The challenge of making ‘Sesame Street’ for Russians
nypost.com“Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia” (Rowman & Littlefield) recounts the 5-year journey of bringing “Sesame Street” to post-Soviet Russia, and adapting it to a Russian audience. “There were so many challenges.
The worst of it was in the beginning when our first investor’s car was blown up and I had been in that car 3 weeks before,” says Rogoff. “Over the next year, our broadcast partners were assassinated one after the other.
I had become close to these people.”Over time, Rogoff assembled a team of over 400 Moscow-based artists: filmmakers, writers, puppeteers, set designers, and musicians. “The people I worked with were passionate about their desire to improve the lives of children through the tv show,” says Rogoff.
Still, there were the culture clashes around show programming and content. “We were all throwing around ideas about what the show should teach post-Soviet children about tolerance, and how to survive in their budding free market.
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