Opposites

Opposites, or antonyms, are word pairs that are adversely complementary - such as hot and cold, near and far, and up and down. Opposites are a common theme in educational media, as they teach vocabulary, relationships and object properties. Sesame Street has featured opposites in many sketches, songs and books. Likewise, Bear in the Big Blue House has taught opposites to viewers.

Bear in the Big Blue House[]

The Bear in the Big Blue House episode "As Different as Day and Night" focuses on the concept of opposites. Bear decides between cold iced tea or hot tea. Tutter and Bear explore big and small. Pip and Pop show empty and full. Real kids discuss opposites they know - including hot and cold, left and right, day and light, hard and easy, and even apples and no apples. And in the Shadow segment, Shadow presents a feature called "Tales of Incredible Opposites," featuring a story about Jack Sprat and his wife. The episode also features the song "Opposites."

The episode was adapted into the book Bear Loves Opposites!.

Sesame Street Sketches[]

Picture	Summary / EKA	Description
	More and Less Episode 0004	Cookie Monster drinks Kermit's glass of milk, which he was going to use to explain "more" and "less". When Kermit insults Cookie Monster, several of Cookie Monster's monster pals gang up on Kermit, prompting him to point out that there are now more monsters and less frogs.
	Bert Explains "Before" and "After." Episode 0007	Ernie wants to have some cookies, which are on a covered plate. Bert asks Ernie if he knows the difference between "before" and "after." Ernie isn't sure. Bert explains that before Ernie can have the cookies, he has to lift the cover, and that after he lifts the cover, he can have the cookies. Ernie tries this a few times, until he loses his appetite for dinner.
	Tall and Short / Big and Little Episode 0015	Two Snerfs help Kermit teach the difference between tall and short, until they keep changing sizes. Kermit then changes the lecture about little and big with different-sized monsters: Frank and Harold... but he also meets Splurge.
	Same and Different Episode 0018	Kermit talks about "same" by showing two identical rectangles. Cookie Monster takes a bite from one of them, making them different.
	Loud and Soft Episode 0039	Kermit uses a radio to demonstrate "soft". Grover shows up and wants to talk about loud, turning the radio up. After the two demonstrate soft and loud a few times, Big V appears and eats the radio.
	Forwards and Backwards Episode 0069	An Anything Muppet boy teaches "forward" and "backward" with a group of Muppet kids, hippies, and Grover who keep running over the boy when his back is turned.
	First and Last Episode 0116	A group of Monsters, led by a hippie, play a game where they march in a line and then switch direction. Grover wants to be first and not last, but can't keep up with the ever switching directions. This sketch was later remade, with the blue version of Grover and with the monsters being replaced.
	Here and There Episode 0127	Kermit and Brian discuss here and there.
	Beginning, Middle, and End Episode 0138	Betty Lou introduces three characters named Beginning, Middle, and End. At first she only talks with Beginning and End, who attempt to tell a story, but without a middle their story ends up becoming very dull. Ater getting Middle to join them, the story becomes much more interesting... too interesting, as Middle can't stop reciting the story. End must cut him off, and the three end up quarreling with each other.
	Full/Empty Room Episode 0148	An Anything Muppet demonstrates empty by leaving his room, soon Grover and his friends including Cookie Monster occupy the room making it full. The Anything Muppet comes in and scares the monsters away leaving it empty.
	Above and Below Episode 0149	Grover uses his airplane to demonstrate "above" and "below".
	Quiet and Loud Episode 0150	Bert says that he's going to demonstrate quiet by talking quietly to Ernie. But when he tries, Ernie claims that he can't hear what Bert is saying. Finally, Bert gets frustrated and shouts at Ernie; Ernie tells Bert not to be so loud.
	Over and Under Episode 0198	Herbert Birdsfoot demonstrates "over" and "under" by having Grover lie over a mattress. Then Grover lies under the mattress, and Herbert drives the point home by adding more objects over Grover.
	Up and Down Episode 0239	Professor Hastings uses a pogo stick to demonstrate up and down, and ends up jumping into a pond.
	Long and Short Ladders Episode 0276	Kermit has Grover show the difference between short and long with ladders. He is amazed that Grover can carry the long ladder by himself, but then learns that Grover is on both ends.
