"I don't think there will ever be a children's program that will have the continued impact over time that Sesame Street has had. Maybe in another universe, but I don't think on this planet."

    About This Interview

    In his three-hour interview, Norman Stiles talks about his early years as a writer for various comedians, and how he came to write for the then-new children's program, Sesame Street. He describes writing for the show in its early years and working with such luminaries as Joan Ganz Cooney and Jim Henson. He recounts creating and writing for various characters, including "The Count," "Forgetful Jones," "Elmo," and "Telly Monster." He discusses writing for the actors on the show, and writing songs with composer Joe Raposo. Stiles recalls leaving Sesame Street in the mid-'70s, co-creating the Mel Brooks-produced comedy When Things Were Rotten, and writing for Norman Lear's Fernwood 2-Night. He outlines his return to Sesame Street in 1980 when he became head writer and won a Daytime Emmy for the episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper." He recalls once again leaving the show in 1995 to create the short-lived series Between the Lions, and talks about his then-current projects and the legacy of Sesame Street. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on December 12, 2014 in Hoboken, NJ.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Norman Stiles

    Norman Stiles on writing the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    09:25
    Thumbnail of Norman Stiles

    Norman Stiles on why "Snuffleupagus" started out as only visible to "Big Bird," but soon became visible to everyone on Sesame Street

    02:31
    Thumbnail of Norman Stiles

    Norman Stiles on NASA approaching Sesame Street about a storyline

    02:12
    Thumbnail of Norman Stiles

    Norman Stiles on Jim Henson's involvement in Sesame Street and creating the Muppet "The Count"

    07:48
    Thumbnail of Norman Stiles

    Norman Stiles on the legacy of Sesame Street

    02:03
    Thumbnail of Norman Stiles

    Norman Stiles on leaving Sesame Street and co-creating When Things Were Rotten

    05:37
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on his early memories of television

    12:30

    On writing for Allen & Rossi and various other comedians; on going to write for Sesame Street; on the early process of writing for Sesame Street

    19:58

    On the length and format of a Sesame Street segment; on learning to write for Sesame Street and the basic philosophy of writing for the show; on working with Joan Ganz Cooney on Sesame Street

    08:12

    On Jim Henson's involvement in Sesame Street and creating the Muppet "The Count"; on creating the characters "Forgetful Jones," "Elmo," and "Telly Monster" on Sesame Street

    19:02

    Chapter 2

    On various characters he wrote for or created; on his favorite Sesame Street character to write for; on writing for the actors on Sesame Street

    15:23

    On writing for the ensemble of Sesame Street; on Ladysmith Black Mambazo performing on Sesame Street and writing songs for the show; on Dulcy Singer as executive producer of Sesame Street

    13:54

    On writing The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence; on leaving Sesame Street and co-creating When Things Were Rotten

    12:22

    Chapter 3

    On writing for Fernwood 2-Night and America 2-Night; on returning to Sesame Street in 1980

    13:11

    On collaborating with the writers on Sesame Street as head writer of the show and what he looked for in a writer; on writing the iconic Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"; on winning a Daytime Emmy for the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    14:36

    Chapter 4

    On the unaired Sesame Street segment "Snuffy's Parents Get A Divorce"; on his favorite Sesame Street segments; on why "Snuffleupagus" started out as only visible to "Big Bird," but soon became visible to everyone on Sesame Street; on NASA approaching Sesame Street about a storyline; on keeping his writing for Sesame Street fresh over several decades

    14:46

    On working on international versions of Sesame Street; on leaving Sesame Street in 1995 and creating Between the Lions; on the legacy of Sesame Street

    13:13

    On then-current projects; on how children's television has changed since he started in the industry; on career achievements and regrets; on advice to an aspiring children's television writer and how he'd like to be remembered

    14:36

    On B-roll pictures from his career- with Mel Brooks on the set of When Things Were Rotten; with Jerry Paris, Norman Steinberg, and Mel Brooks on the set of When Things Were Rotten

    03:11

    Dean Martin Show, The

    Norman Stiles on writing for Allen & Rossi and various other comedians and going to write for Merv Griffin

    07:02

    Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

    Norman Stiles on winning a Daytime Emmy for the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    01:54

    Fernwood 2 Night

    Norman Stiles on writing for Fernwood 2-Night and America 2-Night

    10:52

    Merv Griffin Show, The

    Norman Stiles on writing for Allen & Rossi and various other comedians and going to write for Merv Griffin

    07:02

    Muppet Show, The

    Norman Stiles on writing The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence

    06:35

    Sesame Street

    Norman Stiles on going to write for Sesame Street

    03:21

    Norman Stiles on the early process of writing for Sesame Street

    04:41

    Norman Stiles on the research department vetting his Sesame Street scripts and the curriculum of the show

    04:54

    Norman Stiles on the length and format of a Sesame Street segment

    02:06

    Norman Stiles on learning to write for Sesame Street and the basic philosophy of writing for the show

