Sesame Street goofs

Goofs are mistakes that are made while filming a television series, movie, or other related project. Due to the nature of business involved in framing how puppets appear in a shot, hundreds of examples can be seen over the years where a puppeteer is visible on screen. This is particularly noticeable in the digital era where content is viewed within a platform container or computer display that shows the portion of a framed shot that was originally assumed to fall within the gutter of a CRT television box.

As such, goofs documented by Muppet Wiki include continuity errors, production equipment seen reflected in on-camera sets and props, body parts of a puppet falling off or manually changed throughout the course of the narrative, audio and editing errors, and a significant portion of a puppeteer in frame (more than a quarter of their head or a considerable amount of their arm).

Sketches

Picture	Description
	"All Together Now" (First: Episode 0015) During the first verse, the daughter's left eye comes loose, and the puppeteer briefly ducks the puppet down to reattach it. At the end of the song, the characters all collapse on the wall, and the mother's left eye comes loose.
	Big Bird Meets Little Bird (First: Episode 0028) Several times in the sketch, there's a visible opening between Big Bird's head and neck in which a bit of Caroll Spinney's hand is revealed operating the head.
	F Cheer 1 (First: Episode 0092) Near the end of the skit, the nose of the Pumpkin Orange AM falls off.
	4 Cheer (First: Episode 0132) When the balloons come in to the shot, a hand can be seen.
	Pile of cookies (First: Episode 0153) Since the Muppet performers did not have headset microphones at the time (photographic evidence exists of this), the plastic clicking of Cookie Monster's googly eyes is picked up on the external boom mic.
	"The Word" (First: Episode 0197) During the third chorus, the Pumpkin hippie's nose starts to come unpinned and falls off. It's quickly replaced, but lost again at the very end of the full version when the characters burst through the blocks.
	Lefty the Salesman: Picture of Four Elephants (First: Episode 0292) Lefty has ears for most of the sketch. After the second close-up on the painting, he has no ears.
	The Weather Show (First: Episode 0337) During the wind's first showcase, Jascha's nose starts to come loose, and when the wind returns for an encore, Jascha's nose falls off.
	"J Friends" (First: Episode 0339) During the final verse, when the friends "jump with Jane," a puppeteer's forehead and the bottoms of the AMs, especially the Lavender, are briefly visible.
	The Beach: Tough Eddie (First: Episode 0482) Right at the beginning, a bit of Tough Eddie, including his nose, is plainly visible on camera, just to Bert's left, as if Eddie were simply waiting for his cue.
	Old West sketches: Surprise (First: Episode 0537) In one shot, the one in which Bad Bart has walked into the saloon and says Marshall Earp had better be there soon, he is standing in front of the wall, but in the next close-up shot of him saying he has a surprise for her, he is back in front of the door, with his head silhouetted against the sunset.
	Cookie Monster Shares a Cookie (First: Episode 0623) When the girl first approaches Cookie Monster, she already has half a cookie with her (the top of it can be seen at the bottom of the screen). And then, when she lunges to eat it, the cookie slips from her hand, and she ends up munching on nothing more than a few fingertips full of air.
	"The Subway" (First: Episode 0762) After singing the opening solo, the Green Anything Muppet with the shades turns and walks down the stairs into the underground subway station, and yet just a few seconds later he steps back into shot from off to the side to echo the policeman's "subway" line.
	Sesame Street Pageants: The Four Seasons (First: Episode 1165) Cookie Monster stays on stage right before a cut to a close-up of the cast entering the stage from the wings. However, Cookie Monster is behind the cast entering the stage, despite being on stage in the previous shot.
	Bed Making Cooperation (First: Episode 1388) At one point when Ernie and Bert switch sides (as Ernie complains the blanket on one side of the bed is crooked), the camera pans too far to the left, revealing the edge of the set.
	"Don't Sing This Song" (First: Episode 2482) During the song, you can briefly see Kevin Clash performing Elmo behind Bob.
	Alphaquest: M (First: Episode 2724) When the girl first enters the kitchen, one of the mittens she uses is plainly visible on the table, yet in the very next shot, it disappears.
	"We Are All Earthlings" (First: Episode 2835) During the first chorus, the sound suggests that all the characters are singing in unison, yet some of them (Elmo included) are seen moving their mouths to no sound, as if to echo the title line, as would be done in the next choruses.
	"Gospel Alphabet" (First: Episode 3825) During the intense gospel part, Bert loses an eye. The puppeteer attempts to hide this from the camera by having Bert stare off to the right, but he whips his head back to look at Patti.

