Sesame Street Gangsters

Lefty (right) and his boss (left).

Although Sesame Street is meant to represent a child-friendly, and somewhat idyllic, New York City street, the neighborhood has a network of seedy underground criminal organizations. These groups are run by an assortment of suspicious characters, most commonly for the purpose of shady and illegal activities such as alphabet trafficking, black marketeering and robbery. Comprised mainly of Anything Muppets, these gangs are typically composed of a crime boss and his lackeys (often named Lefty).

The most commonly seen criminal on Sesame Street is Lefty, a shady-looking salesman in a trench coat, who appeared in several recurring Sesame Street sketches discreetly selling hot items to passersby (usually Ernie). Lefty spoke in a whispery voice as he attempted to unload such boosted items as the letters U and O, an invisible ice cream cone, and even exotic elephant artwork. These sketches can be found on Lefty's own page. Lefty's boss (a Fat Blue Anything Muppet performed by Jerry Nelson) appeared in a few sketches with his lackey, often in a dark alley or abandoned warehouse after dark. Though not named in the sketches, scripts identify the character as "Mike."

With Lefty and his boss phased out of the show by this point, a new group of criminals who secreted their own secret knock appeared in season 6. The group was comprised of Benny (a Green AM performed by Richard Hunt), Lefty (a Fat Blue AM performed by Jim Henson) and their boss (a Lavender AM performed by Jerry Nelson).

Lefty (Fat Blue Anything Muppet).

Benny (left) and his boss (right).

Sketches

Picture	Theme / First Appearance	Description
	‎Lefty recites the Alphabet Episode 0236	Lefty is told the alphabet by his boss, who wants him to repeat it back to him. When he repeats it, he gets a lollipop in return.
	Carrot Delivery Episode 0255	Part 1: Lefty delivers some carrots to his boss, but the boss orders him to get more carrots (in 13 seconds). Part 2: Lefty delivers more carrots to his boss, but the boss orders him to get the most carrots he can find (in 15 seconds). Part 3: Lefty delivers the rest of the carrots to his boss. The boss reveals that the carrots are for his pet rabbit (a real rabbit), which he shows to Lefty.
	The Golden AN Episode 0523	Lefty's boss tells Lefty the plan for what to do with the Golden AN, which they have just stolen. Lefty is to put it in the tan van and give it to Dan, who will take it to Fran. However, Lefty can't remember the plan very well and has to repeat it, which results in a police officer named Stan hearing the plan and giving him "ten days in the can for stealing the Golden AN." The skit ends with Lefty being taken away, saying, "I should have ran." Online: (YouTube)
	3 knocks Episode 0722	Benny and his boss have been waiting for Lefty for a long time. Benny wonders how they will know when it's Lefty at the door, so he reminds him that Lefty will knock three times - their secret knock to enter their hideout. Lefty forgets the number, and has to be hinted from his boss what the number of knocks are to gain access, finally giving the correct amount. When they let him in, the boss reprimands him for his poor memory, and warns him that he'll be in big trouble if he forgets again. To test his memory, the boss and Benny lock themselves out, telling him not to let them in until they give the secret knock. Despite the boss' warning, Lefty forgets once again, and finally having enough, he fearfully runs out the back door, leaving the other two stranded outside yelling, "Let us in!" as they angrily pound on the door trying to get in.