Sesame Street LIVE | NerdHQ 2014 Conversation for a Cause

A Conversation with Sesame Street (All proceeds benefit the Sesame Workshop Organization)
Sesame Street joins fans at Nerd HQ’s ‘Conversations for a Cause’ for some fun and laughter in their very own Q&A session, moderated by everybody’s favourite nerd, Zachary Levi.
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[@Awsome2464]

You know what I love about this? Even when the puppeteers are right behind them and moving their lips, you still believe that the puppets are real creatures that are alive. It's amazing and magical.

[@Angie2343]

Agreed

[@CrystalLynn1988]

I don't even acknowledge the puppeteers. I get so caught up in the characters everything else fades away.

[@izzybeau8183]

I feel he needed to hold cookie up more he was too low

[@KKAkuoku]

I love how the Sesame Street Muppets can be able to achieve just the right amount of dirty/witty when not kept in the confines of 'educational television'.

[@jediwookie6607]

KK Akuoku oh so muppets means monster puppets

[@HorrorKid101VampiresLive]

JediWookie marionettes/ puppets Muppets

[@Nagasakevideo]

KK Akuoku they've been asked questions like "are erie and Bert gay" and Bert answered straight up "no, we're barely even freinds, erie is super annoying sometimws". my head cannon is thay the monsters themselves are actors on a show themselves, but it's a reality TV show for kids.

[@Angie2343]

Agreed. One time on Jimmy Fallon, Elmo mentioned beer.

[@2doot]

I love how absolutely sly and quick witted they can be without the restrictions of children's public television holding them back. That little glimmer of innuendos while still being kid-friendly and innocent lol. I have mad respect for these people, not only do they have to control these little fuzzballs, but they have to voice them too with full expression. With great puppeteers,no wonder Sesame Street is still a dominant kid's educational show!

[@Angie2343]

Agreed!

[@gemmaskate]

I know this sounds weird,but I kinda can't wrap my head around them not being real. even when they're sitting there with the puppet masters, they seem so alive

[@Widdekuu91]

Almost everybody has that. I am watching 3 people and 3 muppets, not 3 people and 3 objects.

[@Mx.RumpusParable]

Echoing Widdekuu91. I posted my own up above about that but they summed it up very nicely.

[@foxman105]

They are the personas they played for years, so in a way they are real, because they're a part of them.

[@mas8705]

That's the brilliance of the Muppets. Even at times when you are just seeing them with their performers out in the open and even see them talk like normal, they are able to direct your attention to the muppets rather than themselves.

[@swxxtpea999]

Gemma Pettersen I know, right?

[@jfishxx]

I know some people might think that these guys have easy jobs, but they do twice the work of voice actors (voice acting being another difficult job!) and some have to put their whole body into their puppets for long hours. These guys with the arm puppets, they literally hold their hand in the air for ages (sometimes with teams of people), trying to remember to make the eyes blink&express things appropriately, move the mouth just so. After so many years it's probably second nature, but it's still such a tough job! I loved Sesame Street as a little kid, and now MY kid loves Sesame Street, and while live actors have come&gone and grown up or passed away over the years, the one thing that has never changed are the puppets, so consistent in their voices/actions/looks, and I have the puppeteers to thank for that ( :

[@bryahnachristy9905]

jfish you said it

[@TheMurlocTamer]

If you've seen how Big Bird is operated, oh boy, it's voice acting, acting, puppeteering, while only looking at your script and a monitor.

[@kingzxofxdogeyt624]

and big bird is tough

[@Mxyzptlksac]

The Murloc Tamer imagine operating Bruno the garbage man. Carol Spinny was basically two characters walking around as one, but talking and acting like another

[@mesquitegirl2013]

They rock

[@TheNotbadphonedaddy]

A bunch of people in their late 30's, 40's and 50's all of a sudden become 3, 4 and 5 years old again. This is the magic of television and the joy it can bring to our lives.

[@straak]

In 2003, I was invited to help my friend who was the "Muppet Wrangler" on the set of THE WEST WING for the episodes "Eppur Si Muove". It didn't matter how big the actor was or how lauded, when a Muppet would appear on the set they all became 5 year old's again. Everyone's eyes would light up. Crew members brought their kids in to meet Elmo and Big Bird, and the Muppeteers stayed well after the 'martini shot' to make sure everyone got a picture. Especially Carroll Spinney, who as in his 70s at the time. One of the jobs of the wrangler was collect feathers that Big Bird would lose throughout the day, so that they could be reattached for the next day's filming. (Yes Big Bird molts) Well one feather was laying on his (Big Bird) chair when he got up for a take, and my buddy and eye saw Janell Maloney eyeing it. She didn't think we were watching her, but the minute she caught on she gave my friend these puppy-dog eyes, pleading for the feather. He nodded and said, "Yeah, go ahead." She promptly snatched it up, with the biggest smile on her face, and ran off to her dressing room like a four-year-old who had been gifted a puppy for her birthday.

