Sesame Street Gangsters

Although Sesame Street was created to represents a child-friendly and somewhat idyllic New York City street, the area has been known to attract a group of seedy underground criminal organizations. These groups are run by criminals most commonly for the purpose of shady and criminal activities such as alphabet trafficking, black marketeering and robbery. Comprised mainly of Anything Muppets, these gangs are often made up of a crime boss and their lackeys (often named Lefty).

The most commonly seen criminal is Lefty, a shady-looking salesman in a trench coat who appeared discreetly selling hot items to passersby, often Ernie. Lefty (a Green Anything Muppet performed by Frank Oz) appeared in several recurring Sesame Street sketches. Lefty spoke in a whispery voice as has attempted to unload such boosted items as the letters U and O, an invisible ice cream cone, and even exotic Elephant artwork. He was once commissioned by his boss to steal a golden AN. Lefty's boss (a Fat Blue Anything Muppet performed by Jerry Nelson) appeared in a few sketches with his lackey, often in a dark alley or abandoned warehouse after dark. Lefty's boss once instructed Lefty to steal the golden AN, take it to the tan van, give it to Dan, who will give it to Fran. However, Lefty can't remember the plan very well and has to repeat it several times, which results in a police officer named Stan hearing the plan and giving him "ten days in the can for stealing the golden AN". Lefty lamented that he should have ran. The boss also once secretly told Lefty the alphabet, and wanted him to repeat it back.

Another repeated insert sketch featured a different group of criminals in their secret hideout wherein a fellow gang member, also named Lefty (a Fat Blue Anything Muppet performed by Jim Henson), tries to enter the hideout. The nervous crony forgets the secret knock for entry and his boss (a Lavender Anything Muppet performed by Jerry Nelson) won't let him in unless he remembers it. Benny (a Green Anything Muppet performed by Richard Hunt) vouches for Lefty, but the boss is persistent that he must successfully demonstrate the secret knock to enter the lair. Once Lefty finally gets in the boss and Benny go as far as to lock themselves out of the hideout to test Lefty's memory of the knock. Lefty forgets all over again, and flees the hideout through the back door, leaving the boss and Benny stranded outside.