From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Muppets
are a group of puppet characters created by
Jim Henson
, many for the purpose of appearing on the children's television program
Sesame Street
. Henson's involvement in
Sesame Street
began when he and
Joan Ganz Cooney
, one of the creators of the show, met in the summer of 1968, at one of the show's five three-day curriculum planning seminars in
Boston
. Author Christopher Finch reported that director
Jon Stone
, who had worked with Henson previously, felt that if they could not bring him on board, they should "make do without puppets".
[1]
Henson was originally reluctant but agreed to join
Sesame Street
in support of its social goals. He also agreed to waive his performance fee for full ownership of the
Sesame Street
Muppets and to split any revenue they generated with the
Children's Television Workshop
(renamed to the Sesame Workshop in 2000), the series' non-profit producer.
[2]
The Muppets were a crucial part of the show's popularity and it brought Henson national attention.
[3]
The Muppet segments of the show were popular since its premiere, and more Muppets were added during the first few seasons. The Muppets were effective teaching tools because children easily recognized them, they were predictable, and they appealed to adults and older siblings.
[4]
During the production of
Sesame Street
'
s first season, producers created five one-hour rubber baby baby bunkers to test the show's appeal to children and examine their comprehension of the material. Not intended for broadcast, they were presented to preschoolers in 60 homes throughout Philadelphia and in day care centers in New York City in July 1969.
[5]
The results were "generally very positive";
[6]
children learned from the shows, their appeal was high, and children's attention was sustained over the full hour.
[5]
However, the researchers found that although children's attention was high during the Muppet segments, their interest wavered during the "Street" segments, when no Muppets were on screen. This was because the producers had followed the advice of child psychologists who were concerned that children would be confused if human actors and Muppets were shown together. As a result of this decision, the appeal of the test episodes was lower than the target.
[6]
[7]
The Street scenes were "the glue" that "pulled the show together",
[8]
so producers knew they needed to make significant changes. The producers decided to reject the advisers' advice and reshot the Street segments; Henson and his coworkers created Muppets that could interact with the human actors,
[8]
[9]
specifically
Oscar the Grouch
and
Big Bird
, who became two of the show's most enduring characters.
[10]
These test episodes were directly responsible for what writer
Malcolm Gladwell
called "the essence of
Sesame Street
?the artful blend of fluffy monsters and earnest adults".
[8]
Since 2001, the full rights for the Muppets created for
Sesame Street
(which do not include
Kermit the Frog
) have been owned by Sesame Workshop.
[11]
Muppets
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
Finch, p. 53.
- ^
Davis, p. 5.
- ^
Morrow, p. 93.
- ^
Morrow, pp. 94?95.
- ^
a
b
Lesser, p. 164.
- ^
a
b
Fisch, p. 39.
- ^
Gladwell, p. 105.
- ^
a
b
c
Gladwell, p. 106.
- ^
Fisch & Bernstein, pp. 39?40.
- ^
Fisch & Bernstein, p. 40.
- ^
a
b
Retsinas, Greg (May 8, 2003).
"Hensons Buying Back the Muppets for $89 Million"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
July 31,
2019
.
- ^
Gikow, p. 135.
- ^
"Leslie Carrara-Rudolph"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 24,
2019
.
- ^
Dominus, Susan (August 6, 2006).
"A Girly-Girl Joins the 'Sesame' Boys"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
August 2,
2019
.
- ^
Hellman, pp. 48?49
- ^
Hellman, p. 48
- ^
Davis, p. 359.
- ^
Prial, Frank J. (March 31, 2004).
"Alistair Cooke, Elegant Interpreter of America, Died at 95"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
August 2,
2019
.
- ^
Heffernan, Virginia (November 18, 2007).
"Sweeping the Clouds Away"
.
The New York Times
. p. 634
. Retrieved
August 2,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
Borgenicht, p. 132.
- ^
"Behind the Scenes: John E. Kennedy"
.
Sesame Workshop.com
. Retrieved
August 2,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
Finch, p. 64.
- ^
Lesser, p. 127.
- ^
a
b
Gikow, p. 100.
- ^
Gikow, p. 57.
- ^
Gikow, p. 181.
- ^
a
b
c
Episode 0131 Old School, Volume 1 (Disc 2) (9 November 1970)
(DVD). Children's Television Workshop. 2006.
- ^
"David Rudman"
.
Sesame Workshop.com
. Retrieved
August 24,
2019
.
