Oscar the Grouch is a fictional character on the PBS/HBO television program "Sesame Street". He has a green body, no visible nose, and lives in a trash can. Oscar's favorite thing is trash, as evidenced by the song "I Love Trash", with a running theme being his collection of seemingly useless items. Although the term "Grouch" aptly describes Oscar's misanthropic interaction with the other characters, it also refers to his species. The character was originally performed by Caroll Spinney from the show's first episode until his official retirement in 2018. Since 2015, Eric Jacobson has been the understudy for the character, and has taken on the full voice role since Spinney's last time puppeteering him.
Introduction
Oscar the Grouch
Oscar the Grouch | Introduction
It was performed by Caroll Spinney till his retirement. Caroll Spinney and then Eric Jacobson Big Bird was originally performed by Caroll Spinney from 1969 to 2018. As of 2020, the character is performed by Matt Vogel who began in 1998 as an understudy before becoming his full-time performer in 2018. Caroll Spinney
when did the first episode of sesame street air
user
10 November 1969.
assistant
is it a series?
user
Yes, an educational children's television series.
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is the series still running?
user
Yes, it is on its second run.
assistant
when was the pilot episode done?
user
July 1969.
assistant
is it a puppet show?
user
Yes.
assistant
name a few characters from the series?
user
Human characters included Susan and muppet characters included Elmo.
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can you name more muppet characters?
user
Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
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how do the latter look like?
user
He has a green body with no visible nose.
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does the muppet perform any oscar related play?
user
Sorry. I cannot find the answer based on the context.
assistant
who performed the aforementioned bird muppet?
user
During the first season of Sesame Street, the street set was arranged in such a way that Spinney, who was right-handed, was forced to operate Oscar's head with his left hand. After the set was redesigned, Spinney was able to switch hands. In scenes where Big Bird and Oscar (both performed by Caroll Spinney) interact in a scene together, the situation has varied depending on the number of lines one or the other is given. When Spinney performed Big Bird, a second puppeteer operated Oscar to Spinney's voice or vocal track; however, occasionally, Matt Vogel instead operated the Big Bird puppet to a vocal track by Spinney, while he performed Oscar.
Oscar the Grouch | Performing Oscar
A hybrid of Oscar the Grouch, Ernie, and the Cookie Monster appears in "The Goodies" episode "The Goodies Rule – O.K.?", where it attacked Tim Brooke-Taylor whilst in a bin, only for Tim to eat it. Oscar made what he called "a very brief cameo" in the 1981 Jim Henson movie "The Great Muppet Caper". When Miss Piggy threw a truck driver (played by Peter Ustinov) into a pile of boxes and a pile of trash cans, Oscar emerged from his trash can and demanded "Hey, what's all the racket?" The driver asked him, "What are you doing here?" Oscar replied, "A very brief cameo." The driver muttered, "Me, too." Oscar also appeared in the Jim Henson holiday special, "A Muppet Family Christmas", when the Sesame Street Gang comes to the Grizzly Farm House for the holidays, in the film he befriends Rizzo the Rat who asks the Grouch if he could stay in his trash can for the night.
Oscar the Grouch | Appearances in other media
Initially, the puppet characters on "Sesame Street" did not actually appear on Sesame Street itself, but were relegated to the intermediary segments. Muppets creator Jim Henson wanted them to be integrated into the series, suggesting a giant bird and creature living in the neighborhood's trash can. The character was developed by "Sesame Street" head writer Jon Stone and Henson, based on the personality of a “magnificently rude” restaurant owner. Puppeteer Caroll Spinney found inspiration for the voice in the driver of a New York City taxi he took to the studio. His first line was "Where to Mac?". Henson credits the character's name to the owner and namesake of Oscar's Salt of the Sea.
Oscar the Grouch | Origins
According to Henson's biography Henson and Jon Stone frequented Oscar's Salt of the Sea. Henson's office was on East 67th Street just around the corner from Oscar's Salt of the Sea on Third Avenue. In the early 1960s, Henson and Stone often had lunch there and observed that the owner Oscar Karp dressed in black, looked unkempt, and had a gruff disposition. The Oscar Muppet remained orange for the first season of "Sesame Street" and then changed to green, which became his permanent color. This was explained within the show by a visit to Swamp Mushy Muddy.
Oscar the Grouch | Origins
Oscar the Grouch is a fictional character on the PBS/HBO television program "Sesame Street". He has a green body, no visible nose, and lives in a trash can. Oscar's favorite thing is trash, as evidenced by the song "I Love Trash", with a running theme being his collection of seemingly useless items. Although the term "Grouch" aptly describes Oscar's misanthropic interaction with the other characters, it also refers to his species. The character was originally performed by Caroll Spinney from the show's first episode until his official retirement in 2018. Since 2015, Eric Jacobson has been the understudy for the character, and has taken on the full voice role since Spinney's last time puppeteering him.
Oscar the Grouch | Introduction
The puppeteers have included Jerry Nelson and Jim Martin. In 2015, due to being diagnosed with dystonia, Spinney no longer puppeteered Oscar full-time on the show. Eric Jacobson became Spinney's understudy for Oscar; sometimes lip-syncing to a prerecorded vocal track by Spinney, and other times doing the voice himself. Jacobson started voicing Oscar for new material in Season 48 after Spinney's semi-retirement. On October 17, 2018, Spinney announced his full retirement from the character beginning the very same week as he planned to finish his final recordings on the following day. His final performance as Oscar the Grouch (and Big Bird) aired the following year for the series' landmark 50th anniversary.
Oscar the Grouch | Performing Oscar
For several seasons, Oscar was frequently shown with his friend and pet Slimey, an orange worm. On occasional episodes he has mentioned leaving Sesame Street to attend "the annual Grouch convention in Syracuse, New York". Oscar openly admits that he does not like anything or anybody that is nice, except young human children (the only people that he can actually act nice to without facing ridicule from his fellow Grouches) as well as older fans of the show. However, the only person he has ever liked on-camera was Maria, which he would never admit. He once inadvertently complimented a dance that his followers, The Grouchketeers, had performed for him.
