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Sesame Street
The adults begin to believe that Snuffy is real
Air date November 19, 1984
(season premiere)
Season Season 16 (1984-1985)
Written by Norman Stiles
Production October 17, 1984
Sponsors A, 2

1966 00

In a story-arc that progresses into next season, some of the adults on Sesame Street finally believe that Big Bird's friend Mr. Snuffleupagus is real.

The episode's plot is covered in an Associated Press story published in October 1984:

In the first episode of the new season, Nov. 19, Big Bird will say he's tired of assaults on his credibility. "I know the difference between real and imaginary. Why don't they believe me?" the character (played by Caroll Spinney) will say.

Three humans in the cast - Maria (Sonia Manzano), Gordon (Roscoe Orman) and Linda (Linda Bove) - will become believers. "Big Bird will no longer be alone," [Norman] Stiles said.

But in the best cliffhanger tradition of Hollywood, the humans won't actually see Snuffleupagus. "Not this season," said Stiles.[1]

Episode[]

StreetScenes
Picture Segment Description
1966 01
SCENE 1 It's night time on Sesame Street and the camera pans over to Oscar's trash can. Nearby pops Oscar the Grouch, its chief resident, who tells the viewer he's not going to reveal where Big Bird and everyone else are. Irvine pops up, woken by the arrival of the viewer; Oscar appreciates that now she'll be cranky. He boasts to her that he hasn't revealed to the viewer that Big Bird and the other neighborhood residents are on the roof of 123 Sesame Street. He regrets that the viewer has overheard; when Irvine tries to comfort him, he teaches her that Grouches never comfort one another.
STOPsign
Film A STOP sign spins around.
(First: Episode 0930)
1966 02
SCENE 2 Up on the roof, Big Bird is excited for something the adults tell him they're about to witness. Susan, Gordon, Olivia, Maria, Luis, David, Linda, and Bob describe an object in the sky that's yellow and orange, gives them warmth all day, and rhymes with "fun": they're about to watch the sunrise. Given the information that it's going to happen in two minutes, Big Bird heads out to retrieve Mr. Snuffleupagus. Bob tells him the sun is real, not made-up like his imaginary friend.
Seasonssong
Cartoon "Four Seasons"
(First: Episode 0276)
1966 03a

1966 03b

1966 03c
SCENE 3 Big Bird returns to report that Mr. Snuffleupagus can't make it because he's sleeping. The adults scoff at another story of what they believe to be Big Bird's imaginary friend, but Big Bird has had enough.

He explains that in the six years of his life, he's learned the difference between what is real and what is imagined inside one's mind. After his passionate statement, the other adults are shocked when Gordon, Maria, and Linda join Big Bird's side and convey that they believe him.

