【eroticism our wounds】

The eroticism our woundssnow tumbles down on Muppets in top hats as a mustachioed Cookie Monster offers a Santa'd Jim Gaffigan a chocolate chip cookie. This is the scene on set as Sesame Street shoots its first holiday special in 10 years.

"Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas" is a Dickensian tale told through a furry lens of children's television. Much of the special takes place in an old-timey Sesame Street populated by the ancestors of the street's familiar, fuzzy faces.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Set designer David Gallo took modern Sesame Street back to the 19th century with sepia tones, ivy-covered iron gates and laundry dangling by clothespins over the familiar cobblestone. The characters themselves underwent their own period makeovers, trading their regular clothes and monster fur for dashing, hand-sewed tweed outerwear and exaggerated facial hair.

---

You May Also Like

---

---

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The story starts inside the bedroom of Elmo as his dad tells him the story of a Sesame Street from long ago that was so unfriendly, Santa put the entire block on the naughty list. Only through the kindness and cheer of Elmo's great-great-grandmonster (also named Elmo) does Sesame Street transform into the warm fuzzy-filled neighborhood millions of children know today.

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

That's the short version -- the longer version that unfolds in "Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas" includes musical numbers featuring Broadway legend Audra McDonald, Girlsstar Zosia Mamet and Jim Gaffigan in the perfectly casted role of Santa Claus.

SEE ALSO: What my family wants you to know about autism (with Grover)

In between takes, Gaffigan sits in his sleigh, joking with the Muppeteers and Muppets readying for the next shot. He skeptically nibbles on a cookie handed over by a fuzzy-handed monster, and says, "All I taste is beard" with a hearty and jolly laugh worthy of the red suit he's wearing.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

When asked how producers settled on Gaffigan for the role of Santa, Brown Johnson, EVP and Creative Director of Sesame Workshop, said: "He's the perfect Santa, very fun, and very funny. And he must love kids because he has so many! He had such a good time with us that he did all of his press interviews that day in his Santa costume in his Santa voice."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The father-of-five and clear Sesame Streetfan paused before wrapping his final day on set by asking the Muppets to shoot selfies and videos for his kids. Because only the coolest of dads pal around with Bert and Ernie.

View this post on Instagram

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

"Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas" re-airs Dec. 24 at 9 a.m. ET on HBO.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

BONUS: Cookie Monster Shower Thoughts

• Science
• Deals
• Tech
• Shopping
• Digital Culture
• Social Good
• Life
• Entertainment

• Apple MacBook Air deal: $899 at Best Buy
• Leaked Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7 renders show surprising design change
• Apple is looking into buying Perplexity AI
• Wordle today: The answer and hints for June 21, 2025
• How to quit social media: This Gen Z
• Android 16: These 6 features are worth the update
• Creators talk accessibility and building inclusive spaces at VidCon 2025
• NYT Connections hints and answers for June 23: Tips to solve 'Connections' #743.
• Internet for All
• Creator Playbook: How V Spehar balances their work as a creator and journalist

• Illustrated author portmanteaux of the two
• Our New Year’s Resolution: Travel More by Dan Piepenbring
• Tooting on His Sideways Horn by Dan Piepenbring
• Mysterious Skin: The Realia of William Gaddis by Matthew Erickson
• Map of the World by Sadie Stein
• This Is Growing Up by Justin Alvarez
• Because, and Other News by Dan Piepenbring
• Holidays, via The Paris Review by Sadie Stein
• Anthony Cudahy
• What We’re Loving: Twain, Gilbert, Visconti by The Paris Review

• The Best CPU & GPU Purchases of 2017
• NYT Connections hints and answers for June 23: Tips to solve 'Connections' #743.
• Germany vs. Italy 2025 livestream: Watch U21 Euro 2025 for free
• MotoGP 2025 livestream: How to watch MotoGP World Championship for free
• Nishioka vs. Alcaraz 2025 livestream: Watch Australian Open for free
• Queen's Club Championships 2025 livestream: How to watch Queens Tennis for free
• VidCon 2025: 'Bachelor' alum discuss the LTK collaboration
• 3 tips for creating viral content from the creators who get it done
• Best smart scale deal: Get 15% off an Etekcity scale at Amazon
• USA vs. Haiti 2025 livestream: Watch Concacaf Gold Cup for free

• How to survive Valentine's Day when you're heartbroken
• Apple is looking into buying Perplexity AI
• Moon phase today explained: What the moon will look like on June 22, 2025
• British and Irish Lions vs. Argentina 2025 livestream: Watch Lions Tour for free
• AI action figure trend: What it is and how to make yours
• Bad actors: YouTube ads have an AI video problem
• Today's Hurdle hints and answers for June 21, 2025
• Germany vs. Italy 2025 livestream: Watch U21 Euro 2025 for free
• ChatGPT has gone down the day after Christmas
• MotoGP 2025 livestream: Watch Grand Prix of Italy for free