Mr. Hooper's Store

How did he make any money?  I don't remember him ever charging anybody for anything.  The candy was a penny, and he seemed to just give away cherry sodas for free.

His inventory was questionable.  What kind of store sells empty cigar boxes?  "Mr. Hooper's Smoke Shop" would have been a lot more profitable.  I guess that sort of establishment might be frowned upon in that exact neighborhood, but then why have the empty boxes in the first place?  Or was that the whole point?  "Don't smoke, use these boxes for OTHER things."  Curious.

He operated the news stand too.  So maybe the store itself was just a ruse.  Newspapers are not free, but he could probably operate it on that old-fashioned honor system where people just take one and leave the money.  Get your free soda and buy a paper on the way out.  Good way to drum up business.

Click to view... Hooper's legacy.

The Fix-It Shop had similar issues.  How much did Luis charge a little kid to fix a broken radio?  "That'll be 75 bucks, kid."  Probably more like 50 cents.  Or else "I'll fix this for free if you can recite the alphabet."  How did he pay his bills?  and how did he learn to fix a television?  Maybe he didn't, there seemed to always be broken ones lying around.  He should have struck up a deal with Oscar where he sold him all the trash he couldn't fix.  Of course that would involve actually accepting money.

Did Bob charge a lot of money for his music lessons?  and what about Mr. Macintosh?  That fruit cart was really LOADED.

Was business really that lucrative for him?  Fruit has to be fresh, it doesn't have much of a shelf life.  So again, maybe work something out with Oscar.

Click to view... Luis tormented by broken things.

Understanding Oscar the Grouch

He's actually pretty happy most of the time, just not much of a "team player."  He has his own agenda.  I can empathize.

He likes to call people names, but is inconsistent.  Bob is "Smiley" because he smiles a lot.  Maria is "Skinny" because she is so thin.  But then Gordon, who is bald (usually), is "Curly."  Something's backwards.  Like either Gordon should be "Bald Brain" or Maria should be "Thunder Thighs."  What did he call the deaf girl, I wonder?

Also, in spite of his "grouchy" reputation, he seems to generally want to socialize.  Always popping out of his can to be the third wheel in a conversation.  and like most everyone on Sesame Street, he liked children.  He had "Grouchketeers."  (Way cooler than the "Birdketeers," as everyone knows.)

He also really liked Victor Borge for some reason.  Except for one weird moment where he tried to BITE him.

Click to view... Oscar and his friend.

and now the trash thing.  Does he really like "trash?"  His idea of garbage is fairly sanitary.  It's usually crumpled up old newspapers or worn out sneakers.  I don't imagine he would be fond of used kleenex or a stack of unused paper bags that got all wet and moldy.

Click to view... I Love Trash.

He has at times mentioned that he likes rotten fruit and animal heads.  "My turtle head collection!"  I guess that stuff technically counts as "trash" but it's fairly creepy.

He also seems to be one of the puppets that celebrities and journalists most want to meet.

I am waiting for my chance.

Now SCRAM!

Click to view... Oscar introduced.

Ernie and Bert

Undeniably the best comedy tandem on the show.  It's a classic working formula in which you pair up a tall, worrisome, cranky person with a short, fun-loving, mischievous person.  Hilarity ensues.

Click to view... Pizza party.

Ernie seemingly always gets the best of the situation, but Bert is actually holding all the cards in the friendship.  It's always Ernie coming over to HIM with some kind of prank, scheme, or game.  Never the other way around.  Bert would probably be content to have his own apartment.  Spend a quiet evening at home with his paperclips and his bottlecaps.  Ernie would go stir crazy in a situation like that.  He needs constant interaction.  Rubber Duckie serves as a good example.

While Bert is mostly fond of collecting inanimate objects, Ernie has a toy duck that he talks to when Bert's not around.  The duck is yellow with an orange bill.  Bert is yellow with an orange nose.  Coincidence?  Possibly, but some believe there ARE no coincidences.  and while Bert does have his pigeons that he talks to, he doesn't bring them into the house.  Visiting the pigeons is his social life.  It's like going out to a bar.

So why does Bert put up with Ernie?  He can't even get a good night's sleep.

Click to view... Insomnia.

No one knows for sure, but I imagine it has to do with his propensity for neatness and order.  He is a creature of habit that is used to the routine.  He's accustomed to the "abuse" and doesn't question it.  Things are just never going to be any other way.

Plus, some people just like to complain.

Click to view... Wild night.

Kermit the Frog and Journalism

He's pretty good.  Sticks to the "code of ethics."  No cheap shots.

Kermit the Frog has always been really impressive in balancing his various career paths.  He "hops" from one thing to the next and never misses a beat.  I wish I could juggle so many things at once.  One day he's on the Muppets having to placate a nervous Alice Cooper backstage, the next he's on Sesame knocking on Pinocchio's door asking for an interview.


Click to view... Just the facts.


(Tough to get a straight answer from Pinocchio.  What a bad work day.)

Grover seemed to have a lot of jobs too.  (Waiter, elevator operator, etc.)  But he kind of seemed like he had trouble HOLDING a job.  Good thing he had the superhero gig to fall back on.

Come to think of it, though, Grover has never been a slouch in the interview department himself.


Click to view... Counting backwards from 10.


He has the secret identity going and everything.

He should be Kermit's "beat reporter" for the less-important fairy tale stories.  Like an interview with Mrs. O'Leary's cow.

Until he hones his craft, though, leave the tough stuff to Kermit.


Click to view... Difficult person.