I can say for 100% certain that there will be at least ONE Sesame Street episode with Big Bird in it. I...well, I can't say much at this point because I don't know what's public knowledge and what isn't and I promised Sesame Workshop that I wouldn't talk about really specific things I saw or give away any plots or things. (I know Tough Pigs gave an in depth article on an episode they saw being filmed...but they must have gotten permission or something).
Yeah, uh, well, see my fiancee and I went to visit the set. They um, filmed some things for a street story and we saw Big Bird! How do I prove I'm not lying without giving anything away about the episode and keeping my promise to Sesame Workshop? I guess I could say these things:
The episode I saw takes place exclusively in the arbor and has Big Bird in it. The subject of the episode has to do with a letter of the alphabet. I won't say what letter it is, but I guess it won't hurt to tell you the
color of the letter. It was a bold red, but not like Elmo. Think like a couple shades darker than a Coca Cola can. It's big, too! Like, oh, three feet tall, maybe.
There was a song, too. It's a brand new song, so um, I can't say anything about it. It's catchy and bouncy, though and it's still in my head! I'll tell you for sure though, that I saw it being filmed from Hooper's Store! My fiancee and I were sitting there at the counter, looking through the window to the arbor.
You will see some new (minor) characters in this show and even though I can't say anything about them, here's a clue:
think outside the box.
Did I meet Caroll Spinney? Yep! I've met him before so he knew who I was. At one point between takes, Caroll clomped back to Hooper's wearing Big Bird's legs, sat on the stool next to me and we reminisced about how Hooper's Store used to be and he told me a short story about when he worked on Bozo.
It was a golden moment...and it was one of the best days of my life. I wish I could say more...but until that episode's on the air, I can't. I just can't. I did see other characters and one of the human cast, and it was...how do I describe the feeling?
On the outside, I was calm, polite to stay out of the way while they were working and when I met a new face, (be it flesh or fabric) it was just like meeting anyone else new. I was also smiling a lot (who wouldn't feel like smiling on that street unless you're a grouch?)
On the inside, however, my brain was repeatedly going like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHTLIi3erIg
For anyone who is preparing to meet Caroll anytime, get ready for a story. Caroll loves to tell stories and it's just...magical to sit and listen to all these wonderful tales. As I've said before on the Muppet Mindset (in an article about a Sesame Street exhibit I did a while ago) you really pick up a Jim Henson vibe from him. He's just really "Jim-like".
If you got the time,
please check out his interview on Youtube. It's 3 hours, but you really get sucked into it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLsfnno9NRs
Caroll Spinney is awesome...but we all know that.
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