Ernie Says "Hola" (transcript)

Following the death of Jim Henson, the producers of Sesame Street had no intention of removing his characters, especially Ernie (despite rumors circulating of them killing the character off). The character continued to appear in library material and made non-speaking appearances in specials.

While Steve Whitmire had taken over the role of