Loretta Long

Performer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her one-and-a-half-hour Archive interview, Loretta Long talks about her role as "Susan" on the classic children's series Sesame Street, which she had played continuously for the entire 35-year run of the show up to the time of the interview. She describes her early years growing up on a farm and having aspirations for a life in show business. She talks about entering the work force as a substitute teacher while she auditioned for acting parts in New York City. She briefly describes her early work in local television, including Soul!, an African-American variety series she co-hosted, which indirectly led her to Sesame Street. Regarding Sesame Street, Long vividly describes her audition (during which she sang "I'm a Little Teapot") and talks about the earliest years of the series. She describes the ethnic diversity of Sesame Street and the role of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in getting more attention placed on her character. Finally, Long speaks about pursuing her PhD in Education, while still appearing on the show. Karen Herman conducted the interview on July 21, 2004 at the Sesame Workshop in New York, NY.

"'Sesame Street' wasn't Dick and Jane's old neighborhood with the picket fence. That intrigued me."

Highlights

Loretta Long on how she came to be cast as "Susan" on Sesame Street

03:55

Loretta Long on her Sesame Street audition, and on learning she got the part

03:13

Loretta Long on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

01:21

Loretta Long on working with Jim Henson as "Kermit," and on working with various other of the Muppets

02:22

Loretta Long on the power of television, and on the impact that her character of "Susan" on Sesame Street has had on black television characters

01:31

Loretta Long on working with The Muppets on Sesame Street, and on working with "Big Bird" specifically

03:25

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On her early life and influences; on the first time she saw television, and early shows she watched; on her experience as a grade school teacher

On auditioning for Bob Fosse to be in "Sweet Charity"; on appearing in some commercials and on her debut in the variety series Soul!

On how she came to be cast as "Susan" on Sesame Street; on her parents' reaction to her taking a job on Sesame Street

Chapter 2

On PBS' coverage around the country at the time Sesame Street started, and on spreading the word about the show; on the first few days of filming Sesame Street, and on cast members Will Lee as "Mr. Hooper," Bob McGrath as "Bob," and Matt Robinson as "Gordon"; on her character, "Susan," on Sesame Street

On Roscoe Orman taking over the character of "Gordon," and on the adoption storyline on Sesame Street; on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"; on working with The Muppets on Sesame Street, and on working with "Big Bird" specifically

On working with Jim Henson as "Kermit", and on working with various other of the Muppets; on pursuing her doctorate while still appearing on Sesame Street

Chapter 3

On the curriculum goals of Sesame Street, on the diversity of the cast, and on how the show impacts viewers; on the various issues that Sesame Street has taken on over the years, and on the cultural impact of the show; on the directors of Sesame Street, and on the special guest stars

On guest-starring on shows other than Sesame Street, and appearing on talk shows like The Dick Cavett Show; on how Sesame Street has changed since it began

On the importance of continuing to work on Sesame Street, and her then-current outside projects; on the power of television, and on the impact that her character of "Susan" on Sesame Street has had on black television characters; on advice to aspiring actors, and how she'd like to be remembered

Shows

Dick Cavett Show, The

Loretta Long on guest-starring on shows other than Sesame Street, and appearing on talk shows like The Dick Cavett Show

03:08

Sesame Street

Loretta Long on how she came to be cast as "Susan" on Sesame Street

03:55

Loretta Long on her audition to play "Susan" on Sesame Street

03:12

Loretta Long on her parents' reaction to her taking a job on Sesame Street

02:23

Loretta Long on PBS' coverage around the country at the time Sesame Street started, and on spreading the word about the show

01:44

Loretta Long on the first few days of filming Sesame Street, and on cast members Will Lee as "Mr. Hooper," Bob McGrath as "Bob," and Matt Robinson as "Gordon"

04:24

Loretta Long on her character, "Susan," on Sesame Street

05:16

Loretta Long on Roscoe Orman taking over the character of "Gordon," and on the adoption storyline on Sesame Street

04:05

Loretta Long on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

01:21

Loretta Long on working with The Muppets on Sesame Street, and on working with "Big Bird" and "Elmo" specifically

03:25

Loretta Long on working with Jim Henson as "Kermit," and on working with various other of the Muppets

02:22

Loretta Long on pursuing her doctorate while still appearing on Sesame Street, and on her dissertation, "Sesame Street: A Space Age Approach to Education for Space Age Kids"

06:40

Loretta Long on the curriculum goals of Sesame Street, on the diversity of the cast, and on how the show impacts viewers

04:31

Loretta Long on the various issues that Sesame Street has taken on over the years, and on the cultural impact of the show

04:34

Loretta Long on the directors of Sesame Street, and on the special guest stars

01:14

Loretta Long on how Sesame Street has changed since it began

02:02

Loretta Long on the importance that she keep working on Sesame Street, and her then-current outside projects

02:27

Loretta Long on the power of television, and on the impact that her character of "Susan" on Sesame Street has had on black television characters

01:31

Sesame Street: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

Loretta Long on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

01:21

Soul!

Loretta Long on appearing in some commercials and on her debut in the variety series Soul!

02:24

Topics

Advice

Loretta Long on advice to aspiring actors, and how she'd like to be remembered

01:42

Civil Rights Movement

Loretta Long on the power of television, and on the impact that her character of "Susan" on Sesame Street has had on black television characters

01:31

Diversity in Television

Loretta Long on the power of television, and on the impact that her character of "Susan" on Sesame Street has had on black television characters

01:31

Historic Events and Social Change

Loretta Long on the power of television, and on the impact that her character of "Susan" on Sesame Street has had on black television characters

01:31

Minorities

Loretta Long on the power of television, and on the impact that her character of "Susan" on Sesame Street has had on black television characters

01:31

Television Industry

Loretta Long on advice to aspiring actors, and how she'd like to be remembered

01:42

Professions

Actress

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Loretta Long on advice to aspiring actors, and how she'd like to be remembered

01:42

Performers

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Loretta Long on advice to aspiring actors, and how she'd like to be remembered

01:42

Genres

Children's Programming

Loretta Long on playing "Susan" on Sesame Street

09:34

Loretta Long on playing "Susan" on Sesame Street

30:20

Loretta Long on playing "Susan" on Sesame Street

19:27

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

Loretta Long on appearing in some commercials and on her debut in the variety series Soul!

02:24

People

Bob Fosse

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Loretta Long on auditioning for Bob Fosse to be in "Sweet Charity"

01:22

Jim Henson

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Loretta Long on working with Jim Henson as "Kermit," and on working with various other of the Muppets

02:22

Will Lee

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Loretta Long on the first few days of filming Sesame Street, and on cast members Will Lee as "Mr. Hooper," Bob McGrath as "Bob," and Matt Robinson as "Gordon"

04:24

Bob McGrath

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Loretta Long on the first few days of filming Sesame Street, and on cast members Will Lee as "Mr. Hooper," Bob McGrath as "Bob," and Matt Robinson as "Gordon"

04:24

Roscoe Orman

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Loretta Long on Roscoe Orman taking over the character of "Gordon," and on the adoption storyline on Sesame Street

04:05

Matt Robinson

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Loretta Long on the first few days of filming Sesame Street, and on cast members Will Lee as "Mr. Hooper," Bob McGrath as "Bob," and Matt Robinson as "Gordon"

04:24