Norman Stiles

 Norman   Stiles  ( b . December 4 t h, 1942 ) 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 he 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 1971, & became the head write r  on  SESAME STREET  beginning with Sea son 4. I n later year s, his work would often touch upon sensitive topic s , such as t he death of [http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Mr._Hooper Mr. Hooper ] in episode 1839, or the effect s of divorce on chil dren in the unaired "  Snuffy  ' s Parent s Get a Divorce ". I n 1990, 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 , & authored a variety o f  SESAME STREET  boo k s ( including T h e Peril s of  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 & Violence.

Stiles discussed his philosophy of writing in 1 988 : " Never talk down t o chil dren . Always try to entertain children & par ents at the same time . Try to have adult characters speak the way adult s speak & not i n sing song ki ddy - 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 - Night  ( star r in g Martin Mull & Fred Willard ) & Mel Brook s ' 1975 sitcom spoof of Robin Hood called ,  W h e n   Thing s   Were   ROTTEN .

I n 1 9 96, Stiles co - founded Sirius Thinking Ltd , an independent chil d r en ' s T V production company , w it h fellow  SESAME  alumni [http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Michael_K._Frith Michael K. Frith ] & Christopher Cerf. At Sirius Thinking, Stiles wrote  &  produce d  the PBS chil dren ' s show Between the Lions , which premiere d in 2 000. The show h a s won 6 Day tim e Emmy Award s, including a 2 00 4 Emmy f or best writing.

In April 2014, 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 71 - 1 99 5 )
 * The Muppet Show : Sex & Violence
 * Out to Lunch
 * The  Grover   Monster  - Jean Marsh Cartoon Special
 *  SESAME   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  & His Amazing Subtracting Trick
 * The  Ernie  &  Bert  Book
 *  Grover  ' s Little Red Riding Hood
 *  Grover  & the Every thing in t he Whole Wide World Museum
 * Around t he Corner on  SESAME   STREET 
 *  The   Count  ' s Number Parade

SESAME STREET Songwriting credit s

 * Above it All
 *  BIG   BIRD  ' s Going to Camp
 *  Count  ing Robin s
 * Dance  Myself  to Sleep
 * Do De  RUBBER   DUCK 
 *  DON ' T  Sing This Song
 * Do - Op Hop
 *  Elmo  ' s Jive Five
 * Google Bugle
 *  GROUCHES  in t he South of France
 * Hand ful of Crumb s
 * Hey Food
 * I Am Chicken
 *  I  ' m Sad Be cause  I  ' m Happy
 * Love i n t he  JUNK  yard
 *  ME  Gotta Be  Blue 
 *  Monster  in t he Mirror
 * Put Down t he  DUCKIE 
 * Swamp Mush y  MUDDY 
 * Tele phone Rock
 * You ' re Alive

Miscellaneous writing credit s

 *  BIG   BIRD  D i s cover s the 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 Thinking page on Stiles ( archive d )
 * Old Jews Telling Jokes
 * Tough Pig s . com interview : " We ' re All Norman ' s Ki ds "