Below the Frame

Below the Frame began as a Facebook Live program created by Matt Vogel and Stephanie D'Abruzzo. It then became an audio podcast hosted by Vogel with regular appearances by his son Jack Vogel.
The series was developed during production of Season 48 of Sesame Street in 2016, with the first episode premiering on November 17 (the format had previously been experimented with by Vogel and the cast on November 4). D'Abruzzo wrote and performed the show's theme and incidental music, as well as producing special video segments.
The first season featured regular segments, such as "Ask a Puppeteer Something About Not Puppets," "Can You Tell Us How You Got, Got to Sesame Street," and a closing performance by the Sesame Street Muppet Lounge Band. Subsequent shows have a looser, panel-esque format, while still concluding with a musical performance. The episodes occasionally featured brief appearances by the Sesame Street Muppets.
In March 2020, Matt Vogel announced on social media that the show would be transitioning to a podcast format, which launched in August 2020. The focus expands to discuss the Muppet characters owned by the Walt Disney Company in addition to Sesame Street. This incarnation features a new version of the theme performed by Vogel's band, The Mighty Weaklings.
The first two seasons of the podcast featured recurring segments, such as "Injury Corner" and "Ask a Puppeteer About Not Puppets," commercial parodies about puppetry techniques, and archival songs and stories by Jerry Nelson. The show became a vodcast with its third season, starting in April 2024, and introduced a looser format lacking the earlier segments. The season includes "Rewind" episodes, resharing the earlier livestreams.
==Facebook Live==
===Season One===
Image	Description
 	Pilot (November 4, 2016)
Matt Vogel hosts a Facebook Live stream from inside the Muppet Lounge, where the Muppet performers hang out during their lunch break. They showcase various items and photos around the room and tease more live streams.
Video:
*Episode
 	Episode One (November 17, 2016, 1:45 pm ET)
The Two-Headed Monster gives a spoiler-filled preview of Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas, Frank Biondo reveals how he got the job working on Episode 0001 after a strike from the original studio, and his uncensored original thoughts on the show ("Who's going to watch this shit?"), and what it was like to work with Frank Oz, Jim Henson and Richard Hunt ("fuhgeddaboudit"), and Matt and Martin P. Robinson reveal how to operate Butterflies, Bats and Slimey.
Video:
*Episode
 	Extra: Pam Arciero Tells Us... (December 1, 2016)
Matt talks with Pam Arciero about how she become a Muppeteer on Sesame Street.
Video:
*Facebook
 	Episode Two (December 8, 2016 1:45 pm ET)
In a special Christmas edition, Prairie Dawn gives a report from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (featuring Chris Jackson), Jennifer Barnhart discusses her holiday plans, Peter Linz gives a lesson on puppet lip sync, Gordon Price talks about how he became a part of the show's utility audio team, the Muppeteers answer fan questions and the Sesame Street Muppet Lounge Band closes the show with a Christmas medley.
Video:
*Episode, Prairie at the Parade
 	Extra: Leslie Carrara-Rudolph Tells Us... (December 15, 2016)
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph explains how she got to Sesame Street as only she can.
Video:
*Facebook
 	Extra: John Kennedy Tells Us... (January 5, 2017)
John Kennedy gives his Sesame Street origin story.
Video:
*Facebook
 	Extra: Point of View (January 12, 2017)
A musical showcase of Muppet performer's unique views on the Sesame Street set, written and performed by Stephanie D'Abruzzo.
Video:
*YouTube
 	Episode Three (January 19, 2017 1:45 pm ET)
Live in the Sesame Workshop offices, Matt with Stephanie D'Abruzzo and Joe Hennes demo the fourth floor video wall, introduce Theresa Fitzgerald, VP of Creative Services, and Louis Henry Mitchell, Creative Director of Character Design, who does a quick drawing of Cookie Monster, they show off the multiple Emmy Awards, and Season 40 Hidden Gems including Teeny Little Super Guy, Matt and head writer Ken Scarborough discuss his bad habits while walking past a Lavender employee copying his head in a copy machine, Betsy Loredo shows off the original lyrics to C is for Cookie, art from The Sesame Street Calendar 1972 and storyboards and cells from Pinball Number Count, Theresa Anderson talks about how she became an associate producer, Matt and Stephanie answer fan questions and in lieu of the Sesame Street Muppet Lounge Band, the Sesame Workshop Furharmonic Sympathy Orchestra closes out the show.
