1 The Muppet Mindset: Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Baby Bear

Jan 2, 2013

Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Baby Bear

Today's article is written by Michael Baldasare.

BABY BEAR

Performed by...
David Rudman

First appearance...
Sesame Street Season 23 (1991)

Most recent appearance...
Sesame Street Season 43 (2012)

Best known role...
Sesame Street's resident bear; good friend of Telly Monster; artist of Hero Guy; porridge lover

Family...
Papa Bear (Father), Mama Bear (Mother), Curly Bear (Sister)

WHO IS BABY BEAR?

Baby Bear originally appeared on Sesame Street as a generic bear, though the puppet was used as a cub version of Flo Bear back in Season 18. The actual character first appeared in Episode 2909 where he ran to Sesame Street trying to hide from Goldilocks, who kept annoying him. He was a minor character back in the early 1990s. He became a main character after the show's twenty-fifth season.

He has been paired with Telly Monster since Season 24 and the duo have become long-lasting friends. His parents Mama and Papa Bear were added to the show during that season as well. His baby sister Curly was born on the Season 34 finale, turning the Three Bears into four.

Baby Bear's favorite food is porridge but tends to get very annoyed when Goldilocks eats his porridge. In Season 31, Baby Bear created an imaginary friend named Hero Guy and and a series of sketches involving him aired occasionally from Season 32 to Season 38. Baby Bear also attended Storybook Community School, which lasted from Seasons 36 to 37.

Baby Bear speaks with a speech impediment. He pronounces his Rs as Ws, much like Junior Gorg from Fraggle Rock. For example, "Super Hero" is said by Baby Bear as "Super Hewo." In the special Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!, he and his family celebrate Hanukkah.

Appearing in numerous episodes in every recent season, Baby Bear is one of the most popular, often-used characters on Sesame Street. He and Telly make a brilliant pair and as one of the only Muppets with a close, commonly seen family, Baby Bear can teach lessons about family life and learning from parents.

WHY DOES SESAME STREET NEED BABY BEAR?
Baby Bear has been around on the Sesame Street for over twenty years since the 23rd season and is still a regular character. Without him and the Bear family, Telly would miss his very best friend and would have to find another best friend and Goldilocks would sneak into the Bear Family's room to eat up all of their porridge. Now that Baby Bear still remains regular and has been part of the main cast, it's been great to have him as Telly's long-lasting best friend.







The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

2 comments:

  1. I think baby bear is so cute and an amazing character for sesame street. But, there's one thing that always gets me: he reminds me of fozzie and sometimes even sounds like a child version of fozzie, but that's my opinion, add on if you will.
    Hugs and giggles~Maria Gayle

    ReplyDelete
  2. i think baby bear having a speech impediment is stupid. developing minds are watching and learning to speak. they are going to learn to speak with a speech impediment.

    ReplyDelete

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