Muppet Wiki

Kermiteye Welcome to Muppet Wiki!


Please visit Special:Community to learn how you can collaborate with the editing community.

READ MORE

Muppet Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
Muppet Wiki
Muppet Wiki
44,519
pages
in: Sesame Street Characters, Muppet Characters, Magic, Sesame Street Character Sketches

Changes: The Amazing Mumford

Back to page
Sign in to edit
(Just me being helpful.)
(43 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:
 
'''The Amazing Mumford''' is a talented [[Magicians|magician]] from ''[[Sesame Street]]'', but his magic tricks sometimes go awry. His characteristic magic words are "A la peanut butter sandwiches!" After saying this and waving his wand, there is a puff of smoke usually accompanied by either a "poof" noise or magical tinkling sounds, and then after clearing, it reveals how the trick has gone wrong. [[Grover]] often appeared as Mumford's over-eager assistant.
  
'''The Amazing Mumford''' is a talented [[Magicians|magician]] from ''[[Sesame Street]]'', but his magic tricks sometimes go awry. His characteristic magic words are "A la peanut butter sandwiches!" After saying this and waving his wand, there is a puff of smoke usually accompanied by either a "poof" noise or magical tinkling sounds, and then after clearing, it reveals how the trick has gone wrong. [[Grover]] often appeared as Mumford's over-eager assistant.
   
  +
==Casting history==
 
Following the passing of Jerry Nelson, the role of the character was inherited by [[John Kennedy]].<ref>[http://www.sesameworkshop.org/season49/behind-the-scenes/puppeteer-bios/john/ ''Sesame Street'' Season 49 press kit]</ref> Among his earliest performances of the character include [https://www.facebook.com/SesameStreet/videos/482710515465969/ an #ELMOtivation video], published on ''Sesame Street's'' social media in October 2018 and [[Caroll Spinney's retirement party]] the same month. His first performance as Mumford on the show was a "[[Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck]]" segment which first aired in [[Episode 4906]]. Kennedy previously performed the character on-set for ''[[A Magical Halloween Adventure]]'', where Jerry Nelson looped his dialogue later. However, one brief bit of dialogue remains unlooped in the final product: a scene in which Mumford speaks on the phone with his friend [[Gilda the Great]].
  
Following the passing of Jerry Nelson, the role of the character was inherited by [[John Kennedy]].<ref>[http://www.sesameworkshop.org/season49/behind-the-scenes/puppeteer-bios/john/ ''Sesame Street'' Season 49 press kit]</ref> Among his earliest performances of the character include [https://www.facebook.com/SesameStreet/videos/482710515465969/ an #ELMOtivation video], published on ''Sesame Street's'' social media in October 2018 and [[Caroll Spinney's retirement party]] the same month. His first performance as Mumford on the show was a "[[Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck]]" segment which first aired in [[Episode 4906]]. Kennedy previously performed the character on-set for ''[[A Magical Halloween Adventure]]'', where Jerry Nelson looped his dialogue later. However, one brief bit of dialogue remains unlooped in the final product: a scene in which Mumford speaks on the phone with his friend [[Gilda the Great]].
   
Line 8: Line 9:
 
* Mumford's voice is based on that of the famous comedian [[W. C. Fields]].
  
* Mumford's voice is based on that of the famous comedian [[W. C. Fields]].
   
−
* The [[CTW archives|CTW archives']] program summaries for [[Episode 0305]] and [[Episode 0322]] refer to Mumford as "the Amazing Ralph."
 +
* The [[CTW archives]]' program summaries for [[Episode 0305]] and [[Episode 0322]] refer to Mumford as "The Amazing Ralph."
   
−
* On ''[[Sesamstrasse]]'', the [[Germany|German]] co-production, Mumford is named "Mumpitz", which means nonsense or balderdash.
 +
* On ''[[Sesamstrasse]]'', the [[Germany|German]] co-production, Mumford is named "Mumpitz", which means nonsense or balderdash.
   
