Last night, the world lost another of the original Muppet Performers. Jerry Nelson passed away at the age of 78. Though he had semi-retired in recent years due to health concerns, he still was an integral part of the Muppet team. And that is one thing that has been a constant since he started working with Jim Henson back in 1965. Nelson was first hired as a replacement for Frank Oz when Oz was called in for the draft. When Oz returned, Nelson was able to keep his position as the third performer in their small band of Muppeteers. Soon, Nelson proved himself indispensable by performing key characters in Muppet specials like The Great Santa Claus Switch, Hey Cinderella! and The Frog Prince, the latter one was where Kermit the Frog's nephew Robin was introduced (performed by Nelson). It was also during this time that Henson helped create the seminal children's series Sesame Street, yet another Muppet production in which Nelson played an important role. Nelson performed several characters on the show, but the ones that really struck a chord with audiences included the big blue Herry Monster, the Doyle-esque Sherlock Hemlock and (more famously) the iconic Count Von Count who simply loved to count. As an original member of the Muppet team, he of course was brought along when Henson and Oz developed the musical-variety series The Muppet Show. There, he continued his character Robin the Frog and added new characters to his repertoire including the zany fish-throwing Lew Zealand, the creepy Uncle Deadly, the curmudgeonly stage doorman Pops, the explosively dynamic Crazy Harry and (again more famously) Sgt. Floyd Pepper, the hip bassist for the rockin' Electric Mayhem band. As he continued his characters in the Muppet movies and on Sesame Street, the Henson company was expanding their brand and exploring new worlds and new creatures. And with Fraggle Rock, Nelson performed the prime role of Fraggle leader Gobo. Each of his characters continued to be just as iconic, especially when the Muppet world was rocked to its core by the deaths of creator Jim Henson (in 1990) and fellow Muppeteer Richard Hunt (in 1992). As I said earlier, he had semi-retired in recent years; though he did have a small role in the Muppets recent big screen adventure, last year's hit The Muppets. His importance within the Muppet family cannot be overstated. To honor him (as well as Henson and Hunt), below Nelson alongside Hunt, Frank Oz, Kevin Clash (you know Elmo!), Steve Whitmire (who currently performs Kermit) and Dave Goelz (otherwise known as Gonzo!) sing some of Jim Henson's favorite songs at the Memorial Service just after Henson's death.
And for those who feel like a little shopping will ease the grief, here are some links to some Muppet DVDs featuring Nelson in some of his best roles.
This past Monday was the anniversary of a very sad day in my childhood. On May 16, 1990, my Mom was driving myself and my brother home from school and she turned on the radio to hear the traffic report. As we were waiting for the light to change, the NewsFlash came on and announced that Muppet creator (and all-around genius) Jim Henson had passed away that day. For the rest of the day (and well into the evening), I was inconsolable. Those of my generation understand why. I didn't know him personally. I didn't work with him or live in the same neighborhood as him. But watching things like Sesame Street, The Muppet Movie, Fraggle Rock and The Muppet Show (quite frankly, the greatest TV variety show of all-time), I felt like I knew him and, more importantly, I learned from him. I think of something I learned from the Muppets (and, by extension, Jim Henson) almost every day. And every year, at this time in May, I try to celebrate the joy and inspiration that Henson gave me by sharing my favorite Muppet things with my circle of friends. Well, now that I have this blog, my circle has grown larger and maybe we can share together. This week's 10 FAVORITES is dedicated to the memory of Jim Henson and is all about my favorite Muppet thing of all-time: The Muppet Show! So, here are the most sensational, inspirational, celerational AND Muppet-tational:
THE 10 BEST EPISODES OF
THE MUPPET SHOW
EPISODE #10
Episode 424: Diana Ross
At the time, Diana Ross was one of the biggest stars in the world and the writing staff at TMS used this icon perfectly. She danced with a big bird (no, not that one!) and sang "Love Hangover." She also coaxed Fozzie out of his usual bout of low confidence by singing one of her signature tunes, "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand" (see below). It's just brilliant!
EPISODE #9 Episode 208: Steve Martin
I love it on any series where it is clear that the writing team is stepping outside of its so-called "box." Here, the Muppets shut down the show for a day to hold auditions. One problem, they booked funny-man Steve Martin as their guest star. But, of course, the "Wild-And-Crazy-Guy" makes these auditions quite hilarious.
EPISODE #8 Episode 105: Rita Moreno This is the best episode of the first season (and the one that won them several Emmys that first year!). It was here where you knew what the show could be and how best to utilize the talents of your guest star. Oscar, Tony and Grammy winner Rita Moreno added an Emmy to her mantle for this fabulous performance.
