"Mando," Sesame Street’s New Bilingual Neighbor, Debuts

“I even get fan mail from parents telling me how important my character is, representing the Latino community.”

1. Mando, a new bilingual Sesame Street character debuted Thursday morning, giving kids across the U.S. a bit of added diversity on the seminal children’s show.

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2. The actor playing Mando is Ismael Cruz Córdova, 26, who came to New York City from Puerto Rico seven years ago, according to NBC Latino.

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3. “I even get fan mail from parents telling me how important my character is, representing the Latino community,” Cruz Córdova said.

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4. Tony-winning composer and actor in Broadway’s critically acclaimed In the Heights, Lin Manuel, wrote the music for the new season featuring Mando.

Hey Sesame Street fans: I wrote the music for this tune for the new season: http://t.co/Jugedu1Qyl

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel)

Lin-Manuel Miranda

@Lin_Manuel

Hey Sesame Street fans: I wrote the music for this tune for the new season: http://t.co/Jugedu1Qyl

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Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9GkdwAxov88.

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6. Cordova won the role in a high-profile search by Sesame Street that began in August 2012 when hundreds of hopefuls came out to the show’s first-ever open casting call for a new, diverse character.

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