Turkey (country)

Turkey is a country located mainly in the western part of Asia, but the eastern portion of Thrace falls within Europe. While the capital is Ankara, the largest city is Istanbul (not Constantinople). It was the center of the Ottoman Empire which was a major world power from the 14th century through the 18th (and remained in existence until after the first World War, when Turkey became a republic). The country is famous for its architecture, steam baths (and towels), and the confectionary Turkish delight, but it is not the native land of the game bird (a phrase which arose from the fact that guinea fowl at the time were imported from Turkish merchants).

The country has figured in Muppet history in a variety of ways, directly and through references.


 * Susam Sokağı, the Turkish co-production of Sesame Street, ran from 1989 until 1991.


 * Muppet performer Eren Ozker was also born in Ankara, Turkey.


 * Turkish (or Turkish-descended) actors and characters have appeared on the German co-production Sesamstrasse, including human regular Mehmet (who has sometimes demonstrated Turkish customs and games), the Muppet dog Sinan, and guest star Sibel Kekilli. Turkish has been spoken as a secondary language on the show.


 * Similarly, Dutch co-production Sesamstraat featured Elvan and guest star Inci Pamuk.


 * On Sesame Street itself, a film insert about making the Turkish flatbread yufka has aired frequently beginning in 1992.

Translations and broadcasts

 * Turkish broadcaster TRT ran The Muppet Show during the 1980s.


 * Most of the Muppet movies have been released in Turkey, subtitled or dubbed. These include Muppets (2011's THe Muppets) and Muppets Aranıyor (Muppets Most Wanted).


 * as with other countries, many Sesame Street books have been translated into Turkish.