The Barretta Brothers

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers celebrate the TV show Dinosaurs and welcome the people behind the characters, Roy, Monica, and Spike.   Episode Outline: 05:50mins: Conversation with Pons Maar about casting the show.   13:30mins: Conversation about the character Roy. Pete Brooke, Julianne Buescher, Pons Maar.   30:50mins: Conversation about the character Monica. Jack Tate, Julianne Buescher,...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers celebrate the TV show Dinosaurs and welcome the people behind the characters, Charlene, Robbie, Baby, and BP Richfield.   Episode Outline:   03:15mins: Conversation about the character Robbie Sinclair. Day Murch, Steve Whitmire, Leif Tilden, and Lisa Rocco join Gene & Bill.   25:27mins: Conversation about the character BP Richfield. Jane Gootnick joins Da...

Dinosaurs Month, Week One WIth the announcement that the entire Dinosaurs series is going up on Disney+ on January 29, the Brothers have decided to dedicate an entire month’s worth of episodes to the beloved show. Expect features on the characters, as well as on the designers, builders, performers, and voice actors that brought those characters to life. On today’s show, the Brothers are joined by...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers take questions from the Live Youtube chat, while they watch old projects, home movies and TV sabotage videos. They welcome their life-long friend, musician, Ben Chatrer.   ABOUT OUR HOSTS: Gene Barretta & Bill Barretta “What are they up to now?” That was the popular question around their house and neighborhood while growing up. It was not unusual to see G...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Santa Claus! They also hold the third Muppet Trivia contest, featuring contestants, Joseph Deply and Mike Mroz.   ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Santa Claus Yup. The real one. Thank you to actor, Chuck Gill for arranging the visit.   Joseph Deply Joseph Debly is a young actor, singer, and puppeteer from New Brunswick, Canada. He has been a Henson fanatic since he...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers feature GLOP (Glorious Ladies of Puppetry), a team of over twenty of the most talented female puppeteers working today. And speak with GLOP creators, Donna Kimball, Colleen Smith, and Alice Dinnean.   Episode Outline: They discuss why and how they were motivated to start their project. We watch and comment on 3 of their 6 short episodes Behind the Scenes disc...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Director, Puppet Designer, Emmy-Award-Winner Puppeteer, and Co-Founder of DillonGale.   ABOUT OUR GUEST:   Ryan Dillon Ryan Dillon is the performer of Sesame Street’s Elmo. Inspired by the Muppets since childhood and encouraged by his family and teachers, Dillon did shows wherever he could. In his senior year of high school, he was asked to join the c...

Fran Brill The brothers are joined today by actress, voice-over performer, and legendary puppeteer Fran Brill, best known for her work on Sesame Street. She was the first female puppeteer hired for the show, and over a 45-year career brought to life characters such as Prairie Dawn, Countess von Backwards, Zoe, and many others.   Expect to hear...   ...Fran’s diverse and storied career in entertain...

Jim Lewis Show Notes On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Emmy Award-winning writer/producer, Jim Lewis to discuss his decades of work with The Muppets, The Jim Henson Company, and much more.   ABOUT OUR GUEST: Jim Lewis JIM LEWIS is an Emmy Award-winning writer/producer, who has been writing for frogs, pigs and other Muppets since 1985, where he worked with the late Jim Henson.   At The...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Muppet performer, puppeteer, and actress, Stephanie D’Abruzzo. Plus, writer, and producer, Craig Shemin.   ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Stephanie D’Abruzzo Stephanie D’Abruzzo has been a Muppet Performer since she joined Sesame Street in 1993. Since then, she has performed hundreds of various characters (including Prairie Dawn since 2015). Her vocal performance...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers take questions from the Live Youtube chat, reflecting on the first 30 shows, and more.   ABOUT OUR HOSTS: Gene Barretta & Bill Barretta “What are they up to now?” That was the popular question around their house and neighborhood while growing up. It was not unusual to see Gene and Bill dressed up in homemade costumes – filming Super 8mm dramas – attemptin...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Creative Director of Character Design for Sesame Street, Louis Henry Mitchell. Plus, Gene discusses his Sesame Street animation.   ABOUT OUR GUEST: Louis Henry Mitchell As Creative Director of Character Design, Louis Henry Mitchell directs and oversees all aspects of character art for Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street....

