Norman Stiles

Norman Stiles (left) and Chris Cerf at the 2001 TCA Awards.

Norman Stiles is a writer who worked on Sesame Street and its related products for over twenty years; his concepts included the Muppet characters Count von Count and Forgetful Jones.

Stiles initially studied zoology and chemistry at Hunter College, and became a social worker for the New York City Welfare Department. During that period, he began writing comedy material for such performers as Ron Carey (later of Barney Miller) and Marty Brill, and wrote for Merv Griffin.

Stiles joined the Children's Television Workshop in 1971, and became the head writer on Sesame Street beginning with Season 4. In later years, his work would often touch upon sensitive topics, such as the death of Mr. Hooper in Episode 1839, or the effects of divorce on children in the unaired "Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce."

Stiles has also written for appearances by the Muppets, such as Ad Council nutrition spot with Cookie Monster, and authored a variety of Sesame Street books (including The Perils of Penelope, wrote lyrics for such songs as "Put Down the Duckie," and helped script Jim Henson's pilot special The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence.

Outside of the Muppets and Sesame Street, Stiles has written for America 2-Night (starring Martin Mull and Fred Willard) and Mel Brooks' 1975 sitcom spoof of Robin Hood When Things Were Rotten]]. Most recently, with Michael K. Frith and Christopher Cerf, Stiles co-founded Sirius Thinking Ltd., and wrote and produced Between the Lions, netting a 104 Daytime Emmy for best writing and several nominations.

Most recently, along with Michael K. Frith

Television Writing Credits

• Sesame Street (1971-ca. 1993)
• The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence
• Out to Lunch
• The Jean Marsh Cartoon Special
• The Sesame Street Special

Book Credits

• The Sesame Street Library volumes 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12
• The Sesame Street Treasury volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
• The Sesame Street Storybook
• The Sesame Street 1, 2, 3 Storybook
• The Sesame Street ABC Storybook
• The Perils of Penelope
• I'll Miss You, Mr. Hooper
• The Amazing Mumford and His Amazing Subtracting Trick
• The Ernie & Bert Book
• Grover's Little Red Riding Hood
• Grover and the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum
• Around the Corner on Sesame Street
• The Count's Number Parade

Lyricist

• Do De Rubber Duck
• Google Bugle
• Handful of Crumbs
• Monster in the Mirror
• Put Down the Duckie
• Swamp Mushy Muddy
• Telephone Rock
• Above it All
• Counting Robins
• Five Jive with Elmo Hammer
• Hey Food
• You're Alive

Miscellaneous Writing

• Big Bird Discovers the Orchestra, album
• Sleeping Birdie, Sesame Street Live stage show