Muppeteer

A  Muppet e er  is a puppeteer for  T he Muppets .

Muppet ee r s  work in several different ways to get the effect that is needed on the TV screen. Muppet ee r s  usually perform the ir  characters  above the ir h ea d s, standing. All of the sets are raised about 5| 5 ' for t h is reason. T o see the ir  performance,  t h e y  watch what is being taped on a monitor , or a small T V , which allows  t h e m  to see w hat the audience will see. How ever, it takes a long time to get used to working in t his manner , since certain things are reversed in the monitors ( If a puppet  turns left , it looks as if it ' s turning right o n t he monitor ). Muppet ee r s  often tape the ir scripts to these monitors to read off of as well.

Each show has a different way of working. On  SESAME STREET , for example , the street set  is n ' t raised. Therefore, Muppet  ee r s  must use " rolling donut s " t o get around a scene. These are small round seats with wheels on the bottom which let the Muppet  e e r  move around the frame by rolling  them s elves  around using  the ir  fe e t. The Muppet  insert segment s, how ever , work in the stand in g up position , since  t h e y  ' re usually done o n another set.

The new Muppet  e e r s  usually begin doing small  roles  & assisting other  character s. They often right - h a n d, which is the term for performing   the right hand  of a  live - hand  or  sack - body   Muppet. Characters li k e  OSCAR THE GROUCH ,  GRUNDGETTA  , all the  GROUCHES  ,  Ernie  ,  Cookie Monster  &  Fozzie Bear  all have  live - hands  , which the  performers  wear as gloves so the  Muppet  can pick up item s ( This is how  Cookie Monster  pick s up & eat s cookie s . )


 *  For   an   extended   list,   see   Muppet eer s &amp; their character s .

Major Muppet eer Pairings

 * Jim Henson /  Frank Oz
 * Jerry Nelson /  Richard Hunt
 * Dave Goelz /  Steve Whitmire
 * Caroll Spinney /  Pam Arciero
 * Caroll Spinney /  Martin P . Robinson
 * Fran Brill /  Kevin Clash
 * David Rudman /  Joey Mazzarino
 * David Rudman /  Matt Vogel
 * Frank Oz /  Steve Whitmire
 * Jerry Nelson /  David Rudman
 * Jerry Nelson /  Dave Goelz
 * Jerry Nelson /  Steve Whitmire
 * Steve Whitmire /  Eric Jacobson
 * Steve Whitmire /  Matt Vogel
 * Kathryn Mullen /  Karen Prell