Oscar the Grouch | Attributes
Also living outside of the building is Oscar the Grouch, a trash can-dwelling creature belonging to his own unique species, who is portrayed as a habitual pessimist and was designed to give children "permission to feel grouchy—and to demonstrate differing opinions". Oscar and Big Bird were specifically created for the reshooting of the "Street" scenes with the idea that they would be able to interact with the human characters. For his part, Oscar has several friends of his own despite his pessimism; these include the Grouch's pet worm, Slimey, and his girlfriend Grundgetta.
Sesame Street characters | Oscar the Grouch
While Oscar receives new names in international dubs, "Sesame Street" international co-productions have often created their own version of the character. In their second season, Germany's "Sesamstrasse" created an antagonistic character named Uli von Bödefeld. While not a Grouch, he served the same role in plots as Oscar. When a fire destroyed the costume in 1988, a decade after he debuted, he and American segments of Oscar were both replaced by a Grouch named Rumpel. Caterpillar Gustav is the counterpoint to Slimey. Israeli Grouch, Moishe Oofnik, Oscar's cousin, is the only character to survive the first "Rechov Sumsum", appearing in its current reboot, English/Hebrew series "Shalom Sesame", and Israeli-Palestinian co-production "Rechov Sumsum/Shara'a Simsim".
Oscar the Grouch | International
Oscar has shown rare acts of kindness such as trying to replace Ernie's rubber duckie when Ernie had lost it. He also went out to find the missing Big Bird in "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street". He and his girlfriend Grundgetta also love each other, though their relationship is (understandably) somewhat rocky (though he does show he cares for her). As stated above, he is usually very nice to children especially when making public appearances with Spinney. According to a recent episode, Oscar hates "Pox News" (a parody of Fox News) but his mother likes it. In an unused sketch referencing the Hebrew version of Sesame Street, Oscar finds out that he has a cousin and apart from language, not much else is different.
Oscar the Grouch | Attributes
During the early 1960s, Love first crossed paths with Jim Henson through Don Sahlin, who urged him to meet with Henson. The three first collaborated on "The La Choy Dragon". Love's theatrical background had given him particular skill at handling full body-puppets and tailoring them to allow freedom for the performer's movements. From this, Love went on to build Oscar the Grouch and then Big Bird after a drawing was designed by Henson (though Sahlin had carved the first head). Love talked about how he designed Big Bird so that he would subtly shed feathers in the course of normal movement, "Not unlike a tree shedding leaves in the Fall." He believed this made Big Bird appear more natural to young viewers.
Kermit Love | Involvement with the Muppets
Caroll Edwin Spinney (December 26, 1933 – December 8, 2019) was an American puppeteer, cartoonist, author and speaker, most famous for playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on "Sesame Street" from its inception in 1969 until 2018.
Caroll Spinney | Introduction
In a play on the name of the Ashkenazy tribe of Jews, Oscar explains to Maria (the only Human he can really tolerate on an ongoing basis) that his cousin's name is Oswald and goes by Ashcan Ozzie. The character's actual name is Moishe Oofnik, lives in his car and wouldn't move into a recycling bin for many years. Although filmed, the sequence was deleted after children's test audiences didn't get the pun and their parents treated it as heavily Anti-Semitic.
Oscar the Grouch | Attributes
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story is a 2014 American documentary film about Caroll Spinney, the original performer of "Sesame Street" characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. The film has received generally favorable reviews. It has been shown at many film festivals, including the April 2014 Hot Docs Festival.
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story | Introduction
Oscar can also become mobile with the help of his friend Bruno the Trashman, who carries Oscar around in his trash can. Bruno is a full-body costume which allows Oscar's puppeteer to manipulate Oscar while remaining hidden by the Bruno costume. (While Bruno was seen fairly regularly in Sesame Street's early days, he hasn't appeared on the show in over a decade.) Also, as seen in the "Elmo's World" episode "Dance", Oscar's legs can protrude from the bottom of his trash can to allow him to walk around. Similarly, in "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" (1978), Oscar is seen ice skating.
Oscar the Grouch | Attributes
Oscar agreed saying that he never had a rat in his trash can before. Oscar could be seen among many villains in the "South Park" episode "Imagination Land III".
Oscar the Grouch | Appearances in other media
Kermit was also a semi-regular during various incarnations of "Hollywood Squares", with other Muppets such as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch also making appearances on the original "Hollywood Squares".
Kermit the Frog | Guest television appearances
As stated on multiple occasions, the trash can also has a back door.
Oscar the Grouch | In Oscar's trash can
The set included a background of mountains, a vacant lot with playground equipment, houses, a combination repair shop and store-cafe, and the plaza's central fountain and benches. New music, written and performed by Latin American artists, was recorded, and writers and performers from Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela, were hired. New Muppet characters were created and performed by puppeteers trained in Mexico City. Abelardo, a giant parrot, was modeled after the American show's Big Bird, and like Big Bird, was a full-body puppet that was controlled by the puppeteer from inside the costume. Paco, a grouchy green parrot, was based on Oscar the Grouch.
Sésamo | Production
Additional Board of Birds Members are performed by: Bob Stutt, Nikki Tilroe, Lee Armstrong, Rob Mills, and John Pattison. Additional characters are performed by: Frank Meschkuleit, Terry Angus, Matthew Pidgeon, Stephen Brathwaite, Tom Vandenberg, Francine Anderson, Ron Wagner, Martine Carrier, Karen Valleau, Michelle Frey, Gus Harsfai, Patricia Lewis, Charlotte Levinson, Carolanne McLean, Peter McCowatt, Brian Moffatt, Myra Fried, Jani Lauzon, Sandra Shamas, and Kevin Clash.
Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird | Muppet performers
The "Sesame Street" episode (#1839) in which the death of Mr. Hooper was discussed was structured as all episodes were structured at the time, with individual segments that took place on the main brownstone set and interrupted by inserts, or puppet skits, short films, and animations. The episode begins with a scene between Gordon (Roscoe Orman) and the Muppet Forgetful Jones (Richard Hunt). Gordon helps Forgetful remember something that had made him happy; as Davis states, "Later, Big Bird forgets something that makes him sad". After several inserts, Big Bird walks backward with his head between his legs; when Gordon asks him why, he answers, "Just because".
