These and other equally pressing questions were answered recently when Cookie Monster (and Cheryl Henson, Muppet creator Jim Hensen's daughter) were
interviewed for NPR as part of the station's "In Character" series. Henson revealed that Cookie Monster's large black mouth is actually a hole in the puppet costume, where most of the food is deposited (directly on top of the puppeteer's head). The rest is mashed into crumbs and flies around his head during his frenzied eating.
Cookie was asked several questions similar to the format adapted by
Inside the Actors' Studio host James Lipton. We've summarized them here for you, using actual quotes from Cookie himself, to reveal just a little bit more about what goes on inside that big furry blue head of his.
Favorite word: COOKIE! Ahahaha....What did you expect?
Least favorite word: "OUT OF COOKIES! Does that count? Okay...how about
pusillanimous?"
What sound/noise do you love: "Anumumumum!" (the noise that he makes as he's devouring cookies)
What sound/noise do you hate: Snoring.
Favorite curse word: "Well, me have favorite dirty word: Oscar the Grouch! That is one dirty word."
Who would you like to see on a new bank note? "Bert. Me think he'd look really nice there, just the shape of Bert's head would fit nicely in the center of the bill."
What profession would you least like to try? Ophthalmology
If you were reincarnated as another animal, what would you like it to be? A Snuffulupagus.
If heaven exists, what you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? "COWABUNGA!"
There are certain times when I'm very grateful for the internet, and this is one of them. 
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