New York, NY -- Even Oscar the Grouch will be happy about this news: "Sesame Street" turns 35 years old today.

On November 10, 1969, the long-running children's TV series made its debut with many of the same Muppet characters who are on the show today. However, there were some slight differences: Oscar was orange and Big Bird didn't have any feathers on his head.

The giant bird also had a backwoods accent that sounded like Gomer Pyle, which was later changed to sound like a 6-year-old child.

These days, more than 17 versions of the series are produced outside the U.S., each with local adaptations. For instance, the Turkish Sesame Street takes place in a bazaar and Bert and Ernie are called "Budu" and "Ed."

In Norway, Big Bird is a blue monster while his Kuwaiti equivalent is a camel named "Noman."

But while "Sesame Street "is still popular with its target audience, not everyone is a fan. U.S. officials have claimed the show's theme song is especially effective at making Iraqi prisoners break down and cough up secret information during interrogations.

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