Mr. Hooper | Synopsis
Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and Sam Eagle are featured in the show. A live cast member portrays James "J.J." Jefferson, the town crier who engages the audience in the "Declaration of Independence" sketch. Each show performance features one of the following sketches:
The Muppets Present...Great Moments in American History | Show
The story starts with live-action versions of the Muppets enjoying an ice skating party. After the skating party, the characters head home to Sesame Street performing the song "True Blue Miracle". In the main story, Oscar the Grouch plants the seeds of doubt in Big Bird's mind whether Santa Claus can actually fit down chimneys to deliver Christmas presents. Big Bird enlists the help of Kermit and Grover to interview children about how he manages it; their responses vary. Big Bird even attempts a reenactment with Snuffleupagus but it is unsuccessful. Big Bird spends the night out in the cold on the roof, waiting for Santa to appear in person.
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street | Plot
1. The Grouch Anthem 2. Big Bird's Goodbye/The Runaway - Big Bird, Mr. Snuffleupagus and Kermit the Frog 3. Ain't No Road Too Long 4. Big Bird on the Farm/One Little Star - Big Bird, Ruthie, Floyd, Olivia, and Mr. Snuffleupagus 5. Easy Goin' Day
Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird | Side One
After receiving the Oscar nomination, McKenzie admitted that he never expected it to be nominated and described his experience in writing the lyrics, stating that he "really wanted it to be hilarious and beautiful" and that the song itself is "sincere but ridiculous". "Man or Muppet" was the third Muppet song to be nominated for an Academy Award, the others being "Rainbow Connection" from "The Muppet Movie" and "The First Time It Happens" from "The Great Muppet Caper". "Man or Muppet" is the first Muppet song to win an Oscar. It is also the twelfth song from a Disney film to win for Best Original Song.
Man or Muppet | Reception
Arciero earned her Master's in Puppetry from the University of Connecticut. Arciero took over the role of Oscar the Grouch's girlfriend, Grundgetta for "Sesame Street" from Brian Muehl, performing her in "The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson" and "" and continues to perform her to this day. She has performed characters for many Nickelodeon programs, including "Oobi", "Allegra's Window", and "Eureeka's Castle". She also performed for "Between the Lions" on PBS and "The Great Space Coaster".
Pam Arciero | Career
Instead, Eric Jacobson performed Oz's characters Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and Animal, marking his feature film debut as those characters and Kevin Clash performed Oz's character Sam the Eagle. This is also one of the few "Muppets"-related productions that are currently not owned by The Walt Disney Company, and the only one owned by NBCUniversal with MGM Television handling distribution for 1974-2004 NBC Studios library.
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie | Introduction
The main character is Samson, a large brown bear who replaced Big Bird. Like Big Bird, Samson is a full-body muppet and is the main character. Samson likes to dance the mambo. "Feli Filu" is a reporter for the show, and has interviewed a number of German celebrities, including president Horst Köhler. Samson the bear and Tiffy the bird/monster replaced the main character Big Bird (Bibo) in 1978. Other characters added later were Uli von Bödefeld, also called Herr von Bödefeld (1978–1988), Finchen the Snail (1980s), Rumpel the Grouch (1989; a German relative of Oscar the Grouch), and Buh the Owl (1989).
Sesamstraße | Characters
"I Love Trash" is a song with music and lyrics by Jeff Moss. It was sung by the Muppet character Oscar the Grouch (performed by Caroll Spinney) on "Sesame Street". The song was first sung in the first season of the series and has been re-taped several times. In a Season 29 episode, Oscar sang "Grouches Love Trash" a variation of this song to his niece Irvine. In episode 3891, his old friend Felix the Grouch sang a variation called "I Love Cleaning" while Oscar sang "I Love Trash". Yet another variation occurs when Oscar's Trash Can was grown to a larger size and the lyrics were adjusted to accommodate (a clip can be seen in "Sesame Street All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!").
I Love Trash | Introduction
Linda uses sign language to say that everyone on Sesame Street really likes kids; the Count agrees with Linda but still believes the street needs more counting. Phil leaves Sesame Street and the Count and grouches follow him. The "Monsterpiece Theater" sketch "The 39 Stairs" is repeated from a previous episode. Oscar is upset because Bob will sing "The People in Your Neighborhood". Bob is joined by tennis player Martina Navratilova, reporter Barbara Walters, and consumer advocate Ralph Nader. Oscar says he liked the song after it ends. Ernie tells Hoots the Owl that when he tries to play a saxophone, he squeaks his Rubber Duckie, so Hoots sings "Put Down the Duckie" along with several celebrities.
Sesame Street, Special | Plot
Eventually, Muppet Show references became less evident, with the introduction of new characters unrelated to the Jim Henson show: Jean-Marie Le Pen as a vampire, Jack Lang as a goat, Édith Cresson as a panther, Jacques Chaban-Delmas as a duck, Charles Pasqua as a walrus, André Lajoinie as a dimwitted dog, Michel Rocard as a crow, Laurent Fabius as a squirrel, Édouard Balladur as a pelican, Arlette Laguiller as a weasel, ... After Gaston Defferre died, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing complained about remaining the only character to be represented as a human (and a grumpy old man, at that). He was then changed into a marabou stork, but complained again, so he became a monkey (Ouistiti Giscard des Singes).
Le Bébête Show | Characters
The main protagonist of the series and the first Muppet to appear on the show was Big Bird, an 8-foot-tall yellow bird believed by writer Shalom M. Fisch and Dr. Lewis Bernstein to be a canary, who resides in a large nest alongside the "123 Sesame Street" building and represents the 6-year-old child with his tendency to question everything. On special days, he wears a white collar and colorful necktie. Big Bird's best friend is Aloysius Snuffleupagus (better known as "Snuffy"), who was portrayed as the bird's imaginary friend until revealed to the human cast in 1985.
