The Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" aired on Thanksgiving Day in 1983 (November 24th) so that the entire family could watch the show that dealt directly with the death of character Mr. [Harold] Hooper (actor Will Lee had died the previous year). Head writer Norman Stiles and his writing staff fashioned a script following extensive research, and the show is most remembered for the scene in which Big Bird comes to fully understand what is meant by his friend Mr. Hooper's death. The show was aired once and never rerun and is considered a landmark in children's television programming. For the 1983-84 season of the show, performer Carroll Spinney (Bird Bird) and the writers of Sesame Street were awarded the Peabody Award; the show also won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing as well.
About
Highlights
"Big Bird" performer Caroll Spinney on performing the scene in "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" when "Big Bird" comes to fully realize that Mr. Hooper has died
Bob McGrath on the research/script done for the episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper," which dealt with the death of character "Mr. Hooper" following actor Will Lee's death
"Big Bird" performer Caroll Spinney on telling Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper") he loved him, during what turned out to be Lee's last day of shooting
Roscoe Orman on Sesame Street's: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Joan Ganz Cooney on the Sesame Street episode following actor Will Lee's death, "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)
Who talked about this show
Frank Biondo
Frank Biondo on shooting the "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" episode of Sesame Street
Joan Ganz Cooney
Joan Ganz Cooney on the Sesame Street episode following actor Will Lee's death, "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Loretta Long
Loretta Long on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Sonia Manzano
Sonia Manzano on executive producer Dulcy Singer's fight to make a show which would address the death of "Mr. Hooper" (following actor Will Lee's death)
Sonia Manzano ("Maria") on the research and script of "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Sonia Manzano ("Maria") on Caroll Spinney's performance as "Big Bird" in the episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street castmate Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper")
Bob McGrath
Bob McGrath ("Bob") on getting acting advice from Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper")
Bob McGrath ("Bob") on the research/script done for the episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper," which dealt with the death of character "Mr. Hooper" following actor Will Lee's death
Bob McGrath ("Bob") on filming the emotional episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" when "Big Bird" comes to understand that "Mr. Hooper" has died
Bob McGrath ("Bob") on the reception of episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Roscoe Orman
Roscoe Orman on Sesame Street's: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Caroll Spinney
"Big Bird"/"Oscar the Grouch" performer Caroll Spinney on Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper") and "Big Bird's" mispronunciation of "Mr. Hooper's" name
"Big Bird" performer Caroll Spinney on telling Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper") he loved him, during what turned out to be Lee's last day of shooting
"Big Bird"/"Oscar the Grouch" performer Caroll Spinney on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" which addressed the death of character "Mr. Hooper," following actor Will Lee's death
"Big Bird" performer Caroll Spinney on performing the scene in "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" when "Big Bird" comes to fully realize that Mr. Hooper has died
Norman Stiles
Norman Stiles on writing the iconic Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"
Norman Stiles on winning a Daytime Emmy for the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"