Nick Martel

Think of these guys like Muppet diplomats to the human realm. The first one is a green meanie who lives in that irresistibly loud metal trash can. Oscar the Grouch. Oscar.

Think of these guys like Muppet diplomats to the human realm. The first one is a green meanie who lives in that irresistibly loud metal trash can. Oscar the Grouch. Oscar.

But that next character that Jim designs becomes the key to this entire format. It's the Muppet who will become the show's tender, sensitive heart. The Muppet who's got a soul of a child and the height of an NBA center. The Muppet, known as Big Bird. Big Bird is made of turkey feathers dyed a brilliant yellow and sewn upside down onto an eight foot tall wearable puppet.

But that next character that Jim designs becomes the key to this entire format. It's the Muppet who will become the show's tender, sensitive heart. The Muppet who's got a soul of a child and the height of an NBA center. The Muppet, known as Big Bird. Big Bird is made of turkey feathers dyed a brilliant yellow and sewn upside down onto an eight foot tall wearable puppet.

But that next character that Jim designs becomes the key to this entire format. It's the Muppet who will become the show's tender, sensitive heart. The Muppet who's got a soul of a child and the height of an NBA center. The Muppet, known as Big Bird. Big Bird is made of turkey feathers dyed a brilliant yellow and sewn upside down onto an eight foot tall wearable puppet.

But Jack, how do they make Big Bird come alive? Because it's actually a feat of engineering. The Muppet Puppeteer steps into Big Bird's giant bird legs, puts one hand into Big Bird's left wing, and operates Big Bird's head by reaching his right hand high up into the air.

But Jack, how do they make Big Bird come alive? Because it's actually a feat of engineering. The Muppet Puppeteer steps into Big Bird's giant bird legs, puts one hand into Big Bird's left wing, and operates Big Bird's head by reaching his right hand high up into the air.

But Jack, how do they make Big Bird come alive? Because it's actually a feat of engineering. The Muppet Puppeteer steps into Big Bird's giant bird legs, puts one hand into Big Bird's left wing, and operates Big Bird's head by reaching his right hand high up into the air.

And it doesn't stop there, even if he's cramping, because he then has to use his pinky finger to move the eyelids so that Big Bird can blink, show surprise, worry, sadness. All those emotions are operated by an extended pinky finger. It's this kind of expressive detail that makes Jim Hansen's Muppets so magical for kids.

And it doesn't stop there, even if he's cramping, because he then has to use his pinky finger to move the eyelids so that Big Bird can blink, show surprise, worry, sadness. All those emotions are operated by an extended pinky finger. It's this kind of expressive detail that makes Jim Hansen's Muppets so magical for kids.

And it doesn't stop there, even if he's cramping, because he then has to use his pinky finger to move the eyelids so that Big Bird can blink, show surprise, worry, sadness. All those emotions are operated by an extended pinky finger. It's this kind of expressive detail that makes Jim Hansen's Muppets so magical for kids.

Now, at first, Big Bird is supposed to be some kind of a bumbling doofus, a clumsy character that smacks into telephone poles and has that big oversized head that keeps bonking things. But this does totally change when Jim Henson recruits one particular puppeteer by the name of Carol Spinney. Muppeteer. Muppeteer.

Now, at first, Big Bird is supposed to be some kind of a bumbling doofus, a clumsy character that smacks into telephone poles and has that big oversized head that keeps bonking things. But this does totally change when Jim Henson recruits one particular puppeteer by the name of Carol Spinney. Muppeteer. Muppeteer.

Now, at first, Big Bird is supposed to be some kind of a bumbling doofus, a clumsy character that smacks into telephone poles and has that big oversized head that keeps bonking things. But this does totally change when Jim Henson recruits one particular puppeteer by the name of Carol Spinney. Muppeteer. Muppeteer.

Carol is ex-Air Force, and he's a gentle soul that loves drawing and still feels like an overgrown kid himself. His mom named him Carol because he was born the day after Christmas. Carol is the reason that Big Bird evolves from clumsy clown to the sweet, naive picture of childhood innocence. Big Bird kind of becomes the proxy for Sesame Street's core audience.

Carol is ex-Air Force, and he's a gentle soul that loves drawing and still feels like an overgrown kid himself. His mom named him Carol because he was born the day after Christmas. Carol is the reason that Big Bird evolves from clumsy clown to the sweet, naive picture of childhood innocence. Big Bird kind of becomes the proxy for Sesame Street's core audience.

Carol is ex-Air Force, and he's a gentle soul that loves drawing and still feels like an overgrown kid himself. His mom named him Carol because he was born the day after Christmas. Carol is the reason that Big Bird evolves from clumsy clown to the sweet, naive picture of childhood innocence. Big Bird kind of becomes the proxy for Sesame Street's core audience.

Big Bird is the six-year-old who needs help navigating the world. Big Bird doesn't know why things are the way they are, so the humans around him have to patiently Explain it to them. But they're really patiently explaining to the kids watching the show. Oh, and by the way, Carol also plays Oscar, so he's doing a great double act.

Big Bird is the six-year-old who needs help navigating the world. Big Bird doesn't know why things are the way they are, so the humans around him have to patiently Explain it to them. But they're really patiently explaining to the kids watching the show. Oh, and by the way, Carol also plays Oscar, so he's doing a great double act.

Big Bird is the six-year-old who needs help navigating the world. Big Bird doesn't know why things are the way they are, so the humans around him have to patiently Explain it to them. But they're really patiently explaining to the kids watching the show. Oh, and by the way, Carol also plays Oscar, so he's doing a great double act.