they were all laughing about it in an interview a few years ago like it was so cute. he assigned two guys at all times to control the E.T. animatronic and keep 6-7yo Drew Barrymore under the illusion that it was a living, breathing extraterrestrial with feelings. she confided in it and took care of it, at one point requesting a scarf on a particularly cold set because she was worried he was cold.