In this Jan. 24, 2011, file photo, Elmo of the film "Being Elmo" poses for a portrait in the Fender Music Lodge during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Sesame Workshop is developing a talk show starring Elmo, called "The Not Too Late Show with Elmo," where he will interview celebrity guests. (AP Photo/Victoria Will, File)
NEW YORK (AP) --
Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel… and Elmo?
Sesame Workshop is developing a talk show starring the squeaky-voiced puppet, called "The Not Too Late Show with Elmo," where he will interview celebrity guests. Production begins next month, but it’s not clear when the program will air.
It was announced Thursday as part of a deal between HBO Max and the children's television producer. The centerpiece of the deal is five new seasons of "Sesame Street" that begin next year. The episodes will air first on the pay cable service and then be made available for free through PBS.
Part of the deal is two new animated series.
More "Sesame Street" products will be available on-demand, including classic episodes from the past 50 years.
Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on Weds., Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it's ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.
In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.
Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lay's potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based company's chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month, U.S. government agencies, companies and schools have rushed to reevaluate policies and programs they adopted with the goal of reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money.
PepsiCo's rollback came as Coca-Cola reaffirmed support for its DEI efforts.
In its annual report, Atlanta-based Coke warned that its business could be negatively affected if it is unable to attract employees that reflect its broad range of customers.
"Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion … could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success," the company said.
Coca-Cola has set a goal of having women in 50% of its senior leadership roles by... Read More
