430:
of child psychology, child development, and religion. The team advised the show's writers and producers how to handle the topic, in what they called "a curriculum bath"; Bernstein described it in this way: "We bring in the experts to allow the writer to soak in expertise. We in
Research bring in people to provide the information, and then the artistry of the writer takes over, as they integrate what they've heard". The experts advised the producers to provide their viewers with a sense of closure about Mr. Hooper's death. They decided not to focus on how Mr. Hooper died, since explaining that he was old and ill might increase children's fears about death. They chose to deal with his death in a single episode, and convey simple messages like: "Mr. Hooper is dead; Mr. Hooper will not be coming back; and Mr. Hooper will be missed by all". Gikow stated that the episode they created was an example of the writers and producers' skills as educators as well as entertainers.
480:, who performed Big Bird. Mr. Hooper's picture remained on the set from then on, as a continuing memorial to Lee and Mr. Hooper. Spinney, speaking of the scene in which the pictures were passed out, reported, "When we finished that scene there wasn't one of us whose face wasn't streaked with tears", even Spinney underneath his costume. Jon Stone, who directed the episode, wanted to do another take, although Spinney later said, "There was nothing wrong with that take. It was perfect." Cameraman Frankie Biondo was touched by the performance.
434:
How will parents respond to the treatment of such a sensitive topic? and (4) Will children be disturbed by the messages, and if so, for how long? The researchers broke up children into three groups: children who only watched the scenes in which the storyline was played out and who were interviewed afterwards; children who watched the entire episode and whose attention was recorded while they viewed it; and children who watched the episode without the inserts, with their parents, who were interviewed 9 or 10 days later.
408:)—discussing politics by giving them pictures he had drawn of each of them. He gets to Mr. Hooper's picture, saying that he will give it to him when he returns. The human characters explain the irreversibility of death to Big Bird, who reacts by getting upset, expressing his confusion and sadness. The adults reassure him that they love him and will take care of him. David reveals that he will take over the store, Mr. Hooper having left it to him in his
1120:
357:). Gordon helps Forgetful remember something that had made him happy; as Davis states, "Later, Big Bird forgets something that makes him sad". After several inserts, Big Bird walks backward with his head between his legs; when Gordon asks him why, he answers, "Just because". Later, Big Bird listens to the adults talking about a new baby who is due to visit Sesame Street with his mother.
438:
Bird and the adults were sad. Most children (80%) were attentive during the episode. The parents interviewed had "overwhelmingly positive" reactions to the show, and that half reported that they had discussed death with their children after viewing it. None of the parents reported negative reactions from their children, either immediately after watching the episode or at a later time.
42:
295:, he had become many things to many young children, "... the guy in the apron at the far side of the generation gap, his half-lens glasses slipping down his nose". Davis also stated that Hooper's Store, which he called "an idealized social institution", is an extension of Mr. Hooper's personality. Mr. Hooper has a special relationship with the Muppet character
262:'s investigation of Communist influence in show business. According to writer Michael Davis, Lee played Mr. Hooper, known for his bowtie and horn-rimmed glasses, "with such certainty and naturalness he made adults suspend their sense of disbelief". Writer Louise A. Gikow stated that Lee was "perfectly cast" as Mr. Hooper. According to fellow cast member
299:, who would often come into Hooper's Store for a birdseed milkshake and a chat. A running gag in the show was that Big Bird would often mispronounce Mr. Hooper's name, although most attempts ended in "ooper", such as "Looper" or "Cooper". Mr. Hooper's first name, Harold, was not revealed until the character earned a GED during night school.
