WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fans of public media have been in a panic for months following sweeping federal and state funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). With less support for NPR and PBS, concerns mounted about the future of beloved programming, including the crown jewel of children’s television: Sesame Street.
But just when it looked like Oscar the Grouch was going to have to find a new trash can, an unlikely benefactor swooped in.
Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, shocked the nation this week when he announced a personal donation of $1.1 billion to CPB.
“I love Sesame Street. My friends love Sesame Street. Who doesn’t love Sesame Street, I mean come on,” Lindell told NPR in a recent interview, noting that he has “always admired Oscar’s entrepreneurial spirit.”
On Monday, Lindell hand-delivered an oversized check to CPB CEO, Patricia Harrison, insisting that he couldn’t rest easy knowing the future of Elmo’s and the rest of the Sesame Street crew was uncertain.
“I mean, how could anyone look Elmo straight in the eye and tell him he’s out of a job? I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s sleep,” Lindell said.
The donation is expected to fully restore CPB funding and fans will not experience an interruption in programming and services.
Sources close to the deal report that Lindell has only one request in return: a recurring cameo as “Mike the Pillow Guy,” a friendly neighbor on Sesame Street who teaches kids the importance of a good night’s rest.