Joey Mazzarino

Joseph "Joey" Mazzarino (b. June 4, 1968) started as a puppeteer on Sesame Street in 1989 and then joined the show's writing staff in 1991. He wrote his first sketch, the Columbo parody "Colambo," as an audition piece, and soon found himself cast in the title role. Mazzarino additionally became involved as a series director, and the head writer from 2009 until his departure in 2015.
With an inclination toward ad-libbing and a reputation as a cut-up on set, Mazzarino became a prominent player in the Sesame Street cast. His recurring characters included Murray Monster, Stinky the Stinkweed, Papa Bear, and the boisterous, tutu-wearing Elephant. In 2001, he took over the left head of the Two-Headed Monster. 
Mazzarino has won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards with the Sesame Street writing and directing teams, and he received his first nomination for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series in 2010. He shared the honor that year with frequent winner Kevin Clash, and he was nominated in the category for three more consecutive years ending in 2015.
Mazzarino has also written for Bear in the Big Blue House, and co-wrote the screenplays for The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Muppets from Space and Kermit's Swamp Years. His non-Muppet writing credits include The Upside Down Show, Nature Cat, Donkey Hodie, and Cyberchase (for which he also supplied voices in the pilot episode). His collaborations with former Sesame Street writer Mo Willems include writing and voice-acting for Sheep in the Big City, and the HBO Max special Don't Let The Pigeon Do Storytime (performing a puppet version of Willems' Pigeon character).
Mazzarino is married to actress Kerry Butler who has appeared on Sesame Street as Ms. Camp, the letter carrier. They have a daughter named Segi, who was the inspiration for the song "I Love My Hair" and the namesake of a Muppet character.
In September 2015, Mazzarino announced on his Facebook page that he had left his position on Sesame Street; season 46 had been recorded prior to his departure. He since worked on the Jim Henson Company production, Julie's Greenroom, as a writer and director. Mazzarino also participated in the 2018 Puppets for Puppetry event honoring Caroll Spinney, performing a Muppet version of Bozo the Clown. In 2021, he returned to script the Sesame Workshop Benefit Gala.
==Performing credits==
for a complete character gallery, see Joey Mazzarino characters
*Sesame Street: Murray Monster, Papa Bear, Horatio the Elephant, Stinky the Stinkweed, and others...
*The Muppets at Walt Disney World (uncredited)
*Sesame Street Home Video Visits the Hospital
*The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
*Sing, Hoot & Howl with the Sesame Street Animals
*Dog City: Artie Springer, Officer Fuzzy
*Muppet Meeting Films: Gimley's Boss, Wesley, Franklin, Coffee Guy, Smerdley, Others
*Billy Bunny's Animal Songs: Frog
*CityKids: Trish (puppetry only), Bird, Captain
*Sesame Street Stays Up Late: MNN Logo Purple Monster
*Sing-Along Earth Songs: John-Boy, Smokey the Salmon
*We All Sing Together: Murray
*Muppet Time: Icky No-No, Kirby, one of the Frog Scouts
*Yes, I Can
*A New Baby in My House
*Aliens in the Family: Spit, Yukkles
*Big Bag: Chelli, Lyle the Sock
*Elmo Saves Christmas: Lightning
*The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss: Lester McBird, Elwood the Jester
*Quiet Time: The Wise Man
*The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland: Bug
*CinderElmo: King Fred
*Kermit's Swamp Years: Goggles, Turtle, Pearl the Pika, Joe the Armadillo (DVD extras only)
*Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!: Lavender Caroler
* Talk, Read, Write: Timmy
*Happy, Healthy, Ready for School: Ready Stan, Rico
*A Magical Halloween Adventure: Murray the Mediocre
*The Street We Live On
*What's the Name of That Song?
