Oobi

Tim Lagasse and Stephanie D'Abruzzo performing their Oobi characters at Kaufman Astoria Studios.

The characters' eyes were based on ping-pong balls. Muppeteers use them to learn how to focus their puppets' eyes.

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Grover with Oobi and Uma in a 2002 commercial.

Oobi was a series of two-minute interstitials co-produced by Sesame Workshop, Nickelodeon, and the Jim Henson Company for Noggin. The shorts were developed from 1997 to 1999 and aired in 2000. It was the only series created by Noggin before the Jim Henson Company sold its 12.5% controlling interest in the network to EM.TV in February 2000.

The main characters are four bare hand puppets with eyes and accessories. They were called "furless" Muppets in promotional statements from Tom Ascheim, a former EVP for Sesame Workshop and Noggin. The show's concept is based on a technique used by Muppet performers learning to lip-sync and operate Muppets, in which they use their hands and a pair of ping pong balls in place of a full puppet.

The series was created by Josh Selig, with puppets designed and built by Martin P. Robinson. Selig originally had the idea to create Oobi while watching performers audition with their bare hands for the Polish co-production Ulica Sezamkowa. Additional inspiration was taken from the There Once Was a Hand films that appeared throughout the first ten seasons of Sesame Street.

In 2003, the short-form series was adapted into a half-hour program of the same name. The half-hour show featured numerous creative changes and ran for two seasons. It had no involvement from Henson, having been produced and distributed by Sesame Workshop and Nickelodeon's joint company, Noggin LLC.

Cast

• Tim Lagasse - Oobi, Taro
  
• Stephanie D'Abruzzo - Uma, Inka
  
• Noel MacNeal - Kako, Chauncy, Frankie, Fred
  
• Tyler Bunch - Grampu
  
• Kevin Clash - Randy, various
  
• Matt Vogel - Angus, various
  
• Jennifer Barnhart - Mrs. Johnson, various
  
• Frankie Cordero - Mamu, Papu
  
• James Godwin - Maestru, Kitty, Nick
  
• Cheryl Blaylock - Frieda the Foot
  
• Heather Asch - Moppie, Sophie, Little Girl
  
• Lisa Buckley - Bella, Dr. Rose
  
• Pam Arciero - various

Crew

Creator: Josh Selig
Producers: Lisa Simon, April Coleman, Tom Ascheim (former EVP of Sesame Workshop)
Directors: Josh Selig, Pam Arciero, Scott Preston, Tim Lagasse
Editors: John Tierney, Ken Reynolds
Writers: Chris Nee, Adam Rudman, Craig Shemin, Natascha Crandall

Puppet Designer: Martin P. Robinson
Set Dresser: Melissa Creighton
Set Decorator: Paul Hartis
Production Designer: Lyndon Mosse
Production Assistant: Jane Pien
Sound Effects: Dick Maitland
Photographers: Richard Termine, John E. Barrett
Taping Studio: Kaufman Astoria Studios

Trivia

• Oobi was the only Noggin series that actually came to fruition while the Jim Henson Company had its controlling interest in the network. Other Noggin shows announced in 1999, such as a Henson Company series from Joel Hodgson of Mystery Science Theater 3000, never ended up being produced.
• In 2002, Play with Me Sesame and Oobi appeared in commercials together. One series of promos featured Grover singing about the types of things that viewers could see on Noggin. Oobi and Uma appeared behind him, raising their pinkies.
• Oobi appeared alongside 123 Sesame Street and Play with Me Sesame in a variety of "Up Next" bumpers on Noggin. Promotions for Noggin that aired on other children's channels also featured the shows together.
• Sesame Workshop has the rights to the interstitials. The Jim Henson Company sold all of its co-owned assets, such as Noggin programming and usage rights for the Sesame Street Muppets, to the Workshop in 2001. Similarly to Play with Me Sesame, Nickelodeon was unable to air the Oobi interstitials past 2007, when it ended its relationship with the Workshop.
• When Uma Thurman visited the cast of Avenue Q backstage in 2004, she revealed to Stephanie D'Abruzzo that she was familiar with Uma from Oobi. D'Abruzzo briefly performed Uma, without the eyes, and took a photo of "Uma and Uma" together.
• Elements of Sesame Street are referenced in several shorts.
  • In the "Alphabet!" game sketch, Kako says "Brought to you by letter... S."
  • In the "Paint Shapes!" game sketch, Oobi says "One, not like others."