Sesame Street characters | Big Bird
Archival recordings of Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, and Richard Hunt can be heard in the film through "The Muppet Show" segments in the opening flashbacks. In his final Muppets performance, Nelson reprised his role from "The Muppet Show" as the announcer of the telethon. Tyler Bunch, Bruce Lanoil, Alice Dinnean, Nathan Danforth, and Michelan Sisti all performed additional roles; Bunch playing Foozie Bear, Thog and one of the hobo Muppets, Lanoil playing one of the hobo Muppets and an item of singing food, Dinnean playing Wanda and Afghan Hound, Danforth playing one of the Mutations, and Sisti playing another item of singing food.
The Muppets (film) | Muppet performers
As Gonzo and Rizzo close out the show while dancing with Kermit and Robin, the elves sing "Bad Shoe Blues" during the credits.
Muppet Classic Theater | Finale
Kermit the Frog becomes the host for the show from the start of the first season, while former host Nigel gets a part as the orchestra leader. Statler and Waldorf now watch the show from a balcony. Other characters from the pilots, including Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, Sam Eagle, The Swedish Chef, George the Janitor, Mildred Huxtetter, Crazy Harry, Brewster, and Droop continue to make appearances. Characters from previous Jim Henson productions also make appearances, including Rowlf the Dog, Sweetums and Robin the Frog (from "The Frog Prince"), Miss Piggy, Gonzo the Great, and Thog (from "The Great Santa Claus Switch").
List of The Muppet Show episodes | Season 1 (1976–1977)
In his memoir, Caroll Spinney (the puppeteer who plays Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch) notes that he was inspired to pitch the special to CTW after visiting China on a tour with Bob Hope. This first trip was to film the "Bob Hope on the Road to China", a two-hour NBC special airing September 16, 1979. The special featured Big Bird, along with the likes of Shields and Yarnell and Mikhail Baryshnikov, with musical numbers by Peaches & Herb and Crystal Gayle. It was produced by James Lipton. Spinney devised the storyline and suggested locations for "Big Bird in China".
Big Bird in China | Origins
The show was spoofed on "Sesame Street" with "Real Grouches", hosted by Oscar the Grouch who described his show as a program that "searches the world for interesting real-life Grouches and brings them right into your living room." Oscar's guests were Romeo Scuggs from Gila Monster, New Mexico; Luba Merquick from Slime Bottom, Arkansas; and "Bob the Blob". While the previous guests played terrible music, the Blob plays "yucky sweet flute music", and it is revealed that it was Bob McGrath disguised as a Grouch. A 1980 "Saturday Night Live" episode spoofed the show, alongside contemporary hit "That's Incredible!", in a sketch called "Real Incredible People", in which the hosts were astounded by relatively mundane individuals such as a woman who reads before going to bed and a (Japanese) man who eats raw fish.
Real People | Popular culture
They must stay there until the morning while avoiding a night watchman. The special features the regular human cast of "Sesame Street" along with several of The Muppets, including Cookie Monster, Telly, Bert & Ernie, The Count, Grover, and Oscar the Grouch. Snuffy also appears, even though his names are revealed to be Mr. Snuffleupagus and Aloysius Snuffleupagus; however, at this point in the show's history, he is still the imaginary friend of Big Bird, never seen by the other characters on Sesame Street.
Don't Eat the Pictures | Introduction
Reporter Kermit the Frog wants to know why Oscar likes public television, but he does not like it. Kermit mentions some reasons to like public television, but Oscar prefers the opposites. Kermit believes that Oscar does not like public television and introduces a pledge break. Oscar is interested in it and Kermit says that he can watch it now. After the pledge drive, Oscar says he taped it. Three sketches from previous episodes are repeated; "Oh, How I Miss My X", "Grover the Singing and Dancing Waiter", and "Sing Your Synonyms". Robert MacNeil hosts a Sesame Street Special Report discussing the "cookiegate affair", where Cookie Monster was accused of stealing Susan and Gordon's cookies; Kermit is Cookie Monster's lawyer.
Sesame Street, Special | Plot
Alongside "Muppets from Space" (which was released the same year), this is the final Muppet feature film to have the involvement of Oz, who retired from being a full-time puppeteer the following year. This was also the final theatrical Muppet film to feature Caroll Spinney before his death in 2019.
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland | Introduction
The plot centers on the Academy Awards presentation. The action begins with live action color film footage of various Hollywood scenes (edited from "A Star Is Born"), narrated by Robert C. Bruce. It leads up to the Big Question of the evening: Who will win "the" Oscar? The film shows the stereotypical red carpet arrivals of stars, as well as a human emcee starting to introduce the Oscar show. At this point the film switches to animation, with the shadow of a now-animated emcee (and now voiced by Mel Blanc) continuing to introduce the Oscar, and Bugs (also Mel Blanc's voice, as usual) assuring the viewer that "it's in da bag; I'm a cinch to win".
What's Cookin' Doc? | Plot
Many of the green leaves the audience sees are spray-painted, and after each take the kids would run to put their coats on. Early in production the crew noticed that Oscar's trash can looked too new, so they banged it up and dirtied it to match the one in the show.
Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird | Production
As Steve Whitmire was already performing Kermit, he could not puppeteer for Rizzo at the same time and Rizzo's voice is that of Dave Goelz.
Muppet Classic Theater | <a href="The%20Elves%20and%20the%20Shoemaker">The Elves and the Shoemaker</a>
After being given Henson's encouragement to tinker with the script, Oz revised the screenplay in an effort to develop the ""oomph" of the characters and their relationships". Once the script was completed and the sets were built, special consultant David Misch was brought in to write cameos for some guest star appearances. Originally, this list of guest stars contained the likes of Dustin Hoffman, Steve Martin, Michael Jackson, Lily Tomlin, Richard Pryor, and Laurence Olivier to name a few. According to Misch, Hoffman was going to play a Broadway producer and planned to do an imitation of legendary film producer Robert Evans ("The Godfather"), which he later did in the film "Wag the Dog".