[@TheNotbadphonedaddy]

@@straak - I love stories like these. Thanks for sharing.

[@graysonwells551]

this should be on the news "Grover admits to being Super Grover"

[@jc1986ism]

Grayson Wells first tony Stark now Grover

[@coolguy9709]

Oh no news reporters will come to sesmestreet everyday just to see Grover

[@Lilracky64]

Tony Stank you mean

[@cypher515]

I love it. There are actual children, seeing the actual Muppets and the actual puppeteers actually moving their lips, and they don't _care_, maybe even don't _notice_. There's gotta be a class for that, like when David and Cookie Monster were on the Daytime Emmy Awards and Cookie ate the Emmy. "Taste MUCH better than Latin Grammy!"

[@musicaldooder20]

John Wozniak It is interesting, huh? Kevin Clash, the voice and puppeteer for Elmo, said he thinks it’s because kids hold onto their imagination for a long time, and they kinda see the puppeteers as types of assistants carrying their favorite characters.

[@Pauldjreadman]

I am over 40 i couldn't care either

[@raymondhmuifoo11]

John Wozniak Go Bills

[@corgitime2008]

Whenever they were speaking I could only see the muppets as talking and the voice actors just moving their lips

[@dillonohlemiller9027]

They’re MUPPETEERS!!! NOT VOICE ACTORS!!!

[@stevejordan7275]

The human is a mere meat puppet. The muppet - actually a pan-dimensional being who intrudes into our space looking that way - is the one really in control.

[@samiyasmith150]

I am moving to Sesame Street when i turn 18 and graduate college and living with Bert. and Ernie even though Ernie. Isn't there. I'm. Also muppeteering

[@StefWriter]

The guy performing Murray has so much life. :)

[@Lilliecwalinski16]

Stef S He’s Italian!! Italian’s are loud!!

[@xavierkrantz1098]

Lillieana G I think you Italians has an attitutde of life

[@thebishopofme]

I loved how he zoned into the kids right away! Such a kid's performer.

[@duncangray7269]

Seems he wants to be front of house all the time. Rude, interrupts the other actors all the time, doesn’t like it when he isn’t centre of attention

[@duncangray7269]

@NonsenTional ಠ_ಠ study the analysis of observable behaviour 😀. Then you will understand

[@AbbieGetty]

"Are you saying there's a duality to Zac, in his ethos?" My gosh, these guys are brilliant.

[@paulprice6330]

I literally cheered when Cookie monster ate the 🍪!

[@theadventuresofkingaidan5880]

my highlight

[@SuperHD3748]

Hawia Pou 🤮🤧😚

[@PallidTrash]

We can tell they kept Murray on a leash. Boy when they unlock it.. He is a motor mouth! But we love him!!!

[@Angie2343]

His puppeteer retired. :(

[@BrandonCourt]

The rent is too damn high?! Move to Sesame Street!

[@brain_apostrophe_t]

Gilbert977 this comment is a time capsule

[@huntonpeck]

Jim Henson's legacy seems to be in good hands.

[@mesquitegirl2013]

@@michalm2279 as far as performers

[@DerpyBaymax]

Quite literally

[@MyersTheVlogger]

Home alone

[@peytonmarceaux8788]

@@mesquitegirl2013 vico

[@whofactchecksthefactcheckers]

To an extent, Disney still wont let frank oz, the original voice actor for fozzie bear and Yoda and plenty others come back because different creative ideas

[@guitarboi9]

David Rudman and Joey Mazzarino are two of the most genuinely happiest people I've ever seen.

[@chaivang3233]

Harley Bird as Peppa Pig Meg Hall as Suzzie Sheep Sian Taylor as Zooey Zebra Alice May as Rebecca Rabbit Julia Moss as Emily Elephant Jadon Mills as Danny Dog Sammy Prince as Pedro Pony Zara Siddiqi as Candy Cat Jamie Oram as Freddy Fox Chaniya Mahon as Wendy Wolf Abigail Daniels as Cousin Chloë Preston Nyman as Simon Squirrel Matilde Robert as Belinda Bear

[@18karatgold6]

21:22 “WOW! Way to make us all feel bad!” 😂😂😂😂😂😂 god I love Murray

[@miralee5260]

I flipped when Bert came on :))))

[@moderategiantx3374]

" I had to get a roommate" lol

[@Elipson52008]

" thank god it came out of that end!" *grover stares intensly*

[@koritheteengirl14]

5:30 - 6:06 Murray just started PUBERTY

[@jenkinsjrjenkins]

Its so insane how Cookie Monster's operator is able to throw his voice so clearly & LOUDLY while barely moving his mouth

[@vickismith2200]

Just. Brilliant. It was particularly great to see the performers and the muppets in the same shot; it seems like they stopped doing that for a long time after Jim Henson died. Big thanks and admiration to Nerd HQ, Zac, and the muppeteers!

