Episode 2749

	Sesame Street
	Dan the clarinet player learns how to read
Air date	November 15, 1990
Season	Season 22 (1990-1991)
Written by	Sara Compton
Directed by	Jon Stone
Production	September 25, 1990
Sponsors	I, Z, 15

Picture	Segment	Description
	SCENE 1	In the early morning, a nervous young man named Dan (Steven Schub) walks down Sesame Street and sits outside Hooper's Store, waiting to begin his part-time employment there. He meets a curious Honker, who wants to know what's in the small box he's carrying. Dan shows him it's a clarinet, and invites the Honker to play a song with him. Even though the Honker can't read music they both have fun, and Dan remarks to the viewer, "I have a feeling this isn't your ordinary street."
	Cartoon	The Four Squares sing "It's Hip To Be a Square." Artists: Vincent Cafarelli & Candy Kugel (First: Episode 2615)
	Film	Fay demonstrates addition by placing 3 balls on a table. (First: Episode 2615)
	Cartoon	Snacks on Parade: The Raisin Artist: Bruce Cayard (First: Episode 1171)
	Muppets	Over the Top, a ZZ Top-like band, sings "ZZ Blues." (First: Episode 2317)
	Cartoon	Z In Space (First: Episode 0509)
	Song	"Take Care of That Smile" (First: Episode 2745)
	Cartoon	Number creatures 15 (First: Episode 2693)
	SCENE 2	Dan finishes cleaning a window at Hooper's and asks a very busy Gina what to do next. She tells him to read Baby Natasha a story while she makes sandwiches... but he doesn't feel like reading a book, magazine, or newspaper. Big Bird and Gina realize that Dan doesn't know how to read, a fact that surprises Big Bird considering Dan is a grown-up. Dan gets defensive and acts like it's no big deal before rushing out, but they can tell he's feeling embarrassed.
	Cartoon	Shooting stars form the letter I/i. (First: Episode 2218)
	Song	Sesame Street Creature Feature: Joe Raposo sings "Bein' a Pig." (First: Episode 2356)
	Cartoon	Zork lands on the coast of California, where he meets a slick agent. Artist: ArtistMike (First: Episode 2687)
	Muppets	Ernie sings "Dance Myself to Sleep." (First: Episode 1705)
	Cartoon	Z For Zebra & Zoo (First: Episode 0281)
	Film	A boy who lives in the Congo (in Africa) narrates a film of the kinds of games he and his friends play. (First: Episode 2668)
	Muppets	Two-Headed Monster: Cheese — After sounding out the word "cheese," the monster poses for many pictures. (First: Episode 2742)
	Cartoon	Gerald's dog Sparky likes to pretend he's an alligator. (First: Episode 1519)
	Film	Flamingos walk around to classical music. (First: Episode 2498)
	SCENE 3	Gina is impressed with Dan's clarinet playing, and he reveals that he never went to school much because he was busy traveling in a band with his dad. Big Bird laughs at the thought of a grown-up going to school to learn how to read, but Gina informs him that adult illiteracy is a serious problem which can be solved. She offers to help Dan get started learning how to read (having been a volunteer for such adult classes), and in exchange Dan offers to show her how to read music; they both like the idea.
	Cartoon	Rap #15 (First: Episode 2567)
	Film	A man (voice of Jim Thurman) finds a magic remote control that makes things go up and down. He tests it on various objects. When he presses "down" for a bridge, it crumbles and falls into the river below, prompting the man to abandon the remote and slink away. A girl then finds the remote and makes the bridge go back up. (First: Episode 2614)
	Cartoon	A heart that says "I love you" is drawn. (First: Episode 1971)
	Muppets	Monsterpiece Theater: The King and I — Grover plays a king who dances with the letter I. (First: Episode 2727)
	Cartoon	Speech Balloon: I for Island (First: Episode 0314)
	Celebrity	Robin Williams demonstrates with his shoe how to tell if something is alive.
	Cartoon	A baby and father illustrate up and down. (First: Episode 2687)
	Muppets	"Forty Blocks From My Home" (First: Episode 2614)
	Animation	Lillian is proud because she climbed a mountain all by herself. Artist: Craig Bartlett
	SCENE 4	Gina tests Dan with flash cards reading "met" and "let," when one of the Shagri-Las pops up to sing a rocking version of "Sound it Out." Dan is confused that a random fuzzy creature just did a rock song about reading, but Gina assures him it's a normal occurrence.
	Cartoon	Two hippie kids wonder how to make their droopy plant grow. (First: Episode 1484)
	Film	Ann Marie DeAngelo and Skeeter Rabbit do their dance routine. The frame freezes whenever the word STOP comes on. (First: Episode 2600)
	Cartoon	Don't be a Snerd when you sneeze. Artist: Bruce Cayard (First: Episode 1487)
	Muppets / Cast	"Sing Your Synonyms" (First: Episode 2331)
	Animation	A girl unfolds a map and uses it to describe her trip to Mexico, stopping in Texas along the way. (First: Episode 2689)
	SCENE 5	Dan joins Big Bird, Natasha, and the Birdketeers as they demonstrate near and far. As Dan and the Birdketeers go far away, Big Bird realizes he has to take Natasha home, and leaves a sign on the construction doors for Dan to read. Dan becomes worried when he finds the note - will he be able to read it?
	Cartoon	ADVENTURE! A man and woman escape a boulder, a crocodile, and other obstacles. (First: Episode 2080)
	Muppets	Guy Smiley takes his 39-member studio audience to a restaurant, but there is no place for him to sit. (First: Episode 2646)
	Song	Kevin Clash sings "Skin."
	Cartoon	How Andy Fritz Ate the Sun. Artist: ArtistMike (First: Episode 2730)
	Muppets	Sesame Street News Flash: Cinderella's Fairy Godmother — The Fairy Godmother prepares Cinderella's gown. (First: Episode 2442)
	Cartoon	Which legs belong on the man? (First: Episode 1691)
	SCENE 6	Dan remembers how Gina and the "floppy-haired girl" taught him to read, and he succeeds in reading the sign: "Back in a minute." Big Bird comes back, and he and Gina are impressed with Dan's progress. Elmo announces the sponsors and congratulates Dan.