'Sesame Street' creators sue makers of raunchy puppet film

LOS ANGELES: The creators of “Sesame Street” have filed a lawsuit against the distributor of an upcoming raunchy Hollywood film “The Happytime Murders” to halt an advertising tagline that it claims falsely associates itself with the children’s television show.

An early trailer release for the film shows Muppet-like characters engaged in sex, coarse language, drugs, and violence.

But it’s not the film’s use of profane puppets that “Sesame Street” is upset about. It’s the tagline used in the film’s marketing campaign — “No Sesame. All Street.”

She’s flesh. He’s felt. Both are out for justice in #HappyTimeMurders. pic.twitter.com/yJgSnBEWo9

— Happytime Murders (@HappytimeMovie) May 23, 2018

Sesame Workshop alleges in the lawsuit, filed on Thursday in New York state court, that STX Productions has created confusion among the public into believing the film is connected to the show and infringed on the “Sesame Street” trademark.

“As evidenced by a parade of social media posts, emails, and public comments, the ‘No Sesame. All Street.’ the tagline has confused and appalled viewers because of what they believe to be a serious breach of trust,” the lawsuit alleges.

In response, STX issued a statement in the name of one of the film’s characters, the attorney Fred.

“STX loved the idea of working closely with Brian Henson and the Jim Henson Company to tell the untold story of the active lives of Henson puppets when they’re not performing in front of children,” the statement said.

“While we’re disappointed that ‘Sesame Street’ does not share in the fun, we are confident in our legal position,” it added.

“The Happytime Murders,” scheduled for an Aug. 17 release, is directed by Brian Henson, the son of “The Muppet Show” creator Jim Henson who also helped develop the puppet characters of “Sesame Street” when it launched in 1969.

The film stars comedian Melissa McCarthy as a detective who is tasked with tracking down a serial killer in a world in which puppets and humans coexist.

The lawsuit also asks for punitive damages and a jury trial.