Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street? This week that route takes us through New Jersey, via William Paterson University. This past Friday, January 30 marked a rare gathering of Sesame folk for a panel talk moderated by author Michael Davis, titled “Sesame Street at 40: A Night of Celebration and Discovery with the Legendary Cast”. And legendary they were: Caroll Spinney (Big Bird and Oscar), Frank Oz (Bert, Cookie Monster, Grover), Kevin Clash (Elmo), Fran Brill (Prarie Dawn, Zoe), Marty Robinson (Telly, Snuffy), Bob McGrath, Sonia Manzano, and writer Tony Geiss. Anyone who was there will tell you it was a night to remember.
This week I present a session most people didn’t get a chance to attend. Earlier in the day there was a special panel held solely for educators with author Michael Davis, Mr. Spinney, Mr. McGrath, Mr. Spinney, Mr. Geiss, and Ms. Manzano. The talk was fascinating, as it centered on the Workshop’s educational goals and curriculum, and its overall approach to early childhood education. That’s not to say the talk was dry or boring, quite the contrary. Try to keep these people from telling hilarious stories about working on the show and you’ve got an impossible job on your hands. While we gain insight into many areas of the show which many listeners might be unaware, we’re spared no amount of story and song, and good ol’ Bob even makes sure to lead us all in a singing of the theme song at the end.
Next week brings another new MuppetCast, however I will personally be in Orlando, Florida, on hand for the opening of “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World”, a traveling exhibit put together by the loving hands of the Henson family and the Smithsonian SITES service. This exhibit has been all over the country, and I decided Orlando was as good a place as any to see it for the first time. After all, the only thing that makes the Muppets better is a week’s vacation spent at Walt Disney world, right? Rest assured there will be a new MuppetCast next week, and there will indeed be a little treat nestled within. You’ll giggle. I did.
Questions/Comments about the Muppets or The MuppetCast can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide.
Have a great week!
-Steve
Leave a Reply