Video:
*Episode
 	Extra: Peter Linz Tells Us... (January 26, 2017)
Peter Linz talks about being hired as a Sesame Street performer.
Video:
*Facebook
 	Episode Four (February 2, 2017 1:45 pm ET)
Caroll and Debi Spinney appear as guests. The video begins with a faux-promo for Hooper's Store. The Spinneys talk about how Debi joined Sesame Street, their trips to China, memories from Hollywood Squares and show some family photos and illustrations by Caroll. Matt plays a compilation of video messages from fans. The Sesame Street Muppet Lounge Band closes the show with a medley of Caroll Spinney songs ("Somebody Come and Play," "I Love Trash," and "ABC-DEF-GHI").
Video:
*Episode, Spinney Show Videos
 	Episode Five (February 9, 2017 1:45 pm ET)
A promo for the Sesame Street Community Center begins the video, and Matt's snowed in so he interacts with the cast through Skype. Stephanie D'Abruzzo reveals a signing of I Am Jim Henson by illustrator Chris Eliopoulos at the Museum of the Moving Image, with an interview by Craig Shemin. Matt asks Ryan Dillon about his pop culture obsessions. It's SWAG day, so the cast shows off various gifts they received from working on the show, including a painting that Ryan got from the set of The Furchester Hotel. Matt asks prop master Steve Dannenberg how he got to the street, after a man told him about a show with "hand Muppets and puppets," where he's worked since 1972. The Muppeteers answer more fan questions, which includes Peter Linz confirming he's the new permanent performer for Herry Monster. A recording of The Sesame Street Muppet Lounge Band closes out the show, as the Muppeteers play air instruments.
Video:
*Episode, Community Center ad
 	Extra: Can You Guess... (February 16, 2017)
Stephanie D'Abruzzo plays a musical guessing game using close-ups of iconic Sesame Street locations.
Video:
*YouTube
 	Extra: Martin P. Robinson Tells Us... (February 23, 2017)
Martin P. Robinson describes his audition for Mr. Snuffleupagus.
Video:
*Facebook
 	Episode Six (March 2, 2017 1:45 pm ET)
It's the "season finale" of Below the Frame, and the video starts with a promo for the Sesame Street Bike Shop. Everyone's asleep including Carmen Osbahr, making her Below the Frame debut. This week there's no set schedule, so the Muppeteers mostly answer Facebook live questions, including "What's the strangest puppet job you've ever had to take." Stephanie D'Abruzzo closes out the show solo.
Video:
*Episode, Bike Shop ad
===Season Two===
Image	Description
 	Episode Seven (October 19, 2017, 1:40 pm ET)
Matt and Stephanie kick off the second season with a new opening sequence and format, where the Muppet performers make a more formal panel. Everyone discusses their first day working on Sesame Street. The episode ends with John Kennedy and the Muppet Lounge Band performing "Lowercase n."
Video:
*Episode
 	Episode Eight (October 26, 2017, 1:40 pm ET)
Technical problems persist as the Muppet performers answer viewer questions about characters. Amidst the technical problems, Peter Linz creates his own Facebook Live show - Below Below the Frame. Carmen Osbahr leads the Muppet Lounge Band in a performance of "I Love My Elbows."
Video:
*Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 
*Below Below the Frame
 	Episode Nine (November 2, 2017, 1:40 pm ET)
The Muppet performers continue their Q&A on their characters. The Muppet Lounge Band sings "Ladybugs' Picnic," inspired by a meeting between prop coordinator Keith Olsen and Jim Kweskin, the original vocalist of the song.
Video:
*Episode
*Below Below the Frame
 	Episode Ten (November 16, 2017, 1:40 pm ET)
This week is all about Sesame Street music. "Resident Geek" Joe Hennes shares some factoids about songs and the show's prolific composers. Everyone shares stories of their favorite songs and guest stars, including an on-set mishap on Muppets Tonight recounted by Paul Rudolph. The Muppet Lounge Band closes the show with a performance of "Jellyman Kelly."
