Episode 2040

Sesame Street
Big Bird counts backwards
Air date	March 1, 1985
Season	Season 16 (1984-1985)
Written by	Gary Belkin
Directed by David Heeley Sponsors D, H, 10 Syndication Sesame Street Unpaved

Picture	Segment	Description
	Insert	Bob and David are waiting for Big Bird to come out of his nest area before they go to see a movie downtown. David doesn't want to miss it, so Big Bird lets them go ahead of him so he can wait for Mr. Snuffleupagus. Snuffy shows up after they leave, and both he and Big Bird rush to the theater. Big Bird and Snuffy arrive at the theater after the movie has started, and sit down behind Bob and David (who remain unaware of Snuffy's actual presence). Big Bird asks David for some popcorn, and Snuffy ends up devouring all of it. Snuffy is worried that the sad part of the movie (which he knows about) will make him cry, so Big Bird asks Bob to hand him a tissue. Snuffy asks Big Bird what time it is, and Big Bird says it's "early." Snuffy remembers that he told his mommy he'd be home early, and rushes back to his cave. Big Bird pleads for him to stay, and then gets into a noisy argument with Bob and David. (First: Episode 1938)
	Cartoon	Fruta Manzana sings about being happy and healthy. Artist: Don Duga and Irra Verbitsky (First: Episode 1231)
	Film	Pizza is made. Music: Joe Raposo (First: Episode 0416)
	Muppets	Biff hangs numbers under Salvador Dada's paintings in an art museum. (First: Episode 0707)
	Cartoon	"Ten Turtles" Artist: Bud Luckey (First: Episode 0425)
	Film	Some kids have a bike race by the river. (First: Episode 1419) cut from the Noggin version
	SCENE 1	Big Bird goes into Hooper's Store and starts counting backwards from ten to one to David. He calls Ernie and tells him the same. When David asks why, he explains that he likes it better because no matter where you start, you always end up at 1 - unless you're interrupted.
	Cartoon	Yo-yo elevator (First: Episode 1971)
	Muppets	Grover demonstrates heavy and light. First, he picks up a heavy barbell. Then he tries to pick up a light feather, but he can't move it. It turns out that the feather is attached to the top of Big Bird's head. (First: Episode 0406)
	Cartoon	Three characters try to watch a baseball game over a fence, then cooperate by stacking their blocks. (First: Episode 0478) cut from the Noggin version
	Muppets	"Street Garden Cooperation" (First: Episode 1956)
	Cartoon	A girl and elephant show heavy and light. (First: Episode 0785) cut from the Noggin version
	Song	Joe Raposo asks the musical question, "Which Comes First, the Chicken or the Egg?" (First: Episode 0276) cut from the Noggin version
	SCENE 2	Big Bird keeps counting backwards from ten to one to Oscar and Maria; Maria thinks it's silly for him to keep counting backwards to people, but Big Bird wants to teach everyone in the world to do it. The kids tells him they learned how to count backwards at school.
	Cartoon	What would happen if I popped this balloon? (First: Episode 1312)
	Film	Counting 20 boxes Music: Joe Raposo (First: Episode 0510) cut from the Noggin version
	Muppets	Ernie & Bert — Ernie 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)
	Film	With their teacher, kids play clapping and dancing games about the rhythm in their names. (First: Episode 1735)
	Cartoon	A man teaches his dog Rover how to read the word SIT. (First: Episode 0304)
	SCENE 3	Oscar reads his Grouch nursery rhymes to the Grouchketeers as Gordon thinks they're wrong - particularly since they don't rhyme.
	Cartoon	Consonant Sound Limerick: H - Horse (First: Episode 1167)
	Cast	Maria as Chaplin is out in the cold. (First: Episode 1964)
	Cartoon	Howard and Harold think of H words (First: Episode 0284)
	Muppets	Ernie & Bert — Ernie tries to fool Bert with his disguises such as a pirate disguise and a bearded Red Riding Hood disguise, but Bert recognizes him each time and tells him to stop trying to fool him. Then a wolf knocks on the door and Bert is convinced it's Ernie in disguise again- until Ernie appears at the door! (First: Episode 1170)
	Cartoon	Crayon Animation Letter D (First: Episode 1705)
	Muppets	An Anything Muppet asks another "Is this the D train?" A subway train then arrives, letting out several letter Ds. (First: Episode 1493)
	Film	D is a very useful letter -- there are animals, jobs, and hobbies that begin with D. (First: Episode 0367)
	Celebrity	Dizzy Gillespie plays his trumpet.
	Cartoon	"Daddy Dear" (First: Episode 0367)
	Insert	Three of These Kids (upside-down girl) (First: Episode 0413)
	Cartoon	Geometry of Circles #2 "Seven Circles with Designs" (First: Episode 1394)
	Film	Car assembly (First: Episode 0506)
	Cartoon	Car stuck on tar (First: Episode 1732)
	Muppets	Grover tries to ignore three monsters who look big and scary to him. When they notice him carrying a flute, they grab his attention and ask -- in what appears to be a threatening way -- if Grover wants to play. The three monsters pull out a clarinet, an oboe and a bassoon and begin to play, urging Grover to join in. (First: Episode 1412)
	SCENE 4	Big Bird wants to tell everyone to go to school and learn to count backwards, using his megaphone. Maria tries to convinces him not to as it's almost nighttime, but Big Bird points out that there are night schools and continues shouting through his megaphone. Gordon announces the sponsors and the credits follow.

Previous episode:	Next episode:
Episode 2039	Episode 2041