he was jim henson's alter ego. jim would say things through kermit the frog that he would not say in person because jim was a very modest and humble kind of guy. >> well, that is the gift of watch being a show like seasme street, both as children but also as adults and kind of continue to learn as adults. you were watching college students watching seasme students during a break and enjoying the show as much as when they were children enjoying the show. >> it was amazing because this was very early on in the show's broadcast. i saw them in the tv lounge and they why laughing. >> we'll find out more about the show in just a minute. thank you so much while we take a break. . [ music ]. good morning again. we are back. we said goodbye to our author gary, he wrote the gospel according to seasme street. i recommend it to you to church groups and to other people. but now we need to say welcome to michael pappus. >> thank you. >> nice to be here. >> executive director of the interfaith council for san fransisco. it's invol

jim henson being the most notable. >> that's right. >> he died at 53 of pneumonia. there was a mixture of emotion, because extreme sorrow but there was some regret and anger too because he had gotten to the hospital two hours before the antibiotics could have kicked in. he may still be alive today. >> we remember so fondly kermit the frog, one of jim henson's -- you called him his alter ego. >> yes. >> what did kermit represent in the show? >> kermit's really the glue. he holds everything together as far as the muppets. jim would say things through kermit the frog that he would not say in person, because jim was a very modest and humble kind of guy. >> well, that is the gift of watching a show like "sesame street," both as children, but also as adults, and kind of continue to learn as adults. you were saying to me earlier that you were watching college students watching "sesame street" during the break and enjoying the show as much as when they were children enjoying the show. >> oh, it was amazing. this was very early on in the show's run. and so i saw them in the

kids-- and parents-- loved jim henson's muppets. >> girl: 8, 9, 9, 10, 11.. >> kermit: so do you. >> stahl: and testing showed kids who watched were learning. sometimes the lessons were about real life-- >> mr. hooper: i'm your neighborhood friend, mr. hooper. >> stahl: as when the actor who played beloved shopkeeper mr. hooper passed away, and the show decided to address the subject of death head on. >> big bird: tada! >> adults: oh, look at that. >> big bird: i can't wait till he sees it. say, where is he? >> stahl: you could have changed actors. >> ganz cooney: yes. but we decided "sesame street" had always dealt with the real. and it was real, so we decided not to just replace him and call the man mr. hooper and hope they didn't notice. >> maria: uh, don't you remember we told you mr. hooper died. he's dead. >> big bird: oh yeah, i remember. well, i'll give it to him when he comes back. >> susan: big bird, when, when people die, they don't come back. >> big bird: ever? >> stahl: over the years, "sesame street" did segments about other challenging subject