Today, Frank Oz is the critically-acclaimed director of such blockbuster film smash hits as The Stepford Wives (the remake) and Housesitter.<\/p>\n
There was once a time when his sole claim to fame was as a brilliant puppeteer and improv comedian. Thru such Muppets as Bert, Fozzie Bear, and Mrs. Piggy, he made young and old laugh until their pants were wet.<\/p>\n
These days, Oz only performs on occasion with the Muppets–as a close friend of Jim Henson, one can imagine how the motley cast of felt creatures must have lost some of its magic in the wake of Henson’s death. So many classic Muppet relationships were based in their close friendship–Kermit and Fozzie, Bert and Ernie, even the interspecies love of Kermit and Piggy.<\/p>\n
Anyway, I’d bet my left arm that Frank Oz was performing Cookie Monster for the Sesame Street episode I watched today with Cate the Wonder Baby. It featured an opening sketch in which Cookie Monster served up a gentle yet wicked parody of Elmo’s World, entitled “Cookie’s World.”<\/p>\n
That’s where the “improv comedian” part comes in–you can always tell Oz is under the Muppet because everything it does suddenly gains an extra dimension or three of silliness, gentleness, and sarcasm. As an adult, I’ve always loved watching Sesame Street just to catch the stray moments of creative genius that occur whenever Oz is performing. “Cookie’s World” was a great example of that.<\/p>\n
My favorite moment in “Cookie’s World” was when Cookie told his pet cookie Cookie (a cookie in a fish bowl, parodying Dorothy the goldfish) to “Say goodbye, Cookie! You not gonna make it much longer.”<\/p>\n
Now THAT’S good Muppet.<\/p>\n
(Unfortunately, I cannot find “Cookie’s World” online so you will have to settle for this disco Cookie Monster clip instead.)<\/p>\n