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Sesame Street
Big Bird tries to be a detective
Air date May 20, 1976
Season Season 7 (1975-1976)
Sponsors C, P, 4

SSTitle-0919


StreetScenes
Picture Segment Description
0919a

0919b

0919c
SCENE 1 While reading "How to Be a Detective," Big Bird learns about employing disguises. He dons a false mustache and attempts to listen in on Mr. Hooper and Susan’s conversation about produce prices, but he's instantly recognized. Big Bird thinks he can fool Gordon as he reads the newspaper, but Gordon also recognizes him, pointing out he's the only one on the block who’s an eight foot tall yellow bird. Big Bird realizes the mustache isn't enough, and goes to get more disguises.
0573d
Cartoon C - Cake
(First: Episode 0153)
0919d

0919e
SCENE 2 Big Bird has added eyebrows, a long beard, and a (bubble) pipe to his disguise, certain that no one will know it's him. He even squats down to make himself look shorter, but the kids know who he is the second they see him, despite Big Bird insisting he's "Inspector Bird of the Yard." He figures the kids were too smart to be fooled, so he tries it out on Mr. Hooper. The storekeeper isn't convinced, but he encourages Big Bird not to give up when he learns of how hard he's been working on his disguises. Once Big Bird leaves, Mr. Hooper tells Susan and Gordon about Big Bird's problem and convinces them to pretend to be fooled by whatever Big Bird puts on next.
Cat toon2
Cartoon Speech Balloon: C for cat (impostor)
(First: Episode 0029)
2356-39
Film A baby messes around (literally) with a chocolate cookie, as Cookie Monster (in voice-over) wishes it were for him.
(First: Episode 0407)
0919f
SCENE 3 Big Bird has switched into a new disguise, wearing sunglasses and using a tablecloth for a cape. He passes by the adults, who act as if he's a complete stranger. Big Bird tries desperately to prove who he really is when he thinks the disguise is working too well, singing a bit of "ABC-DEF-GHI," but the others still feign recognition. Mr. Hooper even corrects Big Bird when he gets his name right: "Looper, Looper to you!" Once everybody leaves, Big Bird isn't sure he wants to be a detective anymore and considers becoming a dentist.
Clapclapclap
Muppets The Anything Muppets perform a "Handclapping Number."
(First: Episode 0491)
Letter C toon
Cartoon A man gets a letter C in the mail.
(First: Episode 0294)
Ballsholes
Film In stop-motion, three balls try to match three holes.
(First: Episode 0572)
1090-23
Animation Shape organization, part 1
(First: Episode 0419)
Rowrowyourboat
Muppets Sesame Street News FlashDon Music writes "Drive, Drive, Drive Your Car."
(First: Episode 0897)
1090-24
Animation Shape organization, part 2
(First: Episode 0419)
BFL
Muppets / Cast Kermit's Lectures: Bob holds an American bullfrog and asks Kermit to talk about frogs. However, due to living a somewhat different life than normal frogs, what Kermit says about frogs is somewhat incorrect; for example, Kermit believes that frogs eat fried chicken and pizza, and live in apartment houses.
(First: Episode 0277)
ShapeOrg-03
Animation Shape organization, part 3
(First: Episode 0419)
Madpainter4
Film The Mad Painter #4
(First: Episode 0344)
5-Good-Men
Muppets Old West: Five good men are needed to form a posse and catch Bad Bart, the meanest man in the West. The sheriff counts five men in the saloon, and tries to organize them. But it turns out that there are only four good men -- one of them is Bad Bart!
(First: Episode 0554)
1090-10
Film Peacock
Music: Joe Raposo
(First: Episode 0278)
Rhymeswithballtoon
Cartoon Words that rhyme with BALL (voices of Bob Arbogast and Daws Butler)
(First: Episode 0773)
0919 04

