David Connell (1931 – May 5, 1995) was the original executive producer for ''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational television, educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Worksh ...

'', and

Children's Television Workshop Sesame Workshop (SW), originally known as the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), is an American nonprofit organization and television company that has been responsible for the production of several educational children's programs—includin ...

's vice-president in charge of production. Connell, who had been a producer for the

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...

children's program ''

Captain Kangaroo ''Captain Kangaroo'' is an American children's television series that aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for 29 years, from 1955 to 1984, making it the longest-running nationally broadcast children's television program ...

'', played a key role in establishing the basic format of the "street" skits. He was also the principal creative behind The Man from Alphabet, a series of live action skits starring

Gary Owens Gary Owens (born Gary Bernard Altman; May 10, 1934 – February 12, 2015) was an American disc jockey, voice actor, announcer and radio personality. His polished baritone speaking voice generally offered deadpan recitations of total nonsense, wh ...

which failed in child tests and were never aired on ''Sesame Street''. Connell received his B.A. in 1955 and his M.A. in 1956, both from the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

Credits

His credits include: * 1969-1973: ''

''—executive producer * 1974: '' Out to Lunch''—executive producer * 1975: ''The Jean Marsh Cartoon Special'' with

Grover Grover is a blue Muppet character on the PBS/HBO children's television show ''Sesame Street''. Self-described as lovable, cute, and furry, he is a blue monster who rarely uses contractions when he speaks or sings. Grover was originally perfo ...

—producer * 1987: ''

Sesame Street Live ''Sesame Street Live'' is a live touring show based on the children's television show ''Sesame Street'' produced by Roundroom Live under license of Sesame Workshop. History The VEE Corporation was started in March 1980 by founder Vincent Egan, ...

'' Big Bird and the ABC's—co-writer Connell was also executive producer and writer for ''

The Electric Company ''The Electric Company'' is an American educational children's television series produced by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW, now known as Sesame Workshop). It was co-created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett. ...

'', which he helped create in 1971, and for '' Square One TV'' in the late 1980s. He won five Emmy Awards and received an additional 20 nominations. He also served as executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning special, based on the

C.S. Lewis CS, C-S, C.S., Cs, cs, or cs. may refer to: Job titles * Chief Secretary (Hong Kong) * Chief superintendent, a rank in the British and several other police forces * Company secretary, a senior position in a private sector company or public se ...

book, ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'', which was broadcast on CBS in 1979.

References

External links

Current: David Connell's talents grew with his gifts to kids
an obituary by Joan Ganz Cooney * American television producers 1931 births 1995 deaths 20th-century American businesspeople University of Michigan alumni {{US-tv-producer-stub