Frank Biondo (b. October 16, 1938) served as camera 1 operator on Sesame Street from the very first show through the 52nd season. He worked with Jim Henson on projects before Sesame as well (including the sitcom That's Life), and appeared as himself in a montage in "Elmo's World: Cameras." He has also served as a cameraman for other projects for Sesame Workshop, including Shalom Sesame, 3-2-1 Contact, and Panwapa.
Biondo is an Emmy winner in the category of Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction/Electronic Camera/Video Control for Sesame Street. He's spoken proudly of his work on the series:
This is the biggest show in the world. In the world! The biggest star on television is Big Bird. Big Hollywood stars come on the show, they bow down to Big Bird. At the end of the day, that's something I can brag about. Some other guy's going around saying, 'Hey, I work on The Tonight Show!' Yeah, good for you, buddy. I work with Big Bird![1]
Notes
- Biondo founded the Make a Kid Smile Foundation which gives gifts to seriously ill children.
- For many years, Biondo served as the organizer and emcee for the Sesame Street wrap party every season.
- After the first season, Biondo was assigned to operate the boom mic for the show instead before transitioning back to camera operator.[2]
- Frankie, a Muppet caricature of Biondo, has made recurring appearances on the show, most notably as cameraman for "The Alphabet Roadshow" in Episode 4125. In Episode 4203, the puppet appears selling t-shirts at a race, referencing Biondo's role of crafting shirts for the cast and crew each season.[3] Biondo lent his own voice to the character's appearance here, manipulated by David Rudman.[4]
- In a 1989 Sesame Street sketch, Kermit the Frog directs Forgetful Jones in the musical Oklahoma!, where "F. Biondo" is listed on the clapperboard as the cameraman.
- Biondo wrote "ABC Hip Hop", as performed by Miles and several monsters in Season 34.
- Among the things that Alison Bartlett recalls from her first episode as Gina: "the sound of camera operator Frank Biondo’s frightening New York accent after every take stating “Dat was…average.”"[5]
- The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation interviewed Biondo for the Archive of American Television on October 2, 2019. The 3-hour interview was posted on YouTube in 2020. Biondo was also interviewed for the documentaries Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street and Ciao Sesame Street. In December 2024, The Barretta Brothers hosted a nearly three-hour livestream commemorating Biondo's official retirement. (YouTube)
Sources
- ↑ The Cincinnati Post "Sesame Street turns 30" Matt Zoeller, 11/20/98.
- ↑ The Unseen Photos of Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street, pages 70-71
- ↑ KPBS: Growing Up With Sesame Street
- ↑ Television Academy Interview - Frank Biondo Part 2 (25:15)
- ↑ "Growing Up Gina", sesame family newsletter, December 17, 2010.
