Episode 4160

Sesame Street
Oscar hosts Grouch News Network
Air date	October 16, 2007 (season finale)
Season	Season 38
Sponsors G, 9 Releases Online Streaming

Picture	Segment	Description
	COLD OPEN	"What's the Word on the Street?" -- struggle
	SCENE 1	Oscar the Grouch is the host of GNN, Grouch News Network: "All grouchy, all disgusting, all yucky news, all the time." Some trash falls from the sky, and Fluffy hands Oscar a bulletin about something grouchy happening in Maria's bathroom.
	SCENE 1 cont'd	Live cameras are at the scene of the grouchy news, which happens to involve Horatio using Maria's bathtub (because there's an elephant stuck in his). Maria keeps shoving her palm towards the camera throughout and asks for him to get out of her tub, but he can't because he's stuck too! Maria tries pulling him out by the trunk, which doesn't work. Oscar tells the viewers to stay tuned for more updates on the bathtub story.
	SCENE 1 cont'd	Suddenly, some "breaking" news: Cookie Monster is about to eat a cookie, when he breaks it in half! This makes him depressed and slightly lachrymose, until Oscar points out that the one cookie is now actually two cookies, which can still be eaten. To Oscar's detriment, this makes Cookie feel like giving him a hug.
	SCENE 1 cont'd	Back at headquarters (Oscar's trash can) Oscar gets a call from Grundgetta, who scolds him for hugging on Grouch TV (which is against GrouchCC regulations).
	SCENE 1 cont'd	Just then, Fluffy alerts Oscar about an update on the bathtub story. Live cameras are still at the scene, where Maria is still struggling to get Horatio out of the tub. Gordon comes by to help, saying he learned about what was happening by watching GNN. Maria is confused: "You watch Grouch News Network?!" Gordon explains that he likes to get both sides of the story. He then suggests that they cooperate to get Horatio out of the tub, and pulls with Maria - but Maria ends up in the tub.
	SCENE 1 cont'd	Grundgetta calls Oscar again to complain, "This show is way too clean!" and threatens to change the channel. Meanwhile, Oscar's star reporter, Slimey, is digging up some dirt (literally) while spotting another grouchy situation: a "celebrity sighting" outside Hooper's! Prince Charming and Sleeping Beauty are playing a game of checkers, but her narcolepsy frustrates the prince. Oscar doesn't think the prince will be able to wake her up with a kiss, but to Oscar's detriment, it does work. They shower Oscar with affection (Beauty: "How I love the paparazzi!"), which drives him away, back to headquarters.
	SCENE 1 cont'd	Grundgetta calls again to say she's had it with all the niceness that she's seen on GNN, so she's changing the channel to POX News. A goat comes back from the dump with another piece of news, which he would rather chew than give to Oscar, but Oscar doesn't mind: "A good reporter never reveals his sources."
	SCENE 1 cont'd	Meanwhile, back in Maria's bathroom, everyone is still struggling to get Horatio out of the tub, and have practically given up. Oscar himself enters to cover the story, secretly revealing to the viewers that the way to lure an elephant out of the tub is with peanuts. Just then, Bob, making his only new appearance this season, enters with a bag of peanuts, having heard what Oscar said just now. Horatio gets out of the tub, and everyone congratulates Oscar (and GNN) on helping them out of their struggle.
	SCENE 1 cont'd	Back at headquarters, Oscar thinks he's ruined, until Grundgetta shows up and tells him that he won the Phlegmmy award for the grouchiest news show. The grouches love the show, because all the niceness on it makes them grouchier. In a speech, Oscar says he would like to thank his news team, but he won't thank them because he is a Grouch and Grouches never say "thank you"! He signs off by saying, "Good night and good yuck!"
	Film	A film insert about washing elephants at the Bronx Zoo. The song "Splish Splash" is used in part of the segment. (EKA: Episode 2096) This segment was edited from the online releases of the episode. See below
	Celebrity	It is a struggle for Tyra Banks to put on her sweater.
	Animation	Two pipe-cleaner parents dig up some of their old toys, including a teddy bear, which they fight over until they accidentally rip it in half. They repair it with some chewed-up gum, and then decide to give it to the baby. (First: Episode 3825)
	Muppets	The Letter of the Day Games: G Cookie Monster finds a guitar, grapes, and a girl (Prairie Dawn) carrying groceries in one minute. (First: Episode 4130)
	Song	"Big G and Little G" (EKA: Episode 3445)
	SCENE 2	GNN interupted the program just because they feel like it, so there! Anderson Cooper sits in for Oscar (Blech!) and talks to Grouch newscasters Walter Cranky who Grrrs and Dan Rather-not who said, "I'd rather not!" about the letter G. A recent poll shows that half of the Grouches surveyed think G is a Grouchy letter, since it starts words like "goo," "garbage" and "gastroenteritis." The other half thinks G is a nice letter, since it begins words such as "good," "gumdrop" and "giggle." (Each G word mentioned is scrolled at the bottom of the screen in the style of CNN). Anderson is in a tight spot since neither of the newsgrouches want to give him their opinions. He asks himself "What would Oscar do?" at which point Oscar enters and answers the question himself: the letter G is indeed Grouchy, since it starts the word "Grouch." Oscar mentions that tomorrow's guests will be Meredith Beware-a and Diane Spoiler who Anderson would rather not join Oscar, and returns us to our "irregularly scheduled program."
	Muppets	Elmo sings "Elmo's Ridin'" as his dad watches him riding his tricycle through the park. Kids join him on their scooters, and a squirrel tries to catch up with them.
	Muppets / Animation	The Twiddlebugs are off to Uncle Ollie's surprise birthday party, when they suddenly get a flat tire. Now they have to search for something to replace it. Thomas suggests that either a triangle-shaped nacho or a square-shaped cheese cracker would work, but the cracker gives a bumpy ride, which breaks the nacho. A red checker does work, and they're off-not realizing they left the cupcake behind.
	Muppets	Muppet and Kid Moments: Abby Cadabby and a girl recite the alphabet together.
	Animation	Portraits of kids display the alphabet. Artist: Lisa Crafts (EKA: Episode 3203)
	Muppets	Ernie sings "Rubber Duckie." (First: Episode 3842)
	Animation	All living things need clean water. (EKA: Episode 2926)
	Muppets	The Number of the Day: 9 9 nifty bats, dressed to the nines, fly in after 9 is announced to be the number of the day, and The Count counts them. (First: Episode 3999)
	Cartoon	Number Guy: "How Many Sheep Will Jump Over My Bed?" The answer is 9. (EKA: Episode 3364)
	Film	Milo Counting #9 (EKA: Episode 3578)
	Muppets	Elmo's World: Helping
	SCENE 3	Oscar signs off (again) by announcing the sponsors. "And that's the grouchy way it is." So ends the 38th season of Sesame Street.

Alterations

Picture	Segment	Description
	Muppets	Baby Bear sings a "scrubby scrubby" song as he takes a bath. As he finishes, he discovers Goldilocks has been in the tub with him breathing from a snorkel. (First: Episode 3594) This segment replaces the "Splish Splash" film in the online releases.

Notes

• This episode was written by Belinda Ward.

Sources

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