	Here and There Episode 0277	Kermit and Grover demonstrate "here" and "there".
	Empty and Full Episode 0287	The Amazing Mumford waves his magic wand over a transparent glass cookie jar and makes the jar become full of cookies and then empty (over and over) as an anxious Cookie Monster watches.
	Heavy and Light Episode 0406	Grover demonstrates heavy and light. First, he picks up a heavy barbell. Then he tries to pick up a light feather, but he can't move it. It turns out that the feather is attached to the top of Big Bird's head.
	Loud and Soft Episode 0432	Herry and John-John demonstrate loud and soft.
	Loud and Soft Episode 0510	Roosevelt Franklin makes sure his class knows the difference between loud and soft.
	Long and Short Episode 0540	An Anything Muppet man arrives at a gas station, hoping to be filled in a short time. Instead, his car takes a long time to fill while the attendant fills other cars in a short time.
	Loud and Soft Episode 0546	Kermit asks a man (Jim Thurman) on the street if he can help demonstrate the difference between loud and soft.
	Heavy and Light Episode 0549	Ernie, Bert and Shola discuss the difference between "heavy" and "light".
	Short and Long Episode 0560	Grover does things for a long time while Kermit does things for a short time. Grover gets worn out and asks to switch places, and then they demonstrate by tickling each other.
	Up and Down Episode 0565	Herry asks John-John if he knows the difference between up and down.
	Bert's brother Bart visits Episode 0594	Bert expects a visit from his identical twin brother Bart. Ernie notes that they're alike in many ways, but their major difference is that Bart has a sense of humor.
	Identity crisis Episode 0635	Ernie and Cookie Monster note that they're the same in a lot of ways, and then become paranoid that they can't tell each other apart. An Anything Muppet tells them how they are different, which relieves them of their stress.
	Up and Down Episode 0693	Kermit has Grover help him demonstrate up and down by having Grover climb UP a sky-high flight of stairs -- while Kermit takes the elevator to the top. Exhausted, Grover faints and rolls DOWN the staircase.
	Near and Far Episode 0787	A remake of a first season sketch.
	Light and Heavy Episode 0843	Kermit has Grover help him demonstrate light and heavy. Kermit carries a feather and a ping-pong ball, while Grover has to carry a piano and a boulder. Grover then asks if he can carry something light (a balloon which carries him away!) and Kermit gets the heavy thing (a submarine sandwich).
	Near and Far (on Ice Skates) Episode 0904	A full-body walk-around version of Grover demonstrates near and far by ice skating, with Kermit the Frog giving commands in voice-over.
	Fast and Slow Cookies Episode 0989	Ernie promises Cookie Monster that he's not going to be tricked out of his plate of cookies this time. Cookie Monster asks Ernie if he's going to eat his cookies fast or slow and demonstrates by eating the plate of cookies, and in the process finishes the entire plate.
	Front and Behind Episode 1047	Sesame Street News Flash: Kermit encounters a distressed Little Bo Peep, whose sheep is missing. They both observe every sheep that walks by - the first sheep has its tail in front (on its face); the second one has its tail in the middle (on its back), and the third one has no tail. The fourth one has a tail where it should be: behind. However, it claims to be Mary's little lamb.
	"The Opposite Song" Episode 1111	The Opposite Song is Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats' ode to antonyms and the difficulties they present in relationships, as when one person goes up and the other down, and one is false, while the other is true. On the show, Little Chrissy danced with a long-armed long-haired woman who did the exact opposite of everything he did.
	Beginning, Middle, End Episode 1115	In an attempt to bring culture to an educational concept, Maurice performs a dramatic number about “beginning”, “middle”, and “end” , with Bruce supplying piano accompaniment.
	Upstairs, Downstairs Episode 1162	Grover runs up and down a flight of stairs.
	Up and Down Episode 1162	Kermit climbs the famous beanstalk and, on the way, passes Jack, who warns him not to go up. He breaches the clouds and meets a giant, and goes down the beanstalk.
	First and Last Episode 1327	Kermit talks to people waiting in line for a game being held at the SuperGame Stadium. One lady is quick to point out that Kermit is last in line, and when he goes to the front of the line to talk to someone else, he is recognized as being first in line.
