Today Sesame Street celebrates its 40th birthday! To celebrate WLIW21 premieres new episodes Weekdays at 9 a.m. The new season is brought to you by the letter N and features a new show format, new show open, new nature curriculum, new Abby Cadabby CGI animation, and our new First Lady Michelle Obama!

While maintaining an emphasis on the importance of literacy and numeracy, the 40th-anniversary season kicks off “My World is Green & Growing,” a two-year science initiative designed to increase positive attitudes towards nature, deepen children’s knowledge about the natural world and encourage behavior that shows respect and care for the environment. First Lady Michelle Obama appears in the season premiere, today at 9 a.m., and teaches “the street’s” residents about the many benefits of planting a garden and healthy eating as part of Sesame Street’s ongoing “Healthy Habits for Life” initiative.

Preview First Lady Michelle Obama’s visit to Sesame Street:

Original songs, storylines and animations will continue to stimulate the preschool viewers’ awareness and excitement about the environment. Through a series of 26 celebrity segments, Sesame Street will introduce words like “habitat,” “metamorphosis,” “hibernate,” and more to enhance children’s vocabulary and appreciation of nature. You’re sure to laugh along with the kids when you see guest spots from Hugh Jackman, Cameron Diaz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ricky Gervais, Adam Sandler, Ziggy Marley, Tiki Barber, Kobe Bryant, and others.

Check out some of these exciting guest appearances and other highlights from Sesame Street’s 40th anniversary season:

Watch classic Sesame Street clips on WLIW21’s new video portal.

Watch Sesame Street videos, play games and more on pbskids.org.

Visit 21 Kids for WLIW21’s children’s programming schedule, video, games, and more.

WNET.ORG correspondent Rafael Pi Roman speaks with Donald G. McNeil, Jr., Science and Health Reporter at The New York Times, about President Obama’s declaration of a H1N1 national emergency, and the reports of shortages of the H1N1 vaccine.

For more on how the H1N1 “swine flu” virus is affecting New York, please visit our comprehensive website that features the latest news from across the PBS spectrum as well as original reports from the field.

(View full post to see video)

WLIW21 has launched a brand-new video portal that allows you to watch full-length national and local programs online anytime. To mark this milestone, WLIW21 is make full-length specials from its acclaimed Visions® travel series available online for the first time. Visitors worldwide can delight in the aerial views of Visions® of New York City, Visions® of Puerto Rico, Visions® of Italy, Visions® of England, Visions® of Germany, and more – all shot in high definition from a helicopter-mounted camera.

With its new video capabilities, wliw.org/video will deliver hours of programming to its users, including locally produced programs like New York War Stories, Going Green Long Island, Leaving Long Island, and the Emmy Award-winning New York The Way It Was series, and WLIW21’s groundbreaking ethnic heritage specials The Chinese Americans, The Mexican Americans, A Laugh, A Tear, A Mitzvah, and Classic American Cars of Cuba. Full episodes of national PBS series, such as Nature, Great Performances, Masterpiece, Austin City Limits, Antiques Roadshow, and NOVA, as well as WLIW21 national presentations Moment of Luxury and Healthy Minds are also available.

We’re still working out some technical kinks (we don’t use the term “beta” loosely), but we’re anxious to hear what you think. Leave a comment here or at www.facebook.com/wliw21.

Thanks for watching – anywhere.

Live By Request is the show where YOU create the set list with online, call-in and text requests. YOU decide what John Fogerty plays – LIVE on Saturday, November 7 at 9 p.m.

Do you have a touching, life-changing or just plain funny story about how one of John Fogerty’s songs has played a role in your life? Tell us what you want to hear and why.

During the live broadcast, YOU can be one of the lucky viewers to make a request live on the air directly to John Fogerty!

Here is everything you need to know to make a request:

Call 1-888-4-LIVEBY
Be one of the lucky callers to make your request live on the air directly to John Fogerty! From 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, November 7 you can call 1-888-4-LIVEBY for a chance to make your request.

Email LBRemailRequest@pbs.org
During the live broadcast, send an email to LBRemailRequest@pbs.org with the name of the song you want to hear and why.

Facebook
In order to make a request on Facebook, you must “become a fan” of LIVE BY REQUEST at facebook.com/livebyrequest. You’ll be able to post your requests and tell us why you want to hear your favorite song during the live broadcast on November 7. While you’re on Facebook, be sure to “become a fan” of WLIW21 at facebook.com/wliw21.

Twitter
Follow LIVE BY REQUEST at twitter.com/live_by_request, and tweet your request to @live_by_request during the live broadcast on November 7. Until then, you’ll get behind-the-scenes access leading up to and during the live show! While you’re on Twitter, be sure to follow WLIW21 at twitter.com/wliw21.

Video
YOU can be one of the lucky viewers to make a video request on the air directly to John Fogerty! Visit pbs.org/livebyrequest for details on November 7. While you’re on YouTube, be sure to visit WLIW21’s channel at youtube.com/wliw21.

Text
Text your request during the live show on your mobile phone! Visit pbs.org/livebyrequest for details on November 7.

Remember, the only way to talk to John Fogerty is to watch live Saturday, November 7 at 9 p.m. and reach out!

Preview video and more.

Inside PBS Blog Q&A with John Fogerty

Donate now for John Fogerty’s The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again CD.

Donate now for John Fogerty’s Comin’ Down the Road DVD.

Donate now for John Fogerty’s latest CD and DVD.

Become a WLIW21 fan.

This Thursday at 12 midnight on WLIW21, New York Governor David Paterson will appear in a special town hall meeting to answer questions from New Yorkers about the economic climate in the state.

Got a question for the governor? Submit your question to Gov. Paterson in our comments section below — it may be asked in Thursday’s town-hall meeting.

Submission deadline: Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 3 p.m.