The Muppets Take Manhattan | Production
Oscar sang this song in "Here Come the Puppets!", accompanied by Bruno the Trashman on rollerskates. Oscar also sang the song during an appearance on "The Bonnie Hunt Show". On September 26, 2013, Oscar and Big Bird sang this song on The Colbert Report.
I Love Trash | Introduction
Additional Muppets performed by Steve Whitmire and Kathryn Mullen.
The Muppets Go Hollywood | Muppet performers
Many established Muppet characters appeared — including Rowlf the Dog, Johnny Fiama, the Swedish Chef, Bobo the Bear, Dr. Teeth, Animal, Sam Eagle, and Sweetums. Plus many new recurring and one-time gag characters would appear in segments, sketches and parodies. Several new characters that frequented the series include Larry and Oliver, Lester Possum, Ted Thomas, Stan and Louie, the Hollywood Pitchmen, the Blimp, Loni Dunne and a pair of musical performers.
Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony | Introduction
In the meantime, his friends Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Grover, Count von Count, Telly and Oscar the Grouch are in pursuit of him to find him and bring him back home safely. Also joining them are their human friends, Gordon, Maria, Olivia and Linda with Bob aiding them from Sesame Street.
Big Bird | "Follow That Bird" (1985)
According to "The Story of Jim Henson" by Stephanie St. Pierre, the costume was built for Jim Henson to perform, but when Henson tried it on, Kermit Love, who had built the costume, did not think that Henson was walking like a bird is supposed to walk, and so Henson decided not to perform Big Bird. Frank Oz was offered the part, but since he disliked performing full-body characters, he turned down the job. Director Jon Stone, in the 1994 documentary "The World of Jim Henson", revealed that the Big Bird costume actually did not have any openings that would allow the actor to see; a small television was strapped to the actor's chest to allow him to navigate.
Big Bird | Performing Big Bird
In Season 46, as part of the set redesign, the Trash Can was moved to the other end of the front of 123 Sesame Street. It is now part of a recycling center with a Compost bin and. Oscar has the ability to pop up in different locations all over the street.
Sesame Street (fictional location) | Oscar the Grouch’s Trash Can
Additional Muppets performed by Pam Arciero, Heather Asch, Tyler Bunch, Carmen Osbahr, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Ryan Dillon, Artie Esposito, James Godwin, BJ Guyer, Andy Hayward, Patrick Holmes, John Kennedy, Tim Lagasse, Bruce Lanoil, Peter Linz, Michael Lisa, Noel MacNeal, Amanda Maddock, Ed May, Paul McGinnis, Tracie Mick, Marc Petrosino, Karen Prell, Mike Quinn, Andy Stone, Ian Sweetman, David Stephens, John Tartaglia, and Gabriel Velez.
Elmo's Christmas Countdown | Muppet performers
The show featured Kermit as host and a variety of other characters, notably Miss Piggy, Gonzo the Great, and Fozzie Bear, along with other characters such as Animal. Henson's teammates sometimes compared his role to that of Kermit: a shy, gentle boss with "a whim of steel" who ran things like "an explosion in a mattress factory." Caroll Spinney was the puppet performer of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, and he remembered that Henson would never say he didn't like something. "He would just go 'Hmm.'… And if he liked it, he would say, 'Lovely!'" Henson recognized Kermit as an alter ego, though he thought that Kermit was bolder than he; he once said of the character, "He can say things I hold back."
Jim Henson | Expansion of audience: 1970–1978
Grover sings "Monster in the Mirror" along with several celebrities. Monster on the Spot reporter Telly Monster asks if The Count will support his public television station. The Count recites a long list of reasons why, leading to a pledge break. Snuffy, still afraid of falling, tries to leave the rink. Telly asks Luis where Oscar the Grouch is. Oscar and Bruno are skating at the party because he loves falling down when skating. Bruno skates around without falling, but the skating made Oscar dizzy. Whoopi Goldberg and Hoots the Owl talk about being proud of their body parts. Big Bird impresses Snuffy with a rollerskating routine, but he can't skate like Big Bird.
Big Bird's Birthday or Let Me Eat Cake | Plot
Big Bird was originally designed by a drawing from Jim Henson and built by Kermit Love in 1969. The design was based on a previous Henson creation, a seven-foot-tall dragon that the puppeteer created for a La Choy advertising campaign. The Big Bird performer is completely enclosed within the costume, and extends his right hand over his head to operate the head and neck of the puppet. The Muppeteer's left hand serves as the Bird's left wing, while the right wing is stuffed and hangs loosely from a fishing line that runs through a loop under the neck and attaches to the wrist of the left hand.
Big Bird | Costume and portrayal
Goggles and Croaker were performed by Joey Mazzarino and Bill Barretta, respectively. Mazzarino was a writer, lyricist, and puppeteer for "Sesame Street" at the time of the film's production. Mazzarino also co-wrote the teleplay for the film. Blotch was performed by John Kennedy. Originally, Barretta was going to play Goggles and Mazzarino was going to play Croaker, but they traded roles after they tried out the characters. The opening and closing sequence also introduces Horace D'Fly (voiced by Barretta), one of the few computer-animated Muppets (In the outtakes reel at the end of the film, Horace complains about having to be inside Kermit's mouth and asks, "Can't we use CG or something?").
Kermit's Swamp Years | Production notes
All the puppeteers who performed the primary "Sesame Street" characters (such as Kevin Clash, Jerry Nelson, Caroll Spinney and Fran Brill) were called to Wilmington, North Carolina for the table read on May 19, 1998. The regular puppets were used for the normal Sesame Street characters, and puppets for assorted Grouches (including Grizzy) were designed and built by Mark Zezsotek. Paul Andrejco, Muppet designer for Bear in the Big Blue House, also designed Humungous Chicken. Sonia Manzano reprised her role as Maria and Roscoe Orman reprised his role as Gordon. Vanessa Williams was cast as the Queen of Trash and the hairstylist colored her hair green for the role.
