When describing Elmo of "Sesame Street," the words that likely come to mind include "cute," "cuddly" and "lovable." But in 2022, two new words can be added to that description: "unhinged" and "savage.

Sesame Workshop has secured new deals with a number of direct-to-consumer brands for Sesame Street, including Hedley & Bennett for kitchen gear and Nugget for an Elmo play couch. “The pandemic has ...