From Muppet Wiki

I especially remember Herbert Birdsfoot inventing a "Rube Goldberg" machine, which Cookie Monster would have to figure out how to use, in order to make it raise the glass cover off the plateful of cookies at the other end of it, so Cookie Monster can eat them.

When Herbert hears Cookie Monster approaching, he hides to observe him. Cookie Monster investigates the machine for a moment, then gets the cookies with a well-aimed "KOWABUNGA!" karate-chop that destroys the machine and the glass cover on the plate...thus demonstrating that with a little unorthodox thought, you're bound to find a more efficient way of achieving your goal!

Flanders look alike ?

Donsn't Birdsfoot look a bit like Ned Flanders from the Simpsons ?