*A Celebration of Me, Grover: The Fish, Frank the Elephant, Penguin
*The West Wing: Muppet Doctor
*Happy Healthy Monsters: Bobby
*A Sesame Street Christmas Carol: Joe Marley
*Elmo's Christmas Countdown: Stan the Snowball
*Here For You: Chester
*Panwapa: Bill the Bug
*Count on Sports: Sir Harry the Tennis Ball
*Elmo and Abby's Birthday Fun!: Pail of Water
*Elmo's Alphabet Challenge: A. B. C-more
*Spaghetti Space Chase: Murray Monster, Macaroni the Merciless
==Writing credits==
*Sesame Street - including the Colambo skits, What's the Word on the Street? segments, and many celebrity spots. Head writer seasons 40-46
** Abby's Flying Fairy School: "Niblet's Wand," "Pinocchio Process," "Colonial Trolliamsberg," "Say Gezundenshniffle"
** Elmo the Musical: Guacamole the Musical, Sea Captain the Musical
** Cookie's Crumby Pictures: The Spy Who Loved Cookies, The Biscotti Kid
*Muppet Sing Alongs: Muppet Treasure Island
*123 Count with Me (with Sara Compton)
*The Muppets' Haunted House (unproduced)
*Elmopalooza
*Muppets from Space
*The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
*Bear in the Big Blue House - "Episode 321: The Yard Sale"
*Elmo's Magic Cookbook
*Kermit's Swamp Years
*Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic
*A Magical Halloween Adventure
*Sesame Street Live - "Super Grover! Ready for Action" and "Elmo's Healthy Heroes"Jennifer V. Hughes, "Sesame Street Live comes to Izod Center", The North Jersey Record, September 30, 2010.
*Happy Healthy Monsters
*Happy, Healthy, Ready for School
*Elmo's Christmas Countdown
*Here For You
*Dinosaurs!
* Spaghetti Space Chase
* 2021 Sesame Workshop Benefit Gala
===Sesame Street episodes===
Sesame Street episodes written by Mazzarino include:episode scripts
*Season 23: 2990, 2993, 2996
*Season 24: 3018, 3043, 3069, 3074, 3075, 3099, 3129
*Season 25: 3144, 3147, 3157, 3171, 3192, 3220, 3227, 3237
*Season 26: 3269, 3275, 3306, 3311, 3312, 3321, 3342, 3359, 3368
*Season 27: 3400, 3423, 3433, 3443, 3472, 3504, 3517
*Season 28: 3551, 3556, 3616, 3623, 3633
*Season 29: 3668, 3699, 3720, 3738
*Season 30: 3801, 3809, 3813, 3844
*Season 31: 3852, 3858, 3875, 3890
*Season 32: 3921, 3965, 3966, 3971, 3972
*Season 33: 3986, 4000, 4011, 4017, 4018
*Season 34: 4040, 4043, 4049
*Season 35: 4060, 4067, 4076
*Season 36: 4087, 4096, 4108
*Season 37: 4114, 4116, 4120
*Season 38: 4135, 4136, 4137, 4146
*Season 39: 4161, 4162, 4165, 4172, 4181, 4185
*Season 40: 4187, 4188, 4205
*Season 41: 4214, 4216, 4234
*Season 42: 4257, 4258, 4261, 4265 
*Season 43: 4318
*Season 44: 4402
*Season 45: 4503, 4520
==Directing credits==
*Sesame Street, seasons 38-46: episodes 4161, 4162, 4168, 4231, 4601, 4605, 4635
*Dinosaurs!
*Elmo's Alphabet Challenge
*Monster Manners
==Voice-over acting==
* Sesame Street: Animated segments produced by Mo Willems and ArtistMike
* Elmo's World: Various TV segments
* Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!: Chanukah Channel announcer, Judah Maccabee
* Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures: Various
* Abby's Flying Fairy School: Blögg, Peck (occasionally)
==Sources==
==External links==
*ToughPigs.com interview, part one
*ToughPigs.com interview, part two
*Huffington Post interview
*Nerdist.com - Nerdist Writers Panel #114: Sesame Street
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Category:Muppet Performers
Category:Writers
Category:Directors
Category:Creature Shop Puppeteers
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