[@919chi]

Vicki Smith those are not the muppets

[@RobPryme]

Bert: I had to get a roommate. That was priceless.

[@KravenSpider]

5:33 that catch was PERFECT

[@greg2081]

Greatest panel ever

[@jcarey1983]

agreed!

[@mstwoshay]

6:09 Cookie Monster's Reaction Though! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@marcodiaz6322]

Eric Jacobson sounds like Oscar, and what a coincidence because starting in 2015 he became the understudy for Caroll Spinney the original voice and puppeteer of Oscar.

[@EmperorPal]

regardless with puppeteers and characters, i see 6 people on the panel

[@ritacosta3321]

Same

[@sasea.s2508]

It’s unbelievable that a same puppeteer performs Grover and Bert!!!

[@sesame2003]

Yeah agree got his hands full but seems like a fun job

[@hahaohno329]

Murray: I don't have any nether regions Darn, never thought I would ever hear that in my life 😂

[@2doot]

You know the puppet work is so well done and expressive that you can literally have the puppeteer right out in the open control it, and yet the puppets themselves are still expressive enough to be convincing. Of course, nostalgia may also be a factor in what makes these characters so believable as living sentient beings rather than felt and strings, but you have to admit that what these people do on and off TV with these puppets is amazing and it just gives it a little bit more of that magic.

[@chaivang3233]

Ryan Dylan as Elmo!

[@davidkglevi]

Notice how important they find it to let the children speak. Also, so cute Jedi kids ❤

[@rty1955]

I worked with Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson and the rest of the talent on the pilot for the Muppet Show (originally called "Sex and Violence with the Muppets) I was the recording engineer and in between takes I would enter the studio and hang out with everyone Jim and Frank were very nice decent people. We often had lunch in the studio and discuss how things could look better. Jim was a very warm person with an awesome vision. Now that Carroll Spinney has gone off to join Him, I can only envision the fun the are having together!

[@rohailhashmi8050]

Ernie was speaking credits in muppets valentine show Bert speaks at the dance scene in muppet show sex and violence

[@pikawesome1]

25:36 it looks like cookie monster is trying to eat his hand

[@Angus_Gibson]

"Yeah, I had to get a roommate!" Classic Bert

[@kewlkat8208]

That was seriously the best panel ever. It was so cute!!!

[@someguy9851]

A Super Grover movie? That's the best idea I've ever heard!

[@cristinamihaela4219]

Have you heard about the top wing movie

[@CDubya.82]

Best line “yeah I had to get a room mate”

[@shivamgagad5674]

I love how Cookie is running the show, and meanwhile Grove is just sitting there.

[@KiondreHendrix]

Cookie trying to steal the spot light 😂😂

[@lonerChise]

magic of Muppets - your brain outright stops noticing the human _right there_ doing the actual talking and you're mesmerized by the moving talking bit of fur and felt completely!

[@Swordtee40]

7:41 Thought that was actually coming from Cookie Monster for a second

[@wbfan9387]

And this is why Murray Monster is one of my favorite Sesame Street characters.

[@r.5vl]

I love how when he holds cookie monsters mouth open he holds his mouth open

[@StephShrubb]

Freakin' adorable and so much fun.

[@iman4247]

6:09 Didn't expect that reaction! LMAO 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Obsessor23]

I had a huge smile on my face the whole time watching this. Seeing these guys in action and watching them flex their comedic muscles is wonderful. Seeing them let off the leash outside the boundaries of Sesame Street is always so fun

[@PianoDisneygal10]

I love that they casually leave Grover, like, dead on the floor lol

[@missywiley3140]

Grover's like "When am I gonna get to join the fun?"

[@mrkymrk310]

This was epic on all accounts.

[@lillieanag6394]

I can't wait to see Eric Jacobson, start preforming "Oscar The Grouch" full time.

[@andreassmith-partee3355]

Dillon Ohlemiller Eric is the understudy for Oscar.

