"Yip-yip-yip-yip, uh-huh, uh-huh."
If you grew up anywhere near a television in the last fifty years, those six syllables probably just triggered a specific, frantic memory. You’re likely picturing two floating, tubular Muppets with saucer eyes and fringe-like "mouths" trying to have a conversation with a rotary telephone or a grandfather clock. These are the Yip Yips, the most iconic alien puppets Sesame Street ever introduced to the world, and they represent a weirdly brilliant era of educational television.
Honestly, it’s kind of strange when you think about it. Most children’s programming in the late 60s and early 70s was preoccupied with fairy tales or talking animals. But Jim Henson and the early writers of Sesame Street had a different vibe in mind. They wanted to tackle the concept of "the other." They wanted to show kids how to approach something—or someone—completely unrecognizable with curiosity instead of fear. The aliens weren't just filler; they were a masterclass in improvisational puppetry and linguistics.
The Yip Yips and the Art of the "Oooooooh"
Technically known as the Martians, the Yip Yips first appeared in 1972. They don't have legs. They don't have hands. They are basically just highly expressive oven mitts with antenna. But that’s the genius of it. When Jim Henson and Jerry Nelson first brought them to life, the comedy didn't come from complex scripts. It came from the sheer absurdity of two interplanetary explorers being absolutely baffled by a toaster.
There’s a specific rhythm to their sketches. It’s almost musical. One Martian makes an observation, the other confirms it, and then they both fall into a rhythmic "yip-yip-yip" chant until the object they are studying does something "scary"—like ringing or popping—at which point they hide behind their own lower lips.
It’s hilarious because it mirrors how toddlers interact with the world. To a two-year-old, a vacuum cleaner is basically an alien life form. By using alien puppets Sesame Street allowed kids to laugh at their own confusion. It validated the idea that not knowing what something is—and being a little freaked out by it—is totally normal. You’ve probably seen the "Radio" sketch. It’s a classic. They try to communicate with it, they get scared, and eventually, they just start vibing to the music. It’s pure, distilled Jim Henson.
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Beyond the Martians: Other Interstellar Visitors
While the Yip Yips get all the glory (and the merchandise), they weren't the only extraterrestrials to wander onto the neighborhood. Remember the Two-Headed Monster? While not explicitly labeled as an "alien" in every appearance, his design and speech patterns definitely leaned into that "creature from another place" aesthetic that defined the show's experimental years.
Then there’s the moon. Sesame Street has a long-standing obsession with the moon. In the late 80s and 90s, Elmo and Ernie both had significant "trips" to the moon where they encountered various creatures. "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" is arguably one of the most poignant songs in the show’s history. It’s not just about space; it’s about the realization that as cool as aliens and moon-rocks are, they can’t replace the warmth of home.
The Evolution of Puppet Design
If you look closely at the construction of these characters, you see a shift in how Muppets were built. The Yip Yips are "live-hand" puppets but without the hands. Their mouths are operated by a simple pull-string or rod mechanism that creates that iconic wide-open gasp.
- Materials: Most of the early aliens used simple fleece and foam.
- Movement: The floating effect was achieved through clever rod-puppetry against dark backgrounds or tight framing.
- Sound: The "yip" sound is actually quite taxing on the throat, requiring a specific staccato vocal fry.
It's also worth noting that the Martians are one of the few characters that have remained virtually unchanged for decades. Big Bird has changed his feathers. Elmo got a redesign. But the Martians? They look exactly the same today as they did when Nixon was in office. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Why We Still Care About Alien Puppets on Sesame Street
We live in a world that is increasingly segmented. Algorithms show us exactly what we want to see, and we rarely have to deal with things that feel "alien" to us. This is why the alien puppets Sesame Street pioneered are actually more relevant now than they were in the 70s.
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The Martians are the ultimate outsiders. They don't speak the language. They don't understand the customs. They think a book is something you eat. But they are never treated as a threat. The residents of the street—whether it’s Gordon, Maria, or a giant yellow bird—treat these weird floating blobs with patience.
There is a subtle, deep-seated lesson in there about empathy. When the Martians encounter a computer and try to "talk" to it, we aren't meant to think they are stupid. We are meant to enjoy their discovery. It’s a celebration of the learning process itself. The "yip yip" isn't just a catchphrase; it's the sound of a brain trying to make sense of a confusing universe.
The Technical Wizardry of the Martians
Ever wonder how they actually work? Most puppets on the show require the puppeteer to be right underneath the character. But the Martians often appear to be floating mid-air with their entire bodies visible.
The secret is a mix of black-suit puppetry and very long rods. In many of the classic sketches, the background is carefully staged to hide the thin wires or rods that give the Yip Yips their bouncy, weightless movement. It requires incredible coordination. Two puppeteers have to sync their "yips" and their "uh-huhs" perfectly to make the duo feel like a single unit. It’s a comedy team, basically. Like Abbott and Costello, but made of blue and pink shag carpet.
Impact on Pop Culture
You see the influence of these alien puppets Sesame Street gave us everywhere. From Star Wars creatures that feel a bit "muppety" to the dry, observational humor of modern animation. They proved that you don't need a complex backstory or a high-tech CGI budget to create a character that sticks in the public consciousness for half a century. All you need is a good silhouette and a funny noise.
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They’ve been parodied on Family Guy, referenced in late-night talk shows, and they are a staple of Halloween costumes for people who want a "low-effort, high-impact" outfit. There’s something universally relatable about two creatures just trying to figure out how a telephone works.
How to Share the Magic Today
If you’re looking to introduce a new generation to these characters, or if you’re just on a nostalgia trip, there are a few ways to really "get" the Martian experience.
- Watch the "Telephone" Sketch First: It is the definitive Yip Yip moment. It establishes the rules of their world perfectly.
- Look for the "Earth Report" Segments: These are slightly rarer but show the Martians attempting to act like news anchors, which is exactly as chaotic as you’d expect.
- Check out the "Yip Yip" App: Yes, they actually made digital versions where you can interact with them. It’s a bit weird, but hey, so are they.
Honestly, the best way to appreciate them is to just sit back and realize how much work went into making something look that simple. It takes a lot of talent to make a piece of fabric look genuinely confused by a clock.
The legacy of alien puppets Sesame Street isn't just about space or sci-fi. It’s about the joy of the unknown. It teaches us that even if something is totally different from us—even if it has no legs and speaks in "yips"—we can still find a way to communicate. Or at least, we can find a way to stand next to it and go "Ooooooooh!" together.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Henson's extraterrestrials, start by exploring the archives at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York, which houses many original Muppets. For those interested in the mechanics, looking into "rod puppetry" tutorials can give you a massive appreciation for what the performers do behind the scenes. Finally, if you're a parent, use the Yip Yip sketches as a tool to talk about "new things." When your kid is scared of a new gadget or a strange sound, ask them, "What would the Martians think of this?" It turns a moment of anxiety into a game of discovery.
Keep an eye out for vintage Sesame Street Muppet posters or the rare 1980s PVC figurines if you’re a collector. These characters don't get as much merchandise as Elmo, which makes the items that do exist much more special to find in the wild.