Caroll Spinney, Muppeteer and the voice of both Oscar and Big Bird, remembered his audition with Jim Henson for the part.

"The Muppets were the Beatles of the [puppet] world," said Spinney.

Spinney had no trouble adapting his boyish voice to the role of Big Bird, but he said finding a voice for Oscar--the Muppet who was originally intended to be purple and first appeared in a shade of orange--was more difficult.

As Spinney rode across town in a taxi to his audition, he ran through possible voices. He focused on the driver's voice and realized he'd found Oscar's voice. Henson loved it, and Spinney was hired.

On a more serious note, Spinney said of the almost 4,000 shows in which he has performed, his favorite episode was the show that followed the death of main character Mr. Hooper.

After consulting with researchers, show creators decided to be honest with the preschool viewers. Big Bird--and Spinney--served as the voice of curious children viewers, wanting to know when Mr. Hooper would return.

To return the mood to its prevailing celebratory tone, Spinney pulled out two different mini-Muppets.

Though an appearance by Oscar the Grouch had been promised in advertisements for the event, Spinney apologized for his absence. Spinney said he had contacted show character "Mumford the Magician," who was able to procure a mini-Big Bird and a mini-Oscar the Grouch.