Changes: Oscar's trash can

Revision as of 17:55, 22 May 2008

0276i — Oscar takes a walk for the first time in episode 0276.

"Oscar's trash can" is the private domain of Oscar the Grouch and is situated between 123 Sesame Street stoop and Big Bird's nest. Like Doctor Who's TARDIS, the classic clown cars or Snoopy's doghouse, Oscar's can is considerably deeper than one would initially suspect. The seemingly bottomless domain houses a variety of diverse Grouch amenities and luxuries.

History

[[Image:1090-05b.jpg|thumb|300px|Oscar's can goes through airport security on the way to Hawaii in episode 1090. From 1969-1974 the can was atop a crate with a trunk next to it at right. From 1975 onward, the crate and trunk were replaced by a barrel and a burlap crate, complete with some more crates, a garbage pail and a trash bag.

In episode 0799 (1975), Oscar installed an Olympic-size swimming pool inside his can. The 1989 book "What's in Oscar's Trash Can? and Other Good-Night Stories" mentions the swimming pool as well as an ice-skating rink (which, on the series, has been used by Peggy Fleming) and a bowling alley. According to "Sesame Street Unpaved" other items include a piano, art gallery and hearth and a train set ("Grouch Central Station"). A 1970 article in Look Magazine also notes a pastry kitchen and a rococo staircase. In the "Elmo's World" installment "Farms," Oscar gives Elmo a tour of his farm (shown in darkness, with only the pair's eyes visible).

Oscar's diverse menagerie includes goats (one, Lassie, is specified by name), a horse (in an early 70s episode), elephants (Fluffy, Sophie, Blitzen and Schopenhauer or as Oscar calls them, the Pachyderms Four), a dolphin named Ripper, a donkey named Iago and Oscar's favorite, his pet worm Slimey. Irvine, Grundgetta and other Grouch friends and relations are frequent visitors. In Episode 3787 it was revealed that Oscar had a back door to his trash can.

For the most part, very few of the "nice" residents of Sesame Street dare venture into the bowels of the municipal waste container. In an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Kimmel asked Grover if he has ever been in Oscar's trash can. Grover said, "No. No, no, no. I can not go anywhere ten feet within that thing." Kimmel asked, "Is anyone besides -- are Grouches only allowed in the trash can?" Grover responded, "Well, no, anybody is allowed, but...Who would want to go in there? Huh?"

Key exceptions have occurred over the years, however. A lonely Snuffy entered to play catch with Fluffy in Episode 2122. Wanda Cousteau sought refuge in the can in Episode 3161. In a Season 19 (1987-1988) insert Linda sat in the can impersonating the Grouch in an "Ask Oscar" segment. Miles and his band tried to use the can to practice in Episode 4079.

The inside of Oscar's can was depicted on-camera for the first time in "The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland". Oscar has a door in his trash can to take people to Grouchland USA. Elmo enters in search of his blanket and later a rescue party follows suit, including Gordon, Maria, Telly, Cookie Monster and Zoe. Big Bird in particular has a hard time fitting inside the can's narrow opening.

The inside of Oscar's can was later shown in Episode 3997, though this time, the inside was a lot more like the normal inside of a trash can.

In addition to being able to store a wide variety of items in his can, Oscar has also put holes into the bottom of the can and has been able to walk with his legs outside of the bottom of the trash can. Oscar first walked like this in Episode 0276. He has continued to travel like this for many years, though he has also frequently been seen outside of the trash can. Outside of the show Oscar has traveled with his legs sticking out of the bottom of the can in "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street", the "Sesame Street Live" stage shows and "Don't Eat the Pictures".

Visitors

An octopus: Episode 0335
Mr. Snuffleupagus: Episode 2122, Episode 3806
Wanda Cousteau: Episode 3161
Gina: Episode 3787
Miles and his band: Episode 4079

Inventory

A stereo set: Episode 0812
"The Queen Muddy" - a toy boat: Episode 3831
A vacuum: Episode 0871
Lighting: Episode 0666

Trivia

"Oscar's trash can" appears as a property on the Monopoly: Sesame Street Edition game board in place of Ventnor Avenue.

Sources

Baer, Betty; "The Secrets of Sesame Street". Look Magazine, September 22, 1970.

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 In [[episode 0799]] ([[1975]]), Oscar installed an [[the Olympics|Olympic-size]] swimming pool inside his can. The [[1989]] book "[[What's in Oscar's Trash Can? and Other Good-Night Stories]]" mentions the swimming pool as well as an ice-skating rink (which, on the series, has been used by [[Peggy Fleming]]) and a bowling alley. According to "[[Sesame Street Unpaved (book)|Sesame Street Unpaved]]" other items include a piano, art gallery and hearth and a train set ("Grouch Central Station"). A [[1970]] article in ''Look Magazine'' also notes a pastry kitchen and a rococo staircase. In the "[[Elmo's World]]" installment "[[Elmo's World: Farms|Farms]]," Oscar gives [[Elmo]] a tour of his farm (shown in darkness, with only the pair's eyes visible).
-Oscar's diverse menagerie includes goats (one, Lassie, is specified by name), a horse (in an early 70s episode), elephants ([[Fluffy]], [[Sophie (elephant)|Sophie]], [[Blitzen (elephant)|Blitzen]] and [[Schopenhauer (elephant)|Schopenhauer]] or as [[Oscar]] calls them, the Pachyderms Four), a dolphin named Ripper, [[Iago the Donkey|Iago]] and Oscar's favorite, his pet worm [[Silmey]]. [[Irvine the Grouch|Irvine]], [[Grundgetta]] and other [[Grouches|Grouch]] friends and relations are frequent visitors. In [[Episode 3787]] it was revealed that Oscar had a back door to his trash can.
+Oscar's diverse menagerie includes goats (one, Lassie, is specified by name), a horse (in an early 70s episode), elephants ([[Fluffy]], [[Sophie (elephant)|Sophie]], [[Blitzen (elephant)|Blitzen]] and [[Schopenhauer (elephant)|Schopenhauer]] or as [[Oscar]] calls them, the Pachyderms Four), a dolphin named Ripper, a donkey named [[Iago]] and Oscar's favorite, his pet worm [[Slimey]]. [[Irvine the Grouch|Irvine]], [[Grundgetta]] and other [[Grouches|Grouch]] friends and relations are frequent visitors. In [[Episode 3787]] it was revealed that Oscar had a back door to his trash can.
 For the most part, very few of the "nice" residents of [[Sesame Street (location)|Sesame Street]] dare venture into the bowels of the municipal waste container. In an appearance on "[[Jimmy Kimmel Live]]" [[Jimmy Kimmel|Kimmel]] asked [[Grover]] if he has ever been in Oscar's trash can. Grover said, "No. No, no, no. I can not go anywhere ten feet within that thing." Kimmel asked, "Is anyone besides -- are Grouches only allowed in the trash can?" Grover responded, "Well, no, anybody is allowed, but...Who would want to go in there? Huh?"

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