Sesame Street Character Voice Comparisons

[Canadian Fan]

Ernie (Jim Henson & Steve Whitmire)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfp4IezPHqk

Bert (Frank Oz & Eric Jacobson)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uldzWbrokb4

Grover (Frank Oz & Eric Jacobson)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZBZtE6Dq3c

Cookie Monster (Frank Oz & David Rudman)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD1ITTyLp4U

I must say, I find it hard to distinguish Frank's versions of his characters from Eric's or David's, they're that good! Steve's voice I could always distinguish from Jim's, he's got a higher pitch.

 

[SmartTina]

First of all...I haven't watched a new episode of Sesame Street since I was a kid, so thanks for posting these new voice comparisons!

Anyway...WOW, I must say I'm very impressed with Eric's voices! Bert and Grover sound the most spot-on out of all of them. But David's Cookie Monster is certainly nothing to sniff at.

Ernie's new voice, on the other hand...eeeh. Maybe I'm too much of a Henson purist, but I think it's terrible. Maybe it's because Grover, Bert and Cookie seem much more difficult to impersonate than Ernie is...perhaps the casting folk were much more selective with those characters than with Ernie (i.e. listening closer to little nuances in the voices).

 

[Puckrox]

I do agree that Jim and Steve's Ernie voices are entirely different. However, I don't hate Steve's Ernie. This is probably due to the fact that I grew up with Steve as Ernie. While I do love Jim and his Ernie voice, I didn't come to know him as Ernie until I was much older. Steve's voice was the one I heard singing "Rubber Ducky" all throughout my childhood. I particularly don't mind. Ernie taught me things and he was one of my favorites growing up.

I did get to grow up with Frank Oz as all those characters though, which makes me grateful. Not that David and Eric aren't doing top notch jobs, which they are.

 

[HeyButtahfly]

Rudman's Cookie Monster leaves plenty to be desired, IMO. Cookie could use a throat lozenge.

 

[Oscarfan]

Their voices may not be as good as the originals, but its the character that matters. And each of them performs their character to a T.

 

[Drtooth]

Their voices may not be as good as the originals, but its the character that matters. And each of them performs their character to a T.

Well said and well put.

The only little nit I'd have to pick is that Eric really doesn't have quite the singing range Frank had when it comes to performing Miss Piggy or Grover. But other than that, he gives a very energetic performance of those characters. Frank's still got it when he comes back to occasionally do a skit or two, don't get me wrong.

As for David's Cookie, I think it's come a long way. When he first started out, and forcibly tried to impersonate Frank, the performance was a little stiff... now, he doesn't sound all that much like Frank, BUT he's relaxed so much in his performance, his Cookie is flawless in personality. Even the slight of hand that crumbled the cookies in illusion has gotten much better. Earlier Rudman Cookie performances suggest that's quite a trick that needs to be mastered. And he's mastered it now.

As for Steve, I have nothing for the utmost respect for him after hearing a story Dave Goelz once told... Steve really couldn't bring himself to perform Kermit once Jim died and had him in a trunk or suitcase or something for quite some time before he started. That shows the level of respect for Jim's performance right there, among other things. A character IS a personal thing, and when you're someone else's character, you have to make him your personal one. Sometimes it works, sometimes a character bounced from Puppeteer to puppeteer before they get a regular recast.

 

[mr3urious]

I think Eric's Bert sounds like his throat is full of phlegm.

 

[Canadian Fan]

I read in my copy of the 'Sesame Street' 40th Anniversary book that David still studies videos of Frank's performances of Cookie Monster.

David has a tough job, not only is he performing one of Frank's classic characters but he also does Richard Hunt's Sesame Street characters like Sonny Friendly and Richard's half of the Two-Headed Monster. Not to mention that David now does two of Richard's Muppet Show characters - Scooter and Janice.

I would much rather have a character recast when the original performer can no longer do it than have the character disappear alltogether. I've been pleased with the replacement voices (just by watching video clips on YouTube). These characters are essential to Sesame Street for future generations.

 

[SmartTina]

I would much rather have a character recast when the original performer can no longer do it than have the character disappear alltogether... These characters are essential to Sesame Street for future generations.

This is a very good point, and I couldn't agree more. But I still get nostalgic for the Henson/Oz/Hunt days!

 

[Canadian Fan]

Another character that's gone through some changes - Telly Monster (why isn't there any merchandise of Telly, I'll never know)

Bob Payne (the original Telly Monster)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4JZJdcHCRw

Brian Muehl (I somewhat remember this version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfGD16Wnhsw

Martin P. Robinson (the current Telly Monster and the version I'm most familiar with)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdo79QS2Tcs

Grungetta was another character to be recast

Brian Muehl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zciCrhSLa6k

Pam Arciero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBGPhxBW4ss