Episode 3526

	Sesame Street
	Maria goes to the hospital (season premiere)'
Air date	November 18, 1996
Season	Season 28 (1996-1997)
Sponsors	10, E, R

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Picture	Segment	Description
	SCENE 1	Luis welcomes the viewer just before dinner. Gabi has invited Big Bird over and the two play a game where Maria pretends to be the animal of their choice. In the midst of pretending she's a cow driver, Maria suddenly experiences pain in her stomach.
	Muppets	Muppet & Kid Moments: Samantha says she'll count to eleven for Grover, but she can't help getting to twelve.
	Celebrity	Ray Charles sings the Alphabet Song, and various celebrities join in, including Michael Jeter, Patrick Stewart, Tony Bennett, Shari Lewis, Lamb Chop, Harry Belafonte, Grover, David Robinson, and Ellen DeGeneres.
	SCENE 2	Luis is on hold with the doctor over the phone, while Big Bird makes his on theories regarding the doctor. Luis gets through to the doctor and describes Maria's symptoms. The doctor advises she come to the hospital.
	Muppets	Grover interrupts the program for the Weather Bulletin and attempts to announce the weather, but it changes, making it difficult for him to keep up. In conclusion, tomorrow's weather would be partly sunny, partly rainy, and partly snowy,... and partly windy! Grover then returns the viewers back to their regularly scheduled program and adds that he needs a different job.
	SCENE 3	The group arrives at the hospital and Luis begins checking Maria in. Big Bird tries to explain how it happened, describing her cow routine, when Luis suggests he and Gabi sit aside while the grown-ups talk.
	SCENE 3 cont'd	Big Bird tries comforting Gabi, assuring her he knows the hospital procedures. He recalls his time in the hospital (showing footage from Sesame Street Home Video Visits the Hospital). Luis comes by to report Maria's starting her examination and is sure she'll be fine.
	SCENE 4	Luis re-affirms to Big Bird his cow routine has nothing to do with Maria's ailment. Dr. Colburn (Noah Wyle) reports to the family and states Maria is fine, but they wish to continue tests to figure out what made her feel ill. Big Bird knows what isn't the cause - pretending to be a cow.
	Animation	In a Van Gogh painting, a baby takes its first steps to Papa. (EKA: Episode 3492)
	SCENE 5	Dr. Colburn tells Luis that Maria has a possible stomach virus and wishes to keep her overnight for examination. He also remembers Luis' connection to the Fix-It Shop (Luis had previously fixed his brother Aaron's toaster) and asks him to fix the hospital toaster.
	SCENE 5 cont'd	Big Bird and Gabi find Maria, who's wheeled into the lobby. She's feeling better thanks to the hospital's medicine, so Big Bird thinks they're ready to leave. Gabi learns her mom must stay overnight, which doesn't please her. They all follow Dr. Colburn as he brings them to Maria's room.
	Cartoon	Jerry Nelson sings "Moonshine." (EKA: Episode 2980)
	Song	John Pizzarelli sings about feeling "happy and proud" on your birthday. (EKA: Episode 3423)
	SCENE 6	The family and Big Bird check out Maria's room and Maria leaves some instructions for Gabi and Luis while she's gone. Visiting hours are over and Big Bird leaves Radar with Maria, so she'll have some company overnight.
	SCENE 6 cont'd	As they head out, Luis tells Dr. Colburn that the hospital toaster will have to spend the night in the Fix-It Shop until it gets better. Once they leave, Dr. Colburn announces the sponsors.