Episodes

Picture	Description
	Episode 0116 Scene 1 A camera is visible on the left side of the screen during one of the wide angle shots.
	Episode 0134 Scene 3 The set for Gordon and Susan's apartment can be seen adjacent to 123 Sesame Street in shots where it is usually covered up by painted flats of the street area.
	Episode 0135 Scene 4 As Big Bird backs into the door between Hooper's Store and the Pet Shop, some empty studio space, a studio light, and part of the Hooper's Store interior set can be seen in the Pet Shop windows.
	Episode 0152 Scene 2 A camera can be seen as Mr. Hooper walks toward the yard to get a chair.
	Episode 0172 Scene 3 A camera can be seen during a close-up of the drummers.
	Episode 0178 Scene 2 Puppeteers Jerry Nelson and Fran Brill are briefly clearly visible performing Herry Monster as he tries to reach some blocks.
	Episode 0195 Scene 5 Frank Oz's Muppet hippie dances a little too wildly to some rock and roll music, losing his hat and hair in the process.
	Episode 0224 Scene 8 The studio lights can be seen as Big Bird bumps into the fence adjacent to the construction doors.
	Episode 0226 Scene 6 As Herry enters Hooper's Store, a crew member can be seen next to him.
	Episode 0278 Scene 1 A ladder and part of the bare stage is seen on the right when Mr. Snuffleupagus enters the construction doors.
	Episode 0278 Scene 6 A crew member can be seen cueing Rafael as he sings the next part of the "Same/Different Song."
	Episode 0299 Scene 4 An on-set photographer can be seen in the left corner getting a shot of Big Bird and Mr. Snuffleupagus.
	Episode 0312 Scene 8 The boom mike crane is visible as Big Bird makes his way to Tom behind Hooper's Store.
	Episode 0334 Scene 3 As Mr. Hooper enters his store after Oscar has redecorated it, the studio lights and exposed wall are visible.
	Episode 0352 Scene 2 The slide used by Frank Oz to get Cookie Monster to appear to fall down the steps of 123 Sesame Street is briefly visible when the camera frame widens out. It's also seen a few times during Cookie's close-ups.
	Episode 0358 Scene 8 A boom mike comes into shot during one of the close-ups of the rubber duckies as they are being counted by the cast.
	Episode 0411 Scene 5 During the wide shots of Oscar's cans scattered in front of his home, a duplicate set of ten cans can be seen next to the crate that the Count uses later when counting again (rather than having the crew take the time to pick up the spilled cans).
	Episode 0411 Scene 6 Part of the bare studio space is seen as Big Bird and Luis make their way back to Big Bird's nest through the construction door.
	Episode 0449 Scene 6 A studio light can be spotted when Gordon plays basketball.
	Episode 0490 Scene 1 As Pete Seeger joins the others in the yard, the boom microphone and a camera can be spotted. The camera's lens is also spotted in several shots afterward.
	Episode 0521 Scene 7 After Big Bird vanishes from sight and reappears behind his audience, the backdrops that are usually seen behind the construction doors are missing, revealing empty studio space.
	Episode 0574 Scene 6 As Bob and Maria enter the construction doors, puppeteer Jerry Nelson (with Waldo Woodpecker) and a ladder on which a performer is seen operating some marionette canaries are briefly spotted.
	Episode 0575 Scene 1 As all eight Counts line up, a few studio lights can be seen in the upper right corner.
	Episode 0649 Scene 2 Caroll Spinney's legs can be spotted in front of Oscar's carriage at the end of the scene when Oscar starts attacking Bob with his baby rattle.
	Episode 0731 Scene 2 After the kids lead Big Bird back to his nest to see Snuffy, a camera can be seen in the upper right corner of the screen.
	Episode 0798 Scene 5 A TV monitor can be seen near the banister of 123 Sesame Street after Herry leaves to get a flashlight from Hooper's Store.
	Episode 0817 Scene 3 In some wide overhead shots of the outdoor table at Hooper's, Richard Hunt's arm, leg, and face can be seen as he performs Sully from underneath.
	Episode 0827 Scene 1 At the beginning of the episode, the studio ceiling, some lights, and the very top of the 123 Sesame Street set piece is completely exposed as Grover sits atop the lamppost.
	Episode 0833 Scene 2 As everyone makes their way to Big Bird's nest, part of the bare studio (including a TV monitor) is seen in the upper right corner of the shot.
	Episode 0871 Scene 5 As Bob moves the chair to the empty space, he exposes the mat concealing Jerry Nelson under the table.
	Episode 0891 Scene 6 During Buffy's song about the letter U, a camera is seen on the right side of the screen in one of the wide shots.
	Episode 0942 Scene 4 As Biff drives his truck in reverse, Jerry Nelson's leg can be seen behind Sully.
	Episode 0992 Scene 4 The boom microphone is clearly seen when Gordon helps the kids open the toy box. When this episode's scenes originally aired as part of Episode 0743 the error was fixed in editing, but is present in this airing.
	Episode 1006 Scene 2 Kermit Love is briefly seen in a wide shot performing Snuffy's snuffle as Mr. Hooper charges Big Bird for some cabbages.
	Episode 1327 Scene 1 At the end of the scene, the rod controlling Slimey comes loose; as a result the puppet collapses into a heap, cracking up Northern Calloway as David. The error is partially hidden by Oscar's trash can, but clearly visible in a close-up before the scene fades.
	Episode 1414 Scene 2 Michael Earl's head is exposed at the very end of the scene in the lower right corner.
	Episode 1553 Scene 4 In wide shots, the lid to Oscar's trash can can be seen hanging from the side as Bruno carries it, but when the scene cuts to a close-up of the human cast sticking their heads out of the can, the lid is nowhere to be seen.
	Episode 1589 Scene 4 A wall from the Fix-it Shop set can be seen overlapping the Hooper's Store set through the latter's front window. A similar occurrence happens during the final scene of Episode 1730, only is visible through the door of the Fix-It Shop.
	Episode 1710 Scene 2 Brian Muehl's head is visible next to Rusty as Aunt Mae leads everyone in a post-awards cheer.
	Episode 1858 Scene 2 As Captain Vegetable puts hand to his chest during a heroic speech, his carrot emblem gets stuck to his hand and comes off his costume. He resets it in-between shots, but the emblem continues to fall off then added back throughout the segment.
	Episode 1882 Scene 1 As Big Bird leaves his nest to check on the alarm for a fire drill, a studio camera is seen through the door. The error was cut from the scene's original airing, but is present in the repeat.
	Episode 2122 Scene 2 At the end of the scene with Bob and Oscar outside the latter's trash can, a ladder is visible at the top of the 123 stairs in a couple of Bob's close-ups. The leg of the stagehand perched upon it (who throws a lost baseball down for the scene) is also briefly caught by the camera.
	Episode 2214 The title card erroneously reads "2114."
	Episode 3239 Scene 1 In the first shot, when Jamal is greeting the viewer, the camera is facing the balcony from inside the day care, where there appears to be no door leading outside. However, in the following shot of Zoe and Angela, a door appears halfway closed.
	Episode 3879 Scene 5 The word "alive" appears at the top of the screen in one shot, but in at least one broadcast, the word does not appear, so Big Bird and Snuffy look up at nothing, and Susan points to nothing.
	Episode 3976 Scene 4 Gordon and Bob carry Oscar's trash can into the apartment, but shortly afterward, as the hurricane hits, the can is right back where it usually is.
	Episode 4067 Scene Kevin Clash's hand holding up Elmo's arm rods, and the sleeve of his shirt underneath Elmo can be briefly seen.
	Episode 4200 Scene The rainbow drawing that Leela hands Rosita is clearly different from the one she had drawn just seconds before.

