Maria as Chaplin skits

A series of Sesame Street segments featuring Maria paid tribute to silent film star Charlie Chaplin.

Maria actress Sonia Manzano appeared dressed much like Chaplin's "The Tramp" character (complete with mustache and necktie, and sometimes using a hooked cane), engaging in silent film antics often simulated via the pixillation camera process.

The skits were usually stand-alone segments, but some were included within the context of other material. The Chaplin character was joined in later seasons by a second Chaplin played by Linda Bove, who also played other unnamed characters, as well as Emilio Delgado.

The segments appeared on the show as early as season five, and many of them were written by Manzano, who reflected on them in a 2003 interview on Art Express:

“I loved Charlie Chaplin when I was a college student, and I have been able to write myself as Charlie Chaplin. So, I was able to fulfill a little fantasy of my own on Sesame Street and I was happy that I was able to fulfill their education goals with that as well.”

Sketches

Picture	Summary / EKA	Description
	Top and Bottom Drawers Episode 0541	A voiceover instructs Charlie Chaplin (Maria) where to put the shirts and the towels. Later airings of this sketch replace the music and narration.
	Open Door Episode 0673	Chaplin struggles to open a door. Eventually it opens on its own revealing the letter O on a brick wall.
	Newspaper Episode 0753	Chaplin tries to throw away a newspaper into a rapidly moving litter can. When she finally does, the exit door also moves and she breaks down the wall.
	Long, Longer, Longest Episode 0786	Maria as Chaplin tries to get to the door, but the suspenders are hooked to the wall.
	EXIT Episode 0832	Chaplin tries to leave through the door marked EXIT, but the sign keeps moving, and a brick wall appears behind each opened door. Finally, she makes her own exit through a hole in the wall.
	Surprises Episode 0911	Maria makes a cameo as the Tramp during an ensemble song about surprises.
	ME Episode 1032	Maria as Chaplin looks in a mirror and sees "ME." Maria's reflection is played by Linda. Video: Old School: Volume 2
	Tuxedo Thread Episode 1042	Chaplin notices a short thread on Luis' tuxedo, which becomes long as he pulls it, unraveling Luis's trousers!
	One Way Episode 1048	Chaplin tries walking against a stream of foot traffic following a sign that reads ONE WAY.
	Don't Walk Episode 1166	The Tramp is unable to cross the street, as the WALK sign changes to DON'T WALK every time he tries. He finally covers the word DON'T with cardboard, allowing him to cross.
	Umbrellas Episode 1174	The two Chaplin impersonators open umbrellas. Linda plays the other one.
	Bench Balancing Episode 1181	Two Tramps (Maria and Linda) find ways to balance both sides of a see-sawing park bench.
	HAT Episode 1580	The Tramp finds a HAT sign near a hatrack with a new hat. He tries replacing his crummy, worn-out one with it, but the sign falls apart each time.
	In the Rain Episode 1739	Chaplin leaves a store on a rainy day. When Chaplin's umbrella doesn't work well, he looks for something else to keep him dry. He first hides under a woman's (Linda) poncho, then buys a newspaper from a store keeper (Luis), but as soon as Chaplin puts the newspaper over his head, it stops raining. Video: Old School: Volume 3
	Number Six Episode 1962	The Tramp illustrates the number 6 using balloons.
	COLD Episode 1964	The Tramp is out in the cold.
	HOP Episode 1982	Charlie Chaplin obeys the word HOP, then switches it to STOP.
	Museum Episode 2033	Maria as Chaplin falls in love with a painting at the art museum. The woman in the painting periodically changes her pose.
	The Picnic Episode 2071	Ernie and Bert go to the movies to see a silent movie, "The Picnic," starring Chaplin and his date (played by Linda Bove). Online: (YouTube)
	What Happens Next Episode 2328	Gordon hosts "What Happens Next," with help from the Dinger and Maria (as the Chaplin character). The viewer has to guess before Gordon rings the bell. On the first round, Maria slips on the banana peel on the ground. On the second round, Maria sits on a bench with only three legs and it collapses. Then on the third (and final) round, Maria uses the cane to push the cloud into the game show studio, drenching Gordon and causing him to sneeze a lot.

Notes

• A new sketch was scripted for use in Episode 2912 (originally planned to be Episode 2888), entitled "Chaplin and the Litterbug." Set in a park, the sketch would feature Chaplin (Maria) attempting to get a villainous litterbug (Gina, portraying a male character) to throw his crumpled piece of trash into a can instead of the ground.

Gallery

The mirrored Chaplins (Maria and Linda) pose for a photo.

Maria as Chaplin in front of 123 Sesame Street with Buffy and the kids

See also

• Sesame Street Human Cast Sketches