340:
episode (#1839) in which the death of Mr. Hooper was discussed, was structured as all episodes were structured at the time, with individual segments that took place on the main brownstone set interrupted by inserts, or puppet skits, short films, and animations. The episode begins with a scene between
149:
decided to have the character of Mr. Hooper die. Then, they created a TV episode to teach their young audience about the difficult topic of death. Research was conducted to ascertain the messages they wanted to convey about the topic, as well as the effect the episode would have on the young children
487:
and based upon the script for the episode, was published in 1984. The book was also written by Stiles. According to Renée Cherow-O'Leary, Stiles and the editorial staff of the CTW's book division worked with the show's research staff and used the same educational content information and research the
429:
Similar to what they had done with other social issues and in developing their curriculum, the CTW researched the topic of death and how preschoolers understand it. The first step in their research process was to assemble a team of experts, led by CTW research director Lewis
Bernstein, in the fields
416:
to Big Bird, like Mr. Hooper used to do. Big Bird asks, "Why does it have to be this way? Give me one good reason!" and after a long silence Gordon answers, "Big Bird, it has to be this way... because." Looking at Mr. Hooper's picture, Big Bird says, mispronouncing his name as he had done many times
137:
and humans to meet and interact. Lee, a character actor and instructor was "perfectly cast" as Mr. Hooper. Mr. Hooper ranked first of all human characters of the show in recognition by young viewers. Mr. Hooper, who has been described as "slightly cranky but good-hearted" and "curmudgeonly", bridges
466:
was chosen to write the segments about Mr. Hooper's death. The episode focused on the life cycle of birth and death by also mentioning the birth of a baby, and by remembering Mr. Hooper. Stiles said, "We decided to say that while Mr. Hooper was not here anymore, we will always have that part of him
437:
The researchers found that 73% of 4- and 5-year-olds in their study understood that Mr. Hooper was dead and that 88% of this group understood that he was not coming back, although only about one-fourth of the 3-year-old viewers responded correctly. Most of the 4- and 5-year-olds understood that Big
475:
The episode aired on
Thanksgiving Day 1983, a year after Lee's final appearance as Mr. Hooper at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. The producers chose to air it the first week of the new season in order to explain Mr. Hooper's absence as soon as possible, for maximum exposure, and to ensure that
433:
Before the episode aired, the CTW conducted a series of studies to guide the writers and producers in creating the episode. Their goal was to answer four key questions: (1) Will children understand the messages they wanted to convey about death? (2) How attentive will they be to the storyline? (3)
420:
The episode ends with Big Bird hanging Mr. Hooper's picture near his nest. Luis knocks on his door to introduce the new baby, followed by the entire grown-up cast. Big Bird says, "You know what the nice thing is about new babies? One day they're not here, and the next day, here they are!" The cast
448:
The script Norman wrote became an extraordinary moving television experience for preschoolers and their families. Heartbreaking yet affirming, the episode set a standard for the sensitive treatment of a powerful subject matter than has rarely been equaled. It remains one of the show's proudest
327:
decided to have the character pass away as well. Then they used the episode to teach their young audience about the difficult topic of death. According to CTW researcher
Rosemarie Truglio and her colleagues, the episode was one of the many social issues relevant to preschoolers the show has dealt
322:
When Will Lee died on
December 7, 1982, instead of recasting the role for the character (replacing Will Lee with a new actor so Mr. Hooper could still be in the show), explaining Mr. Hooper's departure (by saying that he had retired and/or moved away), or simply dropping him from the show without
471:
tell Big Bird, when he asked why Mr. Hooper had died, that there was no real reason, that it happened, as Gordon tells Big Bird, "Just because". The show's outside experts advised Stiles and the producers to remove the line because they were concerned that an open-ended explanation would not be
233:
I was delighted to take the role of Mr. Hooper, the gruff grocer with the warm heart. It's a big part, and it allows a lot of latitude. But the show has something extra—that sense that you sometimes get from great theater, the feeling that its influence never stops.
270:'s first episode with Lee, "Will had a broader dimension to his character than perhaps the rest of us did ... He convinced me that no matter how simple the scene was with a child, you had to bring a tremendous integrity and an honesty and credibility to it".