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland | Casting
As with the preceding Muppet films, "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" became a musical, and included five new songs written and composed by Michael Giacchino. The special is the first Muppets special without the involvement of veteran performer Jerry Nelson following his 2004 retirement from physical performing. His characters of Lew Zealand and Floyd Pepper, were respectively performed by Bill Barretta and John Kennedy. Barretta also debuts as the new permanent performer of Dr. Teeth due to Kennedy now performing Floyd. The production also marked the feature film debut of Eric Jacobson as the performer of Sam Eagle, a character originally performed by Kevin Clash.
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz | Introduction
The appeal of the test episodes was lower than they preferred, so the producers re-shot the street segments. Henson and his team created Muppets that could interact with the human actors; specifically, as the show's researchers put it, "two of "Sesame Street"s most enduring Muppets: Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird". The test episodes were responsible for what writer Malcolm Gladwell called "the essence of "Sesame Street"—the artful blend of fluffy monsters and earnest adults". CTW researcher Gerald Lesser called the producers' decision to defy the recommendations of their advisers "a turning point in the history of "Sesame Street"".
Format of Sesame Street | "Street scenes"
Lawrence Samuel Storch (born January 8, 1923) is an American actor, voice actor, and comedian, best known for his comic television roles, including voice-over work for cartoon shows, such as Mr. Whoopee on "Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales", and his live-action role of the bumbling Corporal Randolph Agarn on "F Troop". Also on television, he played Oscar on the "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" episode "An Out for Oscar" (1963).
Larry Storch | Introduction
Rumpelstiltskin declares it an outrage while Piggy, the King, the Loyal Royal Advisor, and the Miller celebrate.
Muppet Classic Theater | <a href="Rumpelstiltskin">Rumpelstiltskin</a>
Additional Muppets performed by Kathryn Mullen, Brian Muehl, Bob Payne, and Rollie Krewson.
The Muppets Go to the Movies | Muppet performers
Frank Oz appears in a cameo as a biker who beats up Fozzie Bear while Steve Whitmire appears as a man in the Bogen County Fair. Also, director Tim Burton is one of the puppeteers in the final shot of the film. John Landis is also in the final shot, performing Grover. Landis and Burton were both uncredited. Many other long time members of Jim Henson's team also provided puppeteer services, including Whitmire, Kathryn Mullen, Bob Payne, Eren Ozker, Carolyn Wilcox, Olga Felgemacher, Bruce Schwartz, Michael Earl Davis, Buz Suraci, Tony Basilicato and Adam Hunt.
The Muppet Movie | Muppet performers
In the TV special "" (1979) Robin helps sing many of the Christmas Carols with the other Muppets and John Denver. In the TV movie "Rocky Mountain Holiday" (1982) Robin plays a more major role as he tries to help out as a Frog Scout and bonds with John Denver through the process. In "The Muppets Take Manhattan" (1984), he only appeared in the background at the wedding. Robin played the role of Tiny Tim in "The Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992), his largest role to date. His next appearance was in the direct-to-video "Muppet Classic Theater" (1994) where he appeared in "The Emperor's New Clothes" sketch in a minimal role, realizing Fozzie (the emperor) was not wearing clothes.
List of Muppets | Robin the Frog
Additional Muppets performed by Tim Blaney, Cheryl Blaylock, Kevin Carlson, Terri Hardin, Drew Massey, James Murray, Joe Selph, and Michelan Sisti.
Muppet Classic Theater | Muppet performers
Andy and Randy almost fall for this until Sandy reminds them that it's the middle of summer. When Andy and Randy think that Santa Claus came early, Sandy ends up lighting a large firecracker in the chimney which launches the Big Bad Wolf into the sky.
Muppet Classic Theater | <a href="The%20Three%20Little%20Pigs">The Three Little Pigs</a>
An adaption of "Robin Hood" with Kermit the Frog starring as Robin of Loxley as he and his Merry Men takes on Prince John (played by Johnny Fiama), the Sheriff of Nottingham (played by Sam Eagle) and the wicked Gonzo of Gisbourne (played by Gonzo the Great).
The Muppet Show (comics) | Muppet Robin Hood (4 issues)
He shows a talent for jazz in a television advert for the Renault Clio car with French footballer Thierry Henry.
Animal (Muppet) | Characteristics
David Odell (born July 8, 1943) is an American screenwriter and film director. Odell was nominated in 1980 for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for "The Muppet Show" alongside Jim Henson, Don Hinkley, and Jerry Juhl. He won the award the following year with co-nominees Jerry Juhl and Chris Langham.
David Odell | Introduction
In the film, Gonzo attempts to discover his origins after having nightmares. After he and Rizzo the Rat are captured by government officials during his search, Kermit the Frog and the rest of the Muppet gang must save them. The film was released on July 14, 1999 by Sony Pictures Releasing. Alongside "The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland", it is the last Muppet feature film to have the involvement of Oz prior to his retirement from Muppet performing the following year and Jerry Nelson prior to his own retirement (bar an uncredited vocal cameo in "The Muppets" serving as his final role before his death in August 2012) as well as the last Muppet film written by Juhl prior to his death in 2005.
Muppets from Space | Introduction
Eric Norman Jacobson is an American puppeteer. Jacobson is best known for performing the Muppet characters Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Eagle for The Muppets Studio, as well as "Sesame Street" characters Bert, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, and Guy Smiley—all roles that he inherited from the characters' original performers, Frank Oz, Caroll Spinney and Jim Henson. Since 1994, Jacobson has been a regular performer for "Sesame Street", where he has received Daytime Emmy Award and Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Since 2001, Jacobson has appeared as part of the Muppets cast in several feature films and television series, including "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz", "The Muppets", "Muppets Most Wanted," and the ABC primetime television series, "The Muppets".
Eric Jacobson | Introduction
The remainder of Hunt's characters were left without a stable performer until David Rudman was cast in those roles in the late 2000s. Oz continued performing until his retirement from puppeteering in 2000; Eric Jacobson was cast as his characters beginning in 2002. At Nelson's behest, Matt Vogel gradually began performing his characters in 2008. Peter Linz joined the main cast in 2011, debuting the role of Walter in "The Muppets". Whitmire was dismissed from the cast in 2016, with Vogel cast as Kermit the Frog in 2017, and most of Whitmire's other characters assumed by the remainder of the cast.