EPISODE #7
Episode 217: Julie Andrews
I always wanted Julie Andrews to be my nanny just so she could sing to me! Watching her in Mary Poppins or The Sound of Music OR her appearance on TMS, just entertained me to no end. It didn't matter whether she was singing on a hillside (with a goat!) or with a bunch of Muppet monsters, she was just an enjoyable presence in my home.
EPISODE #6 Episode 214: Elton John This episode is great just because of the melding of two geniuses. The Muppet genius of Jim Henson (and all those around him!) plus the musical genius of Elton John makes for one of the most musically successful episodes of the series. John sings most of his chart-toppers like "Crocodile Rock," "Bennie and the Jets," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and a hilarious duet with Miss Piggy on "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (below).
EPISODE #5 Episode 506: Brooke Shields Brooke Shields was one of the most famous child stars when I was growing up. When the Muppets booked her on the show, the writers out-did themselves. Of course, Lewis Carroll's classic Alice's Adventures In Wonderland was perfect for Jim Henson and his creative team (his famed Creature Shop since then worked on at least 3 variations on the Carroll tale). Here, the Muppets get to try their hand at the many wacky characters in the story.
Monty Python and Fawlty Towers star John Cleese helped to co-write this episode and the comedic brilliance is multiplied. His concept was to play it as a guest star who just didn't want to do the show. Cleese is amazing at playing an exasperated, "diva"-like star, especially when they try to get him to sing (see below).
EPISODE #3 Episode 515: Carol Burnett
This episode received an Emmy Award for Best Writing of Variety Series and there are many reasons why. The concept to have Gonzo running the Muppet Theater like its a 1930s dance marathon is too funny in and of itself. Add the top-notch comedic timing of Carol Burnett and audiences are rolling on the floor. I like to call this episode "They Shoot Muppets, Don't They?" (Well...at least I think it's clever!).
EPISODE #2 Episode 212: Bernadette Peters
There is really only one reason why this episode ranks so high in my mind. One song, just one song that has become the anthem for Jim Henson and his work. Watch Broadway diva-extraordinaire Bernadette Peters sing this hauntingly beautiful song to Kermit's nephew, Robin. It just touches something in my heart (I am not made of stone!).
AND...
EPISODE #1 Episode 314: Harry Belafonte This episode is both one of the funniest episodes of the series AND one of the most poignant. The concept of the episode has Fozzie trying to write a script for the show (can you just imagine?). Frank Oz is also a genius, especially when he puppeteered characters like Fozzie Bear or Miss Piggy or Cookie Monster. In this episode, Oz goes all out in his characterization of Fozzie and makes us love him even more. On top of all that hilarity, guest star Harry Belafonte brings a beautifully touching moment by singing his brilliant song "Turn the World Around" for the episode's finale (see below).
I hope this brought back good memories for those of you who, like me, grew up watching the creative genius that Jim Henson brought to the world. I will never forget any of the things I have learned from the Muppets (in all their incarnations). Thank You Jim!
Many of those who are around my age or older can pretty much agree that Sesame Street is one of (if not THE) greatest children shows of all-time. And lots of us have memories of the seminal series ranging from the colorful Muppet characters, the frantic animations and the clever writing all wrapped up in the lessons teaching young children (from Nursery Rhymes to the ABC's). One of the most important elements of the show was music and, in particular, songs. They didn't just use "The Alphabet Song" or "Twinkle Twinkle" when it came time to teach children (both onscreen and off). They had brilliant songwriters who managed to capture the energy and fun of music and combine it with the joys of learning. But what are the best songs the now 41-year-old series had to offer? Today's 10 FAVORITES offers up the best songs that I heard as a child growing up watching Sesame Street. Now, when I say the songs I heard growing up, that leaves out a lot of the songs produced after 1990 (which is around the time I stopped watching the series regularly). So, in advance, I apologize to those of younger generations who may not be familiar with the songs featured in today's list. Most of these songs first made their appearance on the show in the 1970's and were reurun several times throughout the following decade (the 1980's, which is my domain!). So, with that out of the way, here are:
THE 10 BEST SESAME STREET SONGS
HONORABLE MENTION
The Sesame Street Theme Song
Once you hear this bouncy tune, it is hard to forget it. It always made me happy because I knew that my favorite show was beginning. But it has been pointed out by several of my generation that it is a rather frustrating song. It doesn't really tell you "How to get to Sesame Street." It keeps asking but never answers. Yet the imagery of "Sunny Days" and "Smiling Faces" is so inviting that you just know where "Sesame Street" is.