 
* According to ''[[The Sesame Street Bedtime Storybook]]'', Mumford lives in a [[The Amazing Mumford's castle|castle]], next door to the [[Count von Count's castle|castle]] owned by [[Count von Count]].
  
* According to ''[[The Sesame Street Bedtime Storybook]]'', Mumford lives in a [[The Amazing Mumford's castle|castle]], next door to the [[Count von Count's castle|castle]] owned by [[Count von Count]].
  +
  +
*Mumford has a cousin, [[The Fantastic Finkelman]], who appears in [[Episode 1815]].
   
 
* In [[Episode 3845]], Mumford states his personal web address is "www.alapeanutbuttersandwiches.com."
  
* In [[Episode 3845]], Mumford states his personal web address is "www.alapeanutbuttersandwiches.com."
Line 19: Line 22:
 
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=8 valign=top
 
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=8 valign=top
 
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
  
|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
−
! Image !! width=100| [[Muppet Wiki:Earliest Known Appearance|EKA]] !! Description
 +
! Image !! width=100| [[Muppet Wiki:Earliest Known Appearance|First Appearance]] !! Description
   
 
|- {{divid|mumfordpineappletrick}}
  
|- {{divid|mumfordpineappletrick}}
 
| [[Image:MumfordPineapples.jpg|250px|center]]
  
| [[Image:MumfordPineapples.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| align=center | [[Episode 0280]]
  
| align=center | [[Episode 0280]]
−
| '''Disappearing Pineapple Trick'''<br>The Amazing Mumford begins his magic subtraction trick with four pineapples, and makes them disappear one at a time. Then Grover makes Mumford disappear.<br><br>The story was retold in the book ''[[The Amazing Mumford and His Amazing Subtracting Trick]]''.
 +
| '''Disappearing Pineapple Trick'''<br>The Amazing Mumford begins his magic subtraction trick with four pineapples, and makes them disappear one at a time. Then [[Grover]] makes Mumford disappear.<br><br>The story was retold in the book ''[[The Amazing Mumford and His Amazing Subtracting Trick]]''.
 
{{sketchrelease|video=''[[Old School: Volume 3]]''}}
  
{{sketchrelease|video=''[[Old School: Volume 3]]''}}
   
  ⚫
|- {{divid|cookiejar}}
  ⚫
| [[Image:CMT.jpg|250px|center]]
  ⚫
| align=center | [[Episode 0287]]
  ⚫
| '''Disappearing Cookies'''<br>The Amazing Mumford waves his magic wand over a transparent glass cookie jar and makes the jar become full of cookies and then empty (over and over) as an anxious [[Cookie Monster]] watches. {{sketchrelease|online={{youtube|RLG-jkwuwh8}}}}
   
 
|- {{divid|mumfordsuspensionact}}
  
|- {{divid|mumfordsuspensionact}}
 
| [[Image:1095e.jpg|250px|center]]
  
| [[Image:1095e.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| align=center | [[Episode 0292]]
  
| align=center | [[Episode 0292]]
−
| '''Suspension Act'''<br>Grover volunteers to assist Mumford in his suspension act. Grover will get on top of a platform, and Mumford will pull the pillar off from underneath, and the platform will not fall. The trick works, so Grover decides to try it himself, with [[Herry Monster]] as his assistant. Grover can't pull it off, and Herry falls. {{sketchrelease|online={{youtube|JN9YxOAPBHk}}}}
 +
| '''Suspension Act'''<br>Grover volunteers to assist Mumford in his suspension act. Grover will get on top of a platform, and Mumford will pull the pillar off from underneath, and the platform will not fall. The trick works, so Grover decides to try it himself, with [[Herry Monster]] as his assistant. Grover can't pull it off, and Herry falls. {{sketchrelease|online={{youtube|JN9YxOAPBHk}}|video=''[[50 Years and Counting]]''}}
   
