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{{performer|Kevin Clash}}
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{{character|image=HootsTheOwl.png|performer=[[Kevin Clash]]|debut=1985}}
[[Image:HootsTheOwl.png|right|316px]]
 
 
[[Image:HootsTheOwl.jpg |frame|The original jazz bird.]]
 
[[Image:HootsTheOwl.jpg |frame|The original jazz bird.]]
 
'''Hoots the Owl''' is the resident jazz musician on ''[[Sesame Street]]'', first introduced in 1985. Hoots plays the saxophone, often performing at the jazz club [[Birdland]]. He has a [[granddaughter]] named [[Athena]]. Some of his songs have included "[[Put Down the Duckie (song)| Put Down the Duckie]]", "[[Do De Rubber Duck]]", "[[The Birdcall Boogie]]", and most recently, "[[A Cookie Is a Sometime Food]]" with [[Cookie Monster]].
 
'''Hoots the Owl''' is the resident jazz musician on ''[[Sesame Street]]'', first introduced in 1985. Hoots plays the saxophone, often performing at the jazz club [[Birdland]]. He has a [[granddaughter]] named [[Athena]]. Some of his songs have included "[[Put Down the Duckie (song)| Put Down the Duckie]]", "[[Do De Rubber Duck]]", "[[The Birdcall Boogie]]", and most recently, "[[A Cookie Is a Sometime Food]]" with [[Cookie Monster]].
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In 2006, a new Hoots puppet was used when he was singing "[[It Feels Good When You Sing a Song]]" with [[John Legend]]. He has longer bright orange-brown feathers, his beak is bright yellow (and more flexible), and his toes are moveable via glove-like holes.
 
In 2006, a new Hoots puppet was used when he was singing "[[It Feels Good When You Sing a Song]]" with [[John Legend]]. He has longer bright orange-brown feathers, his beak is bright yellow (and more flexible), and his toes are moveable via glove-like holes.
 
<br clear="all" />
 
<br clear="all" />
<gallery widths="155" spacing="small" position="center" captionalign="center" bordersize="none" orientation="square" hideaddbutton="true">
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<gallery widths="155" spacing="small" bordersize="none" orientation="square">
 
Image:80sHoots.jpg|1985-1989
 
Image:80sHoots.jpg|1985-1989
 
Image:90shoots.jpg|1989-2001
 
Image:90shoots.jpg|1989-2001
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*According to a 2006 interview with TVGuide.com, Hoots is from Harlem. <ref>Sesame Street's Elmo Celebrates July 4 by Michael Davis.</ref>
 
*According to a 2006 interview with TVGuide.com, Hoots is from Harlem. <ref>Sesame Street's Elmo Celebrates July 4 by Michael Davis.</ref>
 
*Kevin Clash based Hoots' voice on [[Louis Armstrong|Louis Armstrong's]] voice. <ref>Clash, Kevin, ''[[My Life as a Furry Red Monster]]''.</ref>
 
*Kevin Clash based Hoots' voice on [[Louis Armstrong|Louis Armstrong's]] voice. <ref>Clash, Kevin, ''[[My Life as a Furry Red Monster]]''.</ref>
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==Filmography ==
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*''[[Follow That Bird]]''
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*''[[The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years]]''
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*''[[Sing Along]]''
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*''[[Sesame Street Special]]''
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*''[[Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting]]''
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*''[[Big Bird's Birthday or Let Me Eat Cake]]''
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*''[[Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration]]''
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*''[[Sesame Street Stays Up Late]]''
   
 
==Book appearances==
 
==Book appearances==

Revision as of 02:07, 3 January 2016

HootsTheOwl
PERFORMER Kevin Clash
DEBUT 1985
HootsTheOwl

The original jazz bird.

Hoots the Owl is the resident jazz musician on Sesame Street, first introduced in 1985. Hoots plays the saxophone, often performing at the jazz club Birdland. He has a granddaughter named Athena. Some of his songs have included " Put Down the Duckie", "Do De Rubber Duck", "The Birdcall Boogie", and most recently, "A Cookie Is a Sometime Food" with Cookie Monster.

In a 1988 episode, Hoots explains his career background to Athena through pictures hanging along one of the walls of Birdland. He first started out in a band called "The Rhythm School", where he got his first real gig. Later he worked at a classy nightclub, working with great artists that included his future wife (who closely resembles Athena). He then flew downtown where he got into jazz before finally settling on Sesame Street, where he jammed with his new band, the Birdland Players.

Puppet and character evolution

The puppet used for Hoots made its earliest appearance, with a different performer, as the owl member of the Feathered Friends in Follow That Bird, and was the only member skeptical of Big Bird's sadness.

Originally, when Hoots debuted in 1985, the puppet had realistic owl-like eyes, as well as a moving eyelid mechanism, giving him more expression. The puppet was slightly redesigned for his 2001 return in Music Works Wonders with new orange eyes that look more generic and less owl-like, although they still featured moving eyelid mechanism, in addition to a moving feather brow. The pupils were also simplified, eliminating the original yellow ring that circled them.

In 2006, a new Hoots puppet was used when he was singing "It Feels Good When You Sing a Song" with John Legend. He has longer bright orange-brown feathers, his beak is bright yellow (and more flexible), and his toes are moveable via glove-like holes.

Notes

  • John Tartaglia performed Hoots in the video Music Works Wonders to a pre-recorded track of Kevin Clash's voice for Hoots (with, unusually, credit for the role).
  • According to a 2006 interview with TVGuide.com, Hoots is from Harlem. [1]
  • Kevin Clash based Hoots' voice on Louis Armstrong's voice. [2]

Filmography

Book appearances

Sources

  1. Sesame Street's Elmo Celebrates July 4 by Michael Davis.
  2. Clash, Kevin, My Life as a Furry Red Monster.