	First and Last Episode 1343	Grover the lumberjack thinks he is the first to arrive for supper, but he gets trampled by a gang of French-Canadian lumberjacks who get to the food table before he has a chance to get his snow boots off. By the time he finally gets them off, a grizzly bear grabs the last plate of food.
	Beginning, Middle, End Episode 1352	Kermit describes the beginning, middle and end using a cookbook with assistance from Cookie Monster.
	Quiet and Loud Episode 1432	In a subway station, two Anything Muppets observe how loud and quiet it is.
	Up and Down Episode 1449	Grover asks Lisa about the difference between up and down.
	Same and Different Episode 1453	Kermit and Kimberly talk about how they're different and the same.
	"Near Far Monsters" Episode 1521	A song performed by four monsters about being near and being far.
	Through, Under, Around, Over 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!"
	First and Last Episode 1939	Grover waits in line at a supermarket. He generously lets two people go in front of him, but then explains that you can't always let everyone go before you, or else you'll always be last in line. When he finally gets to the register and is first in line, the cashier says the register is closed. Grover considers following a customer to a pickle party...
	Loud and Soft Episode 2015	The Professor (Sid Caesar) explains the laws of physics, which begin with soft and loud (as demonstrated by Fluffy).
	Ernie and Ernestine's differences Episode 2053	Ernie talks about the differences between himself and his cousin, Ernestine.
	Happy and Sad Episode 2188	Kermit talks about Happy and Sad with help from Elmo. Elmo wants to play tag with Kermit but he can't not until he's done explaining happy and sad.
	In and Out Episode 2220	Kermit describes the times it is appropriate to use the in and out doors. To his dismay, a group of monsters keeps going out the in door.
	Loud and Quiet Episode 2270	Elmo loudly interrupts Kermit's demonstration of "quiet" and "loud". Elmo loudly insists on helping Kermit demonstrate the difference, and Kermit manages to get Elmo to whisper as they talk about being quiet.
	"Opposite Stuff" Episode 2425	Bip Bippadotta sings a song about opposites, including such demonstrations as "up" and "down", and "near" and "far", in front of a black background.
	Fast and Slow Episode 2582	Grover is the newest employee at a fast food franchise that serves such delicacies as O'Fish, O'Salad, O'Rye Bread, and O'Milk. However, this is a different kind of "fast food" restaurant: the food zips by the customer on trays across the counter, and falls to the floor if it's not caught in time. Mr. Johnson is not ready for this, so he asks if there's any "slow food." There is, but it's served by a turtle, who takes longer than Mr. Johnson wants to wait.
	Front and Back Episode 2588	Grover shows Torian the difference between front and back.
	First and Last Episode 2607	In an episode of Sneak Peek Previews, Oscar and Telly watch The Last Emperor.
	Above and Below Episode 2615	Grover and Zelda look above and below.
	Heavy and Light Episode 2650	Ernie wants to play a game with Bert about heavy and light. Bert surprisingly wants to play. Ernie shows the audience all the light objects including a tissue, cotton candy and a feather. Bert has to bring in all the heavy objects including a barbell, a boulder and the piano.
	The Opposite Game Episode 2675	Against Bert's will, Ernie plays a game with him in which he says a word which is the opposite of every word Bert emphasizes. When Bert finally agrees to PLAY, Ernie becomes stumped, since he can't figure out of the opposite of the word PLAY.
	Fast and Slow Episode 2690	The hare challenges the tortoise to a rematch: this time, the slow tortoise comes equipped with a jet-pack so he can go fast.
	Wet and Dry Episode 2745	"Wet and Dry": the sailors on the Good Ship Wet love when it rains, but the Arabs like living in the dry desert.
	Heavy and Light Episode 2809	Telly and Elmo sing about the difference between "Heavy and Light."
	Near and Far Episode 2859	Grover demonstrates near and far on a surfboard.
	Front and Back Episode 2878	Big Bird recites a poem about front and back.
	Top and Bottom Episode 2999	Elmo shows top and bottom by standing on top of the frame, then falling to the bottom. This segment was written by Sonia Manzano.
	Here and There Episode 3080	Cookie Monster and Annette Bening demonstrate here and there.
	Fast and Slow Episode 3105	Cookie Monster demonstrates fast and slow while eating cookies.
