Alistair Cookie Alistair Cookie is Cookie Monster ' s alter ego when hosting " Monsterpiece Theater " on " Sesame Street " . Created as a spoof of the original " Masterpiece Theater " host , Alistair Cookie is basically Cookie Monster in an English smoking jacket and ascot , introducing viewers to a spot of culture while relaxing in a well - stuffed armchair . Though seemingly more sedate and urbane , Alistair Cookie is still a Cookie Monster , devouring baked goods , props - - and in the revamped opening in the 1990s , noisily consuming cookies over the theme , while offering judicious comments on the texture . To match his smoking jacket ( and the stereotype of the urbane British host ) , Alistair Cookie used to appear holding a pipe , which he would consume by the end of each piece . These skits with Alistair Cookie ' s pipe could be identified by their " Union Jack " opening titles . By the late 1980s , the pipe was gone - - so as not to reinforce smoking as a positive attribute . Subsequently , the Alistair Cookie scenes in earlier skits were re - taped ( without the accessory ) , with the puppet being lip - synched to the original voice track performed by Frank Oz . In a 2004 Chicago Public Radio interview , David Rudman referred to Cookie Monster ' s occasional use of more advanced phrases , such as " It a bit esoteric , " as his Alistair Cookie side : " He throws out these words like , you know , ' Me digress . ' It ' s his whole Alistair Cookie side . . . It ' s a whole ' nother side of Cookie , where he ' s just kinda , you know , laidback and intellectual , but he still has that ' Me Alistair Cookie , ' and it ' s just such a funny contrast . " Alistair Cookie is generally a detached party who simply serves as a frame for the " Monsterpiece Theater " spoofs . Occasionally , however , the participants take their grievances directly to Alistair Cookie ( " " Twelve Angry Men " " , " " One Flew Over the Cuckoo ' s Nest " " ) , crash into his sanctum ( " " The 39 Steps " " ) , or otherwise disrupt his hosting duties . On rare occasions , Cookie Monster himself stars in the sketches , as in " " Twin Beaks " , " invariably winning rave critical reviews from Alistair Cookie . Alistair Cookie was first introduced circa 1978 . Alistair Cooke retired from " Masterpiece Theater " in 1992 , replaced by American host Russell Baker , but this had no effect on Alistair Cookie , as reported in " The Washington Post " from February 24 , 1993 : " A spokeswoman for " Sesame Street " yesterday reassured its fans - - and their children - - that despite the change at the top , Cookie Monster will continue to appear as Alistair Cookie , the host of " Monsterpiece Theater " - - big chair , fireplace and all . . . ' We love that character , ' said Ellen Morgenstern . . . " Cooke himself was wryly appreciative of the take - off , predicting at a 1991 dinner celebrating the 20th anniversary of " Masterpiece Theater " that if he was remembered at all , he would be best recalled by fans of " Sesame Street " as " Alistair Cookie , the Cookie Monster of Monsterpiece Theater . " In 1998 , Applause offered a limited edition stuffed Alistair Cookie plush to collectors , complete with smoking jacket , slippers , and armchair . The item was also available through certain PBS stations . Alistair Cookie appeared hosting Monsterpiece Theater in the CD - ROM games " Elmo Through the Looking - Glass " , " Grover ' s Travels " and " The Three Grouchketeers " . Alistair Cookie most recently appeared in select introductions on Sesamestreet . org for the theme of the day :