Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia w/ Natasha Lance Rogoff

On this edition of Parallax Views, author, filmmaker, and TV producer Natasha Lance Rogoff joins us to discuss her new book Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia. Natasha was tasked with making the Russian version of Sesame Street, called Ulitsa Sezam, after the fall of the Soviet Union. The show faced many struggles as Russia was dealing with what it would become in the Soviet era. Additionally the country was dealing with incredible economic inequality, assassinations, car bombings, and communists who did not want Russia to transition to a capitalist system. Despite this, Ulitsa Sezam ended up being a hit amongst Russian children and originally ran from 1996 to 2007. That isn't, however, to say that it's road to success was an easy one. As Rogoff details, there were many cultural clashes that occurred during its making that had to be overcome. In this course of our conversation Rogoff and I discuss:

- Rogoff's time in the Soviet Union prior to Ulitsa Sezam, her documentary Russia for Sale: The Rough Road to Capitalism, and her reporting on underground LGBTQ+ culture in the Soviet Union

- The role of then Senator Joe Biden, Congress, and USAID (United States Agency for International Development) in the creation/making of Ulitsa Sezam; the show as a way to spread Western ideals like individualism, diversity, inclusivity, free-market capitalism, etc.

- The issues that arised from wanting to show children in wheelchairs and disabilities on the show; and the way in which this led to a transformative, emotional moment for all involved in Ulitsa Sezam

- The issue of music in Ulitsa Sezam; fear of change; proud of Russia's musical heritage; wanting to showcase different and eclectic forms on the show

- Cultural exchange between the U.S. and Russia; U.S. pop culture demonization of Russia; overcoming cultural differences

- An instance in which Ulitsa Sezam was going to play a really downbeat song that was seen as more in line with traditional Russian culture; how children reacted to a different, more upbeat song in contrast; Russian children singing WWII songs

- The Ulitsa Sezam character Zeliboba (pictured below)

Zeliboba from Ulitsa Sezam

- The biggest obstacles in making the show; violence, culture clashes, and financial issues; overcoming the deaths of Natasha's confidants in Russia while making the show (there were assassination, car bombings, etc.)

-  The emotional bond between those who were involved in making the show; the show brought together Russian, Ukrainians, Armenians, and others in collaboration; hundreds of freelancers; the project was unprecendented at the time; why Natasha stuck with the project even during the toughest times

- Natasha's close friend Leonid Zagalsky, an investigative journalist in Russia, and his work with Natasha

- Returning to Russia during the process of writing the book and the melancholy of that experience

- The recent culture wars in the U.S. over Sesame Street and potential parallels with culture clashes Natasha saw in Russia; free speech and diversity of opinion; the unregulated internet

- Approaching Russian society through the lens of the Muppets; how doing so offers a different perspective than, for example, a foreign policy lens; fostering empathy and the book's attempt to give deeper emotional understanding of Russian people and culture

- One of the lessons from the book: the West cannot expect other societies to mirror their own; a need for a certain openness about other societies

- And much, much more!