Zoe

PERFORMER	Fran Brill 1993-2015
	Jennifer Barnhart 2016-present
DEBUT	1993
DESIGN	Ed Christie designer
	Rollie Krewson builder

An early design sketch of Zoe. (Source: The New York Times)

Fran Brill on gender

Fran Brill talks about gender and the creation of Zoe at the Museum of Television and Radio.

Zoe and Rocco.

The smaller Zoe puppet originally created for Abby in Wonderland was used as the regular Zoe for Season 40.

Zoe makes her first talk show appearance on The Phil Donahue Show in 1993.

Zoe and Abby Cadabby.

Zoe and Elmo.

Zoe and Ernie.

Zoe with her pet rock, Rocco.

Zoe at the park.

Photo of Zoe and Bert used for the cover of Zoe's Beautiful Ballet.

Zoe is a three-year-old monster who first appeared on Sesame Street in Season 25.

Zoe was created to help balance what was then a predominately male cast of Muppets on the series. The color orange was chosen for her design to complement Elmo, who was gaining popularity at the time of her introduction.

Apart from some light jewelry, Zoe was originally unclothed. Beginning in season 33, she started wearing a tutu, as — like many girls of her age — she is obsessed with ballet. Her love of dance is featured in several episodes, as well as the home video release Zoe's Dance Moves. While she mostly returns to being unclothed in season 49, she still wears her tutu on occasion, and more consistently in illustrations and merchandise.

She occasionally rides a soapbox-style car around Sesame Street, called the Zoemobile, and can sometimes be seen with one of two recurring transitional objects: a pet rock named Rocco and a doll named Mimi. She attended the Day Care Center from season 25 to season 29, and generally celebrates her birthday on September 30 (although this date has been inconsistent). Zoe's favorite letter is Z because it starts her name. She has expressed the preference in The Alphabet Jungle Game, in a sketch with Telly (First: Episode 3420), and elsewhere.

Zoe's family includes a father named Brad, a mother, and a brother named Joey (mentioned in Episode 4228). She also has an Aunt Chloe and an Aunt Giselle. Zoe received a pet gecko, who she named Gary, in Episode 5221.

Development

From the book Sesame Street Unpaved: "From several possible designs of the character, 'I picked the one that had a face like Carol Channing,' says Fran Brill. 'I wanted her to be obviously female with jewelry and barrettes in her hair. Someone suggested we call her Frannie, since that's my nickname. But I didn't want a Muppet with my name, so I thought of the J. D. Salinger book Franny and Zooey, and suggested Zoe, which seemed to be just right."

To prepare for the character, Brill went to Manhattan preschools and watched 3-year-old girls play. One of the girls said to Brill the phrase which became a catchphrase for Zoe, "Don't joke me." When the first Zoe puppet was built, Krewson's daughter suggested they put sparkles in her hair.

Beginning with the 2005 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, more hair was added to Zoe, including pink and glittery hairs. In season 40 (2009), a smaller puppet was used, based on the one created specifically for her role as Mousey the Hatter Helper in Abby in Wonderland. This version was only used for one season, and was replaced by the normal-sized Zoe puppet the following season.

At William Paterson University, Martin P. Robinson explained that Telly hadn't appeared in any scenes with the rebuilt Zoe, and Robinson expected that the moment they would meet, Telly would freak out. Fran Brill proceeded to take out the Zoe puppet, and sure enough, Telly freaked out.

Notes

• Before Zoe was regularly seen in her tutu, she wore it in street scenes for Episode 3851 and Episode 3916.

• Zoe's nose was originally made from a plastic grape covered in colored fleece.

Album appearances

• A Sesame Street Christmas (1995)
• Sing-Along Travel Songs (1996)
• Hot! Hot! Hot! Dance Songs (1997)
• Kids' Favorite Songs (1997)
• Elmo Saves Christmas: Holiday Favorites (1998)
• Elmo Say BOO! (1998)
• Kids' Favorite Songs 2 (2001)