−
|- {{divid|cookiejar}}
 +
|- {{divid|quietloud}}
−
| [[Image:CMT.jpg|250px|center]]
 +
| [[Image:Story of Quiet and Loud.jpg|250px|center]]
−
| align=center | [[Episode 0322]]
 +
| align=center | [[Episode 0305]]
  +
| '''The Story of Quiet and Loud'''<br>[[Bob]] tells the story of a mother who had a loud child (who screamed all the time) and a quiet child (who whispered all the time). Mumford casts a spell to reverse their afflictions.
⚫
| '''Disappearing Cookies'''<br>The Amazing Mumford waves his magic wand over a transparent glass cookie jar and makes the jar become full of cookies and then empty (over and over) as an anxious [[Cookie Monster]] watches. {{sketchrelease|online={{youtube|RLG-jkwuwh8}}}}
  
   
 
|- {{divid|surprise}}
  
|- {{divid|surprise}}
 
| [[Image:SPR.jpg|250px|center]]
  
| [[Image:SPR.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| align=center | [[Episode 0381]]
  
| align=center | [[Episode 0381]]
−
| '''Surprise'''<br>A woman ([[Jim Henson]]) volunteers to assist The Amazing Mumford in his surprise magic trick. Mumford makes her disappear – but when he tries to make her reappear, [[Herry Monster]] pops up, saying "SURPRISE!" (Note: In this trick Mumford uses the magic words "peanut butter" by themselves, instead of his longer trademark phrase.)
 +
| '''Surprise'''<br>A woman ([[Jim Henson]]) volunteers to assist The Amazing Mumford in his surprise magic trick. Mumford makes her disappear – but when he tries to make her reappear, [[Herry Monster]] pops up, saying "SURPRISE!" (Note: In this trick, Mumford uses the magic words "peanut butter" by themselves, instead of his longer trademark phrase.)
  +
  +
|- {{divid|rabbitgrover}}
  ⚫
| [[Image:Clip 4.jpg|250px|center]]
  ⚫
| align=center | [[Episode 0407]]
  ⚫
| '''Rabbit Trick'''<br>Grover watches Mumford practice a trick, making a rabbit come out of his hat. Mumford has trouble getting a rabbit to come out of the hat; both are oblivious to the fact that Grover gradually turns into a rabbit. {{sketchrelease|video=''[[Old School: Volume 1]]'' ( as a [[Season 3 (1971-1972)|Season 3]] sketch), ''[[Monster Magic]]''|online={{youtube|8qE1xV5hiaU}}}}
   
 
|-
  
|-
Line 47: Line 59:
 
| align=center | [[Episode 0455]]
  
| align=center | [[Episode 0455]]
 
| '''Rhyming Trick'''<br>Grover volunteers to assist Mumford in his rhyming magic trick, making three things come out of his hat that rhyme with "knee". Grover guesses the first one (key), but doesn't get the last two (ski and tree) right.
  
| '''Rhyming Trick'''<br>Grover volunteers to assist Mumford in his rhyming magic trick, making three things come out of his hat that rhyme with "knee". Grover guesses the first one (key), but doesn't get the last two (ski and tree) right.
−  
⚫
|- {{divid|rabbitgrover}}
  
⚫
| [[Image:Clip 4.jpg|250px|center]]
  
⚫
| align=center | [[Episode 0712]]
  
⚫
| '''Rabbit Trick'''<br>Grover watches Mumford practice a trick, making a rabbit come out of his hat. Mumford has trouble getting a rabbit to come out of the hat; both are oblivious to the fact that Grover gradually turns into a rabbit. {{sketchrelease|video=''[[Old School: Volume 1]]'' ( as a [[Season 3 (1971-1972)|Season 3]] sketch), ''[[Monster Magic]]''|online={{youtube|8qE1xV5hiaU}}}}
  
