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Official Podcast of The Barretta Brothers. Join them and many great guests from The Muppets, Movies, TV, and more. Bill has been a director, writer, producer and core performer with The Muppets for nearly 30 years. Gene is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. He has also animated and illustrated for Sesame Street, Between The Lions, and The Jim Henson Company. But Wait! It’s a Podcast and a Vodcast! You can Listen or Watch. For the Vodcast go to: www.thebarrettabrothers.com New Podcast episode posts every Friday.
Episodes
Thursday Aug 26, 2021
Thursday Aug 26, 2021
On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome puppeteer, writer, producer, and Muppet performer, David Rudman.
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
David Rudman is an Emmy-nominated writer, producer, and performer.
On Sesame Street, David performs Baby Bear, Cookie Monster, and half of Two-Headed Monster.
He has performed in numerous television shows and specials including Saturday Night Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The 42nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors and the recent Disney Plus series Muppets Now.
With the Muppets, Rudman performs Scooter, Janice, and Beaker. His film credits include The Muppets Take Manhattan, Labyrinth, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, A Muppet Christmas Carol, Elmo in Grouchland, The Muppets, and Muppets Most Wanted.
Rudman is co-owner of Spiffy Pictures, where he co-created, executive produced, directed, and performed in the Emmy nominated series Jack’s Big Music Show (Nick Jr.), Bunnytown (Disney Junior), Nature Cat (PBS), Frankie and Frank (Nick Jr. Global) and the upcoming series Donkey Hodie (PBS).
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
On this episode, The Barretta Brothers take questions from the Live Youtube chat, reflecting on the first 30 shows, and more.
ABOUT OUR HOSTS:
Gene Barretta & Bill Barretta
“What are they up to now?” That was the popular question around their house and neighborhood while growing up. It was not unusual to see Gene and Bill dressed up in homemade costumes – filming Super 8mm dramas – attempting risky stunts in the ravine – animating GI Joes and weird-looking clay figures – building and performing clunky puppets – drawing offbeat comics, - and imitating The Beatles.
Today, life isn’t very different. In addition to personal projects and various acting roles, Bill has been a director, writer, producer and core performer with The Muppets for nearly 30 years. Gene is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. He has also animated and illustrated for Sesame Street, Between the Lions, and The Jim Henson Company.
The best part of their careers is that they occasionally get to work together! Unfortunately, no one will pay them to imitate The Beatles.
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Bran Henson, as well as cousins, Gary Giordano, and Nancy Woloszyn.
ABOUT OUR GUESTS:
Brian Henson
Brian is Chairman of the Jim Henson Company, a puppeteer, director, and producer.
Gary Giordano
Gary Giordano is a first cousin to Gene and Bill. He is an Artist, Gallerist, and Curator, living in Lambertville New Jersey. His Gallery and shows have been written up in Structure and Imagery, White Heat Magazine, The New York Optimist and Arte Fuse. His work is on display and sold at Gallery Gary Giordano, in New Hope, PA.
Nancy Woloszyn
Nancy is a first cousin to Gene and Bill. She has been a school nurse for seven years at Red Bank Charter School in New Jersey where she is affectionately known as Nurse Nancy. She is Aunt Nancy to many nieces and nephews and has earned the title of Queen to our generation of cousins. Her most important title is Mom, to her children, Noelle and Paul. Nancy loves living at the Jersey Shore.
Thursday Aug 12, 2021
Thursday Aug 12, 2021
On this episode, The Barretta Brothers take questions from the Live Youtube chat, ahead of the Dinosaurs 30th Anniversary Show.
ABOUT OUR HOSTS:
Gene Barretta & Bill Barretta
“What are they up to now?” That was the popular question around their house and neighborhood while growing up. It was not unusual to see Gene and Bill dressed up in homemade costumes – filming Super 8mm dramas – attempting risky stunts in the ravine – animating GI Joes and weird-looking clay figures – building and performing clunky puppets – drawing offbeat comics, - and imitating The Beatles.
Today, life isn’t very different. In addition to personal projects and various acting roles, Bill has been a director, writer, producer and core performer with The Muppets for nearly 30 years. Gene is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. He has also animated and illustrated for Sesame Street, Between the Lions, and The Jim Henson Company.
The best part of their careers is that they occasionally get to work together! Unfortunately, no one will pay them to imitate The Beatles.
Thursday Aug 12, 2021
Thursday Aug 12, 2021
On this episode, The Barretta Brothers are joined by 40 cast and crew members to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the TV show, Dinosaurs.