Specials

Picture	Description
	Big Bird in China In a continuity error, the first montage of Big Bird and Barkley in China shows the dog with the hourglass around his neck. They would not receive the item until later in the story.
	Sesame Street, Special It seems that there was some reusing of old footage in the celebrity version of "Put Down the Duckie". Just as before, Ernie puts down his rubber duckie and begins playing his saxophone, but as soon as the instrumental bridge is over and Hoots starts singing again, the duck is back in Ernie's hand, only to disappear a few seconds later.
	Sesame Street Stays Up Late During clips from the characters from Sesam Stasjon, the characters were riding a carriage and you can see Åsmund Huser performing Bjarne Betjent as the carriage rounds the corner.

Movies

Picture	Description
	Follow That Bird As Big Bird departs Sesame Street and the residents bid their farewell, the reflection of a monitor can be seen in the door of the Harmony Music Store, where Ferlinghetti Donizetti is peering out.
	Follow That Bird Aerial shots show the underside of the wings of Ernie and Bert's biplane as being plain red, however, tighter shots show white stripes on the underside of the top wing.
	Follow That Bird In certain shots during "Upside Down World", Ernie's tongue is peeling off his bottom jaw.
	The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland As the camera pulls out on a shot of Baby Bear and Gina in the laundromat, a lighting scrim gets caught in frame.