#mr hooper

Bert broke a teapot that Mr. Hooper gave to David.

Source:

PS: That's not Manhatten Cafe - that's my Uma OC, Sunday Silence

Just something I thought I'd do with Mr Hooper and my Uma OC for a potential collab AU

Let me start by saying that I didn't grow up with Mr. Hooper. I was born in 86 so his passing was three years before I was even a thought. I did have Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, so I did know who he was. It ended up being many years later that I learned more about who he was and this episode. I don't remember how I learned of this or even when I first found the clip of Big Bird being told what death was, but even still... This moment. This Episode.

Continuing on where I left off, the whole build up was well done. Big Bird passing out the drawings (all wonderfully done by Caroll Spinney himself) and wondering where Mr. Hooper is so he could give the drawing to him. He's not at the store? Then where is he? Then, Maria drops the Whammist of Wham Lines in all children's media at that time:

"Big Bird, don't you remember? Mr. Hooper died. He's dead."

I sometimes wonder how kids reacted when they were watching this for the first time.

Then came the explanation from Susan, that when people die, they don't come back. Big Bird's little broken "Ever?" is like being stabbed in the heart with an icicle.

We also see how the adults - and the actors and actresses themselves - are also processing the passing of Mr. Hooper - Will Lee. The wounds are still fresh with David barely keeping it together when he reveals he's now in charge of Hooper and Bob being in tears as he talks about remembering him, even though it won't be the same without him. These are their real emotions, not fake ones.

Of course, this is Big Bird's moment. He's just a kid who lost an important part of his life and he's got tons of big feelings inside. He confused, he's upset, he's hurt. he's angry. Why does it have to be this way?! Give him one good reason!

Like with Gordon explaining divorce to Elmo and Rosita, it falls on him to give an answer to Big Bird's question. "It has to be this way... because. (...) Just because", a reference to an earlier scene where Big Bird gave a similar answer for why he's walking weird. I do love that Susan is the one to urge him to say something with the little shoulder tap. I also love Bob and Maria giving each other silent comfort.

The fact this was all in one take is incredible. They had tried, but no one could keep it together to do a second take. They were all grieving and grieving together as family.

I'd love to think that the frame the picture is in was made by Luis and Maria. I also love that, even with all the changes to the set and to Big Bird's area, that framed drawing still remains there after all this time.

There it is, right on that little cupboard by Big Bird's head with the picture of Radar. Always there as a memory of someone gone, but never forgotten. That's whats wonderful about things like photos, videos, drawings, or keepsakes featuring someone that's passed. They're never gone as long as you have something to remember them by.