The highly popular TV series Dinosaurs, produced by Jim Henson Productions and Walt Disney Television, premiered on April 26, 1991. Four seasons originally aired until October 19, 1994.
It's been 30 years since the show began development. Our episode will take you on a chronological journey from its inception to its premiere, featuring over 40 key members of the cast and crew.
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
On this episode, The Barretta Brothers take questions from the Live Youtube chat with guest visits by their sons, Jackson Barretta and Ben Barretta.
ABOUT OUR HOSTS:
Gene Barretta & Bill Barretta
“What are they up to now?” That was the popular question around their house and neighborhood while growing up. It was not unusual to see Gene and Bill dressed up in homemade costumes – filming Super 8mm dramas – attempting risky stunts in the ravine – animating GI Joes and weird-looking clay figures – building and performing clunky puppets – drawing offbeat comics, - and imitating The Beatles.
Today, life isn’t very different. In addition to personal projects and various acting roles, Bill has been a director, writer, producer and core performer with The Muppets for nearly 30 years. Gene is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. He has also animated and illustrated for Sesame Street, Between the Lions, and The Jim Henson Company.
The best part of their careers is that they occasionally get to work together! Unfortunately, no one will pay them to imitate The Beatles.
Guests:
Jackson Barretta: Bill's son
Ben Barretta: Gene's son
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome the gang from puppet design and fabrication company, Puppet Heap.
ABOUT OUR GUESTS:
Paul Andrejco
Paul Andrejco is the founder of Puppet Heap, an internationally recognized character design studio in Hoboken, NJ.
Working alongside top artists in his field, he creates characters for a wide variety of media including film, television, theater, and all kinds of new media. Puppet Heap's clients and partners include such names as the Walt Disney Company, Fox Television, and Sesame Workshop.
Michael Bush
Puppet builder, wrangler, and puppeteer with Puppet Heap since 2009.
Danielle Obinger
My title is Muppets Coordinator.
I like to think of myself as an air traffic controller - know where everything is, keep all the planes
in the air and don't let anything crash! The most important thing is to keep the information flowing between Disney and the puppet builders, costumers and prop makers. I coordinate most closely with Peter MacKennan, the Production Supervisor. Peter is much! more is savvy about on-set needs, puppet protocols and idiosyncratic puppet issues. He is often on-set and I remain at PH, but we are in constant contact.
A big part of my job is maintaining and updating the database of Muppet "assets". There are more than 2,200 boxes stored off site and the contents need to be accessed quickly and efficiently.
I started working with the Muppets in 1980. I was hired, sight unseen - resume unseen, to build costumes for The Great Muppet Caper. I soon became the Photo Stylist and later the Photo Librarian (while continuing to do the occasional photo shoot). Iconic Muppet images I helped to create include: Hallmark cards, Sesame Street Viewmaster reels, most of the Miss Piggy calendars, The Kermitage Collection, Muppet Magazine, Got Milk? ads (both Kermit and Cookie Monster),Miss Piggy's Baked Lay's Potato Chip print ads (photographer: Richard Avedon!) and thousands of other photos.
Peter MacKennan
Puppet Heap Senior Artist - Production Supervisor
Peter has worked for over three decades in the fields of visual arts & entertainment, almost always with character based properties and puppets.
He has held positions at Great Jones Studio, Jim Henson Productions, Sesame Workshop, HIT Entertainment and Puppet Heap.
Peter has worked in pre-production and on set on numerous Muppet appearances, television and feature films including Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, The Muppets!, and Muppets Most Wanted.
He is the recipient of 2 Emmy Awards for his work on Sesame Street (seasons 19-25)
Peter holds an MFA in Painting and printmaking from Yale University. For more on his personal artwork follow him on Instagram.
Daniel Martin
General Manager
Starting at Puppet Heap 5 years ago with a creative and technical background, Dan runs day to day operations and has helped implement new technologies such as 3D by design, 3D printing and laser cutting into the generally traditional field of puppet building.
Mary Brehmer
Mary started her creative career at the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade, working on floats and designing and building inflatables.
After moving to New York, she supervised the sculpture department at Spaeth Design for 5 years before starting to freelance.
For the past 25 years Mary has freelanced for The Jim Henson Company, Puppet Heap, Laika, SNL, Parsons-Meares, and Spiffy Pictures, building and wrangling puppets and building costumes. She has credits in 9 feature film, several television series, and has received 4 Emmy award nominations.
She is happy to now work full time at Puppet Heap but can’t resist an extra freelance project now and then.