   
 
|-
  
|-
Line 60: Line 67:
 
|-
  
|-
 
| [[Image:MumfCarrot.jpg|250px|center]]
  
| [[Image:MumfCarrot.jpg|250px|center]]
−
| align=center | [[Episode 1210]]
 +
| align=center | [[Episode 1210]]
 
| '''Disappearing Carrot'''<br>Grover is about to eat his carrot when he hears Mumford approaching. Grover asks Mumford to make the carrot disappear. Mumford obliges...by eating the carrot.
  
| '''Disappearing Carrot'''<br>Grover is about to eat his carrot when he hears Mumford approaching. Grover asks Mumford to make the carrot disappear. Mumford obliges...by eating the carrot.
   
Line 66: Line 73:
 
| [[Image:LeslieMostlyMumford.jpg|250px|center]]
  
| [[Image:LeslieMostlyMumford.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| align=center | [[Episode 1447]]
  
| align=center | [[Episode 1447]]
−
| '''The Leslie Mostly Show'''<br>[[Leslie Mostly]] interviews Mumford at his home. He tries to conjure up a rabbit for her, but ends up turning himself into a rabbit. When Mumford attempts to become a person again, he succeeds...and accidentally turns Leslie into a rabbit.
+
| '''The Leslie Mostly Show'''<br>[[Leslie Mostly]] interviews Mumford at his home. He tries to conjure up a rabbit for her, but ends up turning himself into a rabbit. When Mumford attempts to become a person again, he succeeds...and accidentally turns Leslie into a rabbit.
−  
−  
−
|-
  
−
| [[Image:Mumford.profrabbit.jpg|250px|center]]
  
⚫
| align=center | [[Episode 2407]]
  
−
| '''Rabbit Out of a Hat'''<br>Mumford is in [[The Arbor|the courtyard]] trying his darnedest to pull a rabbit from his hat without any luck. In fact, he's never been able to achieve the feat. Along happens [[Professor D. Rabbit]] who agrees to help him out so long as the two may reverse roles afterward.
  
   
 
|-
  
|-
 
| [[Image:MumfordGladys.jpg|250px|center]]
  
| [[Image:MumfordGladys.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| align=center | [[Episode 2579]]
  
| align=center | [[Episode 2579]]
−
| '''Gladys the Cow Disappears'''<br>[[Gladys the Cow]] assists the Amazing Mumford on stage. Mumford says he will make her disappear, but his attempts fail, so he says he'll turn her into a duck instead. She runs off the stage in fright, which means his trick did work this time.
 +
| '''Gladys the Cow Disappears'''<br>[[Gladys the Cow]] assists The Amazing Mumford on stage. Mumford says he will make her disappear, but his attempts fail, so he says he'll turn her into a duck instead. She runs off the stage in fright, which means his trick did work this time.
   
 
|-
  
|-
 
| [[Image:Ssnews.thumbelina.jpg|250px|center]]
  
| [[Image:Ssnews.thumbelina.jpg|250px|center]]
−
| align=center | [[Episode 2696]]
+
| align=center | [[Episode 2696]]
−
| '''Big and Small Trick'''<br>A [[Sesame Street News Flash]], in which [[Kermit the Frog]] interviews Mumford, who is showcasing his big and little trick, where he will make Thumbelina big and The Big Bad Wolf small. He succeeds in making Thumbelina big, but makes Kermit (not the Big Bad Wolf) small.
+
| '''Big and Small Trick'''<br>A [[Sesame Street News Flash]], in which [[Kermit the Frog]] interviews Mumford, who is showcasing his big and little trick, where he will make Thumbelina big and [[The Big Bad Wolf]] small. He succeeds in making Thumbelina big, but makes Kermit (not the Big Bad Wolf) small.
−  
−
|-
  
⚫
| [[Image:3869j.jpg|250px|center]]
  
−
| align=center | [[Episode 3869]]
  
−
| '''Hungry Baby Bear'''<br>The Amazing Mumford approaches a sad Baby Bear, who still can't find any porridge, and misses Telly. Mumford offers to make him a porridge bowl with magic, but his spell literally turns Baby Bear into one!
 