    04:36

    Norman Stiles on working with Joan Ganz Cooney on Sesame Street

    01:30

    Norman Stiles on Jim Henson's involvement in Sesame Street and creating the Muppet "The Count"

    07:48

    Norman Stiles on creating the character of "Forgetful Jones" on Sesame Street

    02:21

    Norman Stiles on creating the character of "Elmo" on Sesame Street

    03:19

    Norman Stiles on fine-tuning the character of "Telly Monster" on Sesame Street

    05:34

    Norman Stiles on the female character of "Prairie Dawn" on Sesame Street

    04:37

    Norman Stiles on writing for "Zoe" and "Rosita" on Sesame Street and Sesame Street's evolution in selling products

    05:15

    Norman Stiles on his favorite Sesame Street characters to write for

    01:52

    Norman Stiles on writing for the actors on Sesame Street

    03:39

    Norman Stiles on writing for the ensemble of Sesame Street

    01:35

    Norman Stiles on Ladysmith Black Mambazo performing on Sesame Street and writing songs for the show

    05:00

    Norman Stiles on Dulcy Singer as executive producer of Sesame Street

    02:48

    Norman Stiles on writing songs for Sesame Street

    04:31

    Norman Stiles on leaving Sesame Street and co-creating When Things Were Rotten

    05:37

    Norman Stiles on returning to Sesame Street in 1980

    02:18

    Norman Stiles on collaborating with the writers on Sesame Street as head writer of the show and what he looked for in a writer

    03:14

    Norman Stiles on writing the iconic Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    09:25

    Norman Stiles on winning a Daytime Emmy for the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    01:54

    Norman Stiles on the unaired Sesame Street segment "Snuffy's Parents Get A Divorce"

    03:22

    Norman Stiles on dealing with Sesame Street segments that didn't test well

    01:41

    Norman Stiles on his favorite Sesame Street segments 

    05:36

    Norman Stiles on keeping his writing for Sesame Street fresh over several decades

    04:06

    Norman Stiles on working on international versions of Sesame Street

    06:08

    Norman Stiles on leaving Sesame Street in 1995 and creating Between the Lions

    05:02

    Norman Stiles on the legacy of Sesame Street

    02:03

    Norman Stiles on why "Snuffleupagus" started out as only visible to "Big Bird," but soon became visible to everyone on Sesame Street

    02:31

    Norman Stiles on NASA approaching Sesame Street about a storyline

    02:12

    Sesame Street: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    Norman Stiles on writing the iconic Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    09:25

    Norman Stiles on winning a Daytime Emmy for the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    01:54

    When Things Were Rotten

    Norman Stiles on leaving Sesame Street and co-creating When Things Were Rotten

    05:37

    Advice

    Norman Stiles on advice to an aspiring children's television writer

    01:20

    Emmy Awards

    Norman Stiles on winning a Daytime Emmy for the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    01:54

    First Big Break

    Norman Stiles on going to write for Sesame Street

    03:21

    Pivotal Career Moments

    Norman Stiles on going to write for Sesame Street

    03:21

    Television Industry

    Norman Stiles on how children's television has changed since he started in the industry

    01:09

    Norman Stiles on advice to an aspiring children's television writer

    01:20

    Writers

    Norman Stiles on the early process of writing for Sesame Street

    04:41

    Norman Stiles on writing for the actors on Sesame Street

    03:39

    Norman Stiles on writing for the ensemble of Sesame Street

    01:35

    Norman Stiles on collaborating with the writers on Sesame Street as head writer of the show and what he looked for in a writer

    03:14

    Norman Stiles on keeping his writing for Sesame Street fresh over several decades

    04:06

    Norman Stiles on the craft of writing 

    03:32

    Children's Programming

    Norman Stiles on writing for Sesame Street (Part 1)

    40:10

    Norman Stiles on writing for Sesame Street (Part 2)

    29:17

    Norman Stiles on writing for Sesame Street (Part 3)

    16:51

    Norman Stiles on writing for Sesame Street (Part 4)

    28:39

    Comedy Series

    Norman Stiles on co-creating When Things Were Rotten

    05:37

    Norman Stiles on writing for Fernwood 2-Night and America 2-Night

    10:52

    Mel Brooks

    Norman Stiles on leaving Sesame Street and co-creating When Things Were Rotten with Mel Brooks

    05:37

    Joan Ganz Cooney

    Norman Stiles on working with Joan Ganz Cooney on Sesame Street

    01:30

    Merv Griffin

    Norman Stiles on writing for Allen & Rossi and various other comedians and going to write for Merv Griffin

    07:02

    Jim Henson

    Norman Stiles on Jim Henson's involvement in Sesame Street and creating the Muppet "The Count"

    07:48

    Will Lee

    Norman Stiles on writing the iconic Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    09:24

    Martin Mull

    Norman Stiles on writing for Fernwood 2-Night and America 2-Night

    10:52

    Joe Raposo

    Norman Stiles on writing songs with Joe Raposo for Sesame Street

    04:31

    Fred Willard

    Norman Stiles on writing for Fernwood 2-Night and America 2-Night

    10:52

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