Sesame Street Unpaved is a documentary produced by Noggin, a channel co-owned by Sesame Workshop and Viacom. To promote Noggin, the special premiered on another Viacom-owned channel, TV Land, on December 8, 1999.^[1] It later aired on Noggin in September 2000.^[2]

It was hosted by Sonia Manzano, joined by Caroll Spinney, Martin P. Robinson, Bob McGrath and Loretta Long in a series of conversations on the Sesame Street set which frames itself around a number of classic clips. Many of the clips shown had their titles and original air dates listed on-screen as well. Oscar the Grouch makes a cameo at the end of the special.

Segments[]

The following segments were shown in a more featured capacity than those shown in a clip montage...

• The Sesame Street Unpaved opening, followed by an "in color" identification, the animated episode number sequence for the first episode, and a montage of various openings, with on-screen text referring to the openings as from 1969, 1979, 1989 (though the opening introduced in 1992 is shown instead), and 1999.
• Gordon shows Sally around Sesame Street.
• Clips from the Sesame Street Pitch Reel, including the boardroom coming up with names for the show and Kermit coming up with Sesame Street for a title. The boardroom scenes seen here are the original videotaped footage, prior to being edited into the filmed footage from the pitch reel.
• "Bein' Green" (original version)
• "Rubber Duckie" (second version)
• Kermit and Joey sing the alphabet.
• "Pinball Number Count" #12
• Let's Sing a Song of Three
• The King of Eight
• Rollercoaster 123
• "Jazz #10"
• Mad Painter
• "Roosevelt Franklin Spells His Name"
• Big Bird learns about Mr. Hooper's death.
• The adults see Mr. Snuffleupagus for the first time.
• "Ladybugs' Picnic"
• "C is for Cookie" (original version)
• "What's the Name of That Song?" (original version)
• Bob and Luis sing "Sing" (during the end credits)

Notes[]

• Shortly before this special aired, Noggin's website put up four clips for fans to vote on, and the winning clip was shown after this special aired. The nominated clips were:
  • "Ladybugs' Picnic"
  • "Rubber Duckie" (the winning clip)
  • "Bein' Green"
  • "C is for Cookie"

Errata[]

• The documentary claims that "Pinball Number Count" first appeared in Episode 0989, when in fact, "Pinball #3" first aired in Episode 0978.

Credits[]

• Written and Produced by Josh Selig
• Directed by Ken Diego
• Associate Director: Tim Carter
• Cameras: Frank Biondo, Juan Barrera, Ron Washburn, Hugh Walsh, James Miller
• Muppets, props and costumes provided by The Jim Henson Company Workshop
• Special Thanks: Alice Cahn, Arlene Sherman, Lori Sheer, Cheryl Henson, and the cast and crew of Sesame Street

Sources[]