Thursday Jul 29, 2021
Thursday Jul 29, 2021
On this episode, The Barretta Brothers take questions from the Live Youtube chat, with illustrator and author, Jay Fossgit.
ABOUT OUR HOSTS:
Gene Barretta & Bill Barretta
“What are they up to now?” That was the popular question around their house and neighborhood while growing up. It was not unusual to see Gene and Bill dressed up in homemade costumes – filming Super 8mm dramas – attempting risky stunts in the ravine – animating GI Joes and weird-looking clay figures – building and performing clunky puppets – drawing offbeat comics, - and imitating The Beatles.
Today, life isn’t very different. In addition to personal projects and various acting roles, Bill has been a director, writer, producer and core performer with The Muppets for nearly 30 years. Gene is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. He has also animated and illustrated for Sesame Street, Between the Lions, and The Jim Henson Company.
The best part of their careers is that they occasionally get to work together! Unfortunately, no one will pay them to imitate The Beatles.
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Jay Fossgit
Jay P. Fosgitt has created comics for many familiar properties, such as SESAME STREET and DREAMWORKS ANIMATION (Ape Entertainment), MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MICRONAUTS, TRANSFORMERS (IDW/HASBRO), POPEYE (KING FEATURES), ADVENTURE TIME, THE AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL, JIM HENSON'S LABYRINTH, THE DARK CRYSTAL and FRAGGLE ROCK (Boom/The Jim Henson Company), BETTY AND VERONICA and LITTLE SABRINA (Archie), and ROCKET RACCOON AND GROOT, AVENGERS, GWENPOOL, WEB WARRIORS, CHAMPIONS, DEADPOOL, JESSICA JONES, NOT BRAND ECHH. LOCKJAW AND SPIDER-GEDDON (Marvel), and Jay has illustrated YOUNG DONALD books for Disney Publishing, and drawn for RANGER RICK MAGAZINE (National Wildlife Federation).
Thursday Jul 29, 2021
Thursday Jul 29, 2021
On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Muppet performer, puppeteer, Eric Jacobson. Also the second edition of Muppet trivia with contestants, Madison Mantas, and Tyler Partnow.
ABOUT OUR GUESTS:
Eric Jacobson:
Eric Jacobson was born on January 15, 1971 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA as Eric Norman Jacobson. Eric performs many iconic characters including, Fozzie, Miss Piggy, Bert, Oscar the Grouch, and Animal.
Among his long list of credits: Muppets Now, Sesame Street, Bear in the Big Blue House, The Muppets, Saturday Night Live, Between the Lions, The Book of Pooh: Stories from the Heart, and Take Two with Phineas and Ferb
Madison Mantas:
Madison Mantas is a life-long Muppet fan residing in the Milwaukee/Chicago suburbs. She grew up with dance, theater and improv comedy backgrounds and a love for pop culture who she would like to thank her parents and brother for bringing into her life. Most recently, she was a Skipper at Walt Disney’s World-Famous Jungle Cruise in Florida telling crappy dad jokes on boats and loved every second of it.
Tyler Partnow:
Tyler is a life-long Muppet fanatic, a musician, writer, artist, and puppeteer.
Friday Jul 23, 2021
Friday Jul 23, 2021
On this episode, The Barretta Brothers take questions from the Live Youtube chat, with special surprise visits by Muppet performer, puppeteer, producer, and director, Kevin Clash. Plus, actor, voice actor, Muppet performer, puppeteer, Tyler Bunch.
ABOUT OUR HOSTS:
Gene Barretta & Bill Barretta
“What are they up to now?” That was the popular question around their house and neighborhood while growing up. It was not unusual to see Gene and Bill dressed up in homemade costumes – filming Super 8mm dramas – attempting risky stunts in the ravine – animating GI Joes and weird-looking clay figures – building and performing clunky puppets – drawing offbeat comics, - and imitating The Beatles.
Today, life isn’t very different. In addition to personal projects and various acting roles, Bill has been a director, writer, producer and core performer with The Muppets for nearly 30 years. Gene is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. He has also animated and illustrated for Sesame Street, Between the Lions, and The Jim Henson Company.
The best part of their careers is that they occasionally get to work together! Unfortunately, no one will pay them to imitate The Beatles.
ABOUT OUR GUESTS:
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), Happy Time 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.
Tyler Bunch:
Tyler’s work as a puppeteer has appeared in productions like Sesame Street, Bear in the Big Blue House, Between the Lions, and Crank Yankers. As an actor, he has appeared in The Electric Company, Law & Order “Criminal Intent” and “Special Victims Unit.”