1966 03d

1966 03e
SCENE 3
cont'd
Bob admits he just can't because he's never seen a Snuffleupagus, but Big Bird counters with the fact that he believes him when he says he talks on the phone with his Aunt Hazel in Ottawa despite never having seen her.
1966 03f
SCENE 3
cont'd
Big Bird turns to the viewer and asks where could the adults believing him lead? The sun finally rises, and Olivia announces that this is the dawn of a new day.
3985q
Cartoon A for Acorn
(First: Episode 1626)
Song.Bones
Muppets The Count sings about bones.
(First: Episode 1386)
The A box!
Cartoon A man displays his invention, the A-box, which only takes the letter A.
(First: Episode 0781)
Grover.newspaper
Muppets Grover sells newspapers in the street. He thinks they are for making paper hats, but a customer shows him they are actually for reading. The customer wants to buy a newspaper, but Grover won't stop reading the paper that the customer wants to buy. Grover reads about construction of a new building, a parade, and an expected rain shower, all of which occur as Grover reads.
2096i Song Joe Raposo sings "Peanut Butter."
TwoElephants
Cartoon Two Elephants
Artist: Owe Gustafson
(First: Episode 1457)
1836p
Film Stop! (kids dancing)
Music: Joe Raposo
(First: Episode 0681)
1966 04
SCENE 4 From his trash can, Oscar watches everyone on Sesame Street: kids riding bicycles and walking with balloons, Bob and Linda holding hands, Gordon and Susan arm-in-arm, Olivia photographing Luis and some kids, etc. Finally, Oscar explodes from all the niceness and tells the viewer that sometimes you just have to let your emotions out once in a while. Or, even twice in a while.
Pinball 02
Cartoon Pinball Number Count #2
Artist: Jeff Hale
(First: Episode 0987)
HerryJohnJohn loudsoft
Muppets Muppet & Kid MomentHerry and John-John demonstrate loud and soft.
(First: Episode 0432)
When I Grow Up (Canadian)
Cartoon A girl sings "When I Grow Up" about all the jobs she could have when she gets older.
Dollhouse
Song "Doll House"
(First: Episode 0131)
TLSG.School
Cartoon Teeny Little Super Guy explains to Eugene why going to school is important.
Artist: Paul Fierlinger
2head.Seatbelt
Muppets The Two-Headed Monster drives a car, but puts on the seat belt first.
1839zh
Film People jump.
(First: Episode 0774)
Tellylion
Muppets Telly pretends to be an elephant, a goat and a lion.
(First: Episode 1698)
A for ape toon
Cartoon A for Ape (who crashes into a tree and forms a SHAPE)
(First: Episode 0602)
Bae21
Muppets Ernie & BertErnie and Bert explore an Egyptian pyramid. Bert is excited, but Ernie is afraid. They see statues that look like them. Bert decides to explore a tunnel while Ernie looks at the statues, and then the Ernie statue starts tapping and talking to Ernie. But when Ernie calls Bert back to the room, the statue doesn't move. Ernie is scared until the statue starts singing Rubber Duckie with him. Bert doesn't believe Ernie, until he says "Bye-bye, statue," and the statue replies "Bye-bye!" and laughs... just like Ernie.
(First: Episode 1621)
Gurucountsto20
Cartoon A guru counts to twenty. (English version)
Producer: Ken Snyder; Music: Billy Taylor
(First: Episode 0276)
3164o
Film A girl narrates a segment about nature through winter and spring.
Cap010
Cartoon Two men try to go over a very steep hill.
(First: Episode 1522)
1966 05a

1966 05b

1966 05c
SCENE 5 Big Bird tells Snuffy that Maria, Gordon, and Linda believe him that Snuffy is real. Snuffy doesn't think it's likely that adults will ever believe in him, but Big Bird wants to prove it.

He approaches Maria and Luis who are moving two-by-fours out of the garage and asks them to come see Snuffy. Maria wants to go, but Luis wants to get the work finished, so Big Bird offers to help while Maria goes off on her own.

Maria hesitates at the doors of Big Bird's nest, then enters.

PushPull-02
Cartoon Several circles try to get past a large square.
(First: Episode 1486)
1966 06
SCENE 6 Outside the Fix-It Shop, the adults are gathered while Big Bird tells them that Maria has gone to meet Mr. Snuffleupagus. Maria returns with a note in hand, written by Snuffy, that explains he had to go home to help his mommy. Only Linda and Gordon believe that the note is real, while everyone else thinks Maria is playing a joke. An argument ensues while Big Bird tells the viewer that at least he doesn't feel alone anymore.
3150c
Cartoon A little girl sings "Only One Me Song".
(First: Episode 1942)
Farmer.Noisy.Quiet
Film George the Farmer demonstrates noisy and quiet.
(First: Episode 0241)
Toon.Pencil.Dance
Cartoon A pencil tries to write the word DANCE.
Pollydarton
Muppets Polly Darton sings "Wavin' Goodbye to You with My Heart."
(First: Episode 1475)
Gator pointing
Cartoon A for apricot, alligator, acrobat, accordion, artist, airplane.
(First: Episode 1586)
2096s
Film Children on a playground form the letters of the alphabet.
1966 07
SCENE 7 Oscar tells Irvine he's not going to tell the viewer what the episode's sponsors were, but she tricks him into saying them out loud. Oscar is proud of her rotten trick.

Notes[]

Sources[]


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