Elmo being interviewed by Kathie Lee Kathie.
Benny Rabbit proposes helping Ronald Grump with his evil plan.
The cast protests "1, 2, 3, 4, Sesame Street forever more!"
Print ad for the special
Sesame Street All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! was a 1994 TV special that aired on ABC to celebrate Sesame Street's 25th anniversary. It was originally broadcast on May 18, 1994.[1]
The show featured Joe Pesci (as Ronald Grump), Corbin Bernsen (as real estate attorney, Arnie), Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman (as Worm TV hosts), John Goodman (as Tough Guy Helpline operator), Charles Grodin (as Chaz), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (as reporter Kathie Lee Kathie), Rosie O'Donnell (as the Good Hope Fairy), Susan Sarandon (as Bitsy), Barbara Walters (reporting for 25/25), and Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford (as themselves).
Celebrities from archive footage include Sally Field, Jodie Foster, Whoopi Goldberg, Lena Horne, Jeremy Irons, Bo Jackson, Martin Short (as Ed Grimley) with Billy Crystal, John Candy, Ray Charles, Glenn Close, Jamie Lee Curtis, Annette Bening, Candice Bergen, Itzhak Perlman, Linda Ronstadt, Diana Ross, Barbara Walters, Phoebe Cates, Kevin Kline, Maya Angelou, En Vogue, Aaron Neville, Henry Winkler (as The Fonz), Jay Leno, Carol Kane, Julia Roberts, Jim Carrey, Jane Curtin, Marisa Tomei, Mel Gibson, Robin Williams, Paul Simon, Lily Tomlin (as Ernestine), Denzel Washington, Marlee Matlin, Patti LaBelle, and Marilyn Horne.
Synopsis[]
Tycoon billionaire Ronald Grump (a parody of Donald Trump played by Joe Pesci) wants to demolish Sesame Street to build his Grump Tower, and it's up to the Sesame Street citizens to save their favorite buildings from being destroyed.
Notes[]
- At the age of 16, John Tartaglia visited the set of the special and was roped into his first puppeteering job for the show. He assisted John Kennedy in performing Count von Count (to a vocal track from Jerry Nelson) in one scene.[2]
- The special was recorded during the week of April 25, 1994. Behind the scenes of the shoot was documented for an episode of Opening Shot.
Characters[]
- Muppets
- Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo, Zoe, Telly Monster, Benny Rabbit, Slimey, Count von Count, Sully
- Background Muppets
- Ernie, Bert, Prairie Dawn, Grover, Herry Monster, Humphrey, Ingrid, AM Monsters, Rosita, Baby Bear, Merry Monster, Chickens
Cast[]
- Muppet Performers
- Caroll Spinney, Jerry Nelson, Martin P. Robinson, Kevin Clash, Fran Brill, Joey Mazzarino, Rick Lyon, John Kennedy
- Sesame Street Cast
- Carlo Alban, Ruth Buzzi, Annette Calud, Desiree Casado, Emilio Delgado, Savion Glover, Sonia Manzano, Roscoe Orman, Tarah Schaeffer
Credits[]
- Executive Producer: Andrew Solt
- Produced by: Victoria Strong, Marc Sachnoff
- Written by: Mark Saltzman
- Special Material by: Bruce Vilanch
- Directed by: Chuck Vinson
- Co-Executive Producers: Marjorie Kalins, Franklin Getchell
- Co-Producer: Emily Squires
- Music Director: Robby Merkin
- Muppet Captain: Kevin Clash
- Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop: Mark Zeszotek, Laurent Linn, Peter MacKennan
- Production Designer: Victor DiNapoli
- Associate Producer: Martha Ripp
- Creative Consultant: Cathi Rosenberg-Turow
- Associate Director: Ted May
- Stage Manager: Chris Kelly
- Graphic Designer: Mike Pantuso
- Graphic Artist: Pete Ortiz
- Set Decoration: Nat Mongioi
- Lighting Designer: Bill Berner
- Art Director: Bob Phillips
- Music Coordinator: Danny Epstein
- Costume Designers: Bill Kellard, Terry Roberson
- Children's Casting: Gabrielle Howard
- Studio Production Coordinator: Danette DeSena
- Technical Director: Ralph Mensch
- Hair Stylist: Karen Specht
- Camera Operators: Frank Biondo, Dave Driscoll, Bob DelRusso
- Sound Effects: Dick Maitland
- Audio: Blake Norton
- "Our Favorite Street": Music by Robby Merkin, Lyrics by Mark Saltzman
Sources[]
- ↑ McNeil, Alex Total Television, 4th edition, section on Sesame Street.
- ↑ Puppet Kitchen: Episode 25: Puppet Time Online - John Tartaglia (09:03 mark)
See also[]
- Save Our Street, where Sesame Street is threatened to be torn down in favor of a parking lot, and Episode 2704 where "Mr. Trump" makes several attempts to purchase Hooper's Store.
- Das Geheimnis der Blumenfabrik, where Eichenpark ("Oak Park") is threatened to be torn down to build a plastic flower factory.