Remembrance of the creator of Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, and the bathtime classic, "Rubber Ducky." Jeffrey Moss, longtime Sesame Street collaborator, died this week at the age of 56. Jon Kalish has an appreciation. [2:43 Realaudio broadcast]
As the 30th anniversary of the famed children's program approaches, Weekend Edition popular culture commentator Steven Stark looks at its longevity. [2:43 Realaudio broadcast]
Various reviews of a comprehensive guide book to the show.
About an interactive exhibit in Rochester, New York.
The pioneering PBS children's show Sesame Street, which is in its 35th season, has substantially reduced its writing staff and will only create 26 new episodes this year. The cuts come as PBS faces increased competition for preschoolers' attention from fare on cable TV and video. Jon Kalish reports. [4:27 Realaudio broadcast]
NPR's Linda Wertheimer speaks with Christopher Cerf, who has written songs for Sesame Street for over 30 years, and is most recently the co-editor of the Iraq War Reader, about a new tactic used by the United States military on Iraqi prisoners of war. U.S. Psy Ops is playing heavy metal music and songs from the children's programs Sesame Street and Barney for extended periods in order to persuade the prisoners to reveal secret information. [4:25 Realaudio broadcast]
Moss was one of the original creators and writers of Sesame Street. Moss created Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch, and wrote such songs as 'Rubber Ducky' and 'People in Your Neighborhood.' He won 14 Emmys, four Grammys and an Academy Award nomination for his work on Sesame Street and with the Muppets. Moss was also the author of books for children, including Hieronymus White: A Bird Who Believed That He Always Was Right. He died in 1998 at the age of 56. [20:26 Realaudio broadcast]
William Galison is one of the world's leading harmonica players. He is heard on the theme of the children's TV show Sesame Street, and has also worked on a number of movie soundtracks. Now Galison is teaming with jazz singer Madi Peyroux on a recording entitled Got You On My Mind, to be released in February. Hear NPR's Liane Hansen and Galison about the album, his career, and how he got involved with Sesame Street. [9:18 Realaudio broadcast]
At eight-foot-two, he's easily the biggest star in children's television. But it's a small world inside the costume of Sesame Street's Big Bird. Caroll Spinney, who also performs Oscar the Grouch, discusses the evolution of Big Bird with NPR's Bob Edwards. See a video clip of Spinney's characters.
NPR's Tavis Smiley talks with Kevin Clash, puppeteer and the voice of the popular Sesame Street character Elmo, about his career working with puppets and the 35th anniversary of Sesame Street. [9:09 streaming audio broadcast.]
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