Sesame Street' losing 'Maria' after 44 years

Story highlights

• Actress Sonia Manzano is retiring from the show
• She hinted that she may return for the 50th anniversary in 2019

(CNN)It's the end of an era on "Sesame Street."

The block is losing one of its most beloved citizens: Sonia Manzano, who has played shop owner Maria on the PBS series for almost 45 years, has announced that she is retiring.

The 65-year-old Puerto Rican actress revealed her plan to exit the show at the recent American Library Association Annual Conference in San Francisco.

Sonia Manzano is retiring from playing "Maria."

Manzano first appeared on "Sesame Street" in 1971 and became a series regular in 1974. Manzano's character, Maria, has been an integral part of the long-running series along with TV husband Luis (played by Emilio Delgado), with whom she ran the Fix-It Shop.

News of her departure set off sadness across social media, and Manzano tweeted responses to some disappointed fans, assuring them that the show would go on and telling them not to be "bummed."

Sorry to see you go but enjoy your retirement Maria.

had such a crush on her

hifidelity67 said:

had such a crush on her

Yes. She was the hot one.

kewlschool said:

hifidelity67 said:

had such a crush on her

Yes. She was the hot one.

Also one of my first crushes.

hifidelity67 said:

had such a crush on her

hell, who didn't??

HuMpThAnG said:

hifidelity67 said:

had such a crush on her

hell, who didn't??

this guy

well, he always had issues...

I bet she had no idea that she'd spend most of her Adult life working on that show..Smart Entertainers never try to fix what aint broken..65 is still young so maybe she has other projects in the works...

I used to love her too. Well earned retirement.

So this means she'll be divorce from her tv husband Luis?

After watching Scott Pelley's send off, my mom thought that she had died. No!, she's only retiring. It's just the way they presented the segment, that's why.

I wonder how they are writing her out, or if they'll bother?

Remember when Maria had to explain to Big Bird that Mr. Hooper died?

Cinny said:

I wonder how they are writing her out, or if they'll bother?

Remember when Maria had to explain to Big Bird that Mr. Hooper died?

yes... yes i do.

I had a Big Bird with a pullstring that would talk. It was my favorite toy when I was a kid, though I don't think I've ever seen this show. I don't know who Maria is.

Man she been on this joint a long time. I had no idea she was still there.

I was in fucking elementary school when she started. Damn.

phunkdaddy said:

Man she been on this joint a long time. I had no idea she was still there.

I was in fucking elementary school when she started. Damn.

ARRP.

Cinny said:

I wonder how they are writing her out, or if they'll bother?

Remember when Maria had to explain to Big Bird that Mr. Hooper died?

HuMpThAnG said:

well, he always had issues...

He was such a grouch

TD3 said:

phunkdaddy said:

Man she been on this joint a long time. I had no idea she was still there.

I was in fucking elementary school when she started. Damn.

ARRP.

Were you attending your Jr. High prom then?

kewlschool said:

hifidelity67 said:

had such a crush on her

Yes. She was the hot one.

Maria has age pretty well too!

kpowers said:

HuMpThAnG said:

hell, who didn't??

this guy

Oscar has always been a total dick toward the adults of Sesame Street.

Lammastide said:

kewlschool said:

Yes. She was the hot one.

Also one of my first crushes.

Good taste.

kewlschool said:

Lammastide said:

Also one of my first crushes.

Good taste.

hehe

phunkdaddy said:

TD3 said:

AARP.

Were you attending your Jr. High prom then?

Uh, yes. What's your point, my brotha.

Everybody gets the AARP magazine at somepoint, your time has come. Welcome.

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[Edited 7/14/15 6:56am]

Yeah, I was also shocked to discover that the people I saw on there when I was a little boy are still doing their thing on the show.



She earned a well-deserved retirement.

Takes a rope, get's a chair. Starts to put the rope around his neck, very tight. Ready to jump. Mariaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa