TCA 2018: HBO Sets New Sesame Workshop Series

HBO will launch in August a new animated series from Sesame Workshop, the network announced during its Television Critics Association summer press tour session Wednesday.

The series, Esme & Roy, will debut on Aug. 18, and follows a young girl and her best monster friend on adventures as the best monster babysitters in Monsterdale, said network officials.

The todder-targeted series is the first from the makers of Sesame Street in more than a decade, and offers a creative new approach to teaching and mindfulness strategies, said HBO.

In other HBO TCA news, the network announced an Oct. 6 premiere date for Flight of the Conchords: Live At The London Apollo. The musical special – taped at the Eventim Apollo in London – features Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, who starred in the 2007-2009 HBO series Flight Of The Conchords.

Flight of the Conchords: Live At The London Apollo is directed by Hamish Hamilton, with Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie and Mike Martinovich serving as executive producers. 

The network also released its original documentary lineup for the remainder of the year. Documentaries and premiere dates include: Swiped: Hooking Up In The Digital Age (debuts Sept. 10); The Oslo Diaries (Sept. 13); Jane Fonda In Five Acts (Sept. 24); Rx Early Detection: A Cancer Journey With Sandra Lee (Oct. 8) The Sentence (Oct. 15); Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped By Boko Haram (Oct. 22); We Are Not Done Yet (November); The Price Of Everything (November); The Truth About Killer Robots (November); Say Her Name: The Life And Death Of Sandra Bland (December); Breslin And Hamill: Deadline Artists (December); and Bleed Out (December). 

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.