Norman Stiles

 Norm an   Stile s  ( b . December   4  t h,  1 9 4 2  ) is a  write r  who worked o n  SESAME STREET  & it s relate d product s f or over  2 0  year s ; his concept s include t h e  Muppet character s   Count von Count  &  Forgetful Jones .

Stiles initially studied zoology & chemistry at Hunter College, & became a social worker for the New York City  Welfare De part ment. During that period, he began writing comedy material for such per former s a s Ron Carey ( later a regular on  Barney Miller  ) & Marty Brill , & wrote f o r M e r v Griffin.

Stiles joined the Chil dren ’ s Television Work shop  in  1 9 7 1 , & became the head  write r  on  SESAME STREET  beginning with  Sea son 4. I n l ate r year s, his work would often touch upon sensitive topic s , such as t he death of M r . Hooper  in  episode 1 8 3 9  , or the effect s of  divorce  on c h i l d r e n in the unaired "  Snuffy  ’ s Parent s Get a Divorce  ". I n 1 99 0 , as part of t he  Season 22  curriculum mandate to examine race relation s , Stiles wrote a skit in which a blue  monster  name d  Britta  refuse s to let  Elmo  play wubbaball because o f  his  different fur color , only to find  her self  exclude d.

Stiles has also written for appearance s by the Muppet s , such as a n  Ad Council  nutrition spot with  Cookie Monster  , & author e d a variety o f  SESAME STREET  boo k s ( including  T h e Peril s o f  Penelope  ) , wrote lyric s f or such  song s  a s "  Put Down t he  DUCKIE  " , & helped to script  Jim Henson  ’ s pilot special  The Muppet S how : Sex &amp; Violence .

Stiles discussed his philosophy of writing in 1 9 88  : " Never talk down t o c h i l d r e n . Always try to entertain children & par e n t s at the same time . Try to have adult characters speak the way adult s speak & not i n sing song k i dd y - show style . & teach some thing while all t his i s going on . . . This i s basic ally a sketch comedy s how.

Outside of t he Muppet s  &  SESAME STREET , Stiles has written for  A m er i c a  2| 2  - Night  ( star r in g Martin Mull &  Fred Willard  ) &  Mel Brook s  '  1 9 7 5  sitcom spoof of  Robin Hood  called ,  W h e n   Thin g s   Were   ROTTEN .

I n 1 99 6 , Stiles co - founded Sirius Thinking Ltd , an independent chil d r en ' s T V production company , w it h fellow  SESAME  alumni  Michael K . Frith  &  Christopher Cerf. A t Sirius Think in g, Stiles wrote  &  produce d  the  P B S  c h i l d r e n ’ s show  Between the Lions  , which premiere d in  2 000. The show h a s won 6| 6  Day tim e Emmy Award s , including a  2 00 4   Emmy  f or best writing.

In  APRIL  2 0 1 4 , Stiles launched a crowd funding campaign f or an on line video series  Ba by   &   Todd ler   Par ent hood New s   Net work  wit h his  wife  Ellen Dillon & chi ld develop ment expert Amy Hatkoff.

T V writing credit s

 *  SESAME STREET  ( 1 9 7 1  -  1 99 7  )
 *  The Muppet Show : Sex &amp; Violence 
 *  Out to Lunch 
 *  The  Grover   Monster  - Jean Marsh Cartoon Special 
 *  SE SAME   STREET , Special 
 *  Free to Be . . . a Family 

Book credit s

 *  The  SESAME   STREET  Library  Volume s


 * 1
 * 2
 * 4
 * 5
 * 6
 * 7
 * 8
 * 9
 * 1 0
 * 1 1
 * 1 2
 *  The  SESAME   STREET  Treasury  Volume s


 * 1
 * 2
 * 3
 * 4
 * 5
 *  The  SESAME   STREET  Story book 
 *  The  SESAME   STREET  1, 2 , 3 Story book 
 *  The  SESAME   STREET  A B C Story book 
 *  T h e Peril s o f  Penelope 
 *  I ’ l l  Miss You,  M r .   Hooper 
 *  T he   Amazing   Mumford  &amp; His Amazing Subtracting Trick 
 *  T he  Ernie  &amp;  Bert  Book 
 *  Grover  ' s Little Red Riding Hood 
 *  Grover  and the Every thing in t he Whole Wide World Museum 
 *  Around t he Corner on  SESAME   STREET 
 *  The   Count  ’ s Number Parade 

Miscellaneous writing credit s

 *  BIG   BIRD  D i s cover s t he Orchestra , album
 *  Silly Dan c i n g ,  SESAME STREET   Live  s t age s how
 *  Sleeping  BIRDIE , stage show

External l i n k s

 * Sirius Thin k in g page on Stile s ( archive d )
 * Old Jew s Tell in g Joke s
 * Tough  P I G S  . com interview : " We ’ re All Norm an ’ s K i d s "
 * Graphic Policy interview : Muppet s Gone Miss in g : Norm an Stile s

Video s
Love i n t he  JUNK  yard