Episode 3564

	Sesame Street
	Big Bird and the Cuckoos
Air date	January 9, 1997
Season	Season 28 (1996-1997)
Sponsors	C, 3
	This episode guide has been compiled from incomplete video material. ⓘ

Picture	Segment	Description
	SCENE 1	Big Bird greets the viewer on his way to Hooper's Store for a birdseed milkshake. He compliments Nick's coloring book version of the letter C.
	SCENE 1 cont'd	Meanwhile, Claude and Carlotta Cuckoo (accent on the "oo") pass by Big Bird's nest and notice it's empty. Needing a place of their own, they quickly get their possessions, and their unhatched egg, and start bringing them into the nest area. Only Nick witnesses this and wonders how Big Bird will respond.
	Cartoon	C is for Candle (the candle blows back) (EKA: Episode 0890)
	SCENE 2	Big Bird returns home to prepare for an upcoming visit from Granny Bird and is shocked to see the Cuckoo family has moved in! They explain cuckoo birds typically don't have nests of their own, they always borrow others when they need it and right now, they need Big Bird's to hatch their egg. They all agree to cooperate: Big Bird will sit on their egg while they go out and they'll leave once the egg has hatched. They send Big Bird out for some birdseed.
	Cartoon	An owl and a bluebird work out a compromise. (EKA: Episode 2029)
	SCENE 3	The Cuckoos sing their egg "The Alphabet Song" and request Big Bird do the same as he sits on the egg, so the hatchling will know the alphabet well when it hatches. Big Bird assumes his place on the egg and the Cuckoos head to the movies (for a screening of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest). Big Bird proceeds to sing the alphabet again...and again...
	SCENE 4	Big Bird grows weary of singing, when suddenly, the egg hatches! The baby cuckoo can sing the alphabet perfectly, only there's no way of getting her to stop...
	Song	A salute to M-O-M.
	Cartoon	A fan reveals the letter C. (First: Episode 2746)
	SCENE 5	The Cuckoos have returned, but can't agree on what to name the baby. They settle on Big Bird's suggestion - Cathy - when they realize the gender. They teach their new baby the Cuckoo National Anthem, "C is for Cuckoo." Big Bird expects them to leave, but Claude decides they should stay longer, not wanting to take the child away from the only home she knows. They recommend Big Bird find an empty nest of his own to move into; that's the cuckoo way.
	SCENE 6	Big Bird tells Maria about his situation. She suggests he confront the Cuckoos and tell them how he feels.
	SCENE 6 cont'd	Big Bird returns to the nest and tells the Cuckoos it belongs to him and points out an empty nest in the park they could move to. Claude thinks they should stay put, for the sake of Cathy, but she wants to move to the park (as does Carlotta). Big Bird takes the parents to see, while Maria looks after Cathy, who demonstrates her alphabet.
	Cartoon	"The Room Is Full of Chickens" (First: Episode 2971)
	SCENE 7	The Cuckoos have settled in their new nest and thank Big Bird for all he's done to help them. They then produce a list of things they need, asking Big Bird to go get them from the store. Maria announces the sponsors.
	COMING SOON	Coming Soon on Sesame Street: Alice won't get off Snuffy's book, so he decides to push her off.
Known missing segments
Picture	Segment	Description
	Muppets	"C Drives Me Crazy" (EKA: Episode 3339)