Episode 1576

Sesame Street
Birdwatchers watch Big Bird (season premiere)'
Air date	November 23, 1981
Season	Season 13 (1981-1982)
Sponsors L, N, 12 Syndication Sesame Street Unpaved

Picture	Segment	Description
	SCENE 1	Birdwatchers Madeline and Cedric (Madeline Kahn and Richard Hunt) arrive on Sesame Street looking for Big Bird. Maria helps them, but they aren't prepared for who they see.
	Film	Joe Raposo sings "Dressed Up." (EKA: Episode 0355)
File:Pinball12.jpg	Cartoon	"Pinball Number Count" (#12) Artist: Jeff Hale
	Muppets	Grover teaches the campers at Camp Wannagohoma about trees.
	Cartoon	The Letter N is Nice. (EKA: Episode 1092)
	Cast	Finger Theater: Linda's fingers act out a story.
	Film	"I'm Your Friend, You're My Friend," with film of kids playing.
	Muppets	Two-Headed Monster: One head wants to play the trumpet, but the other head wants to sleep.
	SCENE 2	Cedric leaves to investigate a parrot in the Fix-It Shop. Madeline watches Big Bird counting to 20 during a game of hide-and-seek.
	Cartoon	Peacock with twenty feathers. (EKA: Episode 0406)
	Cartoon	Animated quilt patterns.
	Muppets / Celebrity	Cab Calloway and the Count sing "I Want to Count." On the DVD release, this segment is cut and replaced with "Honk Around the Clock."
	Cartoon	A stop-motion-animated train runs out of track.
	Muppets	Ernie and Bert: Ernie gets Bert to participate in a rhyme game, but ends the game just as Bert is starting to enjoy it. (EKA: Episode 0798)
	SCENE 3	Madeline and Big Bird roller skate. Then, with the "Canary Brothers" (Zeppo, Gummo, Curly, and Moe), Madeline sings "Brown Bird in the Cherry Tree." This scene was released on Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days.
	Film	Joe Raposo: Road Runner (instrumental) (EKA: Episode 0600) This segment was cut from the Noggin version.
	Cartoon	The Alphabet Song (country, gospel, Mexican) Artist: Paul Fierlinger This segment was cut from the Noggin version.
	Muppets	The Twiddlebugs attempt to exit a roller skating rink.
	Cartoon	"The Little Letter L: A Poem by Louise" Artist: Bruce Cayard
	Insert	The Count counts five children as they rearrange their positions.
File:Glass03.png	Cartoon	"Geometry of Circles"
	SCENE 4	Madeline calls the Bird Department in Washington, D.C. to confirm that Big Bird is an endangered species, based on his abilities to roller skate, count to twenty, make his own breakfast, and say the alphabet. Maria, Gordon, and Mr. Hooper are chagrined when Madeline announces that Big Bird must be removed from Sesame Street so he can live in a more protective environment.
	Film	A bird flies around. This segment was cut from the Noggin version.
	Muppets	Honkers attempt to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on their noses. Part 1.
	Cartoon	"Ladybugs' Picnic" (EKA: Episode 0416)
	Muppets	Honkers attempt to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on their noses. Part 2.
	Cartoon	"L" for "Large" and "l" for "little"
	Muppets	Honkers attempt to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on their noses. Part 3.
	Film	Saxophone factory. (EKA: Episode 1446)
	Muppets	Muppet & Kid Moments: Herry Monster and John-John on up and down. (EKA: Episode 0784)
	SCENE 5	Madeline takes Big Bird to the Windy Hill bird sanctuary, but he gets homesick. None of the birdhouses there are big enough for him.
	Film	Footage of all types of birds on land, including flamingos and pigeons. Music: Joe Raposo (First: Episode 0019) This segment was cut from the Noggin version.
	Cartoon	A bird lays ten eggs.
	Muppets	Muppet & Kid Moments: Ernie and Jason look in a mirror.
	Cartoon	"Lowercase n" (EKA: Episode 0425)
File:1576v.jpg	Muppets	Monsterpiece Theater: "Me, Claudius" Bruce, Harvey, Maurice, and the monster who would become Elmo fight over which one is Claudius. Slimey also makes a cameo.
	SCENE 6	Madeline brings Big Bird back to Sesame Street. Maria and Gordon promise to take care of him. Madeline and Cedric are stunned to learn that Big Bird has a family of birds who are just like him, and even more stunned to glimpse his Uncle Slim from Wyoming (identical in appearance to Big Bird, but with a cowboy hat, vest, and moustache) across the street.

Notes

• This episode was taped on September 16, 1981 and directed by Jon Stone.

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