| Sesame Street | |||||||
| Elmo in Numberland | |||||||
| Air date | April 26, 1990 | ||||||
| Season | Season 21 (1989-1990) | ||||||
| Written by | Nancy Sans | ||||||
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| Picture | Segment | Description |
|---|---|---|
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SCENE 1 | Elmo shows Maria a new book he's written: "Elmo in Numberland." In the story, a little red monster named Elmo wants to know where all the numbers live, so he visits Numberland. He first comes across the House of One, which has one tree, one flower, one window, and one door. He takes a peek inside the window and sees someone playing a drum inside... |
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Cartoon | Hortense beats one drum. Artist: Michael Sporn (First: Episode 2570) |
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SCENE 1 cont'd | Next, Elmo comes across a large clock with two doors, all branded with the number 2. Out come two Uncle Wallys dressed in lederhosen, who tell him it's owned by the number two - it's a "two-two clock." |
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SCENE 1 cont'd | Back in reality, Elmo explains to Maria that his character found where he was going by climbing over to the next page. Elmo is about to continue, but Maria suggests they watch this first... |
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Cartoon | A man tries to get directions to a parking space, and eventually uses a map to get there. Artist: Paul Fierlinger |
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Cast | Linda signs the word wind, and Gordon is blown away. |
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Muppets | Grover takes several dogs for a walk, explaining that dogs need exercise as much as people do. |
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Film | A boy hikes up a mountain with his family. |
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Muppets / Celebrity | Joe Williams sings "The Birdland Jump." (First: Episode 2260) |
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Animation | Where do the Ds fit? (First: Episode 1617) |
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Muppets | Ernie & Bert — Ernie doesn't think pigeons are able to laugh at Bert's pigeon jokes, but he's wrong ... (First: Episode 1287) |
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Song | "Litter Rap" (First: Episode 2646) |
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SCENE 2 | Maria and Elmo continue reading the story, where Elmo finds himself on the "Name That Three" game show! The host gives Elmo the option of Box #3, Box #3, or Box #3. Elmo chooses Box #3, and wins a trio of dancing tigers... |
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Cartoon | Three tigers dance and play music. (First: Episode 1642) |
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SCENE 2 cont'd | Elmo leaves the tigers behind (they were having too much fun dancing) and advances onto the "Four Wall." He finds four arrows, all pointing toward a wall with a big 4 on it. He wonders what the arrows are pointing to, when suddenly an image appears... |
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Cartoon | The Funny Four tickles all the people and animals he sees. (edited) (First: Episode 1653) |
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SCENE 2 cont'd | Elmo now finds himself in the "Garden of Five Hiding Flowers," but can't see any flowers at all in the mess of squiggles behind him. Five kids appear as the center of the flowers, and Elmo finds and counts them. |
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SCENE 2 cont'd | Maria is impressed with Elmo's story thus far, but she must wait until Elmo returns from the bathroom before they can read any further. |
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Cartoon | A postal worker tells the viewer what the post office is good for. Artist: Cliff Roberts (First: Episode 0783) |
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Muppets | "Cereal Girl" (First: Episode 2687) |
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Cartoon | A clam tells a fisherman why he's not catching any fish: he pulled all the plants out of the pond. (First: Episode 0408) |
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Cast | Linda signs the word disappear - which Gordon does. |
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Cartoon | Two boys peek into a fire house, and write HAT, HOSE, and HOOK on the window using their breath. Two dogs come by and wonder what a HAT HOSE HOOK is, but their question is answered when the fire truck leaves the station. Artist: Paul Fierlinger (First: Episode 1204) |
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Muppets | Big Bird walks down the street, describing the difference between the actual street and sidewalks. (First: Episode 1256) |
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Cartoon | Dogs cheer D-O-G and fight with cats. (First: Episode 1148) |
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Song | "Fixin' My Hair" |
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Animation | A hand arranges blocks to form benches so a bunny and a chick can have tea. (First: Episode 1488) |
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SCENE 3 | Elmo returns and continues reading his story, where he finds himself at the Number Six Laundry. Inside the big dryer marked with a number 6, Elmo finds some singing socks... |
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Cartoon | "Six Soccer Socks" (beginning edited) Artist: Paul Fierlinger (First: Episode 1670) |
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SCENE 3 cont'd | Elmo then comes across a fishbowl, filled with seven singing goldfish. Afterward, Elmo visits the Eight Store and finds the next segment inside... The "Seven Goldfish" song would subsequently be used as a stand-alone Muppet insert. |
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Cartoon | The Ringmaster showcases eight skating penguins. (First: Episode 1291) |
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SCENE 3 cont'd | Elmo now rides atop the Number Nine Train, which heads into a tunnel and finds... |
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Cartoon | The story of an old woman who lived in a nine. Artist: Bud Luckey (First: Episode 0512) |
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SCENE 3 cont'd | Maria tells Elmo they should watch what's coming up next before they finish the story. Elmo looks forward to the ending, having forgotten how it goes. |
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Cartoon | The Four Squares sing "It's Hip To Be a Square". Artists: Vincent Cafarelli & Candy Kugel (First: Episode 2615) |
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Muppets | Dicky Tick hosts "Lifestyles of the Big and Little." (First: Episode 2206) |
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Cartoon | An alien comes across a pair of tree trunks; one with multi-colored leaves, the other without. He finds and grows leaves to mount on the other tree, then strings a hammock between the two. (First: Episode 1451) |
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Cast | Linda signs the word "pie," and gets hit with one, to Gordon's surprise. (First: Episode 2712) |
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Film | Otters in the zoo (First: Episode 0487) |
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Muppets | Sesame Street News Flash: Pinocchio — Kermit interviews Pinocchio. (First: Episode 0910) |
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Cartoon | A man thinks of H words while sitting on a horse. Artist: Cliff Roberts (First: Episode 1815) |
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SCENE 4 | In the final part of the story, Elmo comes across the number 10. Maria doesn't see Elmo in the illustration, that is until he sticks his face into the cut-out center of the 0. He offers to read it again, but Maria points out it's time to say goodbye. They both announce the sponsors, which include all the numbers 1 through 10. |
Notes[]
- The street story was later repeated in Season 23 as Episode 2903. The whole plot was later remade as Episode 3912 in Season 31.
- David Rudman performs the game show host, who is depicted in Elmo's book with lavender skin and orange hair, but appears as a grey-haired, orange-skined Anything Muppet in the cutaway.
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