Video:
*Episode
 	Episode Eleven (December 7, 2017, 1:40 pm ET)
The members of the Muppet Cast Lounge answer questions about specials and live performances. "Resident Genius" Joe Hennes lists all the Sesame Street-related Christmas specials. Stephanie D'Abruzzo, celebrating her birthday, leads the Muppet Lounge Band in singing "True Blue Miracle" from Christmas Eve on Sesame Street.
Video:
*Episode
 	Episode Twelve (December 14, 2017, 1:40 pm ET)
In the season finale, Matt's kids sit in on the show as the cast and crew answer a series of potpourri questions. Sound engineer Chris Sassano brings in archival sound equipment to showcase some of the show's past music stings, buttons and cues, punctuating questions throughout the episode. The season ends as Tyler Bunch and the Muppet Lounge Band sing a country-style version of "Keep Christmas with You (All Through the Year)."
Video:
*Episode
 	Extra: Secret Surprise After Below the Frame!! (December 14, 2017)
Matt and Stephanie, not needed on set, answer more questions from the fans.
Video:
*Facebook
===Season Three===
Image	Description
 	Episode Thirteen (October 26, 2018, 1:30pm EST)
In the season three premiere, the cast and crew recap Caroll Spinney's last day on set, followed by the retirement celebration thrown at the Museum of the Moving Image. Joe Hennes shows off an archival treasure - the scroll from Big Bird in China. Debra Spinney calls into the show to talk about the retirement events. The episode ends as the Muppet Lounge Band leads everyone in a variation of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" in tribute to Caroll.
Due to Matt Vogel's hectic schedule during the taping of season 50, this was the only episode produced for this particular season.Stephanie D'Abruzzo on Twitter
Video:
*Episode
*Below Below the Frame
==Podcast==
===Season One===
*8/12/20 -- Episode #1: Stephanie D'Abruzzo
**"Arm Rods" (w/ Austin Costello, Spencer Lott, and Kathleen Kim)
**Not Puppets (w/ Martin P. Robinson)
*8/12/20 -- Episode #2: Peter Linz
**"Live Hands" (w/ Tau Bennett, Spencer Lott, Christopher Hayes, Haley Jenkins, and Cookie Monster)
**Not Puppets (w/ Fran Brill)
*8/12/20 -- Episode #3: Carmen Osbahr
**Jerry Stories (w/ Stephanie D'Abruzzo)
**"Go Softly"
*8/19/20 -- Episode #4: Jennifer Barnhart
**"Bold Characters" (w/ Austin Costello, Kathleen Kim, Tau Bennett, Spencer Lott, Christopher Hayes, Martin P. Robinson, and Megan Piphus)
**Not Puppets (w/ Tyler Bunch)
*8/26/20 -- Episode #5: Michelle Hickey and Lara MacLean
**"Monitors"
*9/2/20 -- Episode #6: Martin P. Robinson
**Jerry Stories (w/ Paul Rudolph)
**"Little Red" (demo)
*9/9/20 -- Episode #7: Pam Arciero
**"Right Hand" (w/ Tau Bennett, Martin Robinson, and Austin Costello)
**Not Puppets (w/ Peter Linz)
*9/16/20 -- Episode #8: Bill Barretta
**"Good Lip Sync" (w/ Tau Bennett, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Megan Piphus, Martin Robinson, and Peter Linz)
**Not Puppets (w/ Carmen Osbahr)
*9/23/20 -- Episode #9: Jim Lewis
**Jerry Stories (w/ David Rudman)
**"Raggmopp" (live)
*9/30/20 -- Episode #10: Tyler Bunch
**"Blue Skies" (w/ Haley Jenkins, Tau Bennett, Kathleen Kim, Spencer Lott, Megan Piphus, Christopher Hayes, and Lara MacLean)
**Not Puppets (w/ Pam Arciero)
*10/7/20 -- Episode #11: Fran Brill