0919h
SCENE 4 Oscar tells Susan that he likes poetry, and is the official poet of the Grouch Club. He recites a sample of his "trash poetry," littering the street in the process. Once the poem is finished, Susan begins to pick up the trash and put it back into his can. "How do you like that; some people have no feeling for the arts!" Oscar complains.
4construction
Cartoon Four construction workers build a number 4.
(First: Episode 0507)
Flying Fingers
Muppets Ernie & BertErnie says that he has "flying fingers," and tries to find ten different things that his fingers can do.
(First: Episode 0617)
Monster.frontback
Cartoon Dr. Frankenstein makes sure his monster knows about front and back. (Voices: Rick Cimino)
(First: Episode 0782)
GordonLuis-Bikes
Cast Gordon and Luis demonstrate front and back with a tandem bicycle.
(First: Episode 0826)
1090-14
Cartoon P is for Pillow
(First: Episode 0374)
FredTheWonderhorse
Muppets Marshal Grover asks Fred the Wonder Horse why he's walking backwards -- he can only see where he's been, and not where he's going. He also wants to know what happened to Fred's head. Fred explains that Marshal Grover doesn't know the difference between front and back. "That is a terrible, mean, cruel thing to say to me, Fred!" Marshal Grover exclaims. "It is true, but..." Fred tells Grover that he's facing backward, and if he turns around, he'll see Fred's head. Grover turns around, and cries: "Oh, Fred! I've missed you! Oh, it's good to see you!" Fred says that if he stays turned around, he'll be able to see where he's going. Grover tries it, and he's proud to know the difference between front and back. Unfortunately, now his head is resting on the saddle, with his feet in the air.
(First: Episode 0629)
0919-SandP
Animation Sand P / p
(First: Episode 0634)
0919i

0919j
SCENE 5 Big Bird shows Gordon how he's written his name in chalk on the doors to his nest so the mail carrier will know where to deliver his spring birdseed catalogue. Gordon points out that the B’s are on one side of the wall, while the IG and IRD are on the other side, written on the inside part of the door. Gordon explains how the amount of space could confuse the mail carrier, and helps him by writing "IG" and "IRD" on the opposite side of the door; that way, when the door is closed the words will read "BIG BIRD."
2341g
Muppets Herbert Birdsfoot and the "ET" family, part 1: WET.
(First: Episode 0473)
Toon.Cerrado
Cartoon La palabra cerrado
(First: Episode 0481)
2341i
Muppets Herbert Birdsfoot and the "ET" family, part 2: SET.
(First: Episode 0473)
BirdFrontBack
Cartoon A bird displays the front and back of a turtle.
(First: Episode 0789)
2341k
Muppets Herbert Birdsfoot and the "ET" family, part 3: MET.
(First: Episode 0473)
Spilled milk film
Film A woman asks a boy how a glass of milk was spilled on the table, so the boy offers several outlandish scenarios before telling her the truth: it was him.
(First: Episode 0212)
Cookie Ernie hat boxes
Muppets Ernie & BertErnie purchases a straw hat for Bert, and asks Cookie Monster which box the hat will go in.
(First: Episode 0438)
3154w
Cartoon A monster sees a box that keeps opening and closing, saying "Abierto" and "Cerrado."
(First: Episode 0771)
Film-LionsEating
Film A pride of lions feasts on an animal carcass.
(First: Episode 0407)
0573d
Cartoon C - Cake (repeat)
HarveyC
Muppets Harvey Kneeslapper looks inside a paper bag and laughs and asks his next victim, "Wanna see?" The man says yes, so Harvey puts a letter C on him.
(First: Episode 0294)
ShapeOrg-04
Animation Shape organization (all formations review), part 4
(First: Episode 0419)
BertIngrid
Muppets Muppet & Kid MomentBert & Ingrid count backwards from ten to one.
(First: Episode 0527)
0919k
SCENE 6 The kids play in the yard as Mr. Hooper announces the sponsors.
ClosingSign-SusanSS-0919

Gordon1364
CLOSING SIGNS Susan holds the Sesame Street sign, and Gordon holds the Children's Television Workshop sign.

Notes[]

  • The script for Big Bird's detective plotline would later be reused for Episode 2087, with Telly Monster taking the bird's place. Oscar's love poem is reused in Episode 2140 with a revised ending, where Oscar gives away his trash to Maria, who doesn't realize it's just a ploy for him to get rid of some of his stuff.



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