Big Bird in China
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Big Bird in China was a 1983 special produced by the Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) and CCTV. It was originally broadcast on May 29 1983 on NBC.[1] The special was based on the popular television series Sesame Street. Big Bird and Little Xiao Foo travel through China to find Feng Huang, the Phoenix bird.
Highlights include Chinese landmarks like the Great Wall of China and Beijing, Big Bird learning the "little duckling dance", and a song to teach Chinese words. A character called The Monkey King appears in the special; despite an appearance that has scared many youngsters, he helps Big Bird and Xiao Foo in their quest.
The production was released onto DVD February 10, 2004. The DVD lacks about a minute of the original production, in which Big Bird is looking for someone who speaks "American".
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[edit] Origins
In his memoir, Caroll Spinney notes that he was inspired to pitch the special to CTW after visiting China on a tour with Bob Hope.[2] This first trip was to film the Bob Hope on the Road to China, a two hour NBC special airing September 16, 1979. The special featured Big Bird, along with the likes of Shields & Yarnell and Mikhail Baryshnikov with musical numbers by Peaches and Herb and Crystal Gayle.[3] It was produced by James Lipton.[4]
Spinney devised the storyline and suggested locations for Big Bird in China. However, the program's credits do not acknowledge this, and instead state, "Created by Jon Stone". Spinney also notes that, when filming on location in China, he experienced much tension and difficulty due to animosity from Stone.
[edit] Cast
- Carroll Spinney as Big Bird/Oscar the Grouch
- Brian Muehl as Barkley/Telly
- Frank Oz as Bert/Cookie Monster/Grover
- Jerry Nelson as Two-Headed Monster, head one/Oscar the Grouch (assistant)/Cookie Monster (assistant)
- Richard Hunt as Two-Headed Monster, head two/Ernie (assistant)/Telly (assistant)
- Jim Henson as Ernie
- Quyang Lien-Tze (Lisa Ou) as Xiao Foo
- Katherine Lakoski as The Singing Phoenix
- Ting Bao-Yi as Lion Dog
- Arabella Hong as The Shopkeeper
- Lu Ja-Lin as The Dancing Phoenix
- Wang Kwan-Wei as Lion Dog
- Hua Ziu Ping as The Storyteller
- Monkey King: Chou Yi-Ping, Liu Xio-Shen, Zhang Xin-Tien, Xu Tien-Ed, Quan She-Zhen, Li Jiang, Lu Fu-Hai, Wu Chi-Lian
[edit] Crew
- Directed by Jon Stone
- Written by Joseph A. Bailey and Jon Stone
- Executive Producer Jon Stone
- Music by Dick Lieb
- Associate Producer Tish Sommers
- Associate Director Ozzie Alfonso
- Art Director Victor DiNapoli
- Editor Ken Gutstein
- Audio Blake Norton
- Sound Effects Dick Maitland
[edit] Awards
[edit] References
- ^ Stengel, Richard (1983-05-30). Innocent Abroad, with Feathers. Time Magazine. Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
- ^ Spinney, Caroll; J. Milligan. The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch) Lessons Learned from a Life in Feathers (in English). Villard Books.
- ^ Cleveland Memory Collection : Item View - Bob Hope and Big Bird. Cleveland State University (2007). Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
- ^ Getlen, Larry (2007-02-22). Memory Lane - Every Picture Tells a Story in James Lipton's Home. New York Post. News Corporation. Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
- ^ Past Winners Database - 1982-1983 35th Emmy Awards. Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company (2005). Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
