"Sesame Street" bids goodbye to Bob, Luis and Gordon. The news was confirmed during a panel at Florida Supercon by Bob McGrath, Emilio Delgado and Roscoe Orman who play the roles, respectively.
The "Sesame Street" production took to its Twitter account an announcement that confirms the cast changes, but stated that three men will remain, US Weekly reported. All the departing actors have served as foundational characters in a number of cases since it was established.
The 84-year-old original "Sesame Street" cast member McGrath said that he along with Delgado and Orman were let go by the long-running series. They are letting go of all the original cast members with the exception of Alan Muraoka, who is probably 20 years younger, and Chris Knowings, who is also young, Mcgrath added.
Mcgrath also said that the move was just part of one of the show's retooling, which include shortening their episodes as they move to HBO. While McGrath's statement seemed to imply that the changes were linked to the move of the series to HBO, "Sesame Street" management made it clear that the decisions were made exclusively by Sesame Workshop, The Washington Post reported.
McGrath, who plays Luis, was an original "Sesame Street" cast member when it premiered in November 1969. He sang some of the Sesame Street's memorable songs like "The People in Your Neighborhood."
Orman, on the other hand, played the role of Gordon for more than 40 years since 1973. In his biography, he said that "Sesame Street's" Gordon's most distinguishing and praiseworthy attribute may lie in the fact that he is a respected African persona. Adding to that is his being a respected and beloved father figure to young people of all races and social classes all across America and beyond.
"Sesame Street" will now be casting only two original members as Mcgrath exits the show. Loretta Long, who plays Susan Robinson, and Caroll Spinney, the legendary puppeteer who plays Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, will remain in the series. Here is one of the famed videos of the "Sesame Street" series.