**Jerry Stories (w/ Martin Robinson)
**"Bumble Bees"
*10/14/20 -- Episode #12: Ryan Dillon
**Jerry Stories (w/ John Kennedy)
**"Alligators"
*10/21/20 -- Episode #13: John Kennedy
**"Double-Stick Tape" (w/ Peter Linz and Megan Piphus)
**Not Puppets (w/ Bill Barretta)
*10/28/20 -- Episode #14: Julianne Buescher
**"Spatial Awareness" (w/ Tyler Bunch, Austin Costello, Megan Piphus, Chris Hayes, Haley Jenkins, Tau Bennett, Peter Linz, and Kathy Kim)
**Not Puppets (w/ Jennifer Barnhart)
*11/11/20 -- Episode #15: Leslie Carrara-Rudolph
**Jerry Stories (w/ Carmen Osbahr)
**"Stompin' on the East Side"
*11/18/20 -- Episode #16: Warrick Brownlow-Pike
**Jerry Stories (w/ Bill Evaul)
**"Happy Little Song"
*11/25/20 -- Episode #17: Sesame Street Mentees (Tau Bennett, Austin Costello, Chris Thomas Hayes, Haley Jenkins, Kathy Kim, Spencer Lott, and Megan Piphus)
**"Yes, And..." (w/ Tyler Bunch)
**Not Puppets (w/ John Kennedy)
*12/2/20 -- Episode #18: Eric Jacobson
**"Good Eye Focus" (w/ Tau Bennett, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Megan Piphus, and Martin P. Robinson)
**Not Puppets (w/ Ryan Dillon) (season finale)
===Season Two===
*10/6/21 -- Episode #19: Louise Gold (w/ Warrick Brownlow-Pike and Ryan Dillon)
**Jerry Stories (w/ Bill Barretta)
**"I'll See You in My Dreams"
*10/13/21 -- Episode #20: Joey Mazzarino (w/ Carmen Osbahr)
**"Tall Shoes" (w/ Stephanie D'Abruzzo)
**Not Puppets (w/ John Kennedy)
*10/20/21 -- Episode #21: Kirk Thatcher
**Injury Corner (w/ Alice Dinnean)
**Not Puppets (w/ Julianne Buescher)
*10/27/21 -- Episode #22: Alice Dinnean (w/ Carmen Osbahr)
**"Cramped Spaces" (w/ Spencer Lott)
**Not Puppets (w/ Peter Linz)
*11/3/21 -- Episode #23: Noel MacNeal (w/ Peter Linz)
**Injury Corner (w/ Ryan Dillon)
**Not Puppets (w/ Jennifer Barnhart)
*11/10/21 -- Episode #24: Paul Rudolph
**Jerry Stories (w/ Fran Brill)
**"Groovin' on Noah's Ark"
*12/1/21 -- Episode #25: Frankie Cordero (w/ Ryan Dillon)
**"Awkward Positions" (w/ Tyler Bunch, Spencer Lott, and Martin Robinson)
**Not Puppets (w/ Warrick Brownlow-Pike)
*12/8/21 -- Episode #26: Debra Spinney
**Jerry Stories (w/ Dave Goelz)
**"Zanzibar"
*12/15/21 -- Episode #27: Mike Quinn (w/ David Barclay)
**"Headbands" (w/ Spencer Lott, Chris Hayes, and Megan Piphus)
**Not Puppets (w/ Bill Barretta)
*12/22/21 -- Episode #28: Rollie Krewson
**Injury Corner (w/ Bruce Lanoil)
**Not Puppets (w/ Louise Gold)
*1/12/22 -- Episode #29: David Rudman (w/ Joey Mazzarino)
**Jerry Stories (w/ Leslie Carrara-Rudolph)
**"Daddy's Comin' Home"
*1/19/22 -- Episode #30: Bruce Lanoil (w/ Bill Barretta)
**Injury Corner (w/ Frankie Cordero)
**Not Puppets (w/ Noel MacNeal)
*1/26/22 -- Episode #31: The Muppets Studio (Leigh Slaughter and Michael Steinbach)
**Injury Corner (w/ David Rudman)
**Not Puppets (w/ Alice Dinnean)
*2/2/22 -- Episode #32: Jan Nelson
**Jerry Stories (w/ Fran Brill)
**"Hoboken Honey"
*2/16/22 -- Episode #33: The Sesame Street Mentees 2 (Kathy Kim, Bradley Freeman Jr., Jimmica Collins, Chris Hayes, Haley Jenkins, Megan Piphus, and Spencer Lott) 
**Injury Corner (w/ Mike Quinn)
**Not Puppets (w/ Fran Brill)
*2/23/22 -- Episode #34: John Tartaglia (w/ Stephanie D'Abruzzo)
