fine interview, Tim. Fred too was The Fat Kid who was teased. Lenny Meledandri worked with Margaret McFarland for four years I believe, and had other things to say about Fred's opinions on merchandising. He is also a fine pianist, composer, singer, writer. Chuck Aber does not have the child-developmental chops but has the personal integrity, devotion to Mission & gentle, artless delivery and lovely voice. Michael Horton could voice any of Fred's puppets (I mean ANY) and is a fine tenor. Perhaps they felt it would be disloyal to Fred to put anyone in his place. I feel it is disloyal to his principles to have chosen the DST format, and not to have used his repertory of songs or the familiar characteristics of the puppet-to-animated- characters . And as far as bringing the Neighborhood into the greater Neighborhood, that had always been promised, and (discounting the Mr. McFeeley franchise and occasional personal appearances) that never happened. As far as credit for writing or ideas by/from others, Eliot ascribes the highest motives, which would support Fred's need to be and to be seen as (he did indeed care what people thought of him and HIS program imho) a "real authentic person" rather than "just an actor". Coming from such wealth Fred never needed to kow-tow - except perhaps to the Most High. He was an only child, and he had a portion of Mister Allmine in his King Friday-like sense of entitlement regarding his however helpful "underlings".