	Here and There Episode 3130	Grover gives a brief explanation of here and there.
	Above and Below Episode 3132	Telly and Super Grover are standing behind a wall addressing the audience. They speak of the differences between above (such as a bird flying) and below (as in when Grover crash lands on Telly).
	Wet or Dry Episode 3134	Little Chrissy always has fun whether he's "Wet or Dry."
	The First and Last Cookie Episode 3224	Cookie Monster is about to eat cookies when Prairie Dawn asks him which cookie he will eat first. He then panics when he's about to eat the last cookie, thinking that that will be the last cookie forever.
	Elmo Is Loud Episode 3249	Bert enjoys a nice day at the park feeding his pigeons when Elmo screams a hello to him, scaring the pigeons away. Bert explains that when pigeons are near, one must be quiet. Elmo understands and helps Bert by loudly calling the pigeons back. Bert becomes happy again and Elmo cheers...scaring the pigeons away again.
	Fast and Slow Episode 3253	Telly Monster demonstrates "Fast" and "Slow" to Cookie Monster by using a plate of cookies. To demonstrate slow, Telly eats one of the cookies in slow bites. After finishing eating, he asks Cookie Monster to eat a cookie slowly. Cookie Monster gives it a try, but ends up gobbling all the cookies on the plate. Telly considers it to be fast rather than slow, but Cookie Monster says it was slow in his opinion.
	Happy and Sad Episode 3271	Cookie Monster asks Lexine to express happy and sad faces.
	Above and Below Episode 3367	Elmo and Zoe demonstrate above and below with a cloud.
	Elmo and Zoe's Opposites Episode 3370	Elmo shows Zoe how to play the opposite game.
	Up and Down Episode 3389	Zoe and Wolfgang demonstrate up and down.
	Near and Far Episode 3392	Zoe uses Wolfgang to demonstrate near and far.
	Front and Back Episode 3411	Zoe demonstrates front and back using Wolfgang and a fish.
	Happy/Sad Balloons Episode 3429	Big Bird observes how balloons can make one happy. Telly emerges, looking sad, with a deflated balloon, so Big Bird gives his balloon to Telly.
	Big Zoe, Little Big Bird Episode 3485	Big Bird and Zoe show the difference between "big" and "little".
	Animals In, On and Under Episode 3490	Ernie sings to Bert about his crazy dream about "Animals In, On, and, Under."
	Quiet Episode 3492	Ernie tries to do everything quietly while Bert is reading. Bert gets annoyed and shouts at Ernie, so Ernie thinks it's okay to make loud noise again.
	Forward and Backward Episode 3493	Elmo and Telly show "forward" and "backward".
	Ernie Walks Forwards and Backwards Episode 3534	While Bert is trying to read a book about pigeons, Ernie practices walking backwards and always bumps into Bert when he does. To solve this problem, Ernie pushes Bert's chair (with Bert in it) out of the apartment.
	Same and Different Episode 3537	Big Bird and Zoe show same and different.
	Same and Different Episode 3580	Zoe demonstrates same and different: first she displays a nameless blue monster who doesn't look like her, then she shows an exact replica of herself. The two Zoes only have one difference: their voices.
	Inside and Outside Episode 3593	Cookie Monster and Zoe demonstrate "inside" and "outside"; Cookie takes a cookie outside of the box, and inside his mouth and tummy.
	The Sesame Street Open Episode 3620	Herry Monster and Cookie compete in "The Sesame Street Open" where they open various things like books or lunchboxes. Cookie Monster wins and eats his trophy.
	Up, Down, Fast and Slow Episode 3705	Gymnast Dominique Dawes demonstrates up, down, fast and slow for Telly.
	Opposite Game Episode 3780	Ernie and Grover assist in demonstrating opposites in song, but Grover suffers more than Ernie does.
	Light and Dark Episode 3784	Kermit intends to talk about light and dark, so he turns his living room lamp off. Grover enters, leaving the door open so that the room doesn't stay dark. He tries to help by eliminating all light in the room so neither of them can see.
	Front and Back Episode 3870	Bert announces that Bernice will demonstrate front and back, then near and far ... but she doesn't have to do much.
	In and Out	When Bert reads a book called "In and Out", Ernie comes up with an "In and Out" game, where he keeps running in and out through the front door.
	Short and Long	Grover assists Zoe in demonstrating the difference between short and long, first by hopping and then hugging.

Sesame Street Books[]

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Muppet Babies: Baby Kermit's Opposites

Muppet Wiki

Opposites

Contents

Bear in the Big Blue House[]

Sesame Street Sketches[]

Sesame Street Books[]

Other[]