
Count It Higher: Great Music Videos from Sesame Street is a 30-minute direct-to-video compilation originally released on VHS in 1988, as part of the My Sesame Street Home Video series. The title was reissued in the 1990s under the same title, and on DVD in 2005 simply as Count It Higher.
In the video, Count von Count hosts a music video countdown show on the fictional SMV (Sesame Music Video) television network. He counts down the top Sesame Street music videos. Each song is presented with fake music video-style credits added (though "Wet Paint" originally had music video credits outside of the video).
Segments
Picture | Segment | Description |
---|---|---|
| FRAME 1 | The announcer introduces The Count's countdown show, which kicks off with the #7 video of the week. The Count's favorite part is counting backwards to a film leader countdown that precedes the video. |
Muppets | Song #7: "The Ten Commandments of Health" Dr. Thad and the Medications from the album Advice You Can Count On Medical Records (First: Episode 1139) | |
FRAME 2 | The Count introduces the next video, featuring "the world's hottest frog, Kermit, proudly hopping to the surging rhythms of..." | |
Muppets | Song #6: "Doo Wop Hop" Kermit the Frog from the album I'm Green and I'm Proud Polywog Records (First: Episode 2071) | |
FRAME 3 | After the song, the Count mentions the number of jumps Kermit and the animals made. | |
FRAME 3 cont'd | Big Bird makes a celebrity guest appearance and requests a rock and roll song for the next video. The Count then introduces... | |
Muppets | Song #5: "ZZ Blues" Over the Top from the album On A Clear Day I Can Z Forever US Snooze Records (Ending edited) (First: Episode 2317) | |
FRAME 4 | The Count introduces a bonus video... | |
Muppets | "Honk Around the Clock" The Honkers from the album Play Through The Nose Oogah Records (First: Episode 1631) | |
FRAME 5 | After the video, the Count is seen counting the bricks, but leaves off on his 453rd brick to resume his hosting duties. He introduces another celebrity promo... | |
FRAME 5 cont'd | ...with Oscar the Grouch, who wishes viewers a rotten day and requests that the Count play a moldy oldie. | |
Muppets | Song #4: "Letter B" The Beetles from the album Sesame Road Lemon Records (Beginning cut) (First: Episode 1495) | |
FRAME 6 | The Count introduces the next video, starring a group who "milked" their talent for all it's worth: How Now Brown and the Moo Wave. | |
Muppets | Song #3: "Wet Paint" How Now Brown Cow from the album Signs of the Times Mootown Records (Beginning and ending edited) (First: Episode 2033) | |
FRAME 7 | The Count introduces the next song, which splashed it's way up to the #2 spot. | |
Muppets | Song #2: "Do De Rubber Duck" Ernie and Friends from the motion picture The Harder They Scrub. (First: Episode 2304) | |
FRAME 8 | After the video, the Count points out his own appearance in the song, and how many bubbles he counted in it. Finally, the Count introduces the #1 video. He informs regular viewers of the program that they can always count on the same song being #1 every week, because it's his favorite. | |
Muppets | Song #1: "Count It Higher" Chris and the Alphabeats from the album Letters of Love Broken Records (First: Episode 0553) | |
FRAME 9 | The Count wraps up another edition of his countdown show, and tells viewers to tune in next week, when "Count it Higher" will be #1 once again. |
Releases
Notes
- The picture on top of the Count's television is of Joe Raposo.
- The name "Sesame Music Video" was previously used for an MTV VJ parody intro seen in initial airings of "Wet Paint."
- The original 1988 VHS release came with a songbook of lyrics for all the songs in the video.
- David Rudman assisted in the puppeteering of the Count in the framing scenes.[1]
Cast
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|
- Uncredited Vocals
- Thad Mumford as Dr. Thad
- Christopher Cerf as How Now Brown, Little Chrissy, "Honk Around the Clock" lead vocals, Medications Singer, and one of the Alphabeats
- Jeff Moss as Lavender Alphabeat
- Ivy Austin and Cheryl Hardwick as Moo Wave Cow vocals
Credits
- Executive Producer: Jon Stone
- Producer: Sonia Rosario
- Director: Jon Stone
- Writer: Christopher Cerf
- Segment Writers: Thad Mumford, Norman Stiles, Tony Geiss, Jon Stone
- Songs by: Christopher Cerf, Thad Mumford, Norman Stiles, Sarah Durkee, Tony Geiss, Jon Stone