Episode 0087

Sesame Street
The magnificent block building
Air date	March 10, 1970
Season	Season 1 (1969-1970)
Sponsors G, O, Z, 4, 5 This episode guide has been compiled from script materials provided by a trusted source. ⓘ

Picture	Segment	Description
	SCENE 1	Gordon and several kids are building with blocks on the steps. They are just beginning to build. Gordon greets, then says, "How would you like to take a trip to the beach? And while we're there, let's see how many different kinds of animals we can find that live in the water."
	Film	"Boy at Beach" A boy walks on the beach, and sees a sandpiper, a crab, a hermit crab, and other animals. (First: Episode 0008)
	Muppets	Ernie & Bert — Ernie and Bert have difficulty scratching their backs, so both help each other scratch their back. While Ernie's itch takes a little too long to scratch, he introduces a film called "Everybody Scratch." After the film, Ernie notices that Bert has stopped scratching his back; Beautiful Day Monster is. (First: Episode 0012)
	SCENE 2	Gordon reacts to the film, scratching him­self. The building on the steps has grown some. "At least I've only got one itch. This guy's got four!"
	Film	An itchy wombat scratches its four legs. Music: Joe Raposo (First: Episode 0008)
	Film	Four Song (Song of Four) (First: Episode 0006)
	Cartoon	"Count Up Elevator" -- An elevator operator stops at ten floors to pick up passengers, including a witch, a fireman, and a kangaroo. The tenth passenger, a mouse, causes the elevator to overload and explode. (First: Episode 0003)
	SCENE 3	The building on the steps is now fairly formidable. Gordon and the kids continue building as Gordon introduces the next film.
	Film	Transportation (First: Episode 0005)
	Muppets	Ernie & Bert — Ernie, dressed in his football uniform, marches around the apartment reciting his team chant. He tells Bert he's a member of the Dirty Rugs, named such because everyone beats them. (First: Episode 0009)
	Cartoon	"Poverty Z" -- A figure tries to sell a Z. His only customer stops him by locking him inside a zoo cage. Artist: Cliff Roberts (First: Episode 0085)
	Film	Hands build things out of triangles and squares while off-screen voices try to figure out what the constructions will be. (First: Episode 0004)
	SCENE 4	Gordon and kids are still building. The structure looms now. Gordon points out a section of it where the blocks are arranged in order of descending height.
	Film	A boy arranges white blocks by size while his dog watches. (First: Episode 0049)
	Muppets	Ernie & Bert — Bert hears the phone ringing inside a basket, and asks Ernie to answer it. Ernie goes through the basket, and finds a banana. He pretends it's a phone, and gives it to Bert to talk on. Ernie answers the real phone, and tells the caller that Bert can't come to the phone because he's talking on the banana. (First: Episode 0004)
	SCENE 5	Gordon reads a book to the kids: Goggles by Ezra Jack Keats, pointing out the uses of near and far.
	Muppets	Grover demonstrates the difference between "near" and "far" by running away from the camera and back, eventually fainting from exhaustion. (First: Episode 0057)
	Film	Kids demonstrate perspective using large and small rocks as they position themselves near and far. (First: Episode 0045)
	Muppets	Bert says that he and Ernie are looking at the "Mysterious Nose-Snatcher." Ernie, disagreeing, walks closer and closer to the camera to see. His face begins to black out the screen...but when he moves back into view, his nose is missing! (First: Episode 0005)
	Cartoon	Alice Braithwaite Goodyshoes demonstrates near and far. (First: Episode 0079)
	Cartoon	A song about a rolling O Animation by John and Faith Hubley (First: Episode 0011)
	SCENE 6	The block structure has grown even more. Gordon and the kids think it could be a zoo.
	Song	Sesame Street Animal Films: Joe Raposo sings George Gershwin's "Funny Face." (First: Episode 0006)
	Film	Footage of various bird species including hens, flamingos, pigeons, owls, ostriches, cockatoos, and others. Music: (piano and whistling) Joe Raposo (First: Episode 0019)
	Muppets	Bob and the Anything Muppets sing "The People in Your Neighborhood": Grocer and Doctor. (First: Episode 0067)
	SCENE 7	Susan transitions from the previous song into a song from Kermit.
	Muppets	Kermit the Frog sings "Bein' Green".
	Film	Five Song (Song of Five) (First: Episode 0006)
	Cartoon	Jazz #5 (First: Episode 0005)
	Cast	Buddy and Jim try to figure out a way to carry an ironing board (horizontally) from one room to another. (First: Episode 0002)
	SCENE 8	Susan plays two rounds of "Three of These Things" using pictures of shapes.
	Cartoon	Filmfair G: A man asks a purple fellow what G word is behind a circus curtain. It's a gorilla. (First: Episode 0085)
	Cartoon	G for Gorilla (in man suit) (First: Episode 0085)
	Cartoon	A goat discusses the letter "G". A man comes by to also talk about G, but rather than point out that "goat" is a G word, he observes the grass. Disgusted, the goat butts the man out of the way. (First: Episode 0085)
	Film	Filmfair G: A man asks a purple fellow what G word is behind a circus curtain. It's a gorilla. (repeat)
	SCENE 9	Gordon invites the viewer to look for "G" words around Sesame Street. He arrives at the steps, where the block building is huger than ever, and exclaims "Great Scott!" Gordon's next G word is "Go!", signaling the kids to demolish the block building. Gordon's final G word is "Goodbye". The sponsors and today's book are announced.

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