   
 
|-
  
|-
 
| [[Image:Letter_of_the_day_c_with_cookie_and_mumford.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| [[Image:Letter_of_the_day_c_with_cookie_and_mumford.jpg|250px|center]]
 
| align=center | [[Episode 4004]]
  
| align=center | [[Episode 4004]]
−
| '''Letter of the Day: C'''<br>[[Cookie Monster]] asks The Amazing Mumford to make the cookie with the letter of the day disappear so that he can't eat it. Mumford tries and fails to make the cookie disappear, but Cookie Monster figures out a way to do it...
 +
| '''Letter of the Day: C'''<br>Cookie Monster asks The Amazing Mumford to make the cookie with the letter of the day disappear so that he can't eat it. Mumford tries and fails to make the cookie disappear, but Cookie Monster figures out a way to do it...
   
 
|-
  
|-
−
| [[File:4108q.jpg|250px|center]]
 +
| [[File:Mumford-4906.jpg|250px|center]]
−
| align=center | [[Episode 4107]]
 +
| align=center | [[Episode 4906]]
  +
| '''Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck: Jelly'''<br>Cookie and [[Gonger]] receive a request from Mumford to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The sandwich gives Mumford the energy he needs to perform his magic act, though his rabbit (performed by [[Leslie Carrara-Rudolph]]) appears out of his hat and runs off with his sandwich.
−
| '''Little Big Bird'''<br>Mumford accidentally shrinks [[Big Bird]] down to the size of a ladybug. In the next episode, fortunately, he meets [[Mike the Ladybug]], who helps Big Bird travel down the street, trying to get to Gordon and Alan. At last, Mumford accidentally restores Big Bird to normal size.
  
−  
−
|-
  
−
| [[File:4270f.png|250px|center]]
  
−
| align=center | [[Episode 4270]]
  
−
| '''Letter "R" Mystery'''<br>Mumford is among the victims in the Letter R mystery, as [[Rodney (rabbit)|his rabbit]] goes missing before he attempts his disappearing act.
  
−  
−
''Note: This is Jerry Nelson's last performance as Mumford before the performer's death in [[2012]].''
  
 
|}
  
|}
   
Line 110: Line 99:
 
[[Image:The-Amazing-Mumford.jpg|thumb|300px]]
  
[[Image:The-Amazing-Mumford.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[File:Mumford.jpg|thumb|300px]]
  
[[File:Mumford.jpg|thumb|300px]]
  +
[[File:4108q.jpg|thumb|300px|Mumford turns Big Bird small in a two-part plotline in Season 36.]]
  +
[[File:4270f.png|thumb|300px|Mumford in [[Episode 4270]], his last appearance as performed by Jerry Nelson.]]
 
* ''[[Sesame Street]]''
  
* ''[[Sesame Street]]''
 
* ''[[Follow That Bird|Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird]]''
  
* ''[[Follow That Bird|Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird]]''
Line 122: Line 113:
 
* ''[[A Magical Halloween Adventure]]''
  
* ''[[A Magical Halloween Adventure]]''
 
* ''[[A Celebration of Me, Grover]]''
  
