 | |
| PERFORMER | Brandon Maggart Buddy |
| James Catusi Jim | |
| DEBUT | 1969 |
Buddy and Jim are a human comedy duo who appeared on Sesame Street during the first season. The bungling pair failed at such tasks as hanging a picture and making a sandwich. The sketches featured theme music by Joe Raposo. While usually only appearing in their own sketches, they are often mentioned by the adults before their segments start. Buddy also appeared without Jim in a couple of songs with the Anything Muppets, including "Before and After" (First: Episode 0047) and "Up and Down" (First: Episode 0060), both of which have him demonstrating things related to the songs. Jim appeared without Buddy in a segment where he blows up a balloon to demonstrate big and little and introduced Kermit the Frog on Episode 0059.
As described by Stefan Kanfer in a Nov. 23, 1970 TIME article, "In its first series, Sesame Street used two clowns, Buddy and Jim, to illustrate problem solving. They were a walking Polish joke, one lifting and turning the other to screw in a light bulb, refusing a nail because it was turned the wrong way."
They were replaced in season 2 by another comedy team, Larry and Phyllis, who were in turn succeeded by Wally and Ralph in season 3. Several of the latter's sketches were direct remakes of Buddy and Jim routines.
Add a photo to this gallerySketches
| Picture | Summary / First | Description |
|---|---|---|
| | Nail Episode 0001 | Buddy buys a picture that he wants to hang up. Jim decides to help him hang the picture, but encounters problems such as using a balloon to put a nail into a wall, realizing that the nail is pointing in the wrong direction, and eventually deciding that the artwork is the stupidest picture he has ever seen. This sketch was later remade with Wally and Ralph. |
 | Ironing Board Episode 0002 | Buddy and Jim try to figure out a way to carry an ironing board (horizontally) from one room to another. |
 | Pairs Episode 0003 | Buddy and Jim have a difficult time in matching up a pair of tennis sneakers and a pair of heavy workboots with the right boxes. |
 | Picture Episode 0004 | Buddy and Jim get confused when a picture falls off of the wall. |
 | Umbrella Episode 0005 | Jim tries to explain to Buddy what umbrellas are for, but they are both clueless what to do after opening them. |
 | Mirror Episode 0006 | Buddy gives Jim a present, which is a mirror, but each one thinks it's a picture of themselves. This sketch was later remade with Wally and Ralph. |
 | Lightbulb Episode 0007 | Buddy and Jim struggle with replacing a light bulb. |
 | Sandwich Episode 0008 | Buddy and Jim attempt to make a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich; ultimately, Buddy constructs it as a "triple-decker." |
 | Window Frame Episode 0009 | Buddy and Jim struggle with round and square window frames. |
 | Seesaw Episode 0010 | Buddy and Jim try to use a seesaw. |
 | New Jacket Episode 0011 | Buddy comes home with a new jacket and Jim tries to find out how to get him to see the large label still on it. |
 | Wall Painting Episode 0012 | |
 | Paper Glider Episode 0013 | Buddy and Jim try to fly a paper airplane. |
 | Chairs Episode 0014 | Buddy and Jim try to play checkers, but they cannot get their chairs pointed in the right directions. |
 | Buttons Episode 0015 | Buddy and Jim struggle with buttons. |
 | Shoe & Sock Episode 0017 | Buddy and Jim try to put on shoes and socks. |
 | Soup and Fork Episode 0019 | Buddy and Jim try to eat soup with a fork. |
 | Piggy Bank Episode 0031 | Jim finds Buddy with his money (4 assorted coins) taped to his forehead for safekeeping. Jim has a better idea, and presents Buddy with a piggy bank. After transferring the coins, Jim also gives Buddy a key to open the bank. But where should Buddy keep the key? Tape that to his forehead? Nope, he merrily drops the key inside the piggy bank, since that's as safe a place as any! |
