Episode 1163






 * Excited by his experiences in New Mexico so far, Big Bird has saddled up some horses and is sitting on a cart. "Well, howdy-doody there, buckaroos!" he cries. "It's your old sidekick, Buffalo Bird -- the rootinest, tootinest cowbird west of the Harlem. Yee haw! Yes, sir. I just got out this old buckbore here, cause I'm gonna mosey on down to the ol' lariat, and corral myself a bulldog. I'll round up a herd of them critters before it's time to hitch up to the ol' chuck wagon and put on the feedbag. Why, when it comes to ridin', ropin' or ranchin', you gotta go a fur piece to out-buffalo Buffalo Bird!" Big Bird urges on his horses: "Henry! Jerry! Giddyup now!" The horses take off... but Big Bird forgot to attach them to the cart, so they walk off without him. "I knew I'd forgotten something," he sighs.


 * On a very slow day of counting, The Count plays some funky music that is irresistible to dance to. He then counts 6 dancing children that come by.


 * Film: the watch repairman.


 * Luis shows Gordon how to milk a cow. Gordon gives it a try.


 * Dr. Thad and the Medications sing "The Ten Commandments of Health".


 * "Pockets" song


 * Animation: Two lines join together to form a circle.


 * Farley has trouble reading at school, so Same Sound Brown shows him how to "Sound It Out".


 * Gordon writes a postcard to Susan; Maria says that she misses David too. Big Bird tells them that he misses his best friend, Mr. Snuffleupagus. Gordon says that Big Bird can't miss an imaginary friend. Left alone, Big Bird sings a song, affirming that he misses Snuffy, whether he's make-believe or not.


 * Joe Raposo sings "There's a Bird on Me".


 * Big Bird makes a long-distance call to Hooper's Store, and asks Mr. Hooper if he can talk to Mr. Snuffleupagus. Mr. Hooper says that Mr. Snuffleupagus is imaginary, but Big Bird insists that Hooper go and look for him at his nest. While Hooper's gone, Snuffy walks into the store and notices that the phone is off the hook. Big Bird and Snuffy get a minute to talk about how much they miss each other. Snuffy goes to take his nap -- and when Mr. Hooper comes back, Big Bird thanks him for letting him talk to Snuffy. Mr. Hooper is baffled.


 * Film: a behind-the-scenes look of Paul Simon recording "Bingo" with his son, and the manufacturing of the record it will be on.


 * Film: Through close-ups, children identify squash.


 * Film: Through close-ups, children identify a tomato.


 * Maria and Luis are eating tacos with hot chili peppers. Oscar says that he'd like to try one. Maria and Luis say that he won't like them; they're too hot. Oscar insists that Grouches don't mind eating hot food; it won't affect him at all. He eats a chili pepper, and pretends that he doesn't find it hot at all. Teasing him, Maria feeds him one pepper after another. Finally, he escapes into his trash can -- and moments later, the can erupts in a cloud of steam as Oscar yelps.


 * "Starfish" song


 * Luis walks through his old childhood haunts, singing a sentimental song about his memories of this special place.


 * Kids ride a burro as Gordon announces the sponsors. The story of the New Mexico trip continues in Episode 1164.