Forgetful Jones

PERFORMER	Michael Earl 1980-1981
	Richard Hunt 1981-1992
DEBUT	1980
PATTERN	Large Lavender Live Hand

Forgetful Jones is a cowboy, so named because he always forgets everything. He has two horses — Buster, and Buster's brother Whatshisname. Forgetful's longtime girlfriend is Clementine. He has a mother, father, a cousin, an uncle, and a great-great grandfather.

Forgetful Jones appeared regularly on Sesame Street from Season 12 through Season 23. After the death of his performer, Richard Hunt, Forgetful Jones stopped appearing as a major character, though he continued to make occasional non-speaking appearances. Such cameos include the finale of Elmo Saves Christmas, in a flashback sequence in Episode 4197, some Season 45 episodes, Caroll Spinney's retirement party, and in a 2018 web video "12 Days of Christmas Cookies." He made speaking appearances in Kinect Sesame Street TV, the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con (during the "Sesame Street Puppets Live!" show), and Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration; performed in these instances by Matt Vogel. He also appears in The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo as an audience member.

Muppet Workshop designer and builder Laurent Linn discussed the puppeteer's approach to the character in the book Quilting with the Muppets: "Forgetful Jones...brought out more of the simple, sweet side of Richard, in the midst of some of his other more outrageous characters."

According to Episode 1561, Forgetful actually lives about 40 miles away from Sesame Street.

