'Sesame Street' Actor Bob McGrath Radiated Warmth and Acceptance

The latest in pop-culture news, recaps, and reviews, plus close reads, profiles, interviews, and more from Vulture.com. [Brand Logo]( remembrance [Bob McGrath Set the Example]( The Sesame Street actor radiated the warmth and acceptance many young viewers wouldn’t have otherwise received. Photo: Scott Gardner/Toronto Star via Getty Images He always seemed to be in a good mood, and he was always available to help with a problem or share a laugh. But nothing about Bob McGrath was forced. Like his fellow adult castmates on [Sesame Street](, he had old-school showbiz skills and knew how to crank up the stage energy, but he used that power sparingly. Less was more on Sesame Street. His even-keeled energy, bright smile, and ability to listen as if he really meant it had a calming influence on multiple generations of children — including young viewers like this writer, who lacked day-to-day examples of healthy interactions between children and parental figures but found them on public TV for an hour or two each weekday. Bob (it seems wrong to refer to him as “McGrath”) died Sunday of a stroke at 90 in his home in Norwood, New Jersey. He was a gifted musician, singer, actor, and public speaker who spent more than 60 years in entertainment, including stints as a chorus member and soloist on Sing Along With Mitch and tours as a novelty act in Japan, where he sang Irish folk songs in Japanese. Throughout the second half of his career, Bob served as one of a handful of adults mixed in with the Muppet and human children of Sesame Street, incarnating the show’s guiding principles of empathy, inclusion, and curiosity as much as Ernie, Bert, and Big Bird. He debuted on the enduring PBS series as sweet-spirited music teacher Bob Johnson during its pilot episode in 1969 and played the role for 45 seasons, until he was laid off when HBO bought Sesame Street from its parent company in 2016. (He returned for a reunion special in 2019.) [Read More]( [Holiday Sale: Save up to 70% and get two exclusive gifts]( with an annual subscription to Vulture and everything New York. The Latest TV Recaps • Southern Hospitality: [One Fish, Two Fish, Drunk Fish, Who?? Fish]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Stories We Think You’ll Like [The Best Songs of 2022 This year’s music provided a fleeting and desperately needed moment of salvation.]( By Justin Curto and Alex Suskind [Every Detail of T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach’s GMA3 Drama in Chronological Order There has been an embarrassment (and we do mean that word) of detail.]( [Pinocchios, Ranked What is it about this little wooden boy that’s resonated for 150 years?]( By Barry Levitt [KPOP to Close on Broadway Two Weeks After Opening The final performance will feature a panel on AAPI representation on Broadway.]( By Jason P. Frank [Did You Know That There’s a Lana Del Rey Album Coming Next March? Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd features Bleachers, Father John Misty, and her pastor.]( By Justin Curto [Cat Person Has a Date at Sundance Film Festival 2023 As part of the lineup for the in-person and online programs.]( By Zoe Guy [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Today’s Crossword]( 9-Across, Nine Letters: Clarice Starling and Gracie Hart. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos Courtesy of Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for STARZ and Mark Junge/Getty Images [logo]( [facebook logo]( [instagram logo]( [twitter logo]( [unsubscribe](param=vulture-daily) | [privacy notice]( | [update preferences]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Was this email forwarded to you? [Sign up now]( to get this newsletter in your inbox. [View this email in your browser.]( You received this email because you have a subscription to New York. Reach the right online audience with us For advertising information on email newsletters, please contact AdOps@nymag.com Vox Media, LLC 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, 12th Floor Washington, DC 20036 Copyright © 2022, All rights reserved