1970
Sesame Street First and Last
1970, video.
Making the 1970 version.
1979 version
"First and Last" is a Sesame Street sketch that originally appeared in Season 1 (First: Episode 0116). A new version was made in the late 1970s. (First: Episode 1332)
Original[]
A group of monsters (all recycled from The Ed Sullivan Show and other appearances), led by a hippie, play a game where they march in a line and then switch direction. One monster wants to be first and not last. The hippie reluctantly agrees, but soon the line turns in the opposite direction, and the monster is once again last. This continues on and eventually leads to the monster being trampled by his friends.
The lead monster is not referred to by name in dialogue, but is named "Grover" in the script for the sketch, taped on March 23, 1970.[1] The first spoken appearance of Grover's name is Episode 0125. Beautiful Day Monster also appears, but here is referred to as "Fred."
A behind the scenes picture of the Muppeteers working on the sketch was used as the cover for the 2005 book Sesame Street and the Reform of Children's Television.
Cast[]
- Hippie: Jim Henson
- proto-Grover: Frank Oz
- Beautiful Day Monster: Caroly Wilcox
- Billy and Scudge: Caroll Spinney
Remake[]
The skit was remade in the late 1970s with Grover and other Muppet monsters. The basic plot and joke is the same as the original version, only this time it's delivered more like a lecture about the two opposites. Grover wants to show what it means to be first in line, but just as he starts to explain it, his friends turn one hundred eighty degrees. Grover runs to the front of the line, and they turn again. This process continues until Grover finally faints with exasperation. Maurice, Harry, and Bruce observe that he is the first one to fall out and join him one by one.
Cast[]
- Grover: Frank Oz
- Bruce Monster: Jim Henson
- Maurice Monster: Richard Hunt
- Harry Monster: Jerry Nelson
Sources[]
- ↑ documents acquired from a trusted source by User:Scarecroe