Almost everyone has watched The Muppet Show and Sesame Street. But, even if you’ve seen every episode, there is bound to be something on this list that will surprise you.
Mental Floss recently compiled the back story of 20 different Jim Henson creations for CNN, with hilariously interesting results.
Here’s what they have to say about my favorite, Oscar the Grouch:
10. Oscar the Grouch is performed by the same guy who does Big Bird, Carroll Spinney. Spinney said he based Oscar’s cranky voice on a particular New York cab driver he once had the pleasure of riding with. He was originally an alarming shade of orange. In Pakistan, his name is Akhtar and he lives in an oil barrel. In Turkey, he is Kirpik and lives in a basket. And in Israel, it’s not Oscar at all — it’s his cousin, Moishe Oofnik, who lives in an old car.
