The Barretta Brothers

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Muppet performer, puppeteer, Eric Jacobson. Also the second edition of Muppet trivia with contestants, Madison Mantas, and Tyler Partnow.   ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Eric Jacobson: Eric Jacobson was born on January 15, 1971 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA as Eric Norman Jacobson. Eric performs many iconic characters including, Fozzie, Miss Piggy, Bert, Oscar the Gr...

The brothers are joined today by Kirk Thatcher, an Emmy award winning writer/producer, an award winning television, commercial and viral video director, as well as a creature maker and character designer for both films and television.   Expect to hear...   ...How and why Kirk became an artist in spite of having parents that did not see it as a lucrative or even practical career path.   ...what it...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Actress, Muppet performer, voice actress, Julianne Buescher AND puppeteer Alice Dinnean.   ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Julianne Buescher Julianne Buescher is a whimsically versatile, classically trained actor, voice-over artist and Muppet Performer…whose new Muppet character Beverly Plume can be seen in “Muppets Now!” on Disney+! Follow Julianne on IG at @julia...

On this two-part episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Performer, Director, Producer, Kevin Clash - and Designer, Art Director, Puppet builder, Jane Gootnick.   Episode Outline: Gene & Bill discuss Gene’s “Billy Puppet” sketch.   Jane Gootnick –  2:48-37:40mis Jane discusses Character Sal Minella Designing and building a perfect puppet character Sir Didymus and Brian Froud designs Dinosaurs D...

On this two-part episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Performer, Director, Producer, Kevin Clash -  and Designer, Art Director, Puppet builder, Jane Gootnick. Episode Outline: Jane Gootnick – 07:50 – 34:00 mins Jane talks about her very impression family tree and the early years People who originally inspired her. Pre-Henson work in NY, including SNL. Her start with Sesame Street and The Jim Hen...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers answer questions from the Live Youtube Chat during their 10th episode.   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 this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Actor/Activist/Restauranteur, Danny Trejo. Featuring surprise celebrity-guest visits by Kermit the Frog, Jon Voight, The Swedish Chef, and director Robert Rodriguez.   Episode Outline:   Working with The Muppets Trejo’s Tacos and eating with family A visit from Robert Rodriguez. They talk about their films, and how they discovered they are related. A...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Muppet Fan Artists, Stuart Reeves, David R. Hulteen, James V. Carrol, and Kenny Durkin.   ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Stuart Reeves In 2009 Stuart opened his own studio after working in-house at one of the U.K’s largest privately-owned companies as Senior Creative since 2001, where he developed a collaborative expertise with the immensely talented creative team...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Cook, and TV personality, Alton Brown. Plus, Muppet Supervisor, designer, puppet builder, sculptor, Ed Christie, AND   designer, Creative Director, sculptor, and Visual Arts Educator, Ed Eyth.   ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Alton Brown In his words . . . “cook.”   Ed Christie During his 35 years working with the Jim Henson Company, Ed Christie worked on almost a...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Benjamin Franklin, as well as their first Muppet Trivia Contest with contestants, Jesse Oliver and John Papovich.   ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Benjamin Franklin (Bill Ochester) Printer, Statesman, Scientist, Inventor, Humanitarian, Cartoonist, Humorist, Musician, Diplomat, and Founder of The Unites States of America. Close, personal friend of Bill Ochester. ww...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers take questions from the Live Youtube chat with guest visits by their sons, Jackson Barretta and Ben Barretta.   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...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers feature veteran Muppet performers and Emmy Winners, Frank Oz, and Dave Goelz. Two hours of love and cutting remarks. Episode Outline: Gene serenades Bill for his birthday with a crash landing. Frank’s early years, including his dramatic overseas, post-war immigration from Belgium. Dave’s early career in Industrial Design and his father’s influence. Frank’s pa...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers are joined by 40 cast and crew members to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the TV show, Dinosaurs. The highly popular TV series Dinosaurs, produced by Jim Henson Productions and Walt Disney Television, premiered on April 26, 1991. Four seasons originally aired until October 19, 1994.  It's been 30 years since the show began development. Our episode will take...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers take questions from the Live Youtube chat, ahead of the Dinosaurs 30th Anniversary Show.   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 – attempt...

The Blasucci Family Show Notes   On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Writer/Producer, Dick Blasucci. Writer/Producer Anthony Blasucci. And Writer/Producer, Actress, Maria Blasucci, to discuss their work on shows like Family Guy, SCTV, Muppets Tonight, Ghost Ghirls, and Drunk History, just to name a few.   ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Dick Blasucci Dick Blasucci began his career writing for “SCTV”...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome TV Host, producer, and actor, Tom Bergeron. As well as writer/producers, Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley.   ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Tom Bergeron Tom is an award-winning TV host, producer and actor, known for Dancing with the Stars, Hollywood Squares, America’s Funniest Home Videos, The Jerry Lewis Telethon, occasional appearances with The Muppets, and more r...

On this episode, The Barretta Brothers welcome Bran Henson, as well as cousins, Gary Giordano, and Nancy Woloszyn.   ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Brian Henson Brian is Chairman of the Jim Henson Company, a puppeteer, director, and producer.   Gary Giordano Gary Giordano is a first cousin to Gene and Bill. He is an Artist, Gallerist, and Curator, living in Lambertville New Jersey. His Gallery and shows have b...

Official Podcast of The Barretta Brothers. Join them and many great guests from The Muppets, Movies, TV, and more. Bill has been a director, writer, producer and core performer with The Muppets for nearly 30 years. Gene is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. He has also animated and illustrated for Sesame Street, Between The Lions, and The Jim Henson Company. But Wait! It’...