The Barretta Brothers

In Part Two of Meet the Muppets Mayhem, we meet the writers! Adam F. Goldberg, Bill Barretta, Jeff Yorkes, Crystal Shaw, Gabrielle Rodriguez, Hannah Friedman, and Donielle Muransky. 

The Barretta Brothers begin their series on The Muppets Mayhem, joined by Muppet Performers, Dave Goelz and Peter Linz. Plus, series actors, Tahj Mowry, Saara Chaudry, and Anders Holm. 

We celebrate Dave Goelz's 50-year career with The Muppets with a cavalcade of guests! Guests: Jackson Barretta, Ben Goelz (with girlfriend Felicia), Amy Goelz, Debbie Goelz, Dave Goelz (guest of honor), Frank Oz, Lucy Baker, Martin Baker, Jill Colley, Louise Gold, Andy Nyman (with Sophie Nyman), Nigel Plaskitt, Keith Radack, Lark Baskerville, Mark Waxman, Ernie Patterson, Heather Henson, Brian Henson, Lisa Henson, Cheryl Henson, John Lovelady, Bonnie Erikson, Rollie Krewson, Calista Hendrickson, Amy Van Gilder, Karen Prell, Kevin Clash, David Rudman, Fran Brill and husband, Jan Nelson, Rita Peruggi, Lawrence Mirkin, Alexandra Rockwell, Tom Newby, Ed Christie, Polly Smith, Jane Gootnick, Fred Buchholz, Craig Shemin, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Jim Lewis, Ed Mitchell, Charles Rivkin, Joel Behr, Karen Barnes, Adam Savage, Bobby Moynihan, Peter Friedman, Michael Giacchino, Peter Doctor, Leigh Slaughter, Michael Steinbach, Matt Vogel, Kelly Vogel, Caren Rudman, Eric Jacobson, Mary Jacobson (and children), Peter Linz, Alice Dinnean, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Jocelyn Stevenson, Barb Caswell, Chris Caswell, Duncan Kenworthy, Danny Trejo, Kirk Thatcher, Mike Quinn, Paul Williams, Ricky Gervais, Bill Prady, Dave's Glam Squad, Brad Freeman, Peter McKennan, Chris Neely, Allan Trautman, Jeff Yorkes, Adam F. Goldberg, Chelsea DeVincent, Donna Kimball, Michelan Sisti, Pat and Barbara Contini, Lynne Hale, Patricia Ulrich, Hillary Bradley, Bruce Lanoil, Laura Lanoil, Dani Iglesis, Richard Leonard, Drew Massey, Nicolette Santino, Andrew Williams

This episode of The Barretta Brothers is recorded live at The Mahoning Drive-In Theater in Lehighton, PA on May 20, 2023. Their special guest is Ed Christie (Ex VP/General Manager of NY Muppet Workshop, with a surprise guest, Brian Henson. This special event centered around a special 35mm double-feature of The Muppet Movie (1979), and The Muppets (2011). Other in-person experiences included - Movie Greetings by Muppeteers, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Matt Vogel, Peter Linz, Eric Jacobson, and David Rudman; Muppet Trailers; Muppet Collectible Vendors; Costume contest; Muppet DJ Set & Book Signing w/ Gene Barretta; Mahoning Merch; Mahoning Raffle; Muppet-themed Snack: Mahna Ma-Nachos; Photo Ops; and an Intermission Sing-A-Long - RAINBOW CONNECTION!

Gene and Bill discuss the new series, The Muppets Mayhem, with Bill’s co-creators & co-writers, Adam Goldberg (of The Goldbergs), and Jeff Yorkes. Plus, Executive Producers, Michael Bostick, and Kris Eber.

Contestants, Adrienne H. Lee, and Henry Greenberg compete to see who knows more about their favorite subject - The Muppets! Ben Barretta sits in with his Dad, Gene. A visit by Santa Claus. And to top it all off, Muppet performers, Dave Goelz, Peter Linz, Matt Vogel, and Eric Jacobson, join Bill and Gene for some holiday Q&A and stories.

On this Mini episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Muppet Performer, Puppeteer, and Actress, Louise Gold.

Episode Outline:

• Louise remembers special moments and pays tribute to:

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Louise trained as an actor at Arts Educational School but very early in her career she got a job with Jim Henson as one of the Muppet Performers on The Muppet Show (filmed at Elstree Studios) From then on, she has combined both acting and puppeteering. Most recently she played Yente in Trevor Nunn’s acclaimed production of "Fiddler on the Roof' at The Menier Chocolate Factory and the Playhouse Theatre London. Directly before that she was one of the core performers on The Netflix prequel series to the film, The Dark Crystal, 'Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance'. She was one of the original team that started Spitting Image, doing voices and puppeteering, worked on the recent Cbeebies show ‘The Furchester Hotel ‘playing Funella Furchester. She has appeared in many West End Shows as an actress including Mamma Mia, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Assassins, The Cherry Orchard with the RSC and TV, Film and Radio.