* ''[[A Celebration of Me, Grover]]''
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration]]''
  +
* ''[[The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo]]''
  +
  +
===Episodic Appearances===
  +
*[[Season 6 (1974-1975)|Season 6]]: [[Episode 0733|0733]]
  +
*[[Season 7 (1975-1976)|Season 7]]: [[Episode 0839|0839]], [[Episode 0845|0845]], [[Episode 0886|0886]], [[Episode 0906|0906]]
  +
*[[Season 9 (1977-1978)|Season 9]]: [[Episode 1150|1150]]
  +
*[[Season 10 (1978-1979)|Season 10]]: [[Episode 1196|1196]], [[Episode 1213|1213]], [[Episode 1291|1291]], [[Episode 1307|1307]]
  +
*[[Season 11 (1979-1980)|Season 11]]: [[Episode 1367|1367]]
  +
*[[Season 13 (1981-1982)|Season 13]]: [[Episode 1583|1583]], [[Episode 1605|1605]], [[Episode 1607|1607]], [[Episode 1637|1637]], [[Episode 1671|1671]], [[Episode 1676|1676]], [[Episode 1691|1691]], [[Episode 1705|1705]]
  +
*[[Season 14 (1982-1983)|Season 14]]: [[Episode 1772|1772]], [[Episode 1779|1779]], [[Episode 1797|1797]], [[Episode 1815|1815]]
  +
*[[Season 16 (1984-1985)|Season 16]]: [[Episode 1972|1972]], [[Episode 2033|2033]]
  +
*[[Season 18 (1986-1987)|Season 18]]: [[Episode 2293|2293]], [[Episode 2310|2310]], [[Episode 2324|2324]], [[Episode 2341|2341]]
  +
*[[Season 19 (1987-1988)|Season 19]]: [[Episode 2358|2358]], [[Episode 2359|2359]], [[Episode 2360|2360]], [[Episode 2405|2405]], [[Episode 2407|2407]], [[Episode 2415|2415]], [[Episode 2418|2418]], [[Episode 2485|2485]]
  +
*[[Season 20 (1988-1989)|Season 20]]: [[Episode 2488|2488]], [[Episode 2496|2496]], [[Episode 2543|2543]], [[Episode 2566|2566]], [[Episode 2572|2572]], [[Episode 2581|2581]], [[Episode 2594|2594]], [[Episode 2598|2598]], [[Episode 2599|2599]], [[Episode 2607|2607]]
  +
*[[Season 21 (1989-1990)|Season 21]]: [[Episode 2658|2658]], [[Episode 2704|2704]], [[Episode 2711|2711]]
  +
*[[Season 22 (1990-1991)|Season 22]]: [[Episode 2794|2794]], [[Episode 2808|2808]], [[Episode 2857|2857]]
  +
*[[Season 23 (1991-1992)|Season 23]]: [[Episode 2949|2949]], [[Episode 2953|2953]], [[Episode 2973|2973]], [[Episode 2996|2996]], [[Episode 3005|3005]]
  +
*[[Season 24 (1992-1993)|Season 24]]: [[Episode 3074|3074]], [[Episode 3075|3075]], [[Episode 3080|3080]], [[Episode 3108|3108]]
  +
*[[Season 25 (1993-1994)|Season 25]]: [[Episode 3157|3157]], [[Episode 3198|3198]], [[Episode 3251|3251]]
  +
*[[Season 26 (1994-1995)|Season 26]]: [[Episode 3348|3348]]
  +
*[[Season 27 (1995-1996)|Season 27]]: [[Episode 3401|3401]], [[Episode 3457|3457]], [[Episode 3468|3468]], [[Episode 3521|3521]]
  +
*[[Season 28 (1996-1997)|Season 28]]: [[Episode 3593|3593]], [[Episode 3619|3619]], [[Episode 3647|3647]], [[Episode 3655|3655]]
  +
*[[Season 29 (1997-1998)|Season 29]]: [[Episode 3700|3700]], [[Episode 3714|3714]]
  +
*[[Season 30 (1998-1999)|Season 30]]: [[Episode 3830|3830]], [[Episode 3845|3845]]
  +
*[[Season 31 (2000)|Season 31]]: [[Episode 3869|3869]]
  +
*[[Season 32 (2001)|Season 32]]: [[Episode 3943|3943]], [[Episode 3972|3972]]
  +
*[[Season 33 (2002)|Season 33]]: [[Episode 3999|3999]], [[Episode 4014|4014]], [[Episode 4027|4027]]
  +
*[[Season 36 (2005)|Season 36]]: [[Episode 4107|4107]], [[Episode 4108|4108]]
  +
*[[Season 42 (2011-2012)|Season 42]]: [[Episode 4270|4270]]
  +
*[[Season 50 (2019-2020)|Season 50]]: [[Episode 5013|5013]]
   
