C O O K I E ! ! !

Shankara20

Well, that is lovely
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All Things Considered, February 10, 2008 ·

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This week, NPR's In Character takes a look at a deeply sensuous character who speaks to our most basic appetites and desires.

That's right: Cookie Monster.

He's always been blue, always been furry, always been voracious. But he — or at least his predecessor — didn't always eat cookies.

Years before Sesame Street, Muppet creator Jim Henson made a very similar monster who ate snack foods and computers in television commercials. The basic look and spirit were there, but the character we know today was still a ways off.

Enter puppeteer Frank Oz. For nearly 30 years, Henson and Oz were an extraordinary team. Cheryl Henson, Jim's daughter and the president of the Jim Henson Foundation, says the two men shared a subversive sense of humor. Their Muppets were regulars on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show.

It was later, on a Muppet game show, that the cookie-fixated creature we know emerged, Oz says. The winning contestant was offered the chance to choose a prize: a vacation, a new house, $10,000 cash, or a cookie. He chose the cookie — and the Cookie Monster was born.

"As opposed to many of us who need many things to try and make us happy, he only needs one thing, and that's a cookie," Oz says. "That is his one obsession, and he's insatiable." ;)

Though Cookie Monster was the improvisational brainchild of several writers, producers and puppeteers, Oz is most often credited for his existence. The puppeteer, who also created Miss Piggy and Bert, was known for taking character development seriously — often refusing to break out of Cookie Monster's voice during writing sessions.

"Frank puts everything that you can into that part," says Sesame Street veteran Chris Cerf. "People have said this when they've analyzed it: It's really like Frank's id, with no control over it whatsoever."

But id, in the Cookie Monster sense at least, isn't a dark term.

"All of his monomania ... would not stop him from caring about someone else," says longtime Sesame Street writer Norman Stiles. "He's not gonna knock anybody over to get the cookie. He's gonna try to get around them to get the cookie. He's gonna beg for the cookie."

As part of their Healthy Habits for Life campaign, Sesame Street producers tried to rein in Cookie Monster's obsession a few years ago. Hootsy the Owl serenaded him with a little ditty called "A Cookie Is a Sometimes Food." There were rumors that he'd be replaced by a Veggie Monster :eek:.

It wasn't true, but angry fans inundated the Sesame Workshop with letters, and more than 3,000 people signed an online petition.

"What's wrong with you people?" one of them wrote, "To quote the monster himself: 'C is for Cookie, and that's good enough for me!'"

:kiss:


 
I used to have the sesame street dance remixes on 12" ! Banging tunes:)
 
I was watching my youngest yesterday and Sesame Street came on. Cookie Monster still makes me laugh. Course it helped that little man was giggling like a fiend too :D

COOKIE!!
 
*does her cookie dance, holding out her hat she looks expectant*
"Please, Sir, may I have some more?"

Sigh, I remember being a young whipper snapper in front of the tube, sesame street most likely got me fixated on muppets, they're just that awesome.
 
My two little ones both LOVE Sesame Street. Cookie Monster is cool! Elmo needs to be shot!
 
A friend of mine knew the actor behind big bird he didn't think much of him.
 
My two little ones both LOVE Sesame Street. Cookie Monster is cool! Elmo needs to be shot!

Hottie no like Elmo? :(

I do a mean Elmo impersonation. Mine isn't into Sesame Street at all, much to my chagrin. Maybe I'll float it again and see what happens.

Anyhoo, Shanky, you are awesome and I worship you. Crap. I have a week to send you my underwear.
 
I was watching my youngest yesterday and Sesame Street came on. Cookie Monster still makes me laugh. Course it helped that little man was giggling like a fiend too :D

COOKIE!!

I will not post "your 'little man' can giggle?"
I will not post "your 'little man' can giggle?"
I will not post "your 'little man' can giggle?"

I will not post "your 'little man' can giggle?"
I will not post "your 'little man' can giggle?"

I will not post "your 'little man' can giggle?"
I will not post "your 'little man' can giggle?"

I will not post "your 'little man' can giggle?":cool:
 
Hottie no like Elmo? :(

I do a mean Elmo impersonation. Mine isn't into Sesame Street at all, much to my chagrin. Maybe I'll float it again and see what happens.

Anyhoo, Shanky, you are awesome and I worship you. Crap. I have a week to send you my underwear.

Hottie wants to practice an extreme form of breathplay on Elmo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I almost didn't come in here, I was afraid it was some kind of trap. I'm glad they didn't do anything to the cookie monster, I'd have been cranky. It's bad enough that they got rid of Forgetful Jones.
 
I, personally, am not real fond of Elmo, either. But the character that REALLY bugs me is baby bear.
 
I would gladly take a chainsaw to baby bear, complete with the puppeteer's arm inside.

I'm glad I'm not the only one he bugs. I miss the old sesame street. Remember the yup yup guys?

Yuuup, yupyupyupyupyupyupyup

I used to LAUGH so hard over them.
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one he bugs. I miss the old sesame street. Remember the yup yup guys?

Yuuup, yupyupyupyupyupyupyup

I used to LAUGH so hard over them.

Yupyupyup uh-huh uh-huh. Yupyupyup uh-huh uh-huh.
 
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