The Muppets | Performers
Additional Muppets performed by Brad Abrell, Pam Arciero, Julianne Buescher, Lisa Buckley, Kevin Carlson, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Alice Dinnean, Eric Jacobson, John Kennedy, Peter Linz, Rick Lyon, Noel MacNeal, Jim Martin, Drew Massey, Don Reardon, Joe Selph, John Tartaglia and Matt Vogel.
Elmopalooza | Sesame Street Muppet Performers
The mayor gives the shepherd a medal for "not crying wolf except when an actual wolf was present". The townspeople and the sheep rejoiced and lived happily ever after while the wolf is still trapped under Norman. When Rizzo asks Gonzo if he has learned his lesson, Gonzo states that he won't overreact again, until Rizzo states that they'll be taking an intermission with Rizzo having to explain to Gonzo what an intermission is (American Version). Gonzo and Rizzo signing off the viewers and it's time to polka (European Version).
Muppet Classic Theater | <a href="The%20Boy%20Who%20Cried%20Wolf">The Boy Who Cried Wolf</a>
Veteran Muppet performer Jerry Nelson was ill during filming, so most of his characters were puppeteered by others and later dubbed by Nelson in post-production. The exception was Nelson's character Lew Zealand, who was performed by Bill Barretta. Sam Eagle, a character originally performed by Frank Oz, was voiced in the film by Kevin Clash, while John Kennedy provided the puppetry. Scooter, performed in the film by Brian Henson, makes his first major appearance since the death of his initial performer, Richard Hunt. Hunt's character Janice was also performed by Henson and has a speaking role for the first time since Hunt's death.
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie | Production notes
In his Oscar acceptance speech, Lee Marvin concluded by saying, "I think, though, that half of this belongs to a horse somewhere out in San Fernando Valley," a reference to the horse Kid Shelleen rode, which appeared to be as drunk as Shelleen was.
Cat Ballou | Awards won by Lee Marvin
The Muppets' version includes part of "Lullaby of Birdland" by George Shearing.
Mah Nà Mah Nà | Original version
At the end of the episode, Kevin tries to get back at Oscar by dubbing Oscar's voice over footage of Count von Count, his rationale being that the Count counts and Oscar is an accountant. To his frustration, Kevin gets a much less enthusiastic response from the rest of the office, many of whom agreeing it would have made more sense to dub Oscar’s voice over footage of Oscar the Grouch. Only Michael finds it funny, but Kevin is satisfied with this, not even minding when Michael calls him "Cookie Monster".
Secretary's Day (The Office) | Synopsis
Jim Henson appeared on "The Arsenio Hall Show" to promote the special with Kermit the Frog. Henson was joined by Kevin Clash, performing Clifford. It would be Henson's last live television appearance, and the last known time he performed Kermit the Frog.
The Muppets at Walt Disney World | Promotion
He performed in several productions with Jim Henson Productions, including as the Muppet Clifford in "The Jim Henson Hour" (1989), and performing the puppetry for Frank Oz's characters (Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam the Eagle, and Animal) in "Muppet Treasure Island" (1996). Clash performed in the films "Muppets from Space" (1999) and "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" (2005), and the TV series "Muppets Tonight" (1996—1998), in which he reprised Clifford, who served as the show's host. He performed characters and worked behind the scenes on the sitcom "Dinosaurs". In 1999, Clash worked on a film starring Elmo, "The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland".
Kevin Clash | Career
Oscar finally gives in and does his interpretation of his own movie, which happens to be trash all over Sesame Street. Then, a chorus line of stinky socks sings, "I Love Trash". Suddenly, a thunderstorm hits, drenching all the props. Elmo feels very disappointed that his imaginative movie did not go according to as planned, but Big Bird suggests to him that he should change the movie by using his own imagination. Feeling better about himself, Elmo requests help from the audience by imagining that it's a sunny day. Then, the street changes to a birthday party scene where Elmo sings and flies away on a bunch of balloons and sings.
Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic | Summary
Later syndicated alongside "The Muppet Show".
The Muppets Go Hollywood | Notes
Big Bird's next audition is with a duck belonging to the Amazing Mumford, who says that knows a spell which will make everyone sing "la-la". However, the spell makes everyone quack.
Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration | Plot
Big Bird is a character on the children's television show "Sesame Street". An eight-foot two-inch (249 cm) tall bright yellow anthropomorphic canary, he can roller skate, ice skate, dance, swim, sing, write poetry, draw, and ride a unicycle. Despite this wide array of talents, he is prone to frequent misunderstandings, on one occasion even singing the alphabet as one long word (from the song called "ABC-DEF-GHI," pronounced /æbkədɛfgi:dʒɛkəlmɪnɒpkwɜrstu:vwɪksɪz/), pondering what it could mean. He would refer to grocer Mr. Hooper as "Mr. Looper”. He lives in a large nest behind the 123 Sesame Street brownstone and right next to Oscar the Grouch's trash can and he has a teddy bear named Radar.
Big Bird | Introduction
Jerry Nelson considered Lew Zealand to be a tribute to Frankie Fontaine. Nelson stated in an interview, "He had that dopey voice, but he could sing beautifully. We never did that part of it on the show, but just the idea of this guy who had a boomerang fish act. There were some really ridiculous acts on the show, and that was one of the all-time dopey ones."
List of Muppets | Lew Zealand
Additional Muppets performed by Faz Fazakas, John Lovelady, and Daniel Seagren.
The Frog Prince (1971 film) | Muppet performers
In 2011, Bobin's first feature film, "The Muppets", won an Oscar for Best Original Song for the song "Man or Muppet" written by Bret McKenzie. Bobin himself was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.
James Bobin | Awards
The program's creative staff was concerned that this goal would limit creativity, but one of the seminar results was to encourage the show's producers to use child-development concepts in the creative process. Some Muppet characters were created during the seminars to fill specific curriculum needs. For example, Oscar the Grouch was designed to teach children about their positive and negative emotions, and Big Bird was created to provide children with opportunities to correct his "bumbling" mistakes. Lesser reported that Jim Henson had a "particular gift for creating scenes that might teach".
