Sesame Street
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AOW #6 Name: _________________________ Date Due: _______________________ Class: ____________ Directions: 1. Show evidence of close reading by annotating the article. (HOW TO ANNOTATE: Highlight(s), Define Unknown Words, Add Thoughts/Opinions/Connections, Summarize, Ask Questions) 2. Answer the questions at the end of the article. 3. Write a ½ page reflection on loose-leaf paper with your own thoughts/ideas Here's why happy show "Sesame Street" wanted Oscar the Grouch By Travis Andrews, Washington Post 10.26.18 https://newsela.com/read/sesame-street-oscar-grouch/id/47003/ He's green, he lives in a trash can and he's always waking up on the wrong side of the bed. His name is Oscar the Grouch, and even people who watched "Sesame Street" as kids might find him a bit confounding. Why is he green? How did he choose his home? And why's he in such a bad mood? The answer lies with Caroll Spinney, the performer behind the roles of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Spinney announced his retirement from the show on October 17, after almost 50 years. Fellow puppeteer Eric Jacobson, who plays Miss Piggy, Grover and Bert, will take the reins. Spinney was introduced to the characters when "Sesame Street" creator Jim Henson called him up in the early 1960s. "[Henson] said, 'Why don't you come down to New York and talk about the Muppets?'" Spinney told NPR in 2003. "'I have some characters I want to build. One is a tall, funny-looking bird and the other's going to be this grouchy character who's going to live in a pile of trash in the gutter.'" Oscar the Grouch was born as that grumpy Muppet — though, originally, he was orange. Then Spinney had to give him a voice. "I had never done a character like Oscar, and I didn't feel any of my voices sounded like the Muppets I was used to hearing," Spinney wrote in his book "The Wisdom of Big Bird." He looked to the streets of New York City for inspiration. Quickly, Spinney focused on the Bronx cab driver who drove him to the meeting with Henson. "He was the stereotypical cabbie of the time — a guy in his 40s from the Bronx wearing a tweed cap with a little brim — and he kind of growled out of the corner of his mouth, 'Where to, Mac?'" Spinney wrote. "Who could be more of a Grouch than a cab driver from the Bronx? I had my ideal model for my new character." The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has an official description of the character. According to this description, Oscar's purpose is to teach "the importance of understanding, tolerance and diversity." According to Robert W. Morrow's book "'Sesame Street' and the Reform of Children's Television," Oscar acted differently and lived in a different kind of home as a metaphor. The intent was "to dramatize tolerance for those who are different . In segments about conflicts between Oscar and the others on the street, the show taught how children might cope with diversity in the context of school desegregation." The intentions behind the character were admirable. Still, Spinney originally thought he might not be suitable for children. "I used to question that in the early days of 'Sesame Street.' Why is Oscar on? He's such an unpleasant and even seemingly rude character," he told HuffPost. "One producer said, 'Well I think it takes all kinds to make a world. And he's just another kind.'" But in the end, Spinney found that Oscar always had a heart. Though he would complain, he still helped those in need. He just did so while grumbling away. When his human friend Maria needed a bolt to fix a wagon, for example, Oscar dug through his trash can to help find one — but not before muttering, "Gee, another rotten day." "As grouchy as he is, he would always let a hungry kid eat before he did," Spinney wrote. The character proved to be an enormous hit. On the show, he would sometimes complain to famous musicians like Johnny Cash and Billy Joel. And the character spawned various versions throughout the world: His cousin Moishe Oofnik appears in Israel, living in an old car. In Turkey, his name is Kirpik and he resides in a basket. And in Pakistan, he's Akhtar, and his home is an old oil barrel. He's even popped up in a number of other popular shows, such as "Scrubs" and "The Simpsons." Oscar may be a worldwide celebrity at this point. To Spinney, though, he's just the grouch who goes to great lengths to hide his heart of gold. Spinney admitted that Oscar "doesn't think the way I think at all." But that's what made the character so special to him. "I'm dealing with a mental entity who isn't me, even though I'm empowering him," Spinney wrote. "Oscar has taught me the power of the puppet." "And I'll say this," he continued. "After playing Big Bird all day, it is almost therapeutic to switch to Oscar, to live awhile with the exact opposite attitude about life." 1. In paragraph 2, all of the following words can be used 4. “Oscar has become an icon, recognized for his to replace confounding EXCEPT: contribution to American culture.” a. Understandable b. Confusing Which selection from the article provides the BEST c. Perplexing support for the statement above? d. Puzzling a. His name is Oscar the Grouch, and even people who watched "Sesame Street" as kids might 2. Select the paragraph from the article that suggests find him a bit confounding. Spinney found pleasure in playing Oscar The Grouch. b. "Who could be more of a Grouch than a cab driver from the Bronx? I had my ideal model a. "I had never done a character like Oscar, and I for my new character." didn't feel any of my voices sounded like the c. The Smithsonian National Museum of Muppets I was used to hearing," Spinney wrote American History has an official description of in his book "The Wisdom of Big Bird." the character. b. The intentions behind the character were d. Oscar may be a worldwide celebrity at this admirable. Still, Spinney originally thought he point. To Spinney, though, he's just the grouch might not be suitable for children. c. "As grouchy as he is, he would always let a who goes to great lengths to hide his heart of hungry kid eat before he did," Spinney wrote. gold. d. "And I'll say this," he continued. "After playing Big Bird all day, it is almost therapeutic to 5. Read the following sentence from the article: switch to Oscar, to live awhile with the exact “Oscar may be a worldwide celebrity at this opposite attitude about life." point. To Spinney, though, he’s just the grouch who goes to great lengths to hide his heart of 3. According to the article, Oscar The Grouch serves as a gold.” metaphor for: HOW does this detail develop the author’s central a. Cab drivers in New York City b. Homeless people idea? c. People who are different than you a. It explains how Oscar became well-known and d. The other characters on the street shows why Spinney has played him for so long. b. It illustrates how Oscar's fame has grown and highlights what makes him a complex Ideas For Reflection (Only Answer One!) character. 1. Think about a character similar to c. It highlights what makes Oscar memorable and Oscar but in a different TV show shows how his identity has changed. or book. What traits do they d. It shows that Oscar is known internationally share? Do they have the same role and explains why children love him. within their community. 2. What is a life lesson you can or have learned from Oscar? Explain! .