- ^
"Baby Bear"
.
Sesame Workshop.com
. Retrieved
August 5,
2019
.
- ^
Fallstrom, Bob (May 31, 2010).
"Former gymnast vaults into new career"
.
The Herald-Review
. Decatur, Illinois
. Retrieved
August 2,
2019
.
- ^
Marvell, Cindy (October 11, 1998).
"A Show as Light as the Air That Propels It"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
February 18,
2021
.
- ^
Gikow, p. 79.
- ^
a
b
Gikow, p. 93.
- ^
a
b
Gikow, p. 41.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Gikow, p. 207
- ^
Gikow, p. 27.
- ^
"Eric Jacobson"
.
Sesame Workshop.com
. Retrieved
August 5,
2019
.
- ^
Finch, p. 61.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
Borgenicht, p. 131.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
Borgenicht, p. 133.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
Davis, p. 242.
- ^
a
b
c
Gikow, p. 48.
- ^
Svetkey, Benjamin (February 6, 2019).
"
'Sesame Street': Meet the New Puppeteer Inside Big Bird"
.
Hollywood Reporter
. Retrieved
August 20,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
Park, Andrea (October 17, 2018).
"Big Bird actor Caroll Spinney leaves "Sesame Street" after nearly 5 decades"
.
CBS News
. Retrieved
August 21,
2019
.
- ^
Gikow, p. 53.
- ^
Wamsley, Laurel (October 17, 2018).
"After 50 Years On 'Sesame Street,' The Voice Of Big Bird And Oscar Is Retiring"
.
NPR.org
. Retrieved
August 24,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
c
Gikow, p. 231.
- ^
Spinney, Carroll; Milligan, Jason (2003).
The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): A Life in Feathers
. Illustrated by Caroll Spinney. New York: Random House. p.
62
.
ISBN
0-375-50781-7
.
- ^
Davis, p. 246.
- ^
"David Rudman"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 6,
2019
.
- ^
"The Voices Behind the 'Sesame Street' Puppets: David Rudman"
.
ABC News.com
. Retrieved
August 22,
2019
.
- ^
"Cookie Monster"
.
Sesame Workshop.com
. Retrieved
August 24,
2019
.
- ^
"The Voices Behind the 'Sesame Street' Puppets: Jerry Nelson"
.
ABC News.com
. Retrieved
August 22,
2019
.
- ^
Davis, p. 239.
- ^
"Countess"
. Sesame Street.org
. Retrieved
February 8,
2015
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Gikow, p. 134
- ^
Gikow, p. 164
- ^
"Curly Bear"
. Sesame Street.org
. Retrieved
February 8,
2015
.
- ^
a
b
Howard, Brendan (August 20, 2006).
"Puppeteer Loved to 'Rock'
"
.
Home Media Magazine
. Archived from
the original
on December 8, 2014
. Retrieved
February 8,
2015
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
Gikow, p. 104.
- ^
Selk, Avi (March 21, 2017).
"Trump wants to defund PBS. 'Sesame Street' brutally parodied him for decades"
.
The Washington Post
. Retrieved
August 12,
2019
.
- ^
"Donald Trump becomes a Muppet, Donald Grump"
. CBC News. February 11, 2005
. Retrieved
August 12,
2019
.
- ^
Clash, p. 2.
- ^
Davis, p. 285
- ^
Hicks, Tony (April 2, 2013).
"Hicks: Elmo may be back in business"
.
San Jose Mercury News
. Retrieved
April 12,
2019
.
- ^
"Ryan Dillon"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 12,
2019
.
- ^
"Elmo"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 24,
2019
.
- ^
Davis, p. 166.
- ^
Bruner, Raisa (July 10, 2017).
"The Puppeteer Behind Kermit the Frog Has Left His Role With The Muppets"
.
Time
. Retrieved
August 13,
2019
.
- ^
"Peter Linz"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 13,
2019
.
- ^
"Ernie"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 24,
2019
.
- ^
Episode 0536 (19 November 1973) Old School, Volume 1 (Disc 3)
(DVD). Children's Television Workshop. 2006.
- ^
a
b
Gikow, p. 103.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Borgnicht, p. 134.
- ^
a
b
"Richard Hunt, Muppet and Sesame Street Puppeteer, Dies of AIDS"
.
Associated Press
. January 8, 1992
. Retrieved
August 13,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Jennifer Barnhart"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 13,
2019
.
