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. Video releases beginning in 2005 simplify the title to Count It Higher, dropping the subtitle.
In the video, Count von Count hosts a countdown show on the fictional SMV (Sesame Music Video) television network, counting down the top Sesame Street music videos. Each song is presented with fake music video-style credits.
Segments[]
| Picture | Segment | Description |
|---|---|---|
  |
FRAME 1 | The announcer (Martin P. Robinson) 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 the 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... |
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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 making up the wall on his set but pauses on his 453rd brick to resume hosting duties. He introduces another celebrity promo... |
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FRAME 5 cont'd | ...with Oscar the Grouch, who wishes viewers a rotten day and requests that the Count play a "moldy oldie." |
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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! |
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Muppets | Song #3: "Wet Paint" How Now Brown Cow from the album Signs of the Times Mootown Records (First: Episode 2033) |
 |
FRAME 7 | The Count introduces the next song, which splashed its 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. 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) |
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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[]
VHS1992
Random House Home Video
89887
Second edition cover
Random House Home Video
89887
Second edition cover
DVD2005
Sony Wonder
LVD 51240
Sony Wonder
LVD 51240
Australia (VHS)1992
VDI
VDI
Japan (VHS)Sony
Singapore and Malaysia (VCD)1998
Berjaya HVN
cat. no 148006
Berjaya HVN
cat. no 148006
Booklet[]
The original 1988 VHS release came with a songbook of lyrics for all the songs in the video.
DVD Chapters[]
- Ten Commandments of Health
- Do-Op Hop
- ZZ Blues
- Honk Around the Clock
- Letter B
- Wet Paint
- Do De Rubber Duck
- Count It Higher
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 three airings of "Wet Paint." Also, the televised version of the segment originally had different music video credits that referred to "Splotchkat Records."
- David Rudman assisted in puppeteering the Count for the framing scenes.[1]
Cast[]
- Starring Jim Henson's Sesame Street Muppets:
Credits[]
- Executive Producer: Jon Stone
- Producer: Sonia Rosario
- Directed by Jon Stone
- Written by Christopher Cerf
- Tony Geiss, Thad Mumford, Norman Stiles, Jon Stone (archive material)
- Songs by Christopher Cerf, Sarah Durkee, Tony Geiss, Thad Mumford, Norman Stiles, Jon Stone
Sources[]
- ↑ Email communication from David Rudman to G. Kieran. July 16, 2013