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Muppets in Moscow
Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia | Natasha Lance Rogoff
15 posts | 9 read | 18 to read
"In this thrilling debut, television producer and filmmaker Rogoff recounts her mission to bring Sesame Street to Russian audiences.... The resulting tale is one of perseverance and creativity that illuminates how even the most disparate cultures and perspectives can find common ground." Publishers Weekly, Starred Review After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the timing appeared perfect to bring Sesame Street to millions of children living in the former Soviet Union. With the Muppets envisioned as ideal ambassadors of Western values, no one anticipated just how challenging and dangerous this would prove to be. In Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia, Natasha Lance Rogoff brings this gripping tale to life. Amidst bombings, assassinations, and a military takeover of the production office, Lance Rogoff and the talented Moscow team of artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers, and puppeteers remained determined to bring laughter, learning, and a new way of seeing the world to children in Russia, Ukraine and across the former Soviet empire. With a sharp wit and compassion for her colleagues, Lance Rogoff observes how cultural clashes colored nearly every aspect of the productionfrom the shows educational framework to writing comedy to the new Russian Muppets themselvesdespite the teams common goal. Brimming with insight and nuance, Muppets in Moscow skillfully explores the post-Soviet societal tensions that continue to thwart the Russian peoples efforts to create a better future for their country. More than just a story of a childrens show, this book provides a valuable perspective of Russias people, their culture, and their complicated relationship with the West that remains relevant even today.
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Kerrbearlib
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Listening to this audiobook on #Spotify #Muppets #Audiobook

TieDyeDude That sounds fascinating! I hope it's good. 9mo
13 likes1 comment
review
5feet.of.fury
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Pickpick

Following the fall of the Soviet Union, the author as producer tries to help Russia by spreading values of tolerance, individuality &friendship that Big Bird &friends are known for. Just when the shock gave way to tedium from all the murder &money problems, the focus shifted to the process of finding design &storytelling elements that would encompass the Sesame Street vibe while being something Russian children could relate to. Very interesting

5feet.of.fury my personal favorite “Oscar the Grouch is a nonconformist, and in Russia he would have been put in prison.” & Don‘t get me started on the different color symbolisms. 😂 10mo
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monalyisha
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Pickpick

At first, I found this memoir about bringing Sesame Street to Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union in the 90‘s to be a bit tedious. The trials & tribulations just kept coming. From political assassinations to close-minded writers, it‘s an exhausting onslaught! Eventually, though, the team solidifies, evolves, & begins to create their own, unique Russian muppets. At this point, I became endeared, invested, & maybe even a little obsessed!👇🏻

monalyisha 1/7: The process of making an international version of Sesame Street is fascinating. I especially loved hearing about the creation of the set. In each country‘s iteration, the team must ask itself, “What should the neighborhood look like? What kind of architecture should it include?” 11mo
monalyisha 2/7: The Russian team‘s answer was, “let‘s include all of it!”: orthodox churches, dachas, ornate imperial castles, and concrete Communist boxes (with maximum square footage limits). (edited) 11mo
monalyisha 3/7: It was interesting, too, to see how the writers incorporated folklore, music, and a distinct national personality and tone (e.g. sweet melancholy). Natasha describes a particular storyline that her writers develop, which perfectly exemplifies this concept. In the Russian script, a child loses his balloon. His friend comforts him by letting go of their own balloon, and they watch them float away — together. 11mo
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monalyisha 4/7: She says that in America, the second child would have shared their balloon with the first, instead. Too true! 🤯

It‘s heartening to hear about how Sesame Street brought its liberal ideals to Russia, helping the new generation to cast aside old & stagnant beliefs about race, ableism, and gender roles. It‘s odd to read about the glorification of capitalism when so many of us are currently feeling battered by it.
11mo
monalyisha 5/7: ALL of the many, many Author‘s Notes and Afterwards were more-than-necessary, as the author and her once-colleagues try to wrap their minds and hearts around the present reality. 11mo
monalyisha 6/7: In particular, Gary E. Knell, the former president & CEO of Sesame Workshop, speaks to the “fragile environment” in which Ulitsa Sezam was developed, and how the goal was “to build a foundation for a safer world with respect for human dignity.” He observes that “we could certainly use another infusion of similar inspiration today.” He was right to note that it‘s the whole world that needs this infusion; not one place but ALL. (edited) 11mo
monalyisha 7/7: Bert, hold us together with your paper clips. Elmo, send us your laughter.

