(Image source: IBTimes)

BY BRICE SANDER

You're watching multisource entertainment news analysis from Newsy.

Is everything still A-OK on Sesame Street? From the looks of a new special- not so much.

Elmo and friends will tackle the tough topic of poverty in “Growing Hope Against Hunger.” The special introduces Lily, a new Muppet facing “food insecurity.” (Sesame Workshop)

So why choose to introduce a poverty-stricken character now? The Syracuse Post-Standard gives some background.

“The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that 17 million American children — nearly 1 in 4 — have limited or uncertain access to affordable and nutritious food.”

But aZap2It blogger asks if Sesame Street’s the right platform for such a tough subject.

“Hunger is a very real concern and we don't revel in making light of it, but we think Lily looks a bit too upbeat. It's like Chris Rock said: ‘real homeless people are too hungry to be funny.’”

Still - an NPR blogger says this isn’t anything new for Big Bird’s block.

“It's no surprise that Sesame Street is tackling a tough societal issue. The show's been doing it from the start, setting up in New York City and debuting in 1969 with a cast of multicultural characters as friends.”

The anchors at Atlanta’s WGCL applaud the decision, arguing kids need to learn about real world issues.

TRACYE HUTCHINS: “I think, uh, Sesame Street’s always been great speaking to kids in their own language- repetition they love, you know, characters they love. So, this will get the point across that, you know, not everyone’s as fortunate as they are in many cases, in being able to have a meal every night. A lot of kids, you know, their meal at school is the only meal they get.”

But a San Francisco Weekly blogger questions the show’s real motives.

“…how many parents of children living in food-insecure homes will sit their children in front of the television at 7 p.m. on a Sunday to show their kid that they're not alone? The airtime suggests the episode is designed more to raise empathy in non-food-insecure households.”

For now, Lily’s only slated to appear one time- in a special airing October 9th on PBS.  

Transcript by Newsy