PERFORMER	Bob McGrath
DEBUT	1969

Bob Johnson is a music teacher who lives on Sesame Street.^[1] He was introduced in the premiere episode of Sesame Street. His many songs on the show include "The People in Your Neighborhood," "Believe in Yourself," and "I've Got Two." An affable and low-key fellow, Bob was introduced as Gordon and Susan's neighbor.

While Gordon and Susan (and to some extent, Maria and Luis) function largely as surrogate parents to the Muppet characters, Bob is more of a surrogate teacher, seldom assuming a disciplinary role. He lives in an apartment above Hooper's Store with his cat (seen in Episode 0456). Occasionally, Oscar the Grouch makes a point of addressing him as "blue eyes," "bright eyes," or "high tonsils."

Bob's family consists of a sister named Jane who lives in the mountains and has written to Bob on occasion (as in Episode 2129). One of his brothers is Minneapolis Johnson, an archaeologist who comes to visit in Episode 2687. Other relatives include Uncle Wally and his deaf niece, Samara. In Episode 2005, he references his other siblings - Dick, Edmund, and Eileen. His birthday is August 15.

As the resident music expert on the street, in addition to singing and playing the piano, Bob periodically conducted the Sesame Street Band. He played the flute multiple times, as well as other instruments.

By Season 38, Bob's role on the show had diminished, appearing in no more than one or two episodes a season. Bob, along with most of the other human characters, was phased out of the show in the lead-up to Season 46, making his last original appearance in Episode 4525. Since then, he was seen in reused material and made new appearances in a 2018 web video, reading Goodnight Numbers to Elmo, and in Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Name[]

Although he shares a name with the actor who portrays him, the character was originally going to be named Bobby before anyone was considered for the role.^[2] McGrath requested shortening it to Bob.^[3]

Bob's last name is often listed as Johnson (as seen in Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street and various CTW archive materials). Sesame Street Unpaved (a book known for a multitude of errors), incorrectly lists the name of the actor in the biographical data for the character.

Relationship with Linda[]

Bob has a close, romantic relationship with Linda (having previously resisted the advances of Molly the Mail Lady). Bob and Linda became romantically entangled as early as Season 8, where a number of episodes show Bob learning American Sign Language to impress her. He serenades her with "I Get a Nice Feeling" in Episode 1016 and, a few episodes later in 1024, asks her out on their first formal date. In Season 9 during Episode 1093, while Bob was in Hawaii he called home to Linda. Luis interprets for them and at the end of the phone call, Bob explains to Luis to hold his hand up and drop his 3rd and 4th fingers to Linda and give the sign for “I love you” and Linda signs it back. During Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, Linda surprises Bob by teaching his students how to sign "Keep Christmas With You" as a gift to a delighted Bob.

In Sesame Street, Special, Barbara Walters interviews Bob about his relationship with Linda and asks if they have any "future plans." Bob proceeds to gush about his and Linda's plans for tomorrow, which entails going for a walk in the park and playing checkers. Walters awkwardly thanks Bob and retorts to the camera, "This is what we call a slow news day."

During the wedding of Luis and Maria, Bob and Linda wondered about marriage. The wistful bachelor and best man, Bob, turning to maid of honor Linda (“Sometimes I wonder how I would feel being married. If I were married, would it be to someone like you?”), the longtime girlfriend, Linda, dreamily responding in sign language through a video thought balloon (“Sometimes I wonder how I would feel being married. I wonder if you wonder, too."). They both think "I wish I knew." The subject of them getting married and having a baby was mistakenly brought up by Telly Monster in Episode 2615, but the couple replies they have no such immediate plans.

The producers considered having the two characters wed, but Bob McGrath was responsible for the two never becoming a full-fledged married couple like Luis and Maria or Gordon and Susan. He was concerned that it would affect his personal appearances and concerts, where he would often bring his own kids onstage; he feared this would create a dissonance between his screen and real-life personas.^[4][5]

Notes[]

• In Episode 1703, Bob mentions having played football at Marquette High School in Indiana.
• Though the character of Bob is specified to have grown up in Indiana in different episodes, in Episode 1868, he (in character) mentions that his hometown is Ottowa, Illinois, which was the actual hometown of Bob McGrath. He also mentions his mother living in Illinois in Episode 1533.
• Bob remarks in Episode 2161 that his mother originally came from Ireland.

Appearances[]

Movies[]

• Follow That Bird
• The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland

TV Specials[]

• Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
• A Special Sesame Street Christmas
• A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
• Don't Eat the Pictures
• Sesame Street, Special
• Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting
• Big Bird's Birthday or Let Me Eat Cake
• Sesame Street Stays Up Late
• Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
• Elmo Saves Christmas
• Elmopalooza
• The Street We Live On
• Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration

Direct-to-Video[]

• Sing-Along
• Big Bird's Favorite Party Games
• Oscar's Letter Party
• What's the Name of That Song?

Albums[]

• The Sesame Street Book & Record (1970)
• Sesame Street LIVE! (1973)
• ¡Sesame Mucho! (1974)
• Bert & Ernie Sing-Along (1975)
• Merry Christmas from Sesame Street (1975)
• Aren't You Glad You're You? (1977)
• Happy Birthday from Sesame Street (1977)
• Let Your Feelings Show! (1977)
• Sleepytime Bird (1977)
• What Time Is It on Sesame Street? (1977)
• Fair is Fair (1978)
• On the Street Where We Live - Block Party! (1978)
• Every Body's Record (1979)
• Big Bird's Birdtime Stories (1980)
• The People in Your Neighborhood (1980)
• Sesame Street Sing-Along! (1982)
• Sesame Street Christmas Sing-Along (1984)
• CinderElmo (2000)
• Kids' Favorite Songs 2 (2001)

Books[]

• The Sesame Street ABC Storybook (1974)
• Big Bird's Busy Book (1975)
• Who's Who on Sesame Street (1977) (and subsequent editions)
• Cookie Monster's Storybook (1979)
• Frazzle's Fantastic Day (1980)
• The Count Counts a Party (1980)
• Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1981)
• The Sesame Street Word Book (1983)
• I'll Miss You, Mr. Hooper (1984)
• It's Not Fair! (1985)
• Elmo Saves Christmas (1997)
• People in Your Neighborhood (2019)

See also[]

• Bob songs

Sources[]