- ^
Cardoza, Riley (October 17, 2018).
"Caroll Spinney: 5 Things To Know About Retiring Puppeteer Who Played Big Bird & Oscar The Grouch"
.
Hollywood Life.com
. Retrieved
August 14,
2019
.
- ^
Jones, Rachel Elizabeth (May 2, 2018).
"
'Sesame Street' Veterans to Talk About Life on the Show"
.
Seven Days
. Retrieved
January 27,
2020
.
- ^
K, Neetha (September 11, 2019).
"
'Helpsters': Release date, plot, cast, and everything you need to know about the child-friendly show from Apple"
.
Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide
. Retrieved
January 27,
2020
.
- ^
a
b
Patterson, Troy (January 18, 2018).
"The Evolution of "Sesame Street" on HBO"
.
The New Yorker
. Retrieved
August 23,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
c
Episode 0406 (27 November 1972)
(DVD). Children's Television Workshop. 2006.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Gikow, p. 140.
- ^
Spitznagel, Eric (September 10, 2011).
"Sesame Street Puppeteer Eric Jacobson Reveals Shocking News That Sesame Street is Not a Real Place"
.
Vanity Fair
. Retrieved
August 15,
2019
.
- ^
"The Voices Behind the 'Sesame Street' Puppets: Eric Jacobson"
.
ABC News.com
. Retrieved
August 22,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
Finch, p. 67.
- ^
a
b
c
Davis, p. 322.
- ^
"Grundgetta"
. Sesame Street.org
. Retrieved
February 10,
2015
.
- ^
Gikow, p. 161.
- ^
Gikow, p. 43.
- ^
Episode 0276 Old School, Volume 1 (Disc 2) (8 November 1971)
(DVD). Children's Television Workshop. 2006.
- ^
Borgenicht, p. 102.
- ^
Gikow, p. 165.
- ^
"Peter Linz"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 24,
2019
.
- ^
Borgenicht, p. 103.
- ^
a
b
Clash, pp. 40?41.
- ^
a
b
Gikow, p. 63.
- ^
"Legend, Foxx Hangin' on 'Sesame Street'
"
.
Spin
. July 26, 2006
. Retrieved
August 17,
2019
.
- ^
"Sesame Street makes history with the debut of its first Asian American puppet"
.
NPR
. November 15, 2021
. Retrieved
November 16,
2021
.
- ^
Wasserman, Ben (November 16, 2021).
"Sesame Street Welcomes Jim Lee, Simu Liu and More API Neighbors for a Special Episode"
.
CBR.com
. Archived from
the original
on November 16, 2021
. Retrieved
November 16,
2021
.
- ^
Suskind, Ron (December 2017).
"Why the Team Behind Sesame Street Created a Character With Autism"
.
Smithsonian
. Retrieved
August 17,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
Gikow, p. 131.
- ^
Parker, Ryan (July 13, 2017).
"Kermit the Frog Muppeteer Says Disney Fired Him"
.
The Hollywood Reporter
.
Archived
from the original on July 13, 2017
. Retrieved
July 13,
2017
.
- ^
Finch, p. 37.
- ^
Borgenicht, p. 89
- ^
Lesser, p. 113.
- ^
Gikow, p. 45.
- ^
a
b
c
Gikow, p. 226.
- ^
Williams, Mary Elizabeth (October 12, 2010).
"The viral genius of "Sesame Street"
"
.
Salon
. Retrieved
August 18,
2019
.
- ^
"Louie"
. Sesame Street.org
. Retrieved
February 11,
2015
.
- ^
Gikow, p. 105.
- ^
Borgenicht, p. 73.
- ^
Swick, Thomas (July 26, 1992).
"Inside the Apple"
.
Chicago Tribune
. Retrieved
August 21,
2019
.
- ^
Gikow, p. 197.
- ^
a
b
Gikow, p. 150.
- ^
Andrews, Travis M. (October 19, 2018).
"Here's why a happy show like 'Sesame Street' wanted an ornery character like Oscar the Grouch"
.
The Washington Post
. Retrieved
August 21,
2019
.
- ^
Gikow, p. 157.
- ^
a
b
Gikow, p. 133.
- ^
a
b
Hinckley, David (May 1, 2013).
"Kevin Clash nominated for Daytime Emmy despite leaving 'Sesame Street' amid sex scandal"
.
