 | |
| PERFORMER | Camille Bonora |
| DEBUT | 1987 |
| DESIGN | Richard Termine |
Meryl's initial design, 1987
Telly serving Meryl a beverage at Hooper's Store.
Meryl Sheep appeared on Sesame Street as a spoof of the actress Meryl Streep. She was introduced in season 18 in 1987, following the success of another parody Muppet, Placido Flamingo. Norman Stiles described her as "a sheep, with a middle European accent, somewhat reminiscent of someone we knew in Sophie's Choice, but not exactly."[1] During her stint on the series, Meryl Sheep taught many students at the Meryl Sheep School of Acting, including Susan Sarandon. The character made recurring appearances through season 21.
On November 14, 1988, Meryl Sheep co-hosted The Today Show with Count von Count. Bonora performed the character at Jim Henson's Memorial. She was also seen as a part of a distinguished panel of American Muppets in Free to Be... a Family.
Meryl was the subject of several press interviews prior to her expanded role on the show in Season 19. In a profile for People, she claims to have grown up on a small farm and was brought into show business by Sam the Sepherd.[2] In another interview, Meryl states that she lives in an apartment above a theater on Sesame Street, and remarks that she has no qualms with there being another Meryl in show business (but believes she came first).[3]
Meryl was initially recycled from a stock lamb puppet used on the show as early as 1976, but with more feminine eyes and an added wig (which would alternate between blonde and brunette). Starting in season 20, a new version of the puppet was introduced: her face was completely redone and dyed to match her wool, and she retained a permanently brunette hairdo. This puppet would go on to become a utility puppet by season 22, and was also used as Baabra Sheep on Panwapa. The puppet was also modified and used as a goat in the Elmo the Musical segment "Mountain Climber the Musical", as well as episode 12 of The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo.
Several years after she was dropped as a recurring character, Prairie Dawn is seen reading a book by Meryl entitled "10 Days to a New Ewe" in Episode 3832.
Episodic appearances[]
- Season 18: 2352
- Season 19: 2358, 2387, 2401, 2407, 2412, 2415, 2434, 2444, 2445, 2446, 2462, 2468, 2477, 2482
- Season 20: 2486, 2489, 2533, 2536, 2540, 2541, 2543, 2560, 2567, 2568, 2572, 2588, 2591, 2595, 2601
- Season 21: 2620, 2663, 2713
Book appearances[]
- Colors (1989)
- Dinosaurs (1989)
- Let's Eat! (1989)
- Splish-Splashy Day (1989)
- Who's Who on Sesame Street (1989 edition)
- Zoo (1989)
- Elmo Saves Christmas (1997)