could Herry have initially been intended to be generic?

[minor muppetz]

I have started thinking recently, could Herry have originally meant to be a random generic monster used whenever a monster other than Cookie Monster or Grover was needed (much like how those two were often used in the first season)? In Herry's first appearance, the Circles song, he's never mentioned by name. In "Up and Down", he's voiced by Jim Henson, probably because the audio recording was used (but if Herry was a main character than I'm sure that a different monster could have been used, even if it was made from an anything muppet). There was also a skit in the second season where Cookie Monster meets a fairy godmother, which ends with the fairy godmother being turned back into her previous form, which was the original Herry puppet wearing a wig and having a differnet voice.

I wonder if Herry was meant to be an unnamed monster used whenever such a monster was needed, only to gaina name later in the season, just like how his nose changed from being furry to being smooth in the same season (Herry was mentioned by name in the second season sketch where Prairie Dawn invited the three main blue monsters to diner).

 

[Drtooth]

Indeed he could have. After all, 90% of monsters on Sesame Street, Elmo included, started off as Generic. Cookie Monster, Grover (grey green at this point), and yes, even Herry all started out as a random Monster. I'm pretty suspicious of the Up and Down segment, since Jim Henson voiced the creation (he probably puppeteered him as well, but since it was a song, he could have just prerecorded).

And like most monsters, he was used enough times to actually be called Herry and become an ongoing regular character.


So even by asumption, you are correct.

 

[minor muppetz]

I had recently downloaded Up and Down to my iPod, and noticed that in that song, Cookie Monster sounds a bit more like how Grover did during the first two seasons when he's speaking, though sounds more like Cookie when he sings. I guess Cookie was chosen for that skit because that monster was sad over losing a cookie. It's also a rare opportunity to see him speak more properly (saying "I love cookies" instead of "me love cookies").

 

[wiley207]

The Herry puppet was also often used for the Big Bad Wolf as well.

I think by the late 1970s, Herry was supposed to be Jerry Nelson's main character, until the Count stole much of Herry's thunder (pun intended! )