I left the tale feeling moved to read more nonfic about Russian history (to better understand the present) — AND to try to find some subtitled episodes of Ulitsa Sezam to watch! I need to see Zeliboba in action! IYKYK…
11mo
JamieArc I have this on my shelf to be read soon! 11mo
Texreader Such a heartfelt review. Thanks so much!! 11mo
Megabooks Great review!! 11mo
jlhammar I loved this book! Fab review. I highly recommended anything by Svetlana Alexievich. Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking by Anya Von Bremzen is wonderful. Also really enjoyed 11mo
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keithmalek
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Mehso-so

The true story of an American woman's attempts to bring Sesame Street to Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. I thought it was hysterical how the Russians wanted their puppets to be miserable in order to accurately reflect Russian culture. However, considering the material, I felt this book could have been much funnier than it was. It also felt like it dragged on a bit longer than was necessary.

Suet624 Misery. The Russian way. 2y
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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Cathyloves2read
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Pickpick

I did it! I read a non-fiction book, and actually loved it!! I can‘t believe the hurdles that the Sesame Street team has to face in order to have the show aired in Russia. This book has many touching moments, which I didn‘t expect. I found myself googling and using YouTube quite often as I read, in order to see the sets and characters that were described. I wish the ending were happier, but it‘s real life, which now involves war.

jlhammar Yay!! Isn‘t this an amazing story? And so warm and funny. I loved it. 2y
Aims42 This was such a fun and fascinating read!! I‘m so glad you liked it too!! 2y
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Floresj
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Pickpick

The combination of Sesame Street behind the scenes, Russian oligarchs in the 1990s, and cultural differences and similarities, make this book an enjoyable and engaging read. It perfectly shown the massive change Russia attempted in the 1990s to move from communism to capitalism through the attempts to make a Russian version of beloved show- Sesame Street. It has creativity, Russian culture, Sesame Street training, and vodka. Perfection.

jlhammar Such a good read! So glad you enjoyed it. 2y
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Sharpeipup
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Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I've wanted to read this one but couldn't find it here.
#jolabokaflodswap

BennettBookworm This looks hilarious! 2y
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JamieArc
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Thank you for the Christmas goody package, @catiewithac ! You always put books on my radar that I wouldn‘t have found otherwise. The Michigan pin/patch are so pretty 😍 Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season!

catiewithac I totally stole and stacked Muppets in Moscow from you!! Happy holidays!! 🎄 2y
jlhammar Yay! Hope you enjoy Muppets as much as I did- so funny and fascinating! 2y
JamieArc @catiewithac I was thinking I stacked it from you. Very much seems like something you would read. But now I remember it was @jlhammar Looking forward to it! 2y
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jlhammar
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Pickpick

Loved it! Such an incredible story—fascinating, hilarious and touching. One of my favorite nonfiction reads this year.

JamieArc You are posting some interesting books today! 2y
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

This was funny and heartwarming and tedious at the same time. Right after the fall of the USSR, Rogoff was hired to produce Sesame Street in Russia, but finding partners, actors, writers, and even a network is no easy task in a ever-changing and even dangerous landscape. At times I didn‘t appreciate all the details, but the arc of the story and major players were interesting enough to keep me engaged. #NFNov

Cinfhen Sounds fun 😃but a #BorrowNotBuy 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I‘d agree with that! 2y
monalyisha Ha! Look at that! You settled on the same adjective as I did; “tedious” is the word, for sure. Validating to see it elsewhere. 11mo
Megabooks @monalyisha yes, I felt some details might‘ve been better omitted but I appreciate the foundation she built to nurture the rest of the book. 11mo
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Aims42
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Pickpick

Wow 🤯 This book was fascinating, eye-opening, and crazy because it‘s a TRUE STORY! It‘s a rollercoaster ride of triumphs and losses from beginning to end and you‘ll be rooting for Natasha‘s team throughout their journey. I didn‘t want to spoil the ending by googling if Sesame Street (or ‘Ulitsa Sezam‘ which is Sesame Street in Russian) actually makes it and I can guarantee the payoff is worth the wait. An easy 5 star read!!

jlhammar Yay! Great to hear. Can't wait to read this! 2y
Aims42 @jlhammar I hope you also enjoy it when you get to it!! The author does a great job telling the story, it‘s not dry or boring at all 🙌 2y
Megabooks Sounds good!! 2y
monalyisha I also avoided spoilers (and laughed at myself for doing so)! 11mo
Aims42 @monalyisha 😁😁😁 Bookworms know the struggle! 11mo
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Aims42
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When your hold comes in at the library for the most ridiculous sounding book you‘ve ever seen, you get up on Saturday morning and get it (and a sausage biscuit & hashbrown cuz why wouldn‘t you??)

Susanita I love their hash browns! 2y
Aims42 @Susanita Me too!! I should‘ve gotten two, one is never enough 😋 2y
jlhammar This is on my to get soon list! Sounds so interesting! 2y
Aims42 @jlhammar Right?? I‘m beyond intrigued 🤩 2y
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jlhammar
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New issue of bookmarks! Loving the Fall vibes. Description for tagged “crazy true story” in the Coming Soon section piqued my interest. Sounds fascinating.

Amiable I used to get this magazine years ago! Forgot about it. I should subscribe again. 2y
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