Jessica Max Stein
Happy 59th Birthday, Richard Hunt
August 16th, 2010New Online Interview!
August 2nd, 2010
I was a recent guest on Sarah Mangle’s wonderful Toronto radio show, These Things That People Make. Here’s an archived podcast. Choose “Thursday: 2010-07-22″ and then “These Things That People Make” to hear about my adventures as Richard Hunt’s biographer, my thoughts on how times have changed for queers, and the dangers of gay marriage, among other hot topics. Enjoy!
Toronto Fraggle Geography
July 19th, 2010
Recently Fraggle Rock producer Lawrence Mirkin gave me a walking tour of Toronto’s Yorkville neighborhood, where the show was filmed. Here’s a google map I made from the tour, a snapshot of the area between roughly 1982 and 1986. It includes the former studio site, performer accommodations and hangouts.
Mirkin says Toronto and Fraggle Rock were a perfect fit. “Given the show’s committment to interdependence and a global consciousness, I can’t imagine it being filmed anywhere else.”
Jerry Nelson interview, Part 2
July 10th, 2010
Today is legendary puppeteer Jerry Nelson’s 76th birthday! To celebrate, here’s Part Two of our interview, in which he talks about performing on Fraggle Rock, losing his daughter Christine, working with Richard Hunt and Jim Henson, and more! Read the rest of this entry »
Jerry Nelson interview, Part I
June 18th, 2010 
If there were a Mount Rushmore of main Muppet performers, it would feature Jerry Nelson’s face. Best known as the Count, Nelson has performed countless roles in his nearly fifty years as a puppeteer on Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock. Nelson and Richard Hunt were co-workers and friends for over twenty years.
I had the privilege of sitting down with Nelson in his lovely Cape Cod home for a two-part interview. Here’s part one, in which Nelson talks about working and playing with Hunt on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, the zen of puppetry, and much more! Read the rest of this entry »
F*ck Yeah It’s Me!
May 18th, 2010
I’m elated to be featured on the blog F*ck Yeah Queer Jews, alongside other fabulous queer Jews like Judith Butler and Susan Sontag! F*ck yeah!
Metropolitan Diary Entry
May 3rd, 2010
I have a piece in today’s New York Times Metropolitan Diary column, about a real-life silent movie on a rainy night. I love these little snapshots of New York. Enjoy!
Rainbow Bookfair & Muppet Tournament
March 28th, 2010
Today was the fabulous Rainbow Bookfair, held by the Center for Gay and Lesbian Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center, where I unveiled the brand-new second edition of the zine (new intro, new ending, new pics!) and spoke on a panel about it. Read the rest of this entry »
The Muppet Madness Tournament: Round One!
March 21st, 2010
Wow, I haven’t been so riveted by an election since, well, Obama. Part political race, part sports contest, the Muppet Madness Tournament pitted 16 pairings to determine who might be the most beloved Muppet. Here’s a rundown on the results. Read the rest of this entry »
Richard Hunt and the Mean Genie
March 1st, 2010
Steve Swanson, interviewing me on the Muppetcast the other day, asked about Richard’s character the Mean Genie and what it might show about Richard. At the time I didn’t have an answer for him. Read the rest of this entry »