 
==Book appearances==
  
==Book appearances==
Line 147: Line 169:
 
* ''[[Big and Little Stories]]'' (1982)
  
* ''[[Big and Little Stories]]'' (1982)
 
* ''[[Who's Who on Sesame Street|More Who's Who on Sesame Street]]'' (1982)
  
* ''[[Who's Who on Sesame Street|More Who's Who on Sesame Street]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 1: The A Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 2: The B Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 3: The C Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 5: The EF Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 6: The GH Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 7: The IJKL Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 8: The M Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 9: The NO Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 10: The PQ Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 11: The R Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 12: The S Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 13: The T Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 14: The UV Book]]'' (1982)
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street Finding Out Encyclopedia 15: The WXYZ Book]]'' (1982)
 
* ''[[A Sesame Street Christmas (book)|A Sesame Street Christmas]]'' (1982)
  
* ''[[A Sesame Street Christmas (book)|A Sesame Street Christmas]]'' (1982)
 
* ''[[The Sesame Street Word Book]]'' (1983)
  
* ''[[The Sesame Street Word Book]]'' (1983)
Line 173: Line 209:
 
==Character merchandise==
  
==Character merchandise==
 
* [[Sesame Street Beans]]
  
* [[Sesame Street Beans]]
  +
* [[Sesame Street Mini Collection|Gund Mini Plush]]
   
 
==Sources==
  
==Sources==

Revision as of 01:38, 22 May 2020

TheAmazingMumford-tumblrPicture
PERFORMER Jerry Nelson
DEBUT 1971
PATTERN Large Lavender Live Hand
DESIGN Jim Henson designer
  Don Sahlin builder

The Amazing Mumford is a talented magician from Sesame Street, but his magic tricks sometimes go awry. His characteristic magic words are "A la peanut butter sandwiches!" After saying this and waving his wand, there is a puff of smoke usually accompanied by either a "poof" noise or magical tinkling sounds, and then after clearing, it reveals how the trick has gone wrong. Grover often appeared as Mumford's over-eager assistant.

Casting history

Following the passing of Jerry Nelson, the role of the character was inherited by John Kennedy.[1] Among his earliest performances of the character include an #ELMOtivation video, published on Sesame Street's social media in October 2018 and Caroll Spinney's retirement party the same month. His first performance as Mumford on the show was a "Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck" segment which first aired in Episode 4906. Kennedy previously performed the character on-set for A Magical Halloween Adventure, where Jerry Nelson looped his dialogue later. However, one brief bit of dialogue remains unlooped in the final product: a scene in which Mumford speaks on the phone with his friend Gilda the Great.

Notes

  • Mumford's voice is based on that of the famous comedian W. C. Fields.
  • On Sesamstrasse, the German co-production, Mumford is named "Mumpitz", which means nonsense or balderdash.
  • In Episode 3845, Mumford states his personal web address is "www.alapeanutbuttersandwiches.com."

Sketches

Image First Appearance Description
MumfordPineapples
 Episode 0280 Disappearing Pineapple Trick
The Amazing Mumford begins his magic subtraction trick with four pineapples, and makes them disappear one at a time. Then Grover makes Mumford disappear.