During the lockdown she was part of GLOP (Glorious ladies of Puppetry) 

BRIEF ADDITIONAL BIOS

Richard Hunt:

Muppet performer, who performed characters like Beeker, Sweetums, Scooter, Statler, and Janice.

Caroll Spinney:

Puppeteer, author, cartoonist, and Muppet performer, who originated and performed Big Bird, and Oscar the Grouch.

Jerry Nelson:

Actor, Musician, and Muppet Performer, known for dozens of characters, including Count Von Count, Sherlock Hemlock, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Robin the Frog, and Sgt. Floyd Pepper.

Jane Henson:

Puppeteer, artist, wife of Jim Henson.

John Henson:

Muppet Performer, craftsman, second son of Jim Henson.

Jim Henson:

Puppeteer, filmmaker, animator, director, writer, and creator of The Muppets. His characters include Kermit the Frog, Ernie, Dr. Teeth, Rowlf, and The Swedish Chef.

On this Mini episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Muppet Performer, Puppeteer, and Actress, Stephanie D’Abruzzo.  Along with writer, producer, and director, Craig Shemin.

Episode Outline:

• Stephanie remembers a special moment and pays tribute to Caroll Spinney

ABOUT OUR GUESTS:

Stephanie joined Sesame Street in 1993. Since then, she has performed hundreds of characters, including Lulu, Curly Bear, and Prairie Dawn since 2015. She has also puppeteered and voiced countless characters for projects like Bear in the Big Blue House, Donkey Hodie, and Julie’s Greenroom. And if that isn’t enough, this slacker has earned herself Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations, and wait for it, Theater World Award and a special Outer Critics Circle Ensemble Award – for originating her roles in Avenue Q.

Craig Shemin is a writer, producer, and director. His credits include work with The Muppets, The Jim Henson Company, TV animation, and books like The Muppets Character Encyclopedia, and the upcoming book about Jim Henson’s first TV series, Sam & Friends. Craig produced and directed the award-winning documentary Behind the Scenes at Frogtown Hollow. He is President of The Jim Henson Legacy, and curator for Henson screenings at The Museum of the Moving Image.

BRIEF ADDITIONAL BIOS

Richard Hunt:

Muppet performer, who performed characters like Beeker, Sweetums, Scooter, Statler, and Janice.

Caroll Spinney:

Puppeteer, author, cartoonist, and Muppet performer, who originated and performed Big Bird, and Oscar the Grouch.

Jerry Nelson:

Actor, Musician, and Muppet Performer, known for dozens of characters, including Count Von Count, Sherlock Hemlock, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Robin the Frog, and Sgt. Floyd Pepper.

Jim Henson:

Puppeteer, filmmaker, animator, director, writer, and creator of The Muppets. His characters include Kermit the Frog, Ernie, Dr. Teeth, Rowlf, and The Swedish Chef.

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers talk about Muppets Haunted Mansion. Special guests Matt Vogel, Dave Goelz, Peter Linz, Julianne Buescher, Alice Dinnean, Bruce Lanoil, Michael Steinbach, and Kelly Younger.

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Performer, Director, and Producer, Kevin Clash.

Episode Outline:

• Kevin remembers special moments and pays tribute to:

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

KEVIN CLASH

Kevin Clash is best known for Elmo (Sesame Street) 1979-2012. He also was part of Labyrinth (1986), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 (1990) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 (1991), Happytime Murders (SFX) 2018, and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix) 2019. In addition to Elmo, Clash is also known for performing Splinter (TMNT) Baby Sinclair (Dinosaurs), and Clifford (Muppets Tonight).

Kevin Clash has won 29 daytime Emmys, over one hundred fifty -six performing title credits, thirty- one producing title credits and twenty- seven directing title credits. In 2011, his documentary, Being Elmo, was awarded the Special Jury Prize at Sundance. He has appeared in numerous television specials, commercials, feature films and direct-to-video products.

During his career, he has worked with great innovators who founded the classic puppet television industry including Kermit Love, Frank Oz, and Jim Henson.

Clash has recruited, auditioned, and trained puppeteers from all over the world. He was the senior puppet coordinator, and was also a director, co-producer and senior creative adviser on Sesame Street.  Kevin was essential to the success of Elmo’s World and the creative branding powerhouse of Elmo. Business Insider states that in 1996 the toy company Tyco saw their sales grow from $70 million to an astounding $350 million thanks to the Tickle Me Elmo Doll.

Clash’s most recent project, Earth to Ned, will be airing on Disney+ this Fall, and he currently has several projects in development.