Sesame Street research | Background and development
Due to scheduling conflicts, Oz only provides the voices for his characters; on-set puppetry was provided predominantly by Peter Linz (Miss Piggy), John Kennedy (Fozzie Bear and Sam Eagle), and Rickey Boyd (Animal). In addition, Whitmire, Boyd, Kennedy, Linz, and Drew Massey made on-screen cameos as hippies at Cape Doom.
Muppets from Space | Muppet performers
Many of the characters who appeared on "The Muppet Show" have appeared in previous and subsequent Muppet productions.
The Muppet Show | Characters and performers
By 1945, the Sullivan brothers joined George with Arnold's show. They played a comedy act called Cicero and Oscar, opening shows for Arnold and His Tennessee Plowboys. George was Cicero and Rollin was Oscar. One evening the troupe stopped at a hotel. "While we was checking in, this black man, a porter, was coming down the steps just covered with dirty linen. The desk clerk looked up and said, ‘Lonzo! Don’t you ever come down those front steps with dirty linen anymore,’" recounted Rollin. Arnold then changed Cicero to Lonzo. According to Rollin, they would "go out on the stage, and boy, we’d wang-bang them, get them all laughing and having a good time [Lonzo and Oscar got 20 minutes before Arnold.] Then we introduced Eddy.
Lonzo and Oscar | Lonzo and Oscar
The cast of performers over the course of the series consisted of Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Fran Brill, Eren Ozker, Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen, Karen Prell, Brian Muehl, Bob Payne, and John Lovelady. Many of the performers also worked on "Sesame Street", whose characters made sporadic appearances on "The Muppet Show". Jerry Juhl and Jack Burns were two of the head writers. The music was performed by Jack Parnell and his orchestra.
The Muppet Show | Introduction
From "The Muppet Show" onward, Kevin Clash; Kathryn Mullen; Louise Gold; Karen Prell; Fran Brill, Caroll Spinney; and Brian Henson performed several minor characters and assisted the main performers with puppeteering. Many of these puppeteers performed characters across "The Muppet Show," "Sesame Street", "Fraggle Rock", and other Henson-related projects. Henson, Hunt, and Nelson continued performing until their deaths in 1990, 1992, and 2012, respectively. Goelz, Whitmire, and Bill Barretta, who joined the main cast of performers in the mid-1990s, assumed Henson's characters, with Whitmire cast in the role of Beaker and Nelson cast in the role of Statler, both previously performed by Hunt.
The Muppets | Performers
In July 2018, he was an additional Muppet performer for "The Muppets Take the O2" live show at the O2 Arena.
Paul McGinnis | Introduction
It was also announced that the much loved character No'man the camel and the bird muppet Melsoon were returning to the new run. They were to be joined by new muppets that would "include Shams, a quick witted 6-year-old girl who is full of energy and loves to express herself, as well as cute Gargour, a special resident on Iftah Ya Simsim who provides his trademark zaniness, comic chaos and a unique perspective on the world." It was announced that season one Muppet performers included six puppeteers: Abdullah Kassem, Asma Alshamsi, Natheer Khawaldeh, Maher Mozawak, Noura Sadaka, and Michel Jabali.
Iftah Ya Simsim | Relaunch
Eventually the song becomes a large musical number with characters from "Sesame Street" and "Fraggle Rock" joining in. As the Muppets finish singing, Kermit arrives and congratulates the group on finding the proper way of honoring Henson. Kermit decides to enact Fozzie's original production number and addresses the audience, ensuring that the Muppets will continue to perform because "that's the way the boss would want it."
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson | Plot
In the mid-late 1970s, Big Bird made several appearances on "The Hollywood Squares". As with Mr. Hooper, Big Bird frequently mispronounced host Peter Marshall's name, calling him "Mr. Marshmallow" or "Mr. Masher". In another episode, when asked by Marshall what kind of bird he was, Big Bird replied "I'm a lark", which broke Marshall up. He appeared in a series 11 episode of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe segment, in which he enters the "Draw the Neighborhood" contest. He made an appearance as a guest star on the third season of "The Muppet Show". A portrait of Big Bird also appeared in the pilot "".
Big Bird | 1970s and 1980s
Newer additions are Feli Filu the Monster reporter, the comic duo Pferd the Horse, and Wolle the sheep, a few grouches (including Grouchella and an Übergrouch) and some Anything Muppets. Germany's Grouch character is called Rumpel. He hates rain when others love it, but loves rain when others complain about it. He lives in a rain barrel. His best friend is his pet caterpillar named Gustav. Little Bird has made some cameos,
Sesamstraße | Characters
The film "Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl" also contains a performance of this sketch, with Chapman as the Inspector and Terry Gilliam as his assistant. The assistant is now called Constable Clitoris, and while he too periodically leaves the room to fight off his nausea, he remains onstage during his last attack of sickness and vomits into his helmet—which he is then ordered by his superior to put back on his head. (Gilliam filled his mouth with cold beef stew when he ran off stage during the scene.) The "Monty Python Live (Mostly)" stage show features a similar performance, with some small changes to the dialogue - e.g., the Ram's Bladder Cup sweet is now described as having been garnished with mouse faeces rather than lark's vomit - and with Cleese as the Inspector.
Crunchy Frog | Stage and film
Peter goes on to state that he actually stuffed the ballot box at the Oscars, when the nominees included Grover from "Sesame Street", Bluto from "Popeye", and Daniel Day-Lewis, among others. Actress Anne Hathaway presented the award. Going on to find out that everyone is asked to do jury duty, Peter soon seeks to be kicked out, just as he was from the rock band Coldplay once he suggested that they write a song that is "not whiny bullcrap". Further attempting to be kicked out of jury duty, Peter begins singing the song "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen, a song that was first introduced in the series in the seventh season episode "I Dream of Jesus".
April in Quahog | Cultural references
Big Bird also made brief appearances in "The Muppet Movie" and "The Muppets Take Manhattan".
Big Bird | 1970s and 1980s