The story was retold in the book The Amazing Mumford and His Amazing Subtracting Trick.
Video: Old School: Volume 3
CMT
 Episode 0287 Disappearing Cookies
The Amazing Mumford waves his magic wand over a transparent glass cookie jar and makes the jar become full of cookies and then empty (over and over) as an anxious Cookie Monster watches.
Online: (YouTube)
1095e
 Episode 0292 Suspension Act
Grover volunteers to assist Mumford in his suspension act. Grover will get on top of a platform, and Mumford will pull the pillar off from underneath, and the platform will not fall. The trick works, so Grover decides to try it himself, with Herry Monster as his assistant. Grover can't pull it off, and Herry falls.
Video: 50 Years and Counting
Online: (YouTube)
Story of Quiet and Loud
 Episode 0305 The Story of Quiet and Loud
Bob tells the story of a mother who had a loud child (who screamed all the time) and a quiet child (who whispered all the time). Mumford casts a spell to reverse their afflictions.
SPR
 Episode 0381 Surprise
A woman (Jim Henson) volunteers to assist The Amazing Mumford in his surprise magic trick. Mumford makes her disappear – but when he tries to make her reappear, Herry Monster pops up, saying "SURPRISE!" (Note: In this trick, Mumford uses the magic words "peanut butter" by themselves, instead of his longer trademark phrase.)
Clip 4
 Episode 0407 Rabbit Trick
Grover watches Mumford practice a trick, making a rabbit come out of his hat. Mumford has trouble getting a rabbit to come out of the hat; both are oblivious to the fact that Grover gradually turns into a rabbit.
Video: Old School: Volume 1 ( as a Season 3 sketch), Monster Magic
Online: (YouTube)
Title 01 21 007 0001
 Episode 0455 Rhyming Trick
Grover volunteers to assist Mumford in his rhyming magic trick, making three things come out of his hat that rhyme with "knee". Grover guesses the first one (key), but doesn't get the last two (ski and tree) right.
MumfordMA...GIC
 Episode 1075 MAGIC
The Amazing Mumford sounds out the word MAGIC, then makes himself disappear.
MumfCarrot
 Episode 1210 Disappearing Carrot
Grover is about to eat his carrot when he hears Mumford approaching. Grover asks Mumford to make the carrot disappear. Mumford obliges...by eating the carrot.
LeslieMostlyMumford
 Episode 1447 The Leslie Mostly Show
Leslie Mostly interviews Mumford at his home. He tries to conjure up a rabbit for her, but ends up turning himself into a rabbit. When Mumford attempts to become a person again, he succeeds...and accidentally turns Leslie into a rabbit.
MumfordGladys
 Episode 2579 Gladys the Cow Disappears
Gladys the Cow assists The Amazing Mumford on stage. Mumford says he will make her disappear, but his attempts fail, so he says he'll turn her into a duck instead. She runs off the stage in fright, which means his trick did work this time.
Ssnews.thumbelina
 Episode 2696 Big and Small Trick
A Sesame Street News Flash, in which Kermit the Frog interviews Mumford, who is showcasing his big and little trick, where he will make Thumbelina big and The Big Bad Wolf small. He succeeds in making Thumbelina big, but makes Kermit (not the Big Bad Wolf) small.
Letter of the day c with cookie and mumford
 Episode 4004 Letter of the Day: C
Cookie Monster asks The Amazing Mumford to make the cookie with the letter of the day disappear so that he can't eat it. Mumford tries and fails to make the cookie disappear, but Cookie Monster figures out a way to do it...
Mumford-4906
 Episode 4906 Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck: Jelly
Cookie and Gonger receive a request from Mumford to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The sandwich gives Mumford the energy he needs to perform his magic act, though his rabbit (performed by Leslie Carrara-Rudolph) appears out of his hat and runs off with his sandwich.

Filmography

The-Amazing-Mumford
Mumford
4108q

Mumford turns Big Bird small in a two-part plotline in Season 36.

4270f

Mumford in Episode 4270, his last appearance as performed by Jerry Nelson.

Episodic Appearances

Book appearances

Character merchandise

Sources

  1. ↑ Sesame Street Season 49 press kit

See also

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.