We saw Caroll Spinney speak tonight, and what an amazing guy he is! He told so many great stories, and brought Oscar out several times to speak and sing and interact with the many kids in attendance.

So many things about him we didn’t know: he’s an animator and cartoonist, and was offered a job by Disney in 1957; that was *him* riding his unicycle while wearing the full Big Bird outfit (though they hired a professional skater for the famous ice skating scene in Christmas Eve on Sesame Street); and he designed the amazing Bruno the Trashman outfit after seeing an episode of the Gong Show where a puppeteer came onstage in a baby carriage — with her head as the baby’s — while also providing the legs for the clown pushing the pram.

We hung around after the show and got a copy of his book autographed, (yes, Sonia, we got yours, too!) and went next door for coffee. When we came out, Mr. and Ms. Spinney were getting into our friend Kevin’s station wagon, and as they passed, Caroll rolled down the window, leaned out and yelled at us in his best Oscar voice: “Have a rotten night!”

100% pure awesome.

Click through the pictures for more nerdtastic Oscar Commentary. Sorry the quality’s a little grainy, but I had my flash off because I was trying not to be a jerk.