[@NostalgicChuk]

@@andreassmith-partee3355 not anymore. He is doing him full time

[@e-mananimates2274]

For a bunch of characters from Educational Television, nothing quite compares to the Sesame Street Muppets (especially when they show up in KZbin videos).

[@DragonPrincessAoife]

I'm a bit bummed that there was no Elmo... Id have loved to see Elmo do his thing live off the cuff... er... fur?

[@taurinecat]

Elmo has done many talk show appearances over the years, and they were always hilarious: muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Elmo_Guest_Appearances

[@DragonPrincessAoife]

I know, I've seen a lot of them. I wanted him here...

[@carolynwiesner3148]

Max Barr I think it is possible that Ryan Dillon has not been performing the character long enough to improvise as comfortably as the older guys (although it seemed like Joey Maz did most of the talking anyway), or that Sesame Workshop is a little gun shy about showing Elmo with new performer. Or maybe he was just busy.

[@reikochan___]

Same

[@gemmaskate]

That little girl looks so much like Carrie Fischer. They should get her as the new young Leia

[@rosagodoy7550]

THEY BROKE THERE RULES THERE IS RECORDING FOR THIS AHHHH!

[@joshtheredpen9823]

Murray is an underrated Muppet. Give him more love!

[@TyrekeCorrea]

He's not part of reality anymore.

[@haleyhersh3850]

@Josh The Red Pen I agree!

[@paolazecena768]

Is weird that you concentrate on the puppets more and even tho that the puppet masters are there, amazing

[@TheFanguy123]

So weird to see Murray being all wisecracking and not at all child friendly

[@YousifPhotoshopTutorials]

L❤️VED YOU GUYS

[@0megaFan]

It's funny, despite the fact that they're not ventriliquists and still move their mouths when playing the characters, I still associate Cookie Monster and the man sitting with Cookie Monster as two different people

[@RandomManIncorperated]

I'm Surprised Jeff Dunham Hasn't Shown up on a Episode

[@Pauldjreadman]

I just don't care if i can see the puppeters. I never breaks the magic for me :)

[@tylerroads3824]

I can respect how they didn't hold back stuff like how the iPad story books worked, I can respect this so much

[@tylerroads3824]

Also a possible reference to the Adult Swim Cookie Monster Keebler Elfs thingy that actually was surprising

[@msstitcher1]

It is so amazing to see the guys behind the puppets! That is so brilliant. Thank you Nerd HQ!!!

[@Bshumer]

Honestly bert and ernie are my faveorite

[@samiyasmith150]

No they are. My most favorite I love them more than anyone

[@treasurewhite6620]

"they sure brought alot of cameras" lol XD

[@ritaandrunt5767]

It's nice to see Murry being in one of these sesame street interview videos along with bert grover and cookie monster as well as there respective performer's

[@startracker5895]

The guy playing Bert is very talented. Sounds like the original Bert voice and he also does miss piggy and sounds exactly like the original miss piggy.

[@VALENTINEproductions]

Rudman does Cookie Monster so easily

[@zarinaa1135]

I'm just freaking out that its ZACHERY LEVI hosting!!!!!!!!!!! SQQQUUUEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@straak]

In 2003, I was invited to help my friend who was the "Muppet Wrangler" on the set of THE WEST WING for the episodes "Eppur Si Muove". It didn't matter how big the actor was or how lauded, when a Muppet would appear on the set they all became 5 year old's again. Everyone's eyes would light up. Crew members brought their kids in to meet Elmo and Big Bird, and the Muppeteers stayed well after the 'martini shot' to make sure everyone got a picture. Especially Carroll Spinney, who as in his 70s at the time. One of the jobs of the wrangler was collect feathers that Big Bird would lose throughout the day, so that they could be reattached for the next day's filming. (Yes Big Bird molts) Well one feather was laying on his (Big Bird) chair when he got up for a take, and my buddy and eye saw Janell Maloney eyeing it. She didn't think we were watching her, but the minute she caught on she gave my friend these puppy-dog eyes, pleading for the feather. He nodded and said, "Yeah, go ahead." She promptly snatched it up, with the biggest smile on her face, and ran off to her dressing room like a four-year-old who had been gifted a puppy for her birthday.

[@kamileusz135]

Excellent show.

[@TF2Fan101]

Hard to believe this show is getting closer every day to its 50th season.

[@radicalrobotz]

sesame street is a blessing

[@ThatGirlNamedAlexOfficial]

This was so cute! Fantastic!

