The Grouch Flu is a disease that makes Grouches act nice and cheerful rather than grouchy. Symptoms include fever, politeness, smiling, laughing, and overall happiness.
A few known cases of the Grouch Flu have occurred on Sesame Street. Dr. Kvetch is usually called in to diagnose the patient and prescribes lots of fluids (namely orange juice and sardines), plenty of rest, and avoiding nice people.
Oscar and Grundgetta come down with the illness in Sesame Street Episode 1599, and Oscar catches it again from Irvine in Episode 2630. In the latter episode, Maria becomes concerned when she learns about the disease and asks the doctor about it during Gabi's check-up. The doctor tells her only Grouches can contract the Grouch Flu.
In Episode 3589, Telly Monster worries that Oscar has caught it again when he sees him reading nice books. Telly makes an emergency call to Dr. Kvetch, who determines that Oscar is not sick.
Other Grouch illnesses[]
- In Sesame Street Home Video Visits the Hospital, a Grouch girl patient who sings on "Busy Getting Better All the Time" says she woke up "feeling cheerful." The next day, as Big Bird leaves the hospital and says good-bye, the Grouch girl comments to Nurse Flowers that she's feeling much worse.
- Oscar develops "kind-itis" in Episode 4828, a 24-hour bug that comes on like a cold and makes him speak in rhyme and do acts of kindness.