Telly Monster

PERFORMER	Brian Muehl 1980-1984
	Martin P. Robinson 1984-present
DEBUT	1979

Telly Monster is a slightly neurotic young monster who lives at 1304 Sesame Street.

Early on, Telly was often paired with Oscar the Grouch, whom he tried to befriend against tremendous odds. The two were traveling companions in Follow That Bird, and Telly is a member of Oscar's fan club, the Grouchketeers. The two starred in two recurring sketches together: "Ask Oscar," which Telly introduced; and "Sneak Peek Previews." A more recent pairing together was in a sketch demonstrating words that begin with the letter B. (First: Episode 4248)

In recent years, Telly has often been seen in the company of his good friend Baby Bear. Telly has a great love of triangles, and owns a pet hamster named Chuckie Sue. Telly has a favorite toy doll which he named "Freddy." When Telly was a baby monster, his favorite toy was a stuffed animal horse which he named "Clark" before he got "Freddy". In the video Bedtime Stories & Songs, when Telly comes to Big Bird's nest for a sleepover, he brings a menagerie of different stuffed animals that almost overflow the entire nest. He also plays the bassoon, the tuba and, of course, the triangle. He also occasionally appears as a Monster on the Spot reporter. He also often jumps on a pogo stick, after Mr. Handford taught him how to in episode 3115.

Modern versions of the Telly puppet have movable eyelids to let his eyes widen, a handy technique when the monster is in panic mode. There are also two Telly puppets that have been interchangeably used throughout the show. The more frequently used version is a "sack puppet", similar in design to Cookie Monster or Rowlf the Dog, where the arm sleeves are directly attached to the base of the puppet. The second version is a full-body version of the character, with legs and feet attached. The puppet's arms are stuffed, with visible arm sleeves similar in design to the arms of Ernie or Fozzie Bear.

Origins

Telly, in his original, television-obsessed form. His habit of watching television just inches away from the set was perceived as a bad example to children.

Telly playing his tuba.

Telly and his best friend Baby Bear.

"Monster on the Spot" reporter Telly.

Telly with Ray Charles, Elmo and the Kids.

Telly hosts Ask Oscar.

Telly's doll Freddy.

Telly in Follow That Bird wearing his Grouchketeer outfit.

Telly's earliest known illustrated appearance, in The Sesame Street Circus of Opposites

Telly was initially conceived as a monster obsessed with watching television; his name is short for Television Monster. The character was first seen in Episode 1257, during the tenth season, performed here by Bob Payne. This particular build of the puppet had antennas coming out of the top of his head, and his eyes would whirl around as he endlessly watched TV. An idea of making him a cyclops was dismissed early on.

However, producers felt the character would serve as a negative role model for children by encouraging them to sit just as close to their own television screens, and no new material was produced for the character with some scenes featuring Telly even being removed from his origin episode before taping began.

The following season, the Telly puppet was stripped of the antenna and whirling eyes and became a generic monster appearing in some episodes (such as Episode 1343 and 1365), where he communicates purely in monster grumbles. In a segment with Suzanne Farrell, he spoke with a French accent.(First: Episode 1387)

Later in production for that season, Caroll Spinney fell off his bicycle while riding to the studio and his swollen ankle prevented him from performing Big Bird for some shows. Jon Stone quickly refitted the episodes (including Episodes 1411 and 1412) to instead feature Telly. The character was given to Brian Muehl, who developed a low, gruff-sounding voice for Telly. By the twelfth season, Telly became a more prominent character and Muehl had developed Telly's worrywart personality, making him a character who always needed reassurance in order to be confident.

When Martin P. Robinson took over in 1984, he originally began with the personality Muehl already established for the character, using a voice similar to Muehl’s Telly voice. However, Telly evolved over time, gaining a much stronger emotional range:

“His main thing now is that he believes totally in whatever he’s into...and he can turn on a dime and that doesn’t belie what he was feeling before. He can go from great joy to great sorrow and it’s all totally genuine.”

Another of Telly's more definable traits, his affinity for triangles, was developed by writer Lou Berger in Episode 2780 (1990). Berger noted that he wished to give Telly a passion for something outside of being neurotic and became inspired when seeing his son playing with some triangles at home.

Notes

• Telly, along with Barkley, was Brian Muehl's favorite character to perform. Muehl said of him: "Telly was a big chunk of my heart and soul. The fact that he came about because Caroll Spinney fell off his bike on the way to the studio, hurt his ankle, and someone had to fill in for Big Bird on the script/show - Telly was born! - he's got such a show biz cliche about it, it's always made him near and dear to me."

• According to an appearance at the Nebula Awards, Telly is five years old.

• For Sesame Street's 40th season, Sesame Workshop featured a digital promotion called "Muppetbook", which featured profiles similar to those seen on Facebook. The profile listed squares, circles, and Woody Allen movies (too much anxiety) as Telly's pet peeves. Among his favorite songs are "I Whistle a Happy Tune," "Don't Worry, Be Happy," and "Don't Cry Out Loud."

• A refitted version of the Telly Monster puppet was once used as the The Two-Headed Monster's Mother.

