'll sail" (10-3-1988)
• "Weights" (15-3-1988)
• "A quiet day" (16-3-1988)
• "With fork and spoon" (17-3-1988)
• "Cricket" (22-3-1988)
• "Problems with the decor" (23-2-1988)
• "Popcorn" (24-32-1988)
• "Espinete and grupete" (29-3-1988)
• "The visit of the doctor" (30-3-1988)
• "New Baby" (04/06/1988)
• "The Sleepwalkers" (04/07/1988)
• "The graffiti" (12-4-1998)
• "Mystery in the bazaar" (13-4-1988)

1980s series DVDs[]

"Pack barrio Sésamo: Espinete y Don Pimpón" (10 DVD pack with 40 episodes, Region 2)

Barrio Sésamo - 5th, 6th and 7th seasons (5th Run)[]

In 1996, the show returned with new characters: Bluki (a blue full-body cat-like Muppet), Vera (a yellow monster), Bubo (an owl) and Gaspar (a human Muppet). Additional characters that made occasional appearances included a wild monster with red fur and a healthy appetite — portraying a role similar to Cookie Monster's — and a tan Anything Muppet that could be turned into characters (such as a baby, a girl friend of Vera's, a clumsy man with a moustache, or a pig). The show's directors were:

Enrique Nicanor Antonio Torets Jose María Vidal (co-director)

Juega Conmigo, Sésamo (6th Run)[]

Since 2006, Juega Conmigo, Sésamo is the Castilian Spanish dub of Play with Me Sesame which was broadcast in Spain over the network Antenna 3.

Super Healthy Monsters (7th Run)[]

Since 2012, Super Healthy Monsters is a 5 to 7-minute series focuses on activities and foods that keep one healthy. Sesame Workshop produced 26 episodes in English, which initially aired dubbed in Spain on Antena 3 as a Barrio Sésamo mini-series called "Monstruos Supersanos."

El Hotel Furchester (8th Run)[]

On April 28, 2016, El Hotel Furchester is the Castilian Spanish dub of The Furchester Hotel which was broadcast in Spain on TVE Clan.

Sesame Street - HBO Era (9th Run)[]

The show is part of the HBO programming in Spain under its original title, Sesame Street, with dubbed episodes of the HBO seasons from 2017 to 2021.

References[]

External links[]

• Barrio Sésamo on Muppet Wiki
• Barrio Sésamo at IMDb
• Barrio Sésamo episode 22 jan 1980