Sesame Street Unpaved (documentary)

Sesame Street Unpaved is a documentary produced by Noggin, a channel co-owned by Sesame Workshop and Viacom. To promote Noggin, the special premiered on another Viacom-owned channel, TV Land, on December 8, 1999. It later aired on Noggin in September 2000.

It was hosted by Sonia Manzano, joined by Caroll Spinney, Martin P. Robinson, Bob McGrath and Loretta Long in a series of conversations on the Sesame Street set which frames itself around a number of classic clips. Many of the clips shown had their titles and original air dates listed on-screen as well. Oscar the Grouch makes a cameo at the end of the special.

Segments

The following segments were shown in a more featured capacity than those shown in a clip montage...

• The Sesame Street Unpaved opening, followed by an "in color" identification, the animated episode number sequence for the first episode, and a montage of various openings, with on-screen text referring to the openings as from 1969, 1979, 1989 (though the opening introduced in 1992 is shown instead), and 1999.
• Gordon shows Sally around Sesame Street.
• Clips from the Sesame Street Pitch Reel, including the boardroom coming up with names for the show and Kermit coming up with Sesame Street for a title. The boardroom scenes seen here are the original videotaped footage, prior to being edited into the filmed footage from the pitch reel.
• "Bein' Green" (original version)
• "Rubber Duckie" (second version)
• Kermit and Joey sing the alphabet.
• "Pinball Number Count" #12
• Let's Sing a Song of Three
• The King of Eight
• Rollercoaster 123
• "Jazz #10"
• Mad Painter
• "Roosevelt Franklin Spells His Name"
• Big Bird learns about Mr. Hooper's death.
• The adults see Mr. Snuffleupagus for the first time.
• "Ladybugs' Picnic"
• "C is for Cookie" (original version)
• "What's the Name of That Song?" (original version)
• Bob and Luis sing "Sing" (during the end credits)

Notes

• Shortly before this special aired, Noggin's website put up four clips for fans to vote on, and the winning clip was shown after this special aired. The nominated clips were:
  • "Ladybugs' Picnic"
  • "Rubber Duckie" (the winning clip)
  • "Bein' Green"
  • "C is for Cookie"

Errata

• The documentary claims that "Pinball Number Count" first appeared in Episode 0989, when in fact, "Pinball #3" first aired in Episode 0978.

Credits

• Written and Produced by Josh Selig
• Directed by Ken Diego
• Associate Director: Tim Carter
• Cameras: Frank Biondo, Juan Barrera, Ron Washburn, Hugh Walsh, James Miller
• Muppets, props and costumes provided by The Jim Henson Company Workshop
• Special Thanks: Alice Cahn, Arlene Sherman, Lori Sheer, Cheryl Henson, and the cast and crew of Sesame Street