SONG #10
Rubber Duckie
First appearing in their inaugural season back in 1969, this song is really the one that made their music department famous. Who ever would of thought that a song about a guy and his favorite bath time toy would be a hit record? It helps that Jim Henson's performance as Ernie is so endearing that every child wanted a Rubber Duckie!
SONG #9
ABC-DEF-GHI
Yet another song from the first season, this was a great twist on the classic "Alphabet Song." Big Bird, who in the early years was more like a goofy teenager rather than the 6-year-old we know and love, is talking about the most amazing word he has ever heard. What he doesn't know is what that word really is, but Susan is on hand to explain. Take a look:
SONG #8
Mahna-Mahna
Some of you may be saying "Hey, this is from The Muppet Show!" But what some of you may not know is that this fun and jazzy song got its start in 1970 on Sesame Street and was revamped in 1976 for the first episode of The Muppet Show. It is a little jarring if you are used to the latter version, but still the song is just as good as it ever was.
SONG #7
How Do You Do?
I was saddened earlier this year to hear of the death of the jazz legend Lena Horne. So I immediately went on YouTube to find the clip of the first time I saw her, which was this beautiful song she sang to Grover. It is a wonderful song that helps children learn how to meet people (great for kids on their first day of pre-school or kindergarten!). Fairly simple and yet it is extremely poignant and catchy. Plus, it's Lena Horne!
SONG #6
Born to Add
I loved this song as a little kid. I loved it even more as I got older and realized that Sesame Street was a master at parody. As a child of the 1980's, I am a total fan of Bruce Springsteen and the poetry he weaves in great rock tunes (if you don't believe me, just listen to "Born to Run"). So this great song has an even better meaning for kids as they get older and understand that from great things can come great parody.
SONG #5
What's the Name of That Song?
This song has become a favorite of mine more recently because I almost forgot about hearing it on record growing up. But thank you to YouTube (and the Old School Sesame Street DVD's)! It's a silly idea for a song but Muppetsongwriting legend Sam Pottle (The Muppet Show Theme) managed to give us a catchy tune with lyrics that say exactly how you feel when you cannot remember the name of a song you cannot stop humming.
SONG #4
Bein' Green
It is Kermit the Frog's eternal anthem. It is a beautiful tune about understanding that you are different and liking yourself for who you are. Everybody (especially these days) needs to sing this song to themselves. There are several versions Kermit (and others) have done over the years, but the two definitive ones come from Sesame Street. One, is the first appearance (back in 1969) that has just Kermit sitting in the swamp singing the tune. The other, done about a year or two later, has Kermit singing the song with the late Lena Horne (where the powerful meaning was never stronger). Below, is the first version.
SONG #3
Sing After Me
Another great frequent guest on Sesame Street who is sadly no longer with us, was the late Madeline Kahn. Ms. Kahn was a phenomenal comedic actress and performer who we all remember from such hilarious film roles like Lily Von Schtupp in Blazing Saddles (for which she earned an Oscar nod!). But this was my first knowledge of her: The lady who sang this fun and silly song with Grover on my favorite show! The interaction between Frank Oz's Grover and Ms. Kahn is absolutely delicious. Together they make a perfect team.
SONG #2
C is For Cookie
I do not care what parents or advocacy groups say today, this song is AWESOME! What better way to help kids learn how to spell than to combine it with one of their favorite snacks? By the time I got to school, I certainly knew how to spell "Cookie" and Sesame Street is very much responsible for that (at least in part).
AND...
SONG #1
Sing
I absolutely love this song! It is so simple that it is complex. I know that sounds weird but it's true. The song first appeared on the show in the early 1970's and was sung by a bunch of kids. Every year, the show would drag this song out but always find some new way to do it, which made it enjoyable for the audience. My absolute favorite version (which is below) is where Olivia (played by the late Alaina Reed Hall) gorgeously sings the song as Linda (a seminal character herself) shows the audience the beauty that is American Sign Language. Every time I hear this song, no matter what version, I just want to get up and "Sing!"
So there you have it: THE 10 BEST SESAME STREET SONGS. I hope your favorite was on here! Special shout out of thanks to the people at SesameStreet.org for allowing some of these clips to be available on YouTube. If you would like to see more of these kinds of clips, just head on over to the video section of their website where they have several classics available for viewing. Next week, I begin my month-long devotion to Christmas things (Movies, Specials, Carols, etc.). Enjoy!
