Episode 2923

Sesame Street
Speedy van Gough paints a mural
Air date	January 15, 1992
Season	Season 23 (1991-1992)
Production October 11, 1991 Sponsors N, P, 5 This episode guide has been compiled from script materials provided by a trusted source. ⓘ

Picture	Segment	Description
	SCENE 1	Mr. Handford introduces Big Bird to Speedy Van Gough (Robert Townsend), the world's fastest painter. He's being commissioned to paint something on the blank, brick outside wall of Hooper's Store. Speedy is ready to go, but Mr. Handford tells him to hold off until they have an idea. He intends to consult everyone on the street and see what they'd like a painting of. In the meantime, Big Bird turns Speedy's attention to the following...
	Video	A family prepares a picnic lunch in fast and slow motion with synthesized music in the background.
	Muppets	Sesame Street News Flash Kermit meets Little Miss Muffet, who sits on her water bed, eats crunchy granola, and is not afraid of the spider, who ends up frightening Kermit away. (First: Episode 0601)
	Cartoon	P for Pack (First: Episode 0504)
	Song	"Ookyook Song," a Joe Raposo song with the Alaskan words for all the things you need to put on when it's ukiuq (winter). (EKA: Episode 2360)
	Muppets	Grover the Elevator Operator demonstrates front and back by telling the passengers on his elevator where to stand. (First: Episode 0469)
	Animation	Sand N / n (First: Episode 0633)
	SCENE 2	Gina, Savion, Bob, Kaitlin, Telly Monster, Count von Count, Oscar and Bruno have gathered in the arbor to pitch ideas for the mural. Oscar wants to see nothing but the bricks, but everyone else pitches something different (such as plants, lots of color, plenty of numbers, triangles, a dinosaur and a fish). Oscar thinks this may work better, as nobody can agree on one single idea. Speedy proposes all the ideas combine into one and starts working on the piece.
	Muppets	How Now Brown and the Moo Wave performs "Wet Paint." (First: Episode 2033)
	SCENE 2 cont'd	Everyone is amazed when Speedy finishes the mural and he helps them see their requests embedded into the artwork. He also points out the small selection of unpainted bricks he's left for Oscar, who isn't satisfied.
	Cartoon	A lizard sings about how she likes to be "Above it All", as well as below. Artist: Sally Cruikshank (First: Episode 2559)
	Film	The Count (in voiceover) subtracts from five to one to zero children on a park bench.
	Muppets	Ernie & Bert — Ernie and Bert decide to use both Bert's canvas and Ernie's paints to paint a picture of something. Bert wants to paint a bowl of oatmeal, but Ernie wants to paint a purple monster. Finally, they decide to paint a purple monster eating a bowl of oatmeal. (First: Episode 1446)
	Cartoon	Cap'n Feenie asks, "What is it?" It's the ocean. Artist: ArtistMike (First: Episode 2710)
	Film	Balloons are popped in front of kids' faces, demonstrating surprise.
	Muppets	The Rainbow Fish counts groups of 5 in the ocean.
	Film	Slide puzzle - truck (First: Episode 0403)
	Cartoon	N is for nose. (First: Episode 1206)
	SCENE 3	Bruno marches back and forth in front of the mural, as Oscar protests with a "NO" sign. Mr. Handford tries pointing out some of the Grouchy things Oscar can interpret from the painting (the bricks, a worm and a wilted flower) to quell his distain. Oscar realizes there's one good thing about the mural he likes: it gives him a chance to say his favorite word, "NO!"
	Song	Gina and Maria sing The Word is "No". (First: Episode 2548)
	Film	A child in a classroom draws a picture of her dog Puck, and goes over the care required to keep a pet. (First: Episode 2853)
	Cartoon	Hortense sees 5 waltzing brooms in her room. Artist: Michael Sporn (First: Episode 2508)
	Muppets	Muppet & Kid Moment — Herry Monster and John-John on up and down. (First: Episode 0565)
	Song	14 Karat Soul sings about what's "Down Below the Street." (First: Episode 2556)
	Cartoon	A letter "P" sits on an island before a rotating sunset. The ridges of the letter "P" moves along the letter and flash in different colors. (EKA: Episode 0452)
	SCENE 4	Speedy now paints a portrait of Big Bird. At first, he forgets to put in his beak, then he forgets his legs. Finally, he remembers every part of the body, but he gives Big Bird a mustache. He remedies this by sticking a mustache on Big Bird's actual beak, matching the painting.
	Cartoon	Edgar Turtle plays the banjo as some kids sing the "Bird Song." (First: Episode 2415)
	Film	Children on a playground form the letters of the alphabet. (First: Episode 1966)
	Muppets	Cookie Monster sings "Healthy Food." (First: Episode 2404)
	Animation	OP words (Drop / stop / top / hop / pop) (First: Episode 2886)
	Film	A zydeco band plays "Allons a Lafayette" while people dance. (First: Episode 2498)
	Muppets	Prairie Dawn and The Count are contestants on "Squeal of Fortune." (First: Episode 2331)
	Film	A boy draws a picture of his friend, Kerry. (First: Episode 2776)
	Cartoon	Sign Cartoons: WET PAINT (First: Episode 1136)
	SCENE 5	Big Bird and Kaitlin announce the sponsors as Speedy rapidly paints them on a series of easels.

Notes

• The original mural on Hooper's was noticeably fading as the series went on. Thus, in a previous season, the mural would be painted over brick by brick following each show taping until it became a brick wall. The producers wished to add a new mural and Nancy Sans volunteered to write an episode around it. "Speedy van Gough" was originally intended to be a Muppet character.

Sources

Previous episode:	Next episode:
Episode 2922	Episode 2924