467:
that lives within the heart, that we have our love and that it will always stay". Stiles wanted to convey that expressing grief for someone who had died was difficult for both adults and children. Instead of providing an explanation, the adults of
173:
listing it as one of his two favorites. Setting the standard for dealing with difficult topics on children's television, the show was called heartbreaking yet affirming, and remains one of the proudest moments in the show's history.
1087:
138:
the gap between the older generation and its young audience. Hooper's Store, "an idealized social institution", is an extension of his personality. He had a close relationship with the Muppet
787:
Cherow-O'Leary, Renèe (2001). "Carrying Sesame Street into Print: Sesame Street
Magazine, Sesame Street Parents, and Sesame Street Books". In Fisch, Shalom M. and Rosemarie T. Truglio, Eds.
158:, and religion. Studies conducted after the episode was produced showed that most children understood its messages about death, and that they experienced no long-term ill effects.
291:
Davis described Mr. Hooper as "slightly cranky but good-hearted". Gikow called Mr. Hooper "curmudgeonly". Davis stated that since Mr. Hooper's appearance in the first episode of
228:
and humans to meet and interact. Stone's original conception of Mr. Hooper was that he would be, like most owners of such establishments at the time, older, male, and Jewish.
891:
328:
with throughout its history. Executive producer Dulcy Singer reported that they followed their instincts to be "honest and straightforward" and to "deal with it head-on".
1161:
145:
After Lee's death on
December 7, 1982, instead of recasting the role, or explaining his departure by saying he had moved, quit or retired, the writers and producers of
472:
enough for children, but Stiles kept the line because it was an acknowledgement, as Gikow stated, that there is "never a good explanation" about why people die.
1069:
393:
377:
369:
361:
1151:
1031:
884:
259:
834:
820:
417:
in the past, "I'm going to miss you, Mr. Looper." Maria tearfully corrects Big Bird and everyone gathers around him, hugging him in support.
617:
1059:
401:
385:
342:
502:
192:
in 1969 until his death in 1982, was one of the first four human characters that appeared on the show. Created by producer and writer
1124:
877:
860:
796:
643:
307:
279:
1156:
166:
1146:
683:
913:
476:
parents were at home with their children in order to discuss it. The illustrations used for the episode were drawn by
282:(CTW), said, "He gave millions of children the message that the old and the young have a lot to say to each other".
905:
497:
354:
512:
197:
288:
reported that Mr. Hooper ranked first of all human characters of the show in recognition by young viewers.
1102:
1077:
1001:
507:
306:
aired in 1983, but Lee's last segments for the show were taped in
November 1982. Lee participated in the
1039:
976:
939:
934:
251:
250:
Lee was a character actor and acting instructor with a range of roles in the theater. Lee had been
1054:
1016:
996:
284:
196:, the role of Mr. Hooper was the first to be cast. Lee came to Stone's attention through writers
169:
1983. The cast and crew reported that filming it was an emotional and touching experience, with
224:, the neighborhood variety store and combination diner/corner store that serves as a place for
133:, the neighborhood variety store and combination diner/corner store that serves as a place for
1011:
856:
830:
816:
792:
639:
373:
221:
155:
130:
852:
846:
842:
1006:
991:
405:
271:
209:
151:
1097:
981:
956:
350:
986:
951:
929:
477:
397:
41:
1140:
901:
841:
Truglio, Rosemary T.; Lovelace, Valeria O.; Sequi, Ivelisse; Scheiner, Susan (2001).
760:
See Davis, pp. 281–285 and Gikow, pp. 182–183 for descriptions of the episode's plot.
463:
365:
241:
188:
162:
121:
31:
924:
389:
346:
255:
1107:
381:
263:
225:
205:
201:
170:
134:
119:) was one of the first four human characters to appear on the television series
1049:
971:
409:
413:
314:
characters a few days before he died of a heart attack on
December 7, 1982.
193:
126:
869:
789:"G" is for Growing: Thirty Years of Research on Children and Sesame Street.
