Chicken or the egg (theory)

Which came first?

The (rubber) chicken or the (rubber) egg?

Big Bird reads Which Came First?

"Which came first - the chicken or the egg?" is a question regarding causality that has been debated for centuries.

References

• The question serves as the basis for the Sesame Street song, "Chicken or the Egg."

• Spike Milligan grabs a chicken by the neck in The Muppet Show episode 317, and furiously asks it, "Now, who came first?! Answer!"

• Big Bird reads the bird book Which Came First? in Episode 2348 of Sesame Street.

• A chicken and egg argue over who's first (in terms of their songs being played) in Sing, Hoot & Howl with the Sesame Street Animals.

• In Episode 2887 of Sesame Street, an eggplant jokes with Telly Monster, asking him which came first - the chicken or the eggplant?

• In Episode 2966 of Sesame Street, Telly receives a call from a fellow Triangle Lover asking an important question: which came first - the chicken or the triangle? "Nobody knows the answer to that one," Telly answers.

• In episode 102 of Muppets Tonight, Garth Brooks is seen chatting to a group of chickens, claiming that chickens came first in regards to the question.

• Donna Erickson asks the question to the Swedish Chef in an episode of Donna's Day. He can't make up his mind, so he hosts a race around the kitchen between a chicken and an egg, where the egg comes in last.

• A chicken visits Gina's new veterinarian clinic in episode 3918 of Sesame Street, having gotten a headache pondering this question.

• Chef Elephant isn't sure how to start his omelet recipe in Sesame Street Episode 4060, asking, "What comes first, the frying pan or the egg?!"

• In the "Journey to Bert" segment, Big Bird interacts with an animated egg, who mistakes him for a chicken he was supposed to meet. The egg eventually gives up waiting and tells Big Bird, "If anybody asks, I came first, okay?" before departing.

• During the cold open of Episode 4120 of Sesame Street, T.R. Knight asks Elmo, "Which came first, the chicken or the space suit?" in reference to a chicken seen wearing one.

• The Furchester Hotel episode "The 1,000th Guest" centers on a debate as to which guest entered the hotel first to become the 1,000th guest, a chicken or an egg.

• In the Muppet Babies episode "Animal and the Magic Mummy," Mr. Statler and Mr. Waldorf discuss the question at the museum's chicken exhibit.

• During his appearance at the 2023 Game Awards, Gonzo shows off a visual aid revolving around chickens in recent video games. His board includes a sheet of paper reading, "Chicken Or Egg?"