NAMM/Sesame Street Float Wins Bob Hope Humor Award at 116th Annual Rose Parade

Music Products Industry’s Positive Messages about Music and Family Reach 50 Million Viewers During International Media Event

January 5, 2005

The second time was also a charm for the music products industry’s entry into the 116th Tournament of Roses Parade as NAMM, the International Music Products Association, and Sesame Workshop’s entry titled “Music Makes Us a Family” was honored with the Bob Hope Humor trophy for the most comical and amusing float.

The colorful, interactive float, designed by Studio Concepts, was seen by an estimated 50 million people in the United States and also broadcast in 28 countries. The media outlets broadcasting the Rose Parade included ABC, NBC, CBS, Univision, HGTV, Telemundo, Travel Channel, Discovery HD and KTLA in the Los Angeles area.

The association’s 2005 float featured Big Bird, Elmo, Oscar, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie, Zoe, Rosita and Honker from Sesame Street who embodied the float’s joyful “families making music” theme. A three-generation music-making family from Phoenix, Ariz., added to the excitement as they rode on the float and waved to the crowd of approximately 1 million New Year’s revelers. The NAMM entry was also one of the first interactive floats in Rose Parade history with a live drum circle onboard to entertain viewers.

The Bob Hope Humor trophy is a relatively new annual award, given for only the second time by the Tournament of Roses Association to honor legendary comedian Bob Hope, famous for bringing joy to millions through his work on stage and screen.

About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit educational organization making a meaningful difference in children’s lives around the world. Founded in 1968, the Workshop changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. The Workshop continues to innovate on behalf of children in 120 countries with award-winning programs and ground breaking multimedia productions in South Africa, Egypt and Russia. Sesame Workshop and NAMM have collaborated extensively on "Music Works," a public service initiative that encourages children to explore, create and grow with music. Find the Workshop online at www.sesameworkshop.org