| Sesame Street | |||||||||
| Cleaning the lot — NYC Mayor David Dinkins honors Gordon with a good citizens' award | |||||||||
| Air date | March 22, 1991 | ||||||||
| Season | Season 22 (1990-1991) | ||||||||
| Written by | Nancy Sans | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Picture | Segment | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
COLD OPEN | The Pigeon Sisters do their morning cooing when they're startled by Telly on his tuba. He's practicing a song ("The Washington Post") for when the mayor arrives today. He informs the pigeons what a mayor is, and they start campaigning for better breadcrumbs in their area. |
  |
SCENE 1 | In the vacant lot-turned-garden, everyone is gathered as Oscar and Bruno approach. Susan explains that Mayor David Dinkins will be presenting Gordon with a citizen's award for the work he's done turning the lot into a garden. She points out the different people who are practicing for Dinkins' arrival: Bob rehearses with his all-monster band (now joined by Telly), Gordon practices his thank you speech, Jelani and the kids practice holding their signs spelling out the word "WELCOME," and Snuffy practices the alphabet with Big Bird's help (he's heard the mayor is an alphabet fan). Oscar decides to practice his laughing for when things go wrong. |
 |
Cartoon | Y for yawn (First: Episode 0301) |
 |
Song | "Around and Around" (First: Episode 2753) |
 |
Muppets | "Sounds of Our Lives": Dirk tries to pop Deirdre the question, but keeps getting interrupted by sounds, like an alarm clock or a train passing through the house... until he gives up and makes the sound of a slamming door. (First: Episode 2731) |
 |
Animation | A ball looks for its match on a brick wall. (First: Episode 1470) |
 |
Film | A kid recites a poem about adding penguins. Music: Joe Raposo (First: Episode 0255) |
 |
Muppets | "Street Garden Cooperation" (First: Episode 1956) |
 |
Cartoon | Household appliances count 1-10 and 10-0. |
 |
Celebrity | Patti LaBelle and The Sweeties sing "Take the Hand of Someone You Love." (First: Episode 2231) |
 |
Cartoon | Y for Yak Artist: Jeff Hale (First: Episode 1184) |
 |
Muppets | The Martians are looking for the Earth and find pigs in space and the Moon along the way. (First: Episode 2725) |
 |
Cartoon | A gorilla outgrows his toy fire truck, and is about to throw it away, when he decides to pass it on to his little brother. |
 |
Film | Two boys working at the family Mexican restaurant show how they prepare for the day, and how tacos and enchiladas are made. (First: Episode 1890) |
 |
Cartoon | Four construction workers build a number 4. (First: Episode 0507) |
 |
Muppets | Miami Mice Ernie goes to a repair shop to pick up his broken Rubber Duckie, but neither he nor the mice can get into the shop because it's cerrado. (First: Episode 2209) |
 |
Animation | A set of blocks reveal a square, a triangle, and a circle. (First: Episode 1184) |
  |
SCENE 2 | Everyone is still waiting when Maria rushes in. She received a call, saying the mayor was delayed but will still make it. She then explains to Big Bird and Snuffy what the mayor does. The two imagine what it'd be like to be the mayor, and in a fantasy sequence, a mustached Big Bird sits in his office when he's mobbed by a group of people and Muppets needing his help. Back in reality, Big Bird realizes how busy the mayor is and, despite having never seen him, figures what he'll look like - very tired. |
 |
Film | Footage of kids playing professions, alternating with footage of analogous real-life jobs. (First: Episode 2811) |
 |
Cartoon | A door opens behind a mouse, who shrieks when she sees the E. Artist: Bruce Cayard (First: Episode 0616) |
 |
Muppets | Cookie Monster sings "What is Friend?" |
 |
Cartoon | A man laughs out loud as an alligator uses the telephone to call his wife - then he eats the phone booth. (First: Episode 1113) |
 |
Song | Joe Raposo sings "Water Baby" over footage of seals and kids swimming. (First: Episode 2016) |
 |
Muppets | Grover asks The Amazing Mumford if he could make his carrot disappear, provided that some smoke appears. Mumford performs the trick and Grover is impressed by the puff of smoke, however he fails to notice Mumford chomping on his carrot. When Grover asks Mumford to make the carrot reappear, he replies that he can't because he ate it ("You didn't say anything about magic!"). (First: Episode 1210) |
 |
Cartoon | A group gives a newcomer funny looks, which hurts his feelings, but then they invite him to play marbles with them. He turns out to be a good player. (audible dialogue) Artist: Joanna Priestley |
 |
SCENE 3 | Everyone continues to wait when they hear sirens, thinking it's the mayor and begin their welcome festivities. Instead, it's his assistant Victor (Angel Salazar) who assures them the mayor is coming soon. Big Bird suggests that they welcome Victor to the street anyway, not only to show respect but to use it as practice for when the real mayor arrives. |
 |
Cartoon | The Ringmaster presents four lions. (First: Episode 1309) |
 |
Muppets | "Pond Full of Fish" |
 |
Film | A boy makes fruit salad. (First: Episode 1195) |
 |
Muppets | Bad Bart is looking for Marshal Earp. (First: Episode 0537) |
 |
Animation | Planet E / e |
  |
SCENE 4 | Sirens go off again as Mayor David Dinkins finally arrives. Everyone gathers around as he presents Gordon with the "Good Citizens Award," thanking him for getting his neighbors to help cooperate in cleaning and converting the lot, and showing how one person can make a big difference. He also bestows a gift upon him - a new trash can, which Oscar instantly takes claim over. Oscar also takes Mayor Dinkins' speech now that he's finished with it, planning to use it for a mudbath mat. |
 |
SCENE 4 cont'd | As everyone celebrates and Gordon introduces the mayor to everyone, the Pigeon Sisters announce the sponsors and the credits follow. |
| Previous episode: | Next episode: |
| Episode 2839 | Episode 2841 |