Why so few GIRL puppets?

In the early years of Sesame Street, there were almost none.  In the human cast there were plenty of roles for both men AND women, but the puppet characters were almost entirely male.  How come?

The best-known exception was Prairie Dawn.

...and even SHE didn't get much airtime.  and when she did, there was frequent upstaging on behalf of the better-known (male) talent.

Click to view... Doesn't even get to bow.

You would see girl puppets in the occasional background or appearing as part of an ensemble, but they rarely were given their own identities or even a name.

Betty Lou was given a name...

...but as you can see, she's pretty much the same puppet as Prairie Dawn, just with pigtails instead of straight hair.  I bet those two were enemies.  ...or else best friends?  Difficult to say since they never appeared on screen together, hmmm...

Otherwise, unless Gladys the Cow "counts," the only other girl puppet given any significant role was Forgetful Jones' girlfriend Clementine, who is evidently the most patient and understanding girlfriend a guy has ever had.  If a gal has ever been entitled to completely "lose it," it's her.  What does she see in him?

Click to view... Get a clue.

and what about MONSTERS?

All of the "monster" characters were male back then, something that has obviously changed in the years since.  Quite a FEW of them are girls now, you see them everywhere.  What took so long?

Click to view... Puppets liberated.

Is Cookie Monster a vegetarian?

Obviously he loves cookies but he eats other things.  Most people can recall his famous sell-out where he rapped about "healthy food."

But even beyond that, I have seen him eat a lot of things that aren't cookies.  I have seen him eat apples, a telephone, an entire Christmas tree, the letter W, and various other objects.

Click to view... Kermit the Frog flips out.

So he's far from a PICKY eater, but I do not recall ever seeing him eat meat.  Does he like hot dogs and hamburgers and stuff?  Imagine how many hot dogs he could put away.  and if he's NOT a carnivorous monster, what does he do for protein in general?  Doesn't really seem like a beans and tofu kind of guy.

Also, since he eats things like the telephone that aren't even food, how would he feel about small animals?  Would he swallow a goldfish or a hamster?  and what happens in Cookie Monster's stomach?  How exactly is the letter W digested?

Click to view... Cookie Monster's sandwich.

Big Bird eats bird seed.  Mr. Snuffleupagus eats cabbages.  Ernie and Bert eat whatever the heck they want.  What about Kermit the Frog?  Does he eat FLIES?  I don't remember it ever coming up but it would be consistent with the other characters that are animals.  Good thing for Kermit there's no snakes on the Street!

If Cookie Monster IS a vegetarian, what are his reasons?  Just finds meat-eating unethical?  He's certainly not VEGAN.  He doesn't seem concerned with watching his figure.  Does he fear heart disease?  I'd like to know.  Sesame Street has always emphasized the importance of diversity.  Maybe they think a vegetarian "monster" is an important addition to the mix.

Personally, though, I just like it when he eats cookies.

Click to view... Trouble at the library.

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.

Where does the Count live?

First of all, I know it has been well documented that he lives in a castle.

Click to view... The Count at home.

But my question is, where is it?  Sesame Street does not seem like a neighborhood that would be near very many castles.  Yet he makes frequent appearances on the Street, so it can't be TOO far away.  Does he take the bus?  Imagine him counting all the stops.

Also, does anyone else have an extravagant home like that?  Guy Smiley is a celebrity, so he's probably pretty rich.  Does he live in a MANSION?

Snuffleupagus is another curious case.  He lives in a cave.

Where is there a cave near Sesame Street?  and he seems like he definitely walks his commute, no way is HE getting on the bus.  I also kind of wonder how he gets inside Big Bird's nest area.  In the old days, the gag was that none of the characters besides Big Bird had ever met or seen him.  He would only ever be in the nest area itself.  But how did he get in there?  It seems there must be some way to sneak in from the side, some entrance or avenue that's never seen on camera.  He certainly wasn't going to fit through the front door.

Click to view... Trampoline exit.

Also, I can't see how Big Bird can be comfortable having part of his home so open to the public like that.  All his stuff's in there!  What if that real shady guy wanders in?

a few hours later he's got Radar the teddy bear in his trenchcoat.  "Hey Mr. Hooper, wanna buy this?"


Click to view... The Count enjoying his privacy.