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Sesame Street
Premiere November 29, 1976 (0926)
Finale May 27, 1977 (1055)
Episodes 130
Sesamecast1

The Season 8 Cast

SesameEp1000-BTS

The cast commemorating the show's 1000th episode.

1037a

Several of the episodes this season focus on Cody, Buffy's baby.

0943h

A two-part episode deals with the destruction and replanting of a tree in front of Big Bird's home.

1090-03

Ernie gives Bert a physical.

Meandjulio

Paul Simon performs "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" as a surprise duet with a young visitor.

Welcome Grandma

David's grandmother Grace makes a couple of return visits.

FleaCamp

"Dog Flea Camp," a cartoon by long-time Sesame animator Bruce Cayard.

0953 02b

The Count attempts to woo the Countess.

CookiediscoTV

"Cookie Disco"

0959b

The Sesame Street gang spends a day camping in the woods in Episode 0959.

Pinball Number Count

The Pinball Number Count series first appeared in this season.

0961e

Judy Collins guest stars in two episodes, as well as multiple segments shot on location with the cast at City Island.

Wideopenspaces

"Ah, For the Joys of the Countryside"

1006d

Mr. Hooper considers managing a supermarket in Episode 1006.

Specialolympics

Kids with different abilities perform gymnastics in a classic film made for this season.

BB-Sailor

Big Bird posing as "Admiral Bird" during a trip to City Island in Episode 0946.

Proudofme

"Proud of Me"

1052b

"It's Big Bird's super spectacular, totally amateur show!"

Song

"This Frog"

Sesame Street Season 8 aired from November 29, 1976, to May 27, 1977.

Overview[]

Season 8 introduces several new curriculum topics, including those focused on female roles. Dulcy Singer says, "the changes are being made in response to criticism of not enough women in the cast and showing women in stereotyped roles."[1] To remedy this, Sesame Street includes three female performers who now have credited recurring roles, all of whom had previously made guest appearances the year prior. After a tryout of two songs with the kids for late season 7, actress Alaina Reed is hired as Olivia, a professional photographer and the younger sister of Gordon. Linda Bove also joins the regular cast as Linda; this season it's established that she is an actress, further emphasizing the season's focus on expanding female roles. Buffy Sainte-Marie makes a return as Buffy, though this time she brings her new baby Cody and husband Sheldon in tow.

With these three performers the show helps teach several new lessons, including those on countering gender-based stereotypes.[2] With Olivia, scenes include confrontations with her brother Gordon in which he questions where she is going late at night and assuming her photography equipment is too heavy for her to handle; Olivia counters this response by explaining in song how "Little Sister Is a Big Girl Now." In one episode Linda is determined to find an acting job, citing how difficult it can be for a deaf person such as herself; later in Episode 1049, she is hired to portray the title role in a production about Joan of Arc. With the expansion of Buffy Sainte-Marie's real-life marriage and starting of a family, a series of episodes explore sibling rivalry with Big Bird standing in for the surrogate older brother as he resents all the attention baby Cody is getting. Eventually he understands how babies need attention and grows to like Cody. Through Big Bird and other scenarios, the viewer learn more about parenting such as one show in which Buffy breastfeeds Cody.

Health practices are explored briefly during season 8 before becoming a curriculum-focus next season. Lessons include the Count showing the kids how to properly brush their teeth (as well as counting them), Ernie performing a pretend check-up on his buddy Bert, and Oscar the Grouch buying fruits and vegetables, unaware of the health benefits and focusing instead on how they would appeal more to a Grouch. Pre-reading is also covered with an emphasis on street signs, coinciding with the release of the album Signs!

Characters and segments[]

Several of the cast members' lives are explored further during season 8. Maria considers her different career options in one episode where she joins Susan to see what it's like to be a traveling nurse; Susan as well takes up photography as a hobby. Mr. Hooper continues to study for his GED and succeeds in getting his diploma. The previously unexplored bachelor life of Bob is hinted at in Episode 0966 where his apartment is seen for the first time, eventually becoming the setting for many future music lessons. More significantly though is his growing relationship with Linda, with the two becoming a loving couple by the end of the season.

Muppets introduced this year include The Countess, a love interest for the Count who shares his passion for enumeration, Oscar's brother Ernest (demonstrating the thornier aspects of sibling rivalry), and back-up singers Crumbs Unlimited helping to give the show a taste of disco music. A series of pinball animations focusing on numbers make their debut this season (though originally produced the year prior), and brief filmed segments by Marc Brugnoni emphasize sight words as demonstrated in the real world.

Episodes[]

Episodes 0926 - 1055 (130 episodes)

Notes[]

  • Starting this season, and continuing through season 32, the episode number is displayed on-screen during the beginning of the theme song, also introduced later in the previous season. Likewise, this was also the last season where the episode number was displayed as a flat graphic (midway through the season, the episode numbers began to have black shadows or borders depending on the episode).

Cast[]

Cast
Linda Bove, Northern Calloway, Emilio Delgado, Will Lee, Loretta Long, Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath, Roscoe Orman, Alaina Reed, Buffy Sainte-Marie
Jim Henson's Muppets
Caroll Spinney, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Peter Friedman, Caroly Wilcox (Uncredited: Fran Brill, Jane Henson)
Guest Stars
Ray Barretto, Richie Havens, Edgar Kendricks, Anne Revere, Paul Simon, Judy Collins, Clarice Taylor[1], Michael Christensen and Paul Binder

Characters[]

Humans
David, Luis, Mr. Hooper, Susan, Maria, Bob, Gordon, Olivia, Buffy, Linda, Mr. Macintosh, Willy
Muppets
The Amazing Mumford, Anything Muppets, Bert, Biff, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Count von Count, The Countess, Ernest the Grouch, Ernie, Farley, Fred the Wonder Horse, Gladys the Cow, Grover, Guy Smiley, Harvey Kneeslapper, Herry Monster, Mr. Johnson, Kermit the Frog, Oscar the Grouch, Poco Loco, Rodeo Rosie, Sam the Robot, Simon Soundman, Slimey, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Sully, Winnie Wiggins

Credits[]

Season_8_credit_crawl

Season 8 credit crawl

credit crawl

Sources[]


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Season 7 (1975-1976) Season 9 (1977-1978)
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