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome the gang from puppet design and fabrication company, Puppet Heap.   ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Paul Andrejco Paul Andrejco is the founder of Puppet Heap, an internationally recognized character design studio in Hoboken, NJ.  Working alongside top artists in his field, he creates characters for a wide variety of media including film, television, theater, and al...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome puppeteer, writer, producer, and Muppet performer, David Rudman.   ABOUT OUR GUEST: David Rudman is an Emmy-nominated writer, producer, and performer. On Sesame Street, David performs Baby Bear, Cookie Monster, and half of Two-Headed Monster. He has performed in numerous television shows and specials including Saturday Night Live, The Late Show with S...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome guest judge Carmen Osbahr, to help feature our ten talented contestants. Episode Outline: Gene introduces his new semi-nasty character “Simon Gene.” A Thank-You to the Muppet Fan Sites who have helped us promote the show. Intro to Carmen Contestant #01: Jordan Brownlee sings “In Our World” Contestant #02: Chris Fiser sings “Man or Muppet” Talk about C...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers take questions from the Live Youtube chat, with illustrator and author, Jay Fossgit.   ABOUT OUR HOSTS: Gene Barretta & Bill Barretta “What are they up to now?” That was the popular question around their house and neighborhood while growing up. It was not unusual to see Gene and Bill dressed up in homemade costumes – filming Super 8mm dramas – attempting...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers feature Composer, Michael Giacchino. Episode Outline: Some birthday wishes for Michael, and memories from us all growing up in the same places. Royal Albert Hall performance. (Question from viewer) Early musical influences. Exploring his early passions for music. How he began working with The Muppets Michael shares some memorabilia Favorite concept albums His...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Muppet performer Peter Linz, who performs such characters as Ernie, Herry Monster, Walter, Robin, Statler, and more.   Episode Outline: Bill and Gene discuss the upcoming America’s Got Muppet Talent contest Gene and Bill intentionally delay brining in Peter Peter Linz enters – 5:35mins Comparing Walter with a character from The Puzzle Place First movi...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers take questions from the Live Youtube chat, with special surprise visits by Muppet performer, puppeteer, producer, and director, Kevin Clash. Plus, actor, voice actor, Muppet performer, puppeteer, Tyler Bunch.   ABOUT OUR HOSTS: Gene Barretta & Bill Barretta “What are they up to now?” That was the popular question around their house and neighborhood while...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome actor, producer, wrestler, David Arquette, and wrestler, actor, RJ City. Episode Outline: David Arquette David Arquette joins Bill & Gene 01:45- David discusses early TV work like The Outsiders, Parenthood with Leonardo DiCaprio Learning the craft by watching his Dad, actor Lewis Arquette, work. How joining his High School play turned his mind tow...

Geoff Keighley Show Notes On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Video Game Innovator, Visionary, Muppet Lover, Geoff Keighley. Episode Outline: Gene surprises Billy with a puppet made by Jarrod Boutcher, based on Gene’s “Billy Puppet” sketch. Geoff Keighley shows up and talks about: Growing up in Canada Visiting the set of Fraggle Rock His parents, who work in film/TV production, includin...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers take questions from the Live Youtube chat.   ABOUT OUR HOSTS: Gene Barretta & Bill Barretta “What are they up to now?” That was the popular question around their house and neighborhood while growing up. It was not unusual to see Gene and Bill dressed up in homemade costumes – filming Super 8mm dramas – attempting risky stunts in the ravine – animating GI...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome actor, comedian, writer, and SNL Alumni, Bobby Moynihan.   ABOUT OUR GUEST: Bobby Moynihan Bobby Moynihan is an actor and writer, known for Saturday Night Live, DuckTales, Secret Life of Pets, and the upcoming Mr. Mayor. He has worked with the Muppets when he hosted the Muppet Show Live at the Hollywood Bowl and the O2. He is a happy boy.

On this episode, the Barretta Brothers welcome Ricky Gervais and Matt Vogel to speak about their experiences in the comedy, acting, and puppeteering industries. They delve into their influences and some of their favorite bits and characters. Ricky discusses how people live vicariously through comedians and the value in enjoying yourself and living to have fun. Then, Matt speaks on vocal matching,...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome actress and Muppet performer, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph to talk about her career and answer questions from our Live YouTube Chat. She performs characters such as Abby Cadabby, Spamela Hamderson, Prairie Dawn’s Mom, and more. Episode Outline: Gene and Bill answer questions for the first eleven minutes alone Dick the Shark shows up to taunt Gene Leslie Car...