848:'G' is for Growing: Thirty Years of Research on Children and Sesame Street
1021:
946:
296:
183:
139:
116:
87:
71:
966:
843:"The Varied Role of Formative Research: Case Studies from 30 Years"
254:
from many mainstream acting roles for about five years during the
961:
873:
827:
Sesame Street: A Celebration— Forty Years of Life on the Street
150:
who watched it. They were advised by experts in the fields of
618:"Will Lee, 74, Was Mr. Hooper On Television 'Sesame Street'"
421:
collectively show affection to the baby as the show closes.
791:
Mahweh, New Jersey: Lawrence
Erlbaum Publishers. p. 210.
216:
program, which greatly influenced him as he developed
845:. In Fisch, Shalom M.; Truglio, Rosemarie T. (eds.).
1086:
1068:
1030:
912:
360:
Two segments later, Big Bird interrupts the adults—
102:
94:
82:
77:
67:
59:
51:
24:
829:. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers.
813:Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street
851:. Mahweh, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum. pp.
690:. Associated Press. 31 August 1983. p. C26.
684:"Death of a Character Is 'Sesame Street' Topic"
446:
231:
885:
488:show's producers used to create the episode.
8:
738:
736:
708:
706:
220:. Mr. Hooper is the original proprietor of
129:, Mr. Hooper is the original proprietor of
892:
878:
870:
40:
638:. New York: Hyperion Publishing. p. 124.
1162:Television characters introduced in 1969
529:
260:House Un-American Activities Committee
21:
774:
772:
770:
768:
766:
669:
667:
258:, for refusing to cooperate with the
7:
657:
655:
653:
651:
612:
610:
608:
606:
587:
585:
557:
555:
553:
543:
541:
539:
537:
535:
533:
161:The episode, written by head writer
86:Mr. Hooper (often mispronounced by
503:Educational goals of Sesame Street
14:
302:Mr. Hooper's last appearances on
212:; Stone previously worked on the
204:. Mr. Hooper was inspired by the
125:. Created by producer and writer
1119:
1118:
412:, and that he is going to serve
278:co-creator and president of the
624:. 9 December 1982. p. B20.
1152:Sesame Street human characters
323:explanation, the producers of
308:Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
280:Children's Television Workshop
1:
90:as "Cooper", "Looper", etc.)
1088:International co-production
178:Development and description
1178:
815:. New York: Viking Press.
721:Truglio, et al., pp. 73–74
634:Borgenicht, David (1998).
1116:
825:Gikow, Louise A. (2009).
485:I'll Miss You, Mr. Hooper
39:
29:
498:History of Sesame Street
1157:Fictional American Jews
811:Davis, Michael (2008).
513:Format of Sesame Street
454:—Writer Louise A. Gikow
266:, who also appeared in
78:In-universe information
46:Mr. Hooper in his store
16:Sesame Street character
1078:Teeny Little Super Guy
730:Truglio, et al., p. 74
673:Truglio, et al., p. 73
508:Sesame Street research
451:
442:Development and legacy
236:
182:Mr. Hooper, played by
1147:Fictional shopkeepers
636:Sesame Street Unpaved
186:from the premiere of
1070:Animated characters
1060:The Robinson Family
318:Death of Mr. Hooper
19:Fictional character
1055:The Number Painter
1017:Two-Headed Monster
997:Roosevelt Franklin
751:Gikow, pp. 182–183
688:The New York Times