**Jerry Stories (w/ John Kennedy)
**"Drunk"
*3/2/22 -- Episode #35: Matt Vogel (w/ Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Ryan Dillon, Carmen Osbahr, Warrick Brownlow-Pike, Paul Rudolph, Tau Bennett, Austin Costello, Chris Hayes, Megan Piphus, Kathy Kim, Pam Arciero, and Leslie Carrara-Rudolph)
**"Doubling"
**Not Puppets (w/ Joey Mazzarino)
*3/9/22 -- Episode #36: Dave Goelz (w/ Louise Gold)
**Jerry Stories (w/ Peter Linz)
**"Be Positive"
===Season Three===
*4/4/24 -- Episode #37: Kermit at the Luck Reunion, Part 1 (w/ Bradley Freeman and Lucas Ross)
*4/11/24 -- Episode #38: Kermit at the Luck Reunion, Part 2 (w/ Bradley Freeman and Lucas Ross)
*4/18/24 -- Episode #39: Puppets That You Wear, Part 1 (w/ Marty Robinson and Noel MacNeal)
*4/25/24 -- Episode #40: Puppets That You Wear, Part 2 (w/ Marty Robinson and Noel MacNeal)
*5/2/24 -- Episode #41: Puppets That You Wear, Part 3 (w/ Marty Robinson and Noel MacNeal)
*5/9/24 -- Episode #42: First Day on Sesame Street (REWIND to October 19, 2017)
*5/16/24 -- Episode #43: Two Crazy Weeks in May
*5/23/24 -- Episode #44: Sesame Street Characters (REWIND to October 26, 2017)
*5/30/24 -- Episode #45: The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Part 1 (w/ Joey Mazzarino and Stephanie D'Abruzzo)
*6/6/24 -- Episode #46: The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Part 2 (w/ Joey Mazzarino and Stephanie D'Abruzzo)
*6/13/24 -- Episode #47: More Sesame Street Characters/Q&A (REWIND to Nov. 2, 2017)
*6/20/24 -- Episode #48: Character Inheritors, Part 1 (w/ Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, and Bill Barretta)
*6/27/24 -- Episode #49: Character Inheritors, Part 2 (w/ Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, and Bill Barretta)
*7/4/24 -- Episode #50: Character Inheritors, Part 3 (w/ Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, Bill Barretta, Pam Arciero, Tyler Bunch, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, and Jen Barnhart)
*7/11/24 -- Episode #51: Music of Sesame Street (REWIND to November 16, 2017)
*7/18/24 -- Episode #52: Craig Shemin, Part 1
*7/25/24 -- Episode #53: Craig Shemin, Part 2
*8/1/24 -- Episode #54: Sesame Street Specials (REWIND to December 7, 2017)
*8/8/24 -- Episode #55: Directing Muppets, Part 1 (w/ Ken Diego and Matt Sohn)
*8/15/24 -- Episode #56: Directing Muppets, Part 2 (w/ Ken Diego and Matt Sohn)
*8/22/24 -- Episode #57: Q&A and Sesame Music Stings (REWIND to December 14, 2017)
*8/29/24 -- Episode #58: More Q&A (REWIND to December 14, 2017)
*9/5/24 -- Episode #59: Q&A with Special Guest Hunter Vogel
*9/12/24 -- Episode #60: Q&A with Special Guest Keaton Vogel
*9/19/24 -- Episode #61: Q&A with Special Guest Lyla Vogel
*9/26/24 -- Episode #62: Caroll Spinney's Retirement Party (REWIND to October 26, 2018)
==See also==
* Sesame Family Robinson
* The Barretta Brothers
==Sources==
==External links==
* Season 1 Trailer
* Matt Vogel's official Facebook page
* "Below the Frame" on Stephanie D'Abruzzo's official website
* Podcast Home
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Category:Sesame Street Behind the Scenes
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