New York Daily News
. Retrieved
August 21,
2019
.
- ^
"Stephanie D'Abruzzo"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 21,
2019
.
- ^
Borgenicht, p. 77.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
Borgenicht, p. 135.
- ^
"The Voices Behind the 'Sesame Street' Puppets: Carmen Osbahr"
.
ABC News.com
. Retrieved
August 22,
2019
.
- ^
"Rosita"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 24,
2019
.
- ^
Dawn, Randee (August 4, 2017).
"Abby Cadabby on 'Sesame Street' has a new stepbrother: Rudy!"
.
Today.com
. Retrieved
August 21,
2019
.
- ^
"Frankie Cordero"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 21,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
Gikow, p. 92.
- ^
Bethea, April (October 31, 2010).
"Making Muppet music"
.
The Charlotte Observer
. Retrieved
August 21,
2019
.
- ^
Russell-Cole, Kathy; Wilson, Midge; Hall, Ronald E. (2013).
The Color Complex: The Politics of Skin Color in a New Millennium
(2nd ed.). New York: Random House. p.
113
.
ISBN
978-0-307-74423-4
.
- ^
a
b
Gikow, p. 94.
- ^
Gikow, p. 34.
- ^
Gikow, p. 36.
- ^
Fanning, Win (November 2, 1971).
"Revamped Sesame Street Opens 3rd Season Nov. 15"
.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
. p. 16
. Retrieved
August 23,
2019
.
- ^
Fessenden, Marissa (November 20, 2015).
"A Brief History of Sesame Street's Snuffleupagus Identity Crisis"
.
Smithsonian
. Retrieved
August 24,
2019
.
- ^
Scheetz, Cameron (November 11, 2014).
"Let The Oinker Sisters show you "A New Way To Walk"
"
.
The A.V. Club
.
Archived
from the original on September 30, 2023.
- ^
a
b
Gikow, p. 132.
- ^
"Eric Jacobson: Eric's Biography"
. Sesame Street.org
. Retrieved
March 8,
2015
.
- ^
Rome, Emily (September 16, 2013).
"When Superman met Super Grover: Henry Cavill visits 'Sesame Street'
"
.
Entertainment Weekly
. Retrieved
February 19,
2015
.
- ^
"Leslie Carrara-Rudolph"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
December 13,
2022
.
- ^
"Tango"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
December 13,
2022
.
- ^
"Martin Robinson"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 22,
2019
.
- ^
"Telly Monster"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 24,
2019
.
- ^
Davis, p. 321
- ^
"Rocco"
.
Sesame Workshop.org
. Retrieved
August 24,
2019
.
References
[
edit
]
- Borgenicht, David (1998).
Sesame Street Unpaved
. New York: Hyperion Publishing.
ISBN
0-7868-6460-5
- Clash, Kevin, Gary Brozek & Louis Henry Mitchell (2006).
My Life as a Furry Red Monster: What Being Elmo Has Taught Me About Life, Love and Laughing Out Loud
. New York: Random House.
ISBN
0-7679-2375-8
- Davis, Michael (2008).
Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street
. New York: Viking Penguin.
ISBN
978-0-670-01996-0
- Finch, Christopher (1993).
Jim Henson: The Works: The Art, the Magic, the Imagination
. New York: Random House.
ISBN
0-679-41203-4
- Fisch, Shalom M.; Lewis Bernstein, "Formative Research Revealed: Methodological and Process Issues in Formative Research". In Fisch, Shalom M. & Truglio, Rosemarie T..
G" is for Growing: Thirty Years of Research on Children and Sesame Street
. Mahweh, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers.
ISBN
978-0-8058-3394-2
.
- Gikow, Louise A. (2009).
Sesame Street: A Celebration?Forty Years of Life on the Street
. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers.
ISBN
978-1-57912-638-4
.
- Gladwell, Malcolm (2000).
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
. New York: Little, Brown, and Company.
ISBN
0-316-31696-2
- Hellman, Peter (November 23, 1987).
"Street Smart: How Big Bird & Co. do it".
New York Magazine
.
20
(46): 48?53. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- Lesser, Gerald S. (1974).
Children and Television: Lessons from Sesame Street
. New York: Vintage Books.
ISBN
0-394-71448-2
- Morrow, Robert W. (2006).
Sesame Street and the Reform of Children's Television
. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press.
ISBN
0-8018-8230-3
External links
[
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]