Brynne Clarke (b. August 1, 1961) appeared as one of the kids on Sesame Street beginning in the first season, recurring for at least the next five years.
Brynne and her siblings, Jill and Richard, were recruited to appear on the show by their mother, Hylda Clarke, who worked in research and recruiting for Children's Television Workshop (on Sesame Street, 3-2-1 Contact, and The Electric Company). Jill appeared in such segments as the Jim Henson-directed "Numerosity" films ("six chicks," amongst others), and Richard appeared with Brynne in the Joe Namath segments.[1]
After her stint on Sesame Street, Clarke attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and studied at Wilberforce University and majored in Communications at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. After a brief stint working at VH1, Clarke began a 30-year career at WNET Channel 13 in 1992 working as a writer, producer, broadcast operations coordinator, and engineer.
Appearing both in segments and street scenes, one of her more prominent appearances was in Episode 0327 where she features in a narrative that encourages the viewer to imagine what it would be like if they were the only person on Sesame Street. Brynne serves as the surrogate for the viewing audience and fills in for the roles left vacant by the absence of the neighborhood's residents. Her imaginary sequence includes taking requests at Hooper's Store as its proprietor Mr. Hooper, working as a courier in place of Tom who's been ordered to make a delivery to Ernie, delivering the mail (and complaining about fatigue) like Molly does, eating birdseed as Big Bird in his nest, rapping about the alphabet like that "swinging" letter Q as Gordon would, and demanding some peace and quiet as Oscar the Grouch from his trash can. When the fantasy ends, she and the real Mr. Hooper agree that it might be fun, but also a little lonely; they both prefer it the way it is in reality.
Another stand-out moment was a segment in which she shares the stage with Gordon, David, Maria, Luis, and Bob. As travelers on a minimalist bus, each rider holds their own numbered newspaper, appearing out of thin air to be counted in voiceover by Jerry Nelson. Brynne holds the number 2 newspaper as the narrator counts backwards from six while they each disappear again. (First: Episode 0539)
Brynne appeared in the season 5 version of the "Sesame Street Theme" as well as several celebrity segments, such as a series of football passes in the yard with some other kids (including Joey Calvan) and professional player Joe Namath, the musical number "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" with Nina Simone and her daughter, and the youth-filled assembly in which Jesse Jackson recited "I Am - Somebody."
Other linking material featuring Brynne includes several "Three of These Kids" segments: kids in the rain (First: Episode 0408), kids playing basketball (First: Episode 0418), kids dressed for cold weather (Brynne is not) (First: Episode 0463), and kids lifting weights (First: Episode 0474).
- Brynne in Episode 0327 as...
Street scenes[]
- Episode 0016 — helping Susan place candles on Sally's birthday cake
- Episode 0022 — at Jay's birthday party and looking at a monkey
- Episode 0028 — watching Jennie draw and making paper airplanes
- Episode 0034 — feeding a turkey with Bob
- Episode 0036 — watching Jennie draw
- Episode 0038 — looking at pictures with Susan
- Episode 0039 — spotting Alphabet Bates with Bob
- Episode 0043 — sitting on the steps with Susan
- Episode 0059 — drawing on a balloon and observing a parrot with Bob
- Episode 0071 — animal guessing game with Big Bird
- Episode 0077 — cleaning her ears during "Everybody Wash" and listening to Susan's story
- Episode 0090 — riding a pony and attending the street party
- Episode 0103 — playing hopscotch
- Episode 0108 — singing with Pete Seeger
- Episode 0121 — several Street scenes
- Episode 0123 — several Street scenes
- Episode 0126 — observing a baby alligator with Bob and puppies with Gordon
- Episode 0137 — with Oscar and Bob discussing anger
- Episode 0144 — wearing a Mickey Mouse shirt
- Episode 0153 — Spanish words with Susan
- Episode 0154 — learning Spanish from Susan
- Episode 0159 — helping to build a box for Betty Lou
- Episode 0175 — singing with Pete Seeger and Brother Kirk
- Episode 0176 — dribbling a ball in the yard in scenes 1 and 6
- Episode 0185 — attending Big Bird and Little Bird's secret meeting
- Episode 0186 — guessing Spanish words with Miguel
- Episode 0197 — playing on the tire swing and narrating a film with Gordon
- Episode 0198 — dancing with a friend; playing marbles
- Episode 0217 — in the background, playing ball
- Episode 0222 — peering behind the construction doors in scene 4 and saying goodbye
- Episode 0224 — counting cookies
- Episode 0230 — playing on the swing
- Episode 0239 — helping John, Jay, and another kid build a wall around Oscar's trash can
- Episode 0258 — playing ball with Jay
- Episode 0267 — last scene
- Episode 0269 — Spanish with Carrie
- Episode 0289 — playing Rafael's listening game
- Episode 0300 — playing jacks with Susan
- Episode 0314 — "Same/Different Song"
- Episode 0316 — jumping rope with Antonio
- Episode 0326 — signing the sponsors with Linda
- Episode 0327 — filling in for everyone's roles on Sesame Street
- Episode 0378 — leading the kids in a rendition of "One of These Things"
- Episode 0380 — riding a bike in the yard
- Episode 0396 — carrying books for Susan
- Episode 0398 — holding a balloon
- Episode 0406 — playing "London Bridge" with Snuffy
- Episode 0413 — honking a horn, pretending to be a painter with Maria, and rolling a child in an O
- Episode 0414 — drawing on the 123 steps
- Episode 0483 — "Never Argue With a Bee"
- Episode 0487 — among the audience for Ella Mitchell
- Episode 0528 — rollerskating and listening to sounds with David
- Episode 0532 — "That's What My Song is For"
- Episode 0562 — watches Alphabet Bates from the playground barrels
- Episode 0598 — playing in the snow
- Episode 0599 — demonstrating a bow in an Anything Muppets' hair
Sources[]
- ↑ personal communication via Scott Hanson