Book appearances

See also: Zoe books

• Around the Corner on Sesame Street (1994)
• No More Diapers! (1995)
• Ready, Set, Go! A Counting Book (1995)
• Sesame Street Stays Up Late (1995)
• Sesame Street Storybook Fun (1995)
• Elmo's 12 Days of Christmas (1996)
• Rise and Shine! (1996)
• Which Witch Is Which? (1996)
• Zip! Pop! Hop! (1996)
• The Bunny Hop (1997)
• Elmo's Christmas Colors (1997)
• Elmo's Valentine (1997)
• The Poky Little Puppy Comes to Sesame Street (1997)
• Pumpkin Patch Party (1997)
• Sesame Street Talent Show (1997)
• Baby Play (1998)
• Elmo Says... (1998)
• Giddy-Up! (1998)
• Let's Eat! (1998)
• The Sesame Street Word Book (1998)
• Brought to You by the Number 2 (1999)
• Shall We Dance? (1999)
• Brought to You by the Letter C (2000)
• Elmo Likes... (2000)
• Elmo's ABC Book (2000)
• The Count's Castle (2001)
• Elmo and the Monsters (2001)
• Elmo Plays Piano (2001)
• The Monsters on the Bus (2001)
• Sesame Street House of Beauty (2001)
• Sesame Street School (2001)
• Spooky Sleep-out (2001)
• Spring Fever (2001)
• Elmo's Birthday Party (2002)
• Friends All Day (2002)
• Pat-a-Cake and Other First Baby Games (2002)
• Elmo's Big Surprise (2003)
• Elmo's Noisy Day (2003)
• Get Up and Go Songs (2003)
• Hokey Pokey Elmo (2003)
• A Perfect Picnic (2003)
• Cookie's Color Caper (2004)
• Count with Me (2004)
• Zoe's Gift (2004)
• The City Sings a Song! (2005)
• Elmo's Day (2005)
• Fun with Friends (2005)
• Monsters Munch Lunch! (2005)
• What's That Sound? (2005)
• Come Play with Elmo (2006)
• Get Ready for Fun! (2006)
• Let's Play Elmo Says (2006)
• S is for School! (2006)
• 3-Minute Stories (2007)
• Abby Cadabby's Rhyme Time (2007)
• Big Bigger Biggest (2007)
• C is for Cooking: Recipes from the Street (2007)
• Elmo & Friends Picture Stories (2007)
• Elmo Goes to the Zoo (2007)
• Elmo's World Super Sticker Book (2007)
• Field Trip! (2007)
• Friendly, Frosty Monsters (2007)
• A Great Day to Play! (2007)
• Guess Who, Abby! (2007)
• Guess Who, Elmo! (2007)
• I'm a Helper (2007)
• Let's Match (2007)
• Music Player Storybook (2007)
• Rosita's Easter on Sesame Street (2007)
• Sesame Street Musical Pop-Up Treasury (2007)
• Sesame Street Super Sticker Book (2007)
• We're All Superheroes! (2007)
• When I Grow Up (2007)
• Abby in Wonderland (2008)
• Elmo Loves Red! (2008)
• Grover's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (2008)
• Let's Go! with Elmo and Friends (2008)
• Lovies (2008)
• Mind Your Manners (2008)
• Ready, Set, Brush! (2008)
• Sing & Learn Counting (2008)
• Waiting for Cookie (2008)
• What Did Elmo Say? (2008)
• What Makes Elmo Happy? (2008)
• Yucchy! Yucchy! (2008)
• Bert and Ernie's Christmas Snowman (2009)
• In Elmo's Easter Parade (2009)
• Love, Elmo (2009)
• My Big Book of Firsts (2009)
• A Sweet-Smelling Garden (2009)
• A Walk Down Sesame Street (2009)
• What Shape Is a Grape? (2009)
• Be Careful, Abby! (2010)
• Healthy Monster Triathlon (2010)
• Murray's First Book of Words (2010)
• Popping Up on Sesame Street (2010)
• Potty Time with Abby (2010)
• Abby's Pink Party (2011)
• Elmo's Alphabet Soup (2011)
• Imagine with Elmo (2011)
• Circle of Friends (2012)
• Elmo's Rockin' Rhyme Time! (2012)
• Frosty Fun (2012)
• Grouchy Hugs (2012)
• Is My Face Red! (2012)
• All Tucked In on Sesame Street! (2014)
• Elmo's Colors (2016)
• Elmo's Super-Duper Birthday (2016)
• Who's Afraid of Monsters? (2016)
• Grover's Eight Nights of Light (2017)
• K Is for Kindness (2018)
• The Runaway Egg (2018)
• A Sweet Christmas on Sesame Street (2018)
• What If...? (2021)
• Elmo Asks Why (2023)
• Elmo Gives Thanks (2024)

See also

• Zoe filmography
• Zoe songs
• Zoe Through the Years
• Zoe's Alternate Identities
• Zoe walk-arounds
• Zoe (animated)
• Zoe's family
• Sesame Street monsters