| Sesame Street | |||||||||
| Ernie substitutes for the Count | |||||||||
| Air date | May 4, 2000 | ||||||||
| Season | Season 31 (2000) | ||||||||
| Written by | Annie Evans | ||||||||
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| Picture | Segment | Description |
|---|---|---|
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SCENE 1 | Maria and Ernie (with Rubber Duckie) watch as the Count finishes packing for a trip to a counting convention. He asks Maria if she can count things on Sesame Street while he is away, but she claims she's too busy working at the Fix-It Shop. Ernie volunteers to be the "Count for a Day" and demonstrates by counting Maria. The Count is delighted and decides to give him a fast lesson about counting before he leaves. |
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Song | "The First Time" Children try various activities (riding tricycles, tying shoes, etc.) and progressively improve. (First: Episode 2950) |
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Muppets | A magician attempts a suspension act, which fails. Vaudeville team Big Bird and Snuffy then come out to introduce the number of the day ... (First: Episode 3859) |
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Film | Milo Counting #9 (First: Episode 3578) |
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Cartoon | "Martian Beauty" has nine hairs, nine bows, nine eyes, nine nostrils, nine arms, and nine toes. Artist: Bud Luckey (First: Episode 0316) |
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SCENE 2 | The Count explains to Ernie that there is always something to count. He demonstrates by counting oranges at Hooper's Store and some kids nearby. Since it doesn't produce thunder and lightning after Ernie finishes counting like it does with the Count, he dramatically says "Thunder! Lightning!" to represent it. The Count and Ernie then sing "Be the Count" as they go along Sesame Street counting. During the song, Ernie and Rubber Duckie change into some Count-inspired outfits and the Count bids them good luck. |
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Cartoon | A man finds and eats five apples, counting the number left after each one. (First: Episode 1578) |
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Muppets | A rooster comedian is yanked off stage, and Big Bird and Snuffy come back out to introduce the letter of the day ... (First: Episode 3885) |
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Animation | Letter Garden: E (First: Episode 3009) |
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Film | Wegman's dogs form a letter E. (First: Episode 3267) |
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Animation | Writing utensils form the upper and lowercase letter E. (First: Episode 2880) |
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SCENE 3 | Gina joins Ernie in the garden and learns about him being appointed "Count for the Day." She tells him she must study for veterinary school, but Ernie proves to be too distracting as he counts Gina and her book. He wants to be the best Count he can be, and not wanting to break his promise to the Count, he proceeds to count the pages of Gina's book before she can start reading. |
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Cartoon | "Animal Books" Artist: Steve Segal (First: Episode 3396) |
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Animation | Computer E / e (First: Episode 3071) |
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Animation | E / e (elephant / jazzy trumpet) (First: Episode 2222) |
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Muppets | Grover: Here and There Lecture — Grover shows that he is here and the viewer is there. (First: Episode 3130) |
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Cartoon | Flash Gizmo, Space Cadet Here and there (First: Episode 3697) |
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SCENE 4 | Ernie finishes counting the 459 pages of Gina’s book before handing it back to her, then leaves with Rubber Duckie to find more things to enumerate. |
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Animation | In a Van Gogh painting, a baby takes its first steps to Papa. (First: Episode 3492) |
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Muppets / Celebrity | Chaka Khan sings "A Face" to Elmo, Telly and some kids (including Tyler). |
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Cartoon | Underwater, there's a 9 (First: Episode 3283) |
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Cast | Chef Ruthée hosts "Cooking By the Numbers," in which she demonstrates a fruity way to cook the number 9. (First: Episode 3841) |
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Cartoon | Clown Honking #9 (First: Episode 3219) |
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SCENE 5 | Ernie interrupts a meeting between Oscar and the Grouchketeers, counting the members' trash can lid hats and face smudges. He then counts the ways Oscar tells him to get lost, causing the Grouch to let out a groan in misery. (Ernie: "You know, Bert says that a lot, too.") |
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Cartoon | A little boy describes a time when he got angry after his toy truck was destroyed by a big kid. (new sound effects added) Artist: ArtistMike (First: Episode 2764) |
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Muppets | The rooster comedian bombs again, so Big Bird and Snuffy introduce an alphabet segment ... (First: Episode 3871) |
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Cartoon | While fishing one day, a boy catches the letters of the alphabet. Frustrated at not having caught any fish to eat, he decides to use his catch for alphabet soup. (new music added) (First: Episode 0004) |
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SCENE 6 | The Count has returned early, having missed every train after counting them at the station. Ernie asks if they can both be Counts since there's so much counting to be done. The Count agrees, and he starts to count the flowers in a pot while Ernie counts the flowers' petals. The two get in each other's way, so they decide to do their counting on opposite sides of the yard. This leads to a collision as Ernie doesn't look where he is going while counting clouds. The Count is wearied by it all, yet admits to admiring Ernie's enthusiasm. |
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Animation | Camels appear in the clouds as Vivaldi music plays. (First: Episode 3624) |
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Muppets | An operatic turkey attempts to sing Rossini's "Largo al factotum," but once again, the stage belongs to Big Bird and Snuffy, who feel a song coming on... (First: Episode 3885) |
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Song | "I Put My Leg in My Pants" (First: Episode 3402) |
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Cartoon | Noodles & Nedd make the bed. Artist: John R. Dilworth (First: Episode 3663) |
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Film | Korean girls do a spring dance. (First: Episode 3170) |
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SCENE 7 | The Count suggests that he and Ernie count together - that way, they won't get in each other's way. They count Little Bo Peep's sheep as they pass by without any problems. The Count is thrilled with the idea of Ernie counting with him every day, but the latter declines. He needs time to play with Bert, sing about visiting the moon, and take baths with Rubber Duckie. The Count understands, but for the time being Ernie agrees to help count for the rest of the day, which includes counting the line of cows that randomly show up dancing the cha-cha. |
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Muppets | Elmo's World: Bananas (First: Episode 3858) |
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SCENE 8 | Maria announces the sponsors as Ernie and the Count count each as they show up onscreen. |
Notes[]
- Additional performers include Stephanie D'Abruzzo (chicken and sheep), Fran Brill (Little Bo Peep), Joey Mazzarino (sheep), Jim Martin (sheep), and Eric Jacobson (sheep).
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