622:The New York Times
285:The New York Times
1132:
1131:
1012:Mr. Snuffleupagus
835:978-1-57912-638-4
821:978-0-670-01996-0
483:A book, entitled
374:Northern Calloway
349:) and the Muppet
156:child development
113:Mr. Harold Hooper
110:
109:
55:November 10, 1969
1169:
1122:
1121:
1032:Human characters
1007:Sherlock Hemlock
992:Oscar the Grouch
894:
887:
880:
871:
866:
799:
785:
779:
776:
761:
758:
752:
749:
743:
740:
731:
728:
722:
719:
713:
710:
701:
698:
692:
691:
680:
674:
671:
662:
659:
646:
632:
626:
625:
614:
601:
598:
592:
589:
580:
577:
571:
568:
562:
559:
548:
545:
455:
406:Alaina Reed Hall
272:Joan Ganz Cooney
246:
214:Captain Kangaroo
210:Captain Kangaroo
167:Thanksgiving Day
152:child psychology
52:First appearance
44:
22:
1177:
1176:
1172:
1171:
1170:
1168:
1167:
1166:
1137:
1136:
1133:
1128:
1112:
1098:Chema the baker
1089:
1082:
1064:
1026:
982:Kermit the Frog
957:Count von Count
908:
898:
863:
840:
808:
803:
802:
786:
782:
777:
764:
759:
755:
750:
746:
741:
734:
729:
725:
720:
716:
711:
704:
699:
695:
682:
681:
677:
672:
665:
660:
649:
633:
629:
616:
615:
604:
599:
595:
590:
583:
578:
574:
569:
565:
560:
551:
546:
531:
526:
521:
494:
457:
453:
444:
427:
351:Forgetful Jones
334:
320:
248:
238:
180:
60:Last appearance
47:
20:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1175:
1173:
1165:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1139:
1138:
1130:
1129:
1117:
1114:
1113:
1111:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1094:
1092:
1084:
1083:
1081:
1080:
1074:
1072:
1066:
1065:
1063:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1042:
1036:
1034:
1028:
1027:
1025:
1024:
1019:
1014:
1009:
1004:
999:
994:
989:
987:Murray Monster
984:
979:
974:
969:
964:
959:
954:
952:Cookie Monster
949:
944:
943:
942:
937:
930:Bert and Ernie
927:
921:
919:
910:
909:
899:
897:
896:
889:
882:
874:
868:
867:
861:
838:
823:
807:
804:
801:
800:
780:
762:
753:
744:
732:
723:
714:
702:
693:
675:
663:
647:
627:
602:
593:
581:
572:
563:
549:
528:
527:
525:
522:
520:
517:
516:
515:
510:
505:
500:
493:
490:
478:Caroll Spinney
445:
443:
440:
426:
423:
398:Emilio Delgado
333:
330:
319:
316:
230:
222:Hooper's Store
179:
176:
131:Hooper's Store
108:
107:
104:
100:
99:
96:
92:
91:
84:
80:
79:
75:
74:
69:
65:
64:
63:March 18, 1983
61:
57:
56:
53:
49:
48:
45:
37:
36:
27:
26:
18:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1174:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1144:
1142:
1135:
1127:
1126:
1115:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1095:
1093:
1091:
1085:
1079:
1076:
1075:
1073:
1071:
1067:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1037:
1035:
1033:
1029:
1023:
1020:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1010:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1000:
998:
995:
993:
990:
988:
985:
983:
980:
978:
975:
973:
970:
968:
965:
963:
960:
958:
955:
953:
950:
948:
945:
941:
938:
936:
933:
932:
931:
928:
926:
923:
922:
920:
918:
917:
916:Sesame Street
911:
907:
904:
903:
902:Sesame Street
895:
890:
888:
883:
881:
876:
875:
872:
864:
862:0-8058-3395-1
858:
854:
850:
849:
844:
839:
836:
832:
828:
824:
822:
818:
814:
810:
809:
805:
798:
797:0-8058-3395-1
794:
790:
784:
781:
778:Davis, p. 284
775:
773:
771:
769:
767:
763:
757:
754:
748:
745:
742:Gikow, p. 183
739:
737:
733:
727:
724:
718:
715:
712:Davis, p. 281
709:
707:
703:
700:Gikow, p. 179
697:
694:
689:
685:
679:
676:
670:
668:
664:
661:Gikow, p. 182
658:
656:
654:
652:
648:
645:
644:0-7868-6460-5
641:
637:
631:
628:
623:
619:
613:
611:
609:
607:
603:
600:Davis, p. 178
597:
594:
591:Davis, p. 168
588:
586:
582:
576:
573:
570:Davis, p. 177
567:
564:
561:Davis, p. 280
558:
556:
554:
550:
544:
542:
540:
538:
536:
534:
530:
523:
518:
514:
511:
509:
506:
504:
501:
499:
496:
495:
491:
489:
486:
481:
479:
473:
470:
469:Sesame Street
465:
464:Norman Stiles
461:
460:Sesame Street
456:
450:
441:
439:
435:
431:
424:
422:
418:
415:
411:
407:
403:
399:
395:
391:
387:
383:
379:
375:
371:
367:
366:Sonia Manzano
363:
358:
356:
352:
348:
344:
339:
338:Sesame Street
331:
329:
326:
325:Sesame Street
317:
315:
313:
312:Sesame Street
309:
305:
304:Sesame Street
300:
298:
294:
293:Sesame Street
289:
287:
286:
281:
277:
276:Sesame Street
273:
269:
268:Sesame Street
265:
261:
257:
253:
247:
244:
243:
242:Time Magazine
239:—Will Lee to
235:
229:
227:
223:
219:
218:Sesame Street
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
190:
189:Sesame Street
185:
177:
175:
172:
168:
164:
163:Norman Stiles
159:
157:
153:
148:
147:Sesame Street
143:
141:
136:
132:
128:
124:
123:
122:Sesame Street
118:
114:
105:
101:
97:
93:
89:
85:
81:
76:
73:
70:
66:
62:
58:
54:
50:
43:
38:
34:
33:
32:Sesame Street
28:
25:Harold Hooper
23:
1134:
1123:
1044:
925:Abby Cadabby
915:
900:
847:
826:
812:
788:
783:
756:
747:
726:
717:
696:
687:
678:
635:
630:
621:
596:
579:Gikow, p. 66
575:
566:
547:Gikow, p. 68
484:
482:
474:
468:
462:head writer
459:
458:
452:
447:
436:
432:
428:
419:
390:Loretta Long
359:
355:Richard Hunt
347:Roscoe Orman
337:
335:
324:
321:
311:
303:
301:
292:
290:
283:
275:
267:
256:McCarthy era
249:
240:
237:
232:
217:
213:
187:
181:
160:
146:
144:
120:
112:
111:
68:Portrayed by
30:
1108:Pong Pagong
914:Muppets of
806:Works cited
392:), Gordon,
382:Bob McGrath
310:with other
264:Bob McGrath
252:blacklisted
206:Bob Keeshan
202:Carole Hart
171:Bob McGrath
165:, aired on
115:(played by
1141:Categories
1090:characters
1050:Mr. Noodle
1045:Mr. Hooper
972:Guy Smiley
906:characters
519:References
414:milkshakes
208:character
198:Bruce Hart
524:Citations
449:moments.
194:Jon Stone
127:Jon Stone
35:character
1125:Category
1022:Yip Yips
947:Big Bird
492:See also
425:Research
332:Synopsis
297:Big Bird
184:Will Lee
140:Big Bird
117:Will Lee
88:Big Bird
72:Will Lee
400:), and
245:in 1970
226:Muppets
135:Muppets
95:Species
1002:Rosita
967:Grover
859:
833:
819:
795:
642:
402:Olivia
343:Gordon
103:Gender
1040:Linda
977:Julia
940:Ernie
853:61–82
386:Susan
370:David
362:Maria
98:Human
83:Alias
1103:Kami
962:Elmo
935:Bert
857:ISBN
831:ISBN
817:ISBN
793:ISBN
640:ISBN
410:will
394:Luis
336:The
200:and
106:Male
384:),
378:Bob
376:),
368:),
142:.
1143::
855:.
765:^
735:^
705:^
686:.
666:^
650:^
620:.
605:^
584:^
552:^
532:^
274:,
154:,
893:e
886:t
879:v
865:.
837:.
404:(
396:(
388:(
380:(
372:(
364:(
353:(
345:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
