Bert alone

Bert is usually associated with Ernie as half of an ingenious comedy tandem, but he is also an interesting and powerful figure all by himself.

His "hobbies" are neat.  Collecting paperclips and bottlecaps and liking the number 6.

Click to view... Bert's favorite number.

It's a neat rarity when he has a conversation with someone besides Ernie.  What would Bert and Big Bird say to each other?

Big Bird: Do you like my teddy bear?

Bert: Gee whiz!  Yes, that is a NEAT bear.

I can also imagine him getting flustered over Cookie Monster's lack of table manners and Oscar the Grouch being a jerk to people.  What nickname would Oscar give to Bert?  "Hey Floppy-Arms, come over here."  I think that Bert would be good at helping Sherlock Hemlock solve crimes and also make a really practical friend for Roosevelt Franklin.  Roosevelt was smart (a teacher) and very logical, no capacity for nonsense.

Now the pigeon thing.  I don't know why pigeons are construed as being boring, they're really not (they can FLY), but they have long been one of Bert's fascinations.

Click to view... Doin' the Pigeon.

Does Bert yearn to fly?  In one way or another?  Interesting to think about.

In fact he might be the most interesting Sesame Street puppet of all.  Good self-esteem, no signs of depression.  When Ernie or someone else tricks him he gets over it quickly.  Really comfortable with himself.

Open with his feelings.


Click to view... Bert and John John discuss feelings.