Filmography

• Sesame Street
• Big Bird in China
• Don't Eat the Pictures
• The Muppets Take Manhattan
• Follow That Bird
• The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
• Learning About Letters
• Sleepytime Songs and Stories
• Sesame Street, Special
• Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting
• The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
• Big Bird's Birthday or Let Me Eat Cake
• We All Sing Together
• Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
• Sesame Street's All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Streets Forever
• Sesame Street Stays Up Late
• Don't Forget to Watch the Movie
• Elmo Saves Christmas
• Imagine That
• Elmo Says BOO!
• Quiet Time
• Sing Yourself Sillier at the Movies
• Telling the Truth
• The Great Numbers Game
• The Alphabet Jungle Game
• Elmopalooza
• A Brief History of Motion Pictures
• Kids' Favorite Songs
• The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
• Language to Literacy
• CinderElmo
• Elmo's Magic Cookbook
• Let's Make Music
• Elmo's Musical Adventure: Peter and the Wolf
• Music Works Wonders
• Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!
• Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic
• Talk, Read, Write
• A Magical Halloween Adventure
• The Street We Live On
• Happy, Healthy, Ready for School!
• Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments
• Kids' Favorite Country Songs
• Elmo's Christmas Countdown
• The Get Healthy Now Show
• Dinosaurs!
• Being Green
• Math Is Everywhere
• Elmo's Alphabet Challenge
• Kinect Sesame Street TV
• Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas

Book appearances

• The Sesame Street Circus of Opposites (1981)
• City (1982)
• More Who's Who on Sesame Street (1982)
• Bert's Big Band Paint-with-Water Book (1983 reprint)
• People in Your Neighborhood (1983)
• A Baby Sister for Herry (1984)
• Lovable, Furry Old Grover in Please Don't Push the Red Button (1984)
• A Silly Sesame Street Story: The Three Little Pigs (1984)
• Big Bird's Book of Rhymes (1985)
• Big Bird Joins the Carnival (1985)
• Ernie's Finish the Picture (1985)
• Follow That Bird Activity Book (1985)
• Follow That Bird coloring book (1985)
• Sign Language ABC (1985)
• A Bird's Best Friend (1986)
• Find the Shapes (1986)
• Through the Year (1986)
• The Runaway Soup and Other Stories (1987)
• Colors (1987)
• Shape Up! (1987)
• Big Bird's Square Meal (1988)
• Going Places (1988)
• A New Playground on Sesame Street (1988)
• Oh, I Am So Embarrassed! (1988)
• The Sesame Street ABC Book of Words (1988)
• Come As You Are (1989)
• The New Who's Who on Sesame Street (1989)
• Museum of Monster Art (1990)
• How to Get to Sesame Street (1991)
• Sesame Street 123 (1991)
• We're Counting on You, Grover! (1991)
• What Do You Do? (1992 edition)
• Grover's 10 Terrific Ways to Help Our Wonderful World (1992)
• Happy and Sad, Grouchy and Glad (1992)
• We're Different, We're the Same (1992)
• Sesame Street's Mother Goose Rhymes (1993)
• From Trash to Treasure (1993)
• Around the Corner on Sesame Street (1994)
• Bright and Early with Elmo (1994)
• Elmo's Big Lift-and-Look Book (1994)
• Ready, Set, Go! A Counting Book (1995)
• Sesame Street Stays Up Late (1995)
• B is for Books! (1996)
• Elmo's Lift-and-Peek Around the Corner Book (1996)
• Rise and Shine! (1996; reworked as Up, Up, Up! in 2011)
• Elmo's Christmas Colors (1997)
• Pumpkin Patch Party (1997)
• The Sesame Street Word Book (1998)
• Elmo's ABC Book (2000)
• Watch Out for Banana Peels (2000)
• Elmo and the Monsters (2001)
• Clap Your Hands! (2002)
• Look and Find Elmo (2002)
• Get Up and Go Songs (2003)
• Cookie's Color Caper (2004)
• Elmo's World: Sports! (2004)
• Fun with Friends (2004)
• Boo! (2005)
• Hooray for Our Heroes! (2005)
• Red or Blue, I Like You! (2005)
• Be a Friend (2006)
• Be Polite (2006)
• Fly Away with Big Bird (2006)
• Name Those Shapes (2006)
• Please and Thank You (2006)
• Friendly, Frosty Monsters (2007)
• Good Night, Tucked in Tight (2007)
• Have Yourself a Furry Little Christmas (2007)
• Music Player Storybook (2007)
• Rosita's Easter on Sesame Street (2007)
• Sesame Street Super Sticker Book (2007)
• What Makes You Giggle? (2007)
• Color Carnival (2008)
• Storybook ABCs (2008)
• Count to 10 (2009)
• Love, Elmo (2009)
• My Big Book of Firsts (2009)
• Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood? (2009)
• Healthy Monster Triathlon (2010)
• Plant a Tree for Me! (2010)
• Potty Time for Monsters (2011)
• Elmo and Ernie's Joke Book (2012)
• Elmo's Rockin' Rhyme Time! (2012)
• Over on Sesame Street (2012)

Character merchandise

• Groiler Christmas ornament
• Beanbag toy
• 13" plush
• 1987 PVC figurine
• 1998 PVC figurine
• 2011 Hasbro figure

See also

• Telly Monster Through the Years
• Telly's Alternate Identities
• Telly songs
• Telly's family
• International Telly Monster
• Sesame Street monsters