Episode 3621

	Sesame Street
	Luis hurts his back
Air date	March 31, 1997
Season	Season 28 (1996-1997)
Written by	Belinda Ward
Production	November 14, 1996
Sponsors	K, 8

Picture	Segment	Description
	SCENE 1	At the Rodríguezes' apartment, Luis and Gabi are ready to go to the ballet and spend the day together. They pretend they're dancers before they leave and Luis lifts Gabi into the air, but yells in pain as he throws out his back in the process. Maria recommends he lay down on the couch, but Luis insists on going to the ballet and that his pain will go away. He then slowly tries to make his way to the door in a hunched over position.
	Song	Joe Raposo sings "Frog Struggle Song." (First: Episode 0492)
	Muppets	Elmo and Zoe watch Jock Soto and Lourdes Lopez cooperate to dance ballet, and dance with them.
	Cartoon	Two itchy gorillas agree to scratch each other's backs. (First: Episode 1456)
	Film	Children dance to different rhythms from around the world. (First: Episode 2499)
	Cartoon	A caterpillar sings "Exercise Song." Artist: ArtistMike (First: Episode 2839)
	Film	A big K emerges, "Jaws"-like, in a swimming pool. (First: Episode 3326)
	Cartoon	A lion named Kent says that he gets a Kick out of being King of the Forest. Artist: Bruce Cayard (First: Episode 0619)
	Film	Ornate Ks fly through the air to a song. Artist: Jane Aaron (First: Episode 2945)
	SCENE 2	Big Bird observes Luis' struggle to get down the steps of 123 Sesame Street, thinking it's some type of game. As Big Bird takes a turn, Gabi wishes to forgo the ballet for the sake of Luis' back and they head back up the stairs, with Big Bird following (still playing along).
	Animation	Luxo Jr.: Up and Down (First: Episode 3130)
	Film	In Trinidad, Asha and her friends practice and dance on stilts in preparation for a carnival. (First: Episode 3427)
	Cartoon	Todo el mundo necesita agua (First: Episode 0780)
	Muppets	Rosita sings "No Matter What Your Language."
	Film	Kids play loud and soft notes on the Shpritzer. (First: Episode 3428)
	Cartoon	Kids observe cloud formations, until it starts to rain. (First: Episode 2074)
	SCENE 3	Maria gets off the phone with Dr. Grunberg, who prescribes plenty of rest for Luis. Big Bird learns Luis isn't actually playing a game and assists the family in moving him to the couch. They get quite close until Luis' back gives even more; he can't move another step. They know he can't just stand there (Big Bird: "Besides, Luis, you're going to get tired looking at your feet.") so they fix the problem by moving the couch closer to Luis and plop him down.
	Cartoon	"How I Got the Hives," a true story by Corky Pumpkin. (new sound effects and music tag added) Artist: ArtistMike (First: Episode 3353)
	Film	Bethany visits the doctor. (First: Episode 3585)
	Muppets	The Mostly Monster Festival Choral Society presents "The Alphabet, Theme and Variations," by Mozart. (First: Episode 3525)
	Cartoon	An opera house is full when an operatic tenor sings, but it becomes empty when his partner (of lesser musical talent) attempts to sing. On their way home, the tenor and his partner become stuck on the freeway, where the lanes are full - but all it takes to make them empty is some bad singing. Artist: Gene Barretta (First: Episode 3556)
	Film	Milo Counting: 8 (First: Episode 3554)
	Muppets	Little Chrissy sings "Eight Balls of Fur." (First: Episode 2669)
	Cartoon	Worms form the number 8. Artist: Owe Gustafson (First: Episode 1563)
	SCENE 4	Maria goes off to the Fix-It Shop, leaving Luis in Gabi and Big Bird's care. Luis recalls what he needed during his last back problem and Gabi fetches some items to help him feel more comfortable - the laundry basket (to rest his legs on), the baking pan (to rest his arms), a teddy bear (to rest his head), and his radio to listen to. The classical music from the radio gives Gabi an idea and she hurries Big Bird into the other room.
	Animation	A girl skips home through the city, hearing all kinds of noises. When she gets home, she repeats all the noises she heard with a little dance. Artist: John Korty (First: Episode 1877)
	Song	14 Karat Soul sings about what's "Down Below the Street." (First: Episode 2556)
	Cartoon	The word "Subway" rides the MBTA subway. (First: Episode 3375)
	Muppets	Monsterpiece Theater: Little House on Prairie — A little house is on Prairie Dawn. (First: Episode 3207)
	Film	Kids in Jamaica play bongo drums. (First: Episode 3160)
	Cartoon	A lizard, a girl and a dog dance. Artist: Karen Aqua (First: Episode 2795)
	SCENE 5	Gabi and Big Bird return in some new outfits, ready to bring the ballet to Luis since they aren't able to go. In what they call the "Ouchy Back Ballet," Big Bird plays a bird named Luis who hurts his back reaching for a worm; a magical fairy princess (Gabi) helps him out. Luis loves it, despite the occasional pain from Big Bird bumping into the couch a few times.
	Animation	"Front Back Ballet" Artist: Jane Aaron (First: Episode 3016)
	Film	William Wegman's Weimaraner is a king. (First: Episode 3542)
	Cartoon	K is for Karate (First: Episode 0489)
	Film	The letter K dances at the beach. (First: Episode 3554)
	Cartoon	Cap'n Feenie asks, "What is it?" It's the ocean. Artist: ArtistMike (First: Episode 2710)
	Cast	"Between You and Me" (Gina and Savion) (First: Episode 3133)
	Cartoon	Passengers on a crowded subway illustrate between. (First: Episode 0795)
	Film	Kids practice circus acts and give a performance in a gymnasium. (First: Episode 2889)
	Muppets	Ernie and Bert: After the Bath — Ernie comes from finishing his bath and tells Bert that there's something that he forgot. (First: Episode 0347)
	Film	Feet wearing all different types of shoes dance. (First: Episode 2601)
	SCENE 6	Big Bird heads back to his nest to take a rest from dancing (to Luis' relief), while Gabi tucks her father in for a nap of his own. Maria announces the sponsors.
	COMING SOON	Coming soon on Sesame Street: Telly sings a grouchy version of "Sing After Me" with Celina, Luis, and the kids, to Oscar's detriment.