[@RobertMcGovernTarasis]

That was awesome, I love the Sesame Street and Muppet characters. Please please please have them back next year and for LONGER! 30 minutes is just so short. I'll throw money your way if it helps

[@maxine5732]

i would kickstart a grover movie

[@nicholasmontoya5483]

I love Joey Mazzarino ❤😁

[@YesIAmTheRatCalledLabyrinth]

"WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH THE TREE?!" - Murray, July 2014

[@TheSirenNymph]

Super Grover and Bat Eric!

[@jadethornton7975]

OMG I'm so jealous of the girl that fed cookie monsta. what a privilege.

[@debbiem2613]

I love a grover puppet please I love grover

[@Mx.RumpusParable]

Absolutely amazing. Really awe inspiring to watch as the Muppets actively and essentially in hand-puppet form by their co-panelists and still being seen and felt as truly real and separate people. Despite simple and clear puppet arrangement the puppeteers brought them so amazingly to life that they were truly part of the panel and not dolls. And damned funny along the way at times above the general smiling humor they gave me... A couple-three times I laughed so loud any others who live on this floor are around HAD to hear me.

[@carlosalvador3926]

i grew up watching sesame street and the muppet show in the 80's, those were the days

[@sickskoobie6768]

That's the magic of the Muppets. They are so eye catching and full of life that they become real to us. So even when you see the performer there with the Muppet your still only focused on the Muppet and not the performer. Like Jim said "The frog is much more interesting to look at than the man sitting right next to him.".

[@DrDespicable]

Moderator: How does Tom Hiddleston work his way into *every panel* ...? Everyone Else: BY BEING TOM HIDDLESTON...

[@IanJones942]

23:54 - Cookie Monster looks bored, and Bert has just HAD it. (That said - the guy who does Bert now is virtually indistinguishable from Frank Oz! It's incredible.)

[@YujiUedaFan]

Poor Grover got left behind! ;_;

[@holdmeclosertonydanza22]

I actually worked this show lol, they came back to get him when the room was empty. They were exhausted and wanted some water first, and when they go back out on the stage they tend to get mobbed.

[@miximagy6522]

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza yeah i Don't believe you.

[@mackson2752]

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza Lies

[@SethHoward-uf5ek]

And so did Elmo the end

[@Elsbelspeace]

I think it’s so special that it’s a lot easier to look past the performers while in sight that’s I thought. I really just hear my childhood favorites and it’s like the performers are just accompanying them.

[@tonycliftontheman]

Great shirt, Eric!! LOVE IT!

[@venn5510]

My childhood

[@1TrueGem]

Cookie Monster is always fun. Grover has always been my favorite!! ❤ Murray like a journalist has been a good newer addition.

[@cambridge1960]

this is HYSTERICAL! Thank you TNH and Zac!

[@ShindyistKing]

This was so nice! :D I really love the cookie monster. ^^

[@patriciadelloiacono2520]

I could cry I missed this panel. Now that I have a baby, we watch sesame at least twice a day! I know a little child who would have went crazy for Bert and Murray! Thanks for giving us the video at least, Nerd HQ!

[@jimmygreenfield7695]

I wish Frank Oz was there in fact I wish he would've never retired

[@MrAnyVideo]

I know. These are all new voice actors. And they are great. However, it would be nice to see the old classic voice actors again doing the voices

[@muppetsstoogesfan1]

+Michael Israel Voice Acting is a whole different career. Puppeteers do both the puppeteering and voice.

[@MrAnyVideo]

+muppetsstoogesfan1 ?

[@muppetsstoogesfan1]

+Michael Israel Voice Actors work in animation, narration, commercials, and movies. Puppeteers work with the puppets and do the voices. There two totally different careers.

[@jimmygreenfield7695]

+muppetsstoogesfan1 that's right you have to control and puppeteer the movements of the characters while doing the voice at the same time

[@Obsessedwithcookies758]

19:20 Cookie Monster: Hi, Bert!

[@efrainflores3902]

Hearing Cookie Monster always makes me laugh

[@loverlyflowers]

Awesome panel!! I'd love to see them next year too!

[@edwardnashton9277]

How does one get a job working at the puppet factory?

[@paulagwhyte1720]

I loved when Grover was a door-to-door salesman and was always trying to sell Kermit things he didn't need! And when Kermit did the Fast Breaking News Story of Jack Be Nimble with the Hippy Jack! "Everything is everything!" THAT always cracked up! And little Joey and Jon-Jon and Kermit doing the alphabet and counting! Adorable! "A-B-C-D-E-F Cookie Monster! *Giggles!"

[@katieherring3473]

I really loved Jim Henson’s voice doing Guy Smiley. He was so energetic and upbeat.