| Sesame Street | |||||||
| Grundgetta gets nice-lessons | |||||||
| Air date | February 25, 1992 | ||||||
| Season | Season 23 (1991-1992) | ||||||
| Written by | Nancy Sans | ||||||
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| Picture | Segment | Description |
|---|---|---|
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COLD OPEN | Gina is approached by a well-dressed and very polite gentleman waiting for his student to arrive. He introduces himself as Professor Huggins (played by an on-screen Jerry Nelson) of the Professor Huggins Traveling School of Nice, where he teaches his students how to be nice. Grundgetta, his student, finally arrives. She explains it's Oscar's birthday today and she's going to surprise him by acting nice, which will make him angry. "It's the perfect gift for the Grouch who has everything," says Grundgetta. Professor Huggins starts off the lesson with some nice music for them to listen to... the Sesame Street Theme; Grundgetta runs off in agony. |
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Muppets | The Hispanic community of Anything Muppets sings "It Sure is Hot!" (First: Episode 2601) |
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Cartoon | L for Lion (poem) Artist: Jeff Hale (First: Episode 1149) |
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Film | Footage of a baby learning to walk. Music: Joe Raposo (First: Episode 0427) |
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Muppets | Spaceship Surprise The crew lands on the Planet TR, where they are greeted by Trevor Trout. (First: Episode 2607) |
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Cartoon | Two monkeys argue over what to watch on TV, growing bigger the angrier they get. (First: Episode 0762) |
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SCENE 1 | Professor Huggins catches up with Grundgetta and they begin the lesson. He hands her a broken wheel and a stuffed animal, then sets out some more stuffed animals and sings a musical matching game. Grundgetta successfully matches the animals together, but runs off again when she has to cuddle them all. Huggins checks his pocket watch and decides it's time for recess. |
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Cartoon | A mouse riding an armadillo sings a song about 13, his lucky number. (First: Episode 2828) |
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Muppets | Caveperson Days Caveman Bert reminds Caveman Ernie (his son) to take out the trash. Ernie realizes that his drum can also be used as a wastebasket, and is able to take several pieces of garbage to the dump at once instead of one at a time. (First: Episode 2667) |
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Song | A piece of land with water all around it is an "Island." Artist: Jane Aaron (First: Episode 2760) |
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Cartoon | "Why Bears Smile" - a story of a bear who learned which body part to cover when sneezing. Artist: Bruce Cayard (First: Episode 1109) |
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SCENE 2 | Professor Huggins admits he cannot help Grundgetta; she's a Grouch and he can't change who she really is. However, she can pretend to be nice, which is an idea that Grundgetta can get behind. He sings her a song with words most nice people use - "How Do You Do, Excuse Me, Thank You, Please." Grundgetta thinks she's got it, though uses the word "thanks" accidentally following the song. |
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Cartoon | The Typewriter: W, Wall (First: Episode 0790) |
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Muppets | Guy Smiley hosts "What's My Part?" The contestants are Bennett Snerf, Arlene Frantic and Professor Hastings, and the mystery part is a foot. (First: Episode 0164) |
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Cartoon | Speech Balloon: L for Light (First: Episode 0147) |
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Song | "Pig's Love Song" (live-action version) (First: Episode 0572) |
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Insert | Elmo explores Sesame Street, and observes Susan as she does some writing. (First: Episode 2285) |
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Cartoon | Rap #13 (First: Episode 2547) |
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Muppets | Phil Harmonic hosts another evening at the Nestropolitan Opera, featuring a performance by Placido Flamingo, "The Telephone of Brazil," to the tune of "Funiculì, Funiculà." (First: Episode 2457) |
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Film | Ornate Ws spin around in accompaniment to a song. |
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Film | "Visiting Iesha": Olivia sleeps over at Iesha's house, and spend the morning together. Olivia is white and Iesha and her family is black. Next time, Iesha wants to visit Olivia's family. (First: Episode 2756) |
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Cartoon | Apple: a riddle (First: Episode 2889) |
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SCENE 3 | Mr. Handford is shocked to see Hooper's Store in such a messy condition under Gina's watch. She tells him that Oscar's surprise party is going to be held there, billed as a "Come As a Grouch" party. Mr. Handford begins to act defensive against Gina, but reveals that he's merely practicing to be a Grouch in time for the party. The two then begin to hurl insults and make Grouch noises for more practice. |
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Cartoon | W for Wash (First: Episode 0485) |
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Muppets | The Two-Headed Monster is in a disagreement about where to go for vacation: the mountains or the seashore. Cookie Monster says he likes both, better than going to Cucamonga for the National Cookie Convention. 2-Head gets inspired, and heads off for Cucamonga, leaving Cookie to choose between the mountains and the seashore. (First: Episode 2837) |
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Film | Some kids learn how to use Logo, a computer programming language, to draw shapes on computers. (First: Episode 1968) |
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Cartoon | With the help of his assistant, Dr. Geo shows the viewer what a globe is. (First: Episode 2836) |
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Muppets | Story: "The Geefle and the Gonk" The Geefle and the Gonk, two aliens, learn how to cooperate and gather nectarines together. (First: Episode 0452) |
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Cartoon | Zork lands on the coast of California, where he meets a slick agent. Artist: ArtistMike (First: Episode 2687) |
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Song | "Conga Counting Song" (First: Episode 2778) |
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SCENE 4 | Mr. Handford invites Oscar to the store to collect some trash as a cover for getting him to the party, which is also attended by the Grouchketeers. Grundgetta shows up in a nice dress and does some last minute reviewing with Professor Huggins. Bruno brings Oscar to the store and he's definitely surprised (though he hates surprises and parties). He's taken aback by Grundgetta when she speaks so kindly to him, but he becomes sad after seeing what a goody-goody Grundgetta has become. Grundgetta admits that she's only pretending, which cheers Oscar up... and that makes him angry! Bruno and the Grouches leave (it's a tradition that Grouches never attend their own birthday parties) while Professor Huggins cheerfully recites the sponsors. |
Notes[]
- The theme music heard from Professor Huggins' tape player during the cold opening is the slower-paced instrumental that was usually heard at the beginning of many classic Sesame Street episodes heard directly after the opening theme song. This is one of the few times, if not the only time, that the opening scene music preceded the theme song.
See also[]
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