Sketches

Picture	Summary / EKA	Description
	Brushing Teeth Episode 1446	Clementine reminds Forgetful Jones to do something before going to bed, something that involves teeth. Forgetful tries to remember, and eventually figures that he has to brush Buster's teeth. Video: Old School: Volume 3
	Taking Care of a Dog Episode 1452	Forgetful Jones tells Clementine he's taking care of Barkley and shows her that he's remembered everything he needs - a leash, bone and ball. Clementine points out the most important thing he's forgotten - the dog!
	Horse Story Episode 1465	Clementine finds Forgetful once again in a situation where he has no memory. She has him assess the clues to remember - he's sitting in a great chair for reading, has a lamp for reading and a book. Forgetful finally remembers - Buster was reading him a book.
	Forgetful's Alphabet Episode 1472	On the ranch, Forgetful is able to remember the entire alphabet. He does, however, forget one thing: that he was able to remember it.
	Forgetful Jones Forgets his Horse Episode 1481	Forgetful Jones needs something to ride around the ranch. Clementine gives him clues: It has four legs and a bushy tail, eats hay, and neighs. It's his horse Buster, who arrives with the jeep.
	Forgetful Forgets His Coat Episode 1488	It's a chilly winter day, and Forgetful is freezing. Clementine tells him it's because an important piece of clothing is missing from his attire. Once Forgetful realizes that he's missing his coat, he goes inside to get it...but forgets how to open the door, and crashes through it!
	"Who Could Forget the Day That We Met" Episode 1497	Forgetful Jones sings a song to Clementine about the first time they met, but gets all of the details wrong.
	"Song of Forgetful Jones" Episode 1510	Forgetful tries singing the song to Clementine, but needs help remembering the song's original context.
	Forgetful Jones Takes a Trip Episode 1654	Clementine and Buster get on a train, and try to tell Forgetful Jones that he's supposed to get on the train with them, but Forgetful Jones would much rather remember on his own why he's at the train station. The train leaves just as Forgetful remembers why he's there.
	Forgetful Calls his Cousin Episode 1657	Clementine reminds Forgetful Jones to call his cousin on her birthday (even though he's got a ribbon tied to his finger and to the phone). When he calls, his equally forgetful cousin doesn't remember having a cousin, and asks him to describe what he looks like.
	Bath Time Episode 1666	Clementine hears water running, which reminds Forgetful that he was about to do something. Using the clues at hand (a bar of soap, a backbrush and a towel), Forgetful remembers that it's bath time. Buster's bath time, that is...
	In the Dark Episode 1690	Forgetful Jones, Clementine and Buster are in the dark because Forgetful forgot to turn something on. It's not the water, the electric fan or the radio ... it's the light!
	"What's the Name of That Song?" Episode 1696	At the saloon, Clementine asks for Forgetful to sing a song. Buster plays "What's the Name of That Song?" on the piano, and the crowd (including a cow) sings along, but Forgetful keeps asking what the name of the song is.
	This is Your Story Episode 1700	Guy Smiley hosts "This is Your Story" and salutes Forgetful Jones, with visits from his parents, a teacher and his Uncle Ned (whom he continually guesses for every other voice). Guy gives Forgetful Jones a photo album so next time he can actually recognize his loved ones.
	"I'll Always Remember I Love You" Episode 1813	Forgetful Jones forgets to pick up Clementine, who is upset that he always forgets things. Forgetful then sings to her, letting her know that he always remembers that he loves her. After the song, Clementine comments that it's her best birthday ever, reminding Forgetful why he has a box with him.
	Love Episode 1844	Forgetful and Clementine talk about the word "love".
	Kermit's Movie Episode 1922	Director Kermit is making a western film with Forgetful Jones as the star. Forgetful is supposed to enter through the saloon doors and shout, "Everybody freeze!" Of course, he forgets this, and instead enters under, around and over the door. He gets the line right for the first three takes, but when he finally goes through the door: "Everybody ... frolic!"
	Name That Sound!: Honker Episode 1957	Mr. Honker honks when guessing sounds in this game show, but since Guy Smiley can't understand his honks, the Honker brings the objects in. Sounds include a cow (to which he brings in Gladys the Cow), a horse (to which he brings in Buster the Horse, accompanied by Forgetful Jones, who forgets whether or not he's a horse), and a fire engine (which Mr. Honker brings, full of honkers). Video: Let's Play Games (2008)
	"I'm a Real Cowboy" Episode 1965	Clementine and some cowboys sing a song to Forgetful Jones to remind him of what they are, but Forgetful keeps guessing different things. Video: Kids' Favorite Country Songs (2007)
	Kermit's Telephone Demo Episode 1977	Kermit teaches viewers how to use a telephone, with "help" from Forgetful Jones.
	Forgetful and Daniella — NO Episode 2031	Muppet & Kid Moments: Forgetful asks Daniela what word is written on a "No" sign, but he thinks she is refusing to tell him.
	Forgetful and Daniella — R and P Episode 2032	Forgetful Jones asks Daniela to help him understand the difference between a letter R and P.
	Forgetful and Daniella: YES Episode 2053	Forgetful asks a girl named Daniela if she will tell him the word on a sign, which says "Yes". But every time she tells him the word, he thinks she's saying yes to telling him the word.
	Brushing Teeth (remake) Episode 2068	A remake of an earlier sketch, but with Richard Hunt as Forgetful Jones, Kevin Clash as Clementine, and Martin P. Robinson as Buster.
	Forgetful Jones Forgets his Horse (remake) Episode 2081	A remake of an earlier sketch, but with Richard Hunt as Forgetful Jones, Kevin Clash as Clementine and Martin P. Robinson as Buster.
	Forgetful's Four Friends Episode 2165	Forgetful has gathered Lisa Bonet, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe and Keshia Knight Pulliam to help him with something, but he can't remember what it is. One by one, each kid has to leave, leaving Forgetful alone. At the last minute, Forgetful remembers what he wanted the kids to help him with: subtraction. But now he can't remember what he wanted to subtract.
	Clementine's Guessing Game Episode 2218	Clementine plays a game with the viewers to see if they can guess what Forgetful Jones is riding on.
	"Write it Down" Episode 2295	Maria, Luis and Gordon appear as vaudeville performers who, in song, suggest that Forgetful write things down in order to remember.
	"Write it Down" (Rap version) Episode 2345	Maria, Luis, David, and Forgetful Jones rap about writing things down.
	Going on vacation Episode 2470	Forgetful Jones and his grandma are trying to figure out which one of them was going on a cruise ship. Forgetful checks the suitcase and discovers that it holds his grandma's clothes, so it is she who is going on the cruise. As they get interrupted, they both forget what they were doing and end up waving to the people on the boat and wish them a happy vacation.
	Oklahoma! Episode 2544	Director Kermit is filming Oklahoma with Forgetful Jones as the star. Forgetful is supposed to enter sing "Oklahoma!" but sings "Ache-lahoma!", "Eeklahoma!" and "Ike-lahoma!" instead. When he finally gets it right, the production assistant says it's time for lunch. Video: 40 Years of Sunny Days (2009), Best of Sesame Street Spoofs! (2011)
	Around the Rock Episode 2586	Forgetful Jones and Clementine ride on horseback, and come across a rock. Clementine consults her book, The Cowgirl's Companion, to figure out how to handle a rock in your trail: go around it.
	High 12 Episode 2614	In a parody of High Noon, Clementine doesn't want Forgetful to meet Sinister Sam, the meanest man in the west, at the train station at twelve, especially since it is their wedding day. Forgetful and Buster convince her that "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do". When Sam shows up, he tells Forgetful, in a threatening manner, that he has something to say: That it's nice of him to remember to meet him at the train station. Video: Best of Sesame Street Spoofs!
	Forgetful and Daniella: ME Episode 2709	Once again, Forgetful has trouble understanding a word on a sign.
	Mirror Episode 2798	Forgetful is about to eat a sandwich Clementine made for him, when he observes a cowboy who looks just like him in the mirror. He invites the other cowboy to lunch. He goes into the kitchen to tell Clementine to make another sandwich for a special cowboy. He shows her his new friend, but she explains that it's just his reflection. Disheartened, Forgetful wonders who will eat the second sandwich, and Clementine reminds him of someone within earshot. Forgetful then opens the door to let Buster eat the sandwich and asks Clementine if she'd like to join them.

Filmography

• The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
• Follow That Bird (1985)
• The Muppets: A Celebration of Thirty Years (1986)
• Play-Along Games and Songs (1986)
• A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
• Let's Learn to Play Together (1988)
• Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting (1989)
• Sing Yourself Silly! (1990)
• Big Bird's Birthday or Let Me Eat Cake (1991)
• Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration (1993)
• Elmo Saves Christmas (1996)
• Elmopalooza (1998)
• Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration (2019)
• The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo (2020)

Book appearances

• The Sesame Street Dictionary (1980)
• City (1982)
• More Who's Who on Sesame Street (1982)
• Bert's Big Band Paint-with-Water Book (1983 reprint)
• The Sesame Street Treasury (1983)
  • Volume 6 (cover, photo story)
  • Volume 10 (character profile)
• Trace & Color (1984)
• Welcome Home, Big Bird (1985)
• Grover's Guide to Good Manners (1992) - in this book, Forgetful's skin tone is green.
• My Name Is Big Bird (1992)
• Clap Your Hands! (2002)
• Blast from the Past (2015)

See also

• Old West sketches