Episode 1839

Sesame Street
The adults explain Mr. Hooper's death to Big Bird, who doesn't understand why his friend isn't around anymore
Air date	November 24, 1983 (Thanksgiving)
Season	Season 15 (1983-1984)
Written by	Norman Stiles
Production September 21, 1983 Sponsors J, M, 5 Syndication Sesame Street Unpaved Releases Paley Center Archive HBO Max

Background

When actor Will Lee died in 1982, it left the producers of Sesame Street with the question of how to deal with the loss of Mr. Hooper, a beloved character who had been on the show since the first episode. Dulcy Singer, executive producer at the time, said that "if we left it unsaid, kids would notice." One way out was to avoid the issue of death entirely. Producers toyed with the idea of telling viewers that the character had gone away. Caroll Spinney said that "we didn't know what to do. [We] thought perhaps he could just retire, move to Florida or something, but then the producers thought that the best thing to do would be to actually deal with death." After much discussion and research, the producers decided to have the character of Mr. Hooper pass away as well, and use the episode to teach its young viewers about death as a natural part of life and that it is okay to grieve and feel sad when a loved one passes away.

After consulting with numerous child psychologists, Norman Stiles, the head writer for the show, prepared a script designed to deal with the issue of death on Sesame Street. The cause of death was not discussed on the show, nor is the process of growing old. Valeria Lovelace, director of research at the show's production company, the Children's Television Workshop, said "We were advised to take the direct approach... Children don't understand words like 'passing away.'" The show took an honest and direct approach. Show producer Fran Kaufman said that the goal was to avoid "sugar-frosting" the message.

That message, according to the producers, was "[Mr. Hooper] died, he won't be coming back, and we are all going to miss him...Another message of the segment was that children have to understand that they will continue to be cared for."

In the episode, Big Bird thinks that Mr. Hooper will return later, but is told about the irreversibility of death. Although he has already been told Mr. Hooper has died, Big Bird (like many children) shows his initial inability to comprehend this concept. But Big Bird's concern soon switches to his own needs. He wonders "Who's going to take care of the store? Who's gonna make me birdseed milkshakes and tell me stories?" The other adults reassure him that everything will be okay but Big Bird says it won't be same. Bob addresses Big Bird's concern head-on saying "You're right, Big Bird. It'll never be the same without him. But you know something? We can all be very happy that we had a chance to be with him and to know him and to love him a lot, when he was here." Big Bird then adds that he still doesn't like it and that it makes him feel sad, to which David replies sympathetically "We all feel sad, Big Bird." Big Bird eventually becomes frustrated with his conflicting emotions and says "Well, I don't understand! You know, everything was just fine. Why does it have to be this way? Give me one good reason!" After a pause, and in a callback to a previous scene, Gordon stands up and says to Big Bird, "Big Bird, it has to be this way, because", to which Big Bird asks "Just because?" and Gordon replies "Just because." Finally, Big Bird thinks it over for a while, and, in a nod to a previous running gag, says to Mr. Hooper's picture, "You know, I'm gonna miss you, Mr. Looper" prompting Maria to reply giddily but through tears, "That's Hooper, Big Bird, Hooper" and her and everyone else to laugh. Big Bird replies sadly "You're right" and the adults gather around him for an embrace.

The farewell episode aired November 24, 1983 (Thanksgiving Day). Loretta Long noted, in an interview on The Tavis Smiley Show, "We were very careful to do it over the Thanksgiving holiday, where there would be a lot of adults in the house to help the children."

The filming of the scene was very emotional for the cast and crew, whom had worked closely with Will Lee for 14 years. Genuine tears were present in almost all on set. "We barely got through that show," said Bob McGrath in a 2006 interview. "Any emotions you saw were real. We tried to do a pickup and we got about a minute into it and we all fell apart emotionally. It crossed over not only from PBS, but all of the networks. They all felt it was such an important show that they took the time to highlight it."

Mr. Hooper's death received a lot of press and drew many viewers. Reports stated that the episode was used to stimulate discussion of death in many homes. Valeria Lovelace commented, "It was a relief to us all that the segment worked as we hoped it would. It was really scary beforehand; we didn't know for sure how it was going to turn out." The episode was soon selected by the Daytime Emmys as being one of the 10 most influential moments in daytime television.

Aside from receiving critical acclaim, the episode garnered success with its target viewers. Loretta Long explained, "People come up to us and say, 'Thank you. Now we can explain what happened to grandma, what happened to grandpa.'"

The episode was later adapted into the book, "I'll Miss You, Mr. Hooper" by episode writer Norman Stiles. The full, uncut version of this episode is available for viewing as part of the collection at The Museum of Television and Radio. The scene with the adults explaining Mr. Hooper's death has appeared in script form in Sesame Street Unpaved, while portions of the scene have appeared in Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting, Stars and Street Forever, Sesame Street Unpaved, A&E Biography: Sesame Street, and The Street We Live On. Select scenes from the episode have appeared on the videos 40 Years of Sunny Days, Old School: Volume 3, and 50 Years and Counting.

“The best episode we ever did was Mr. Hooper's death.
Those were real tears. Will was the sweetest man.”
—Caroll Spinney

Segments

Picture	Segment	Description
	SCENE 1	Gordon comes across a very happy Forgetful Jones, who can't remember why he's so happy. Gordon helps him remember that it was because of the sunshine, the breeze, the swaying trees and the sound of his heartbeat, all in time with each other. Forgetful observes, "Can you imagine me forgetting simple things that make me happy?"
	Cartoon	Jive Five (First: Episode 1664)
	Muppets	Prairie Dawn presents a pageant about feelings. Bert dresses as Cupid to represent love, but his lines don't ring true. Instead, he sings his own song — "That's Love" — expressing that, to him, love means pigeons, oatmeal... and Ernie. (First: Episode 1731)
	Cartoon	A delivery person delivers five tall things. (First: Episode 1664)
	Film	Kids talk about building sand castles and sand structures at the beach. (First: Episode 1122)
	Muppets	Grover, Herry, Cookie Monster and Frazzle sing "Fuzzy and Blue (and Orange)." (First: Episode 1644)
	Cartoon	J family jamboree (First: Episode 0365)
	SCENE 2	J-JUMP: Big Bird and Jason urge Barkley to jump over their rope. Jason gives Barkley his end of the rope to jump over it himself, but this time when Barkley hears the command JUMP, he jumps onto Big Bird. This scene was included on the DVD release 50 Years and Counting. cut from the Noggin version
	Film	People jump. (First: Episode 0774)
	Animation	Sand J/j (First: Episode 0631)
	Film	As a boy plays with a tugboat in the bathtub, we watch footage of a real tugboat. (First: Episode 0801)
	Insert	The two Chaplins open umbrellas. (First: Episode 1174)
	Cartoon	J - Jam (First: Episode 0012)
	Film	A boy takes dance lessons at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. (First: Episode 1716)
	Muppets	"Sing After Me" by Grover and Madeline Kahn (First: Episode 1112)
	Cartoon	Don't mess with the Mighty M. Artist: Bruce Cayard (First: Episode 1578)
	SCENE 3	As Gordon watches, Big Bird walks backwards with his head between his legs "just because". This scene was released on Old School: Volume 3 and 50 Years and Counting.
	Film	A zookeeper feeds some polar bears sardines. (First: Episode 1647)
	Muppets	Ernie & Bert — At the movies, a lady with a tall hat sits in front of Ernie and Bert. She block's Ernie's view, so he asks her if she'd mind taking it off. When she places the hat on the seat next to her, Bert's view is now obstructed. (First: Episode 0538)
	Cartoon	In rhyme, a man points out animals who stole and/or ruined his clothing. (First: Episode 0778)
	Muppets	A Large Lavender Live Hand Anything Muppet closes everything. (First: Episode 1270)
	Cartoon	How do frogs make more frogs? The birth and growth of a frog is documented. At the very end, the fully-grown frog hops in the middle of a field and calls out, "Hey, Kermit!" Artist: Cathryn Aison (First: Episode 1232) cut from the Noggin version
	Muppets	News Flash A princess claims that the man she intends to marry has small ears, bulgy eyes, and a funny voice, wears a hat and coat, and is a frog. Kermit is the only one who fits that description, so she kisses him and, in a puff of smoke, she turns into a frog. Kermit invites her to "the hop", and she accepts. (First: Episode 0859)
	Film	A boy visits the hospital to see his mother's new baby. (First: Episode 1125)
	SCENE 4	Big Bird hears his adult friends having a conversation about Mr. and Mrs. Williams's new baby. This scene was released on Old School: Volume 3 and 50 Years and Counting.
	Muppets	Muppet & Kid Moment — Bert tells John-John that he's lost his paper clips, and he feels sad. He asks John-John to show how he looks when he feels sad. Then Bert feels angry about losing his paper clips, and John-John acts out that emotion. Bert remembers where he left his collection, and John-John acts happy, too. (First: Episode 0443)
	Cartoon	"That's About the Size of It" Artist: Bud Luckey (First: Episode 0279) cut from the Noggin version
	SCENE 5	Big Bird gives his friends pictures he drew of them. Mr. Hooper's death is revealed as Big Bird finds out that Mr. Hooper is no longer at Hooper's Store. David will fill in for Mr. Hooper but, as Bob explains, it won't be the same without him. This scene was released on 40 Years of Sunny Days, Old School: Volume 3, and 50 Years and Counting.
	Film	A film shows parts of a flower. Music: Vivaldi's Concerto for lute, 2 violins and continuo in D Major II - Largo (First: Episode 0008)
	Cartoon	A man learns that it's better not to pick the flowers. (First: Episode 0416)
	SCENE 6	Big Bird hangs the drawing of Mr. Hooper by his nest. With the adults, Mr. and Mrs. Williams show Big Bird their new baby boy, Leandro. Olivia announces the sponsors. This scene was released on Old School: Volume 3 and 50 Years and Counting.

Notes

• All of Big Bird's drawings of his adult friends, including the famous Mr. Hooper picture, were drawn by Caroll Spinney, Big Bird's performer and a cartoonist in his own right.

• The staff considered, but ultimately rejected, the use of flashbacks with Mr. Hooper, citing that it would confuse children because, "for them, if something moves, it's alive." Later, Episode 2073, which aired the next season, featured a montage of freeze frames of Mr. Hooper. Oppositely, in Episode 3611, aired in 1997, video flashbacks of Mr. Hooper are used when Big Bird reminisces about him.

• Researchers instructed the staff to not reference Mr. Hooper "going to the hospital," for fear that a child might worry if a loved one gets sick and goes to a hospital. They were similarly instructed not to say he died of sickness or due to old age.

• Several episodes made posthumous mentions of Mr. Hooper.

• Spinney admitted in 1984 that he was hesitant about Stiles writing the script. "Anyway, I was initially apprehensive because the writer who was assigned to this script is a very funny writer, a real yuk-yuk writer, but I was absolutely delighted with the depth and the warmth that he got into it."

• The HBO Max release of this episode uses the end credit sequence from the next episode.

See also

• I'll Miss You, Mr. Hooper (book)

Sources

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