Countdown series

The Countdown series was a recurring animated segment during the early years of Sesame Street, starting in the first season and having its final appearance during Season 12.

Each clip began the same: a wide-mouthed launch director (perched atop a podium) stands next to a button, ready to trigger a rocket (proudly displaying the letters "USA" on its side). A group of people closely stand by, awaiting the launch. The director counts backwards, from ten to one, but when he's finished counting, some kind of disaster often occurs. In early episodes, Carol Burnett would appear at the end of one or more of these segments in a filmed tag, where she laments, "Well, back to the ol' drawing board."

The segments were done by former Disney animator Floyd Norman.

The first three Countdown films appeared on the Sesame Street Pitch Reel and This Way to Sesame Street.

Segments

Picture	Summary / First Appearance	Description
	#1: Flop Episode 0018	After the countdown, the rocket flops over. The director nervously chuckles.
	#2: Soot Episode 0018	The rocket lifts early, and showers everyone in soot.
	#3: Director Launch Episode 0018	After countdown, the director himself is launched into space as the rocket stays put.
	#4: Water Episode 0022	After the countdown, water comes out of the rocket and splashes everyone.
	#5: Dignitaries Episode 0022	Minus his podium, the director laughs nervously as he accidentally launches the spectators into space.
	#6: Early Launch; Topple Episode 0022	Rocket takes off at 7. Then it comes down so the man can continue his countdown, but at 1, it falls over with a huge crash.
	#7: Successful Launch Episode 0042	Unlike previous segments, the rocket successfully launches at the right time as everyone celebrates, and the director grins at the camera.
	#8: Delayed Launch Episode 0148	The rocket doesn't go off until a few seconds after the countdown commences.
	#9: Hat Launch Episode 0148	After the countdown, the director's hat blasts off instead.