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Bert is Evil!

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 – running time 12:34
We talk to Dino Ignacio, the guy whose website about a very evil Bert caused an international incident.

Like many Sesame Street viewers, Dino Ignacio thought Bert was kind of a prick. So he made a website claiming that Bert was behind many of the greatest atrocities of humankind. People loved it, and it even won him a Webby Award. But when one of the pictures of Evil Bert showed up alongside Osama Bin Laden at a Bangladeshi anti-America rally after that horrible day when the Towers fell, Dino's phone started ringing. And everyone from the Feds to patriotic soccer moms were not happy with him. This episode of Internet Superstar tells his story...

Highlights
Michael Jackson ( 1:59, 1:59 ) David Hasselhoff ( 9:51, 9:51 ) New Zealand ( 4:59, 4:59 ) Osama bin Laden ( 3:37, 3:41, 3:54, 3:37, 3:41, 3:54 ) Michael Jackson ( 1:59, 1:59 ) David Hasselhoff ( 9:51, 9:51 ) New Zealand ( 4:59, 4:59 ) Osama bin Laden ( 3:37, 3:41, 3:54, 3:37, 3:41, 3:54 )

Automatically Generated Transcript(may not be 100% accurate) ( more )

" War. This episode of superstars. Occupy -- Get bigger. Can -- get hot. Or website wouldn't godaddy.com. Yeah. And one quarter."

" great friends today's featured -- superstar want to read you -- what you back in 1998 in the category. Of best weird website. But he had no idea just how truly weird the geopolitical. Implications of that site would get a few years later after the towers fell. In New York. Critical fix it is evil stares dean did not see I do -- and on an Internet servers. Starr thanks for having me here at the pleasure first of -- graduation wearing the proper -- can't imagine that about me talk about -- what you think can win back in 1996 is that when you start -- we think invective when you decided that -- from Sesame Street was in fact the driving force behind all that is evil in the world you know honestly I grew up watching Sesame Street and remembers thinking act. He's in Jakarta and -- yeah it is in and identity bother me were -- why is this guy playing well so angering. And in around. It was summer mine six. Going to do something about I read about -- people have to know what that's a big imaginative leap from a cartoon market kind IB you know -- certainly -- and him being involved with Hitler and what has an apology that you created did what were some of the worst things you credited her with."

" I guess there was to make you said -- you know being you know -- out there with Hitler -- reichstag assault and he was also. Instrumental and then in influencing Michael Jackson become my child molester in mind Mickelson. Yeah okay holocaust like -- yeah well let it go to both equally they kind of what else was there on he he was in fact. Excited at the assassination of JFK and and one hand you have to hunt one critic and whoever -- in 1998 for best weird site. Tremendous amount of content online in the humorous face was there were no competition for that Webby Award you know back then that you know -- and 96. -- something out there with the pictures of people's weddings may be. A website about somebody's porch and many -- very funny. Fighting but not fighting a hobby kinda cool cool cool variety that so there was a lot of like finding what -- mean maybe there was a spam can there was definitely that mister T ate my moles. -- the classic classic and I wish was still out there. Which may be in way back machine I don't know. But get there wasn't much so -- honestly it and winning the -- or -- sat back and it was only because there was a lot of -- was suspect and -- kind of thrill for you know you're in the Philippines -- do all the way here to San Francisco again -- I did a -- they invited me over I think you know I don't I can -- and you know really you should go in my head. We will -- going to bid. And then realize that meant that they I was actually going to win this thing and you know. It's pretty funny and fun enough for me to welcome back home every astronaut and I think election after school last -- sent to go to college and it."

" So you don't really credit evilness. And Bob Byrd for YouTube like it can. I expect that it can I don't know well ahead at 2001. Okay the towers of -- Everyone hates Osama bin Laden this photo starts circulating from some pro Osama bin Laden rally in Bangladesh -- prominently features who. -- What was it. You're at which starts August. That that's a creation that you actually do it intimately linked to Osama bin Laden with your initial reaction honestly my their first national think this is possibly this is so cool. I mean. This was a time when Internet was a fringe media nobody cared about and it. And suddenly something's the most spilling out of it into the real world penetrated the culture exactly and -- crazy Alan let me -- That's something that I created I mean not the image itself I mean and still think I did not do that but. And the fact that it without and it was. You know us from from my brain somehow if you didn't -- out of the evil bird that you created -- that end up on this. This poster in fact that for the obvious these radicals like praising in line."

" So that the story is that I I started the website right and then when. When when he hit and it became really popular the server costs are just too high and I had to kill the site and so for a for first and a year to the site is not even on my server had given away. The whole site as a mere. Zip file for people to -- everywhere and at that time there was mirrors popping up -- and you know New Zealand Canada California and everywhere. And then. These people are starting to make their own in December and that image of -- been logged -- was done by. How want to say somebody from Canada I think I'm not if I'm if I'm not mistaken and then them. It's somehow got Google and somebody in some print house in Bangladesh decided to pull every bin Laden image with."

" Here -- the tire the sticker is my understanding is bin Laden was sort of like known but not like this that there was created before and allow this right here just sort of like this. The shady kind of -- potentially dangerous terrorists he was definitely there it was the."

" That we in the top -- whatever listen -- out what he was not invent the money we know today. You know -- so after this this first started circulating. That what happened is -- getting a lot of phone calls yeah there was wasn't it was nice people who will go well personal I think the one of the first post was Reuters British called confirm. -- me. That image it was a real and I have nothing -- with -- but they I guess they were being created it as them. Putting out fraudulent image as an -- to check -- me. And I think that's sort of the ball rulings -- I got calls from pas because courts are getting calls for Fox News. A few radio shows and PR did an interview. And a lot of difference in they're shooting death threats yeah from soccer moms."

" And I'll be careful soccer moms soccer crazy dangerous they are doing that you like can you remember really one of the desperate. What a soccer mom it's my view that there was there's something about Allen who you're being that Americans. Culture waited -- ideas and and mine anti American propaganda. How high was evil person and not Burton you really should be ashamed of myself and what is my mother -- you know he's starting to me like oh my I'm part of is that this terrorist plots. Unwittingly. Part it's funny now but honestly you know. That long ago. And in the skin in the whole -- think I was scared because there was this group of like. You know pro American and anti it -- there -- stuff that -- association. Whether it is Burton as opposed to make it -- that the government. It -- like from the."

" You know like it's it's hard -- but this part of it but. I want to say that I had -- that they were there were like conversations with people over the phone that were very. They didn't say where they were from and they were asking how much and you about nine elevenths threat before it happened and because they knew the patent and interest time -- much earlier than when. And attacks happened to. They were they were that the -- probing me I guess it was just. It's -- something they did to everybody who was somehow involved with something weird and that I mean you really a poster or something funny in that was me for 9/11 -- the funny -- that it is a divorce yourself totally different from Brazil I have for the most by an -- keeps coming back I mean here you are talking about it what is it like ten years it's it's it's more -- to study is there's you know it's. The first of all this to the children's television workshop -- noun -- meaning they were really nice about it. -- You're -- big impact they pick what is that they put at a -- thing that element of this that's and -- was related to -- were not associated with social phenomenon. We're asking. -- to -- the site down at that time my my my. I had -- mirror on my side and it was I put it down and everybody else but but you know."

" Really control that it's out there and exactly how does this -- as it's -- movement it's still very much alive he's really primarily in the now though it's from my research especially where its people dot TV very much alive -- look at -- thing I think all of the people behind it no problem getting its I don't know who these people I mean I -- working people from the Netherlands early on in the -- I don't think -- then. And that -- lifting a rock upon. You know I was there Ronald that was as big as you know the ruling on the floor -- convention's big thing that I went to do you know is -- it's like that the physical manifestation of the Internet that -- are many -- the poster boy. A rough time because it was your artwork here -- has with a lunch bell. They gave away two two attendees here here here is very here -- the evil."

" And generally seen as our work well you know if you'll seem them JPEG that this that this whole bunch of people men and rallying -- typical -- edited for them yeah. They're fun but okay at -- so here I am talking about. Responsibility on the Internet without with a panel but after which. This this couple of people from a German art art show. Website started interviewing him on -- they really really into I didn't realize that make is that caused this massive cult -- and you're like that David Hasselhoff somehow I don't know."

" That's true and I like this really that is really weird conspiracy there isn't it is people actually bought and something like this notion of virtual movie is like the driving force you know or no there is I didn't think mailing. They do it the video earlier it's it's just unbelievable so what do you -- I mean you're you're not doing Amber's evil and how have you made and I was America treat you --"

" And you know I'm an right now I'm I'm I'm working we've given him industry and that's what I've been doing part 2000 broadcast. I've I've done very little terms like the Internet community got I've got a little blond for myself -- whatever but nothing really just. Honestly a lot of a lot of that early experience and and it past. Push me away for more than mean or like -- Coetzer that it and that it's created I. May be -- go back into it but not right now well at this."

" Like that yeah God's it's and you are superstar and I look at it until it -- from the industry is the secret -- driving towards them evil in the world go to bird is evil dot TV and don't go anywhere because marketers -- case in recently tracked her down for an exclusive interview to see what his life is like now that -- the second street it odd that. Everyone tomorrow from more Internet is just."

" Bird how you get hooked the other residents and that's. --"

" night. It varied -- the guys over for the poking. Texas told. Easy ten dollar I did the friendly neighborhood. -- thirty YE a little bit yeah -- wanna play and let the -- comes over. Which makes little word most annoying (%expletive) game of poker in the world because they're creature the -- do think that count is buying it. Like -- it. The whole -- in a Martin -- pretty bad can -- you got anything better than they do not suit and so -- be -- right. I handle this I'll -- at Albert roll over the hardly stack it up. They cannot cannot. We think now I live. Pretty ticked up. I picked up its -- what we had the crowd that night."

" I did I did -- it plain purple -- Everywhere and -- I've gotten older and think yeah."

" Yet they felt it -- out what you like I don't think think think that there -- don't get it out. I thought okay."

" That."

" War. This episode of superstars. Occupy -- Get bigger. Can -- get hot. Or website wouldn't godaddy.com. Yeah. And one quarter."

" great friends today's featured -- superstar want to read you -- what you back in 1998 in the category. Of best weird website. But he had no idea just how truly weird the geopolitical. Implications of that site would get a few years later after the towers fell. In New York. Critical fix it is evil stares dean did not see I do -- and on an Internet servers. Starr thanks for having me here at the pleasure first of -- graduation wearing the proper -- can't imagine that about me talk about -- what you think can win back in 1996 is that when you start -- we think invective when you decided that -- from Sesame Street was in fact the driving force behind all that is evil in the world you know honestly I grew up watching Sesame Street and remembers thinking act. He's in Jakarta and -- yeah it is in and identity bother me were -- why is this guy playing well so angering. And in around. It was summer mine six. Going to do something about I read about -- people have to know what that's a big imaginative leap from a cartoon market kind IB you know -- certainly -- and him being involved with Hitler and what has an apology that you created did what were some of the worst things you credited her with."

" I guess there was to make you said -- you know being you know -- out there with Hitler -- reichstag assault and he was also. Instrumental and then in influencing Michael Jackson become my child molester in mind Mickelson. Yeah okay holocaust like -- yeah well let it go to both equally they kind of what else was there on he he was in fact. Excited at the assassination of JFK and and one hand you have to hunt one critic and whoever -- in 1998 for best weird site. Tremendous amount of content online in the humorous face was there were no competition for that Webby Award you know back then that you know -- and 96. -- something out there with the pictures of people's weddings may be. A website about somebody's porch and many -- very funny. Fighting but not fighting a hobby kinda cool cool cool variety that so there was a lot of like finding what -- mean maybe there was a spam can there was definitely that mister T ate my moles. -- the classic classic and I wish was still out there. Which may be in way back machine I don't know. But get there wasn't much so -- honestly it and winning the -- or -- sat back and it was only because there was a lot of -- was suspect and -- kind of thrill for you know you're in the Philippines -- do all the way here to San Francisco again -- I did a -- they invited me over I think you know I don't I can -- and you know really you should go in my head. We will -- going to bid. And then realize that meant that they I was actually going to win this thing and you know. It's pretty funny and fun enough for me to welcome back home every astronaut and I think election after school last -- sent to go to college and it."

" So you don't really credit evilness. And Bob Byrd for YouTube like it can. I expect that it can I don't know well ahead at 2001. Okay the towers of -- Everyone hates Osama bin Laden this photo starts circulating from some pro Osama bin Laden rally in Bangladesh -- prominently features who. -- What was it. You're at which starts August. That that's a creation that you actually do it intimately linked to Osama bin Laden with your initial reaction honestly my their first national think this is possibly this is so cool. I mean. This was a time when Internet was a fringe media nobody cared about and it. And suddenly something's the most spilling out of it into the real world penetrated the culture exactly and -- crazy Alan let me -- That's something that I created I mean not the image itself I mean and still think I did not do that but. And the fact that it without and it was. You know us from from my brain somehow if you didn't -- out of the evil bird that you created -- that end up on this. This poster in fact that for the obvious these radicals like praising in line."

" So that the story is that I I started the website right and then when. When when he hit and it became really popular the server costs are just too high and I had to kill the site and so for a for first and a year to the site is not even on my server had given away. The whole site as a mere. Zip file for people to -- everywhere and at that time there was mirrors popping up -- and you know New Zealand Canada California and everywhere. And then. These people are starting to make their own in December and that image of -- been logged -- was done by. How want to say somebody from Canada I think I'm not if I'm if I'm not mistaken and then them. It's somehow got Google and somebody in some print house in Bangladesh decided to pull every bin Laden image with."

" Here -- the tire the sticker is my understanding is bin Laden was sort of like known but not like this that there was created before and allow this right here just sort of like this. The shady kind of -- potentially dangerous terrorists he was definitely there it was the."

" That we in the top -- whatever listen -- out what he was not invent the money we know today. You know -- so after this this first started circulating. That what happened is -- getting a lot of phone calls yeah there was wasn't it was nice people who will go well personal I think the one of the first post was Reuters British called confirm. -- me. That image it was a real and I have nothing -- with -- but they I guess they were being created it as them. Putting out fraudulent image as an -- to check -- me. And I think that's sort of the ball rulings -- I got calls from pas because courts are getting calls for Fox News. A few radio shows and PR did an interview. And a lot of difference in they're shooting death threats yeah from soccer moms."

" And I'll be careful soccer moms soccer crazy dangerous they are doing that you like can you remember really one of the desperate. What a soccer mom it's my view that there was there's something about Allen who you're being that Americans. Culture waited -- ideas and and mine anti American propaganda. How high was evil person and not Burton you really should be ashamed of myself and what is my mother -- you know he's starting to me like oh my I'm part of is that this terrorist plots. Unwittingly. Part it's funny now but honestly you know. That long ago. And in the skin in the whole -- think I was scared because there was this group of like. You know pro American and anti it -- there -- stuff that -- association. Whether it is Burton as opposed to make it -- that the government. It -- like from the."

" You know like it's it's hard -- but this part of it but. I want to say that I had -- that they were there were like conversations with people over the phone that were very. They didn't say where they were from and they were asking how much and you about nine elevenths threat before it happened and because they knew the patent and interest time -- much earlier than when. And attacks happened to. They were they were that the -- probing me I guess it was just. It's -- something they did to everybody who was somehow involved with something weird and that I mean you really a poster or something funny in that was me for 9/11 -- the funny -- that it is a divorce yourself totally different from Brazil I have for the most by an -- keeps coming back I mean here you are talking about it what is it like ten years it's it's it's more -- to study is there's you know it's. The first of all this to the children's television workshop -- noun -- meaning they were really nice about it. -- You're -- big impact they pick what is that they put at a -- thing that element of this that's and -- was related to -- were not associated with social phenomenon. We're asking. -- to -- the site down at that time my my my. I had -- mirror on my side and it was I put it down and everybody else but but you know."

" Really control that it's out there and exactly how does this -- as it's -- movement it's still very much alive he's really primarily in the now though it's from my research especially where its people dot TV very much alive -- look at -- thing I think all of the people behind it no problem getting its I don't know who these people I mean I -- working people from the Netherlands early on in the -- I don't think -- then. And that -- lifting a rock upon. You know I was there Ronald that was as big as you know the ruling on the floor -- convention's big thing that I went to do you know is -- it's like that the physical manifestation of the Internet that -- are many -- the poster boy. A rough time because it was your artwork here -- has with a lunch bell. They gave away two two attendees here here here is very here -- the evil."

" And generally seen as our work well you know if you'll seem them JPEG that this that this whole bunch of people men and rallying -- typical -- edited for them yeah. They're fun but okay at -- so here I am talking about. Responsibility on the Internet without with a panel but after which. This this couple of people from a German art art show. Website started interviewing him on -- they really really into I didn't realize that make is that caused this massive cult -- and you're like that David Hasselhoff somehow I don't know."

" That's true and I like this really that is really weird conspiracy there isn't it is people actually bought and something like this notion of virtual movie is like the driving force you know or no there is I didn't think mailing. They do it the video earlier it's it's just unbelievable so what do you -- I mean you're you're not doing Amber's evil and how have you made and I was America treat you --"

" And you know I'm an right now I'm I'm I'm working we've given him industry and that's what I've been doing part 2000 broadcast. I've I've done very little terms like the Internet community got I've got a little blond for myself -- whatever but nothing really just. Honestly a lot of a lot of that early experience and and it past. Push me away for more than mean or like -- Coetzer that it and that it's created I. May be -- go back into it but not right now well at this."

" Like that yeah God's it's and you are superstar and I look at it until it -- from the industry is the secret -- driving towards them evil in the world go to bird is evil dot TV and don't go anywhere because marketers -- case in recently tracked her down for an exclusive interview to see what his life is like now that -- the second street it odd that. Everyone tomorrow from more Internet is just."

" Bird how you get hooked the other residents and that's. --"

" night. It varied -- the guys over for the poking. Texas told. Easy ten dollar I did the friendly neighborhood. -- thirty YE a little bit yeah -- wanna play and let the -- comes over. Which makes little word most annoying (%expletive) game of poker in the world because they're creature the -- do think that count is buying it. Like -- it. The whole -- in a Martin -- pretty bad can -- you got anything better than they do not suit and so -- be -- right. I handle this I'll -- at Albert roll over the hardly stack it up. They cannot cannot. We think now I live. Pretty ticked up. I picked up its -- what we had the crowd that night."

" I did I did -- it plain purple -- Everywhere and -- I've gotten older and think yeah."

" Yet they felt it -- out what you like I don't think think think that there -- don't get it out. I thought okay."

" That."