| Sesame Street | |||||||||
| Linda's Birthday | |||||||||
| Air date | January 4, 1999 | ||||||||
| Season | Season 30 (1998-1999) | ||||||||
| Written by | Sonia Manzano | ||||||||
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| Picture | Segment | Description |
|---|---|---|
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SCENE 1 | Today is Linda's birthday, and for a surprise, Bob is teaching Maria, Gabi, Alan, Rosita, Zoe, Snuffy, and Baby Bear how to sing "Happy Birthday to You" in sign language. He dubs the group "the Signing Singers" and proceeds to show the viewer the signs they are practicing. Snuffy brings up the fact that he can't sign most of the words since he's got a snuffle instead of hands, so Bob gives him the position of conducting the group. Linda jogs by, but becomes confused when everyone suddenly has to leave at the same time. |
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Cartoon | An elephant tries to remember Nigel (a cat's) birthday, succeeding after stringing together a series of clues. Artist: Fred Garbers |
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Muppets | Sesame Street Goes to Day Care Big Bird and Veronica say the alphabet. |
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Film | Using sign language, a boy reads his poem, "The Hawk." |
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SCENE 2 | At the Fix-It Shop Maria wants to practice the birthday signs with Zoe, but Zoe is more interested in the concept of "surprise." She asks Maria to surprise her, but Maria explains that she can't demonstrate it if she's expecting one. The two get a big surprise when a couple of Honkers pop up to have their toaster repaired, and Zoe runs after them in the hopes of getting another surprise. |
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Animation | Luxo Sr. examines a box. Luxo Jr. pops out of the box, demonstrating "surprise." (First: Episode 2851) |
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Song | John Pizzarelli sings about feeling "happy and proud" on your birthday. (First: Episode 3421) |
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SCENE 3 | Oscar watches as Snuffy practices his singing and conducting "Happy Birthday." He teases that Linda is coming, which sets Snuffy into a panic before he realizes Oscar was only joking. Oscar warns him again, but this time he's telling the truth as she's seen jogging down the street. Snuffy realizes there's nowhere to hide to keep the surprise a secret, so he manages to stuff himself inside Oscar's trash can! |
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Cartoon | A girl practices to roller skate over many days. (First: Episode 3556) |
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Muppets | Kingston Livingston III sings "A Cat Had a Birthday." (First: Episode 3331) cut from the Max version |
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SCENE 4 | Linda jogs by Oscar's can and observes the strange sight of a snuffle poking out, waving around in the air like a conductor's baton. |
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Cartoon | A group of kids' voices sing "Happy Birthday" while the word "happy birthday" and then a cake with animated candles is shown. (First: Episode 3005) |
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Muppets | Ernie and Bert: Bert Is Locked Out — Bert speculates on why Ernie has asked him to stay out of the apartment. (First: Episode 0461) |
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Film | How to say "butterfly" in sign language (First: Episode 3341) |
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SCENE 5 | Maria tries to help Zoe rehearse the signs again, but Zoe is very curious about Linda's deafness and grown-ups having birthdays. Maria is a bit taken aback with one of Zoe's questions: "What's that white hair sticking out of your head?" |
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Cartoon | Planet H / h (First: Episode 2851) |
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Muppets | Worms in Space The worms form the letter H. (First: Episode 3760) |
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Animation | H in space (with astronauts) (First: Episode 3697) |
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Film | A visual representation of the nursery rhyme "Pat-a-Cake" with Wegman's dogs. (title and new music track added) (First: Episode 3467) cut from the Max version |
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SCENE 6 | Bob leaves to pick up Linda for their surprise, and the group decides to practice one last time. After a semi-successful practice (Snuffy accidentally bumps his snuffle into Rosita and Zoe's face a couple of times), Snuffy celebrates by slamming down his snuffle in excitement, accidentally hurting himself. Gabi goes to get some ice, which Snuffy's mother does to soothe a sore snuffle... only Snuffy can't stand it. |
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Film | Bethany visits the doctor. (First: Episode 3585) cut from the Max version |
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Cartoon | Hs are found on the street. (First: Episode 3368) |
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Film | The floating kids form H. (First: Episode 3118) |
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Song | Soul H (First: Episode 3368) cut from the Max version |
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SCENE 7 | Gabi has returned with a Snuffleupagus-sized ice pack, but Snuffy is too afraid of having it put on his snuffle. Oscar becomes happy as this means the surprise will be ruined, but the thought causes Snuffy to change his mind. He delivers a short speech about being brave, and eases into the freezing cold pack Maria puts on his snuffle. Everyone thanks Oscar, who leaves in disgust as Snuffy finds his snuffle back in working condition. |
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Animation | "Six Circus Balls" Artist: Jane Aaron (First: Episode 3001) |
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Film | Six children dance in a colorblock grid. (First: Episode 3122) |
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Animation | The numbers 1-6 are carried away and/or demolished by construction equipment. (First: Episode 2270) |
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SCENE 8 | Now evening time, Bob and Linda are wearing formal wear as Bob guides Linda to the group, who sign and sing "Happy Birthday" successfully. She hugs and kisses everybody for the surprise, though Snuffy winces a little when she hugs his snuffle. Everyone all at once tries to tell her what had happened. |
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Cartoon | In Chardin's classic painting, a boy blows a bubble. It pops, and some kids yell "Surprise!" (First: Episode 3311) |
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Muppets | The Count directs Liam Neeson counting to 20, several times, in "Translyvania 6-5000." The shoot evolves into "Counting in the Rain." cut from reruns |
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Cartoon | Shifty Sid wears a mask to hide his dirty teeth. He goes to the dentist and becomes Smiling Sid. Artist: Fred Garbers cut from reruns |
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Film | "One Thousand Faces" (First: Episode 2894) |
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SCENE 9 | Linda thanks everyone for their great work, especially the way Snuffy risked hurting his snuffle for it. Bob is shocked when Linda offers to bring Snuffy on their dinner date; Zoe realizes that Bob is definitely surprised! In sign language, Linda thanks Bob as the three of them head out to dinner, and the camera pans to Elmo's apartment... |
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Muppets | Elmo's World: Jackets |
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SCENE 10 | The trio return from dinner and announce the sponsors. Bob offers to call Snuffy's mom to return him home, though Snuffy is in no hurry to leave (he wants to rent a movie). |
Alterations[]
| Picture | Segment | Description |
|---|---|---|
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Muppets | Two-Headed Monster: Headphones — The monster listens to some funky music on headphones. (First: Episode 1628) This segment replaced Sesame Street Goes to Day Care during summer reruns. |
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Muppets | On a vaudeville stage, Herry Monster sings "Big Round Nose" with three monsters and a Honker as visual aids. This segment replaced "A Cat Had a Birthday" during summer reruns. |
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Muppets | Ernie and Bert: The Lost Duckie — Ernie calls Bert for help when he misplaces his Rubber Duckie. This segment replaced the Ernie and Bert sketch during summer reruns. |
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Muppets | Sesame Street Goes to Day Care Herry and Baxter talk about the letter H, and what words start with it. This segment replaced the Floating Kids sketch during summer reruns. |
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Cartoon | A troll draws faces on herself in front of a mirror. (new music added) (First: Episode 0800) This segment appears right after "One Thousand Faces" during summer reruns. |
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Muppets | Elmo's World: Food (First: Episode 3816) This segment replaced Elmo's World: Jackets during summer reruns. |
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