Big Birdman: Is viral Sesame Street film a late contender for Oscars success?

Caroll Spinney is haunted by Big Bird, the puppet he voiced for 45 years on Sesame Street

Big Bird and Caroll Spinney in Big Birdman

Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel are battling out to become the most successful movie at tomorrow’s Oscars, with nine nominations each.

But a new rival has emerged for Alejandro González Iñárritu’s quirky flick, with Michael Keaton playing a washed-up former movie superhero hoping to rekindle his career with an ambitious production on Broadway.

As well as being a critic’s choice, it’s taken more than $75-million at the box office so far and has even prompted a parody, Big Birdman, which is rapidly rising to fame.

Just as Keaton is haunted by his former superhero character Birdman in the Oscar nominee, the spoof shows puppeteer Caroll Spinney haunted by Big Bird, the puppet he voiced for 45 years on Sesame Street.

Within two days of its release on Youtube, more than a quarter of a million people had viewed the video.

And, like Birdman, Spinney is no stranger to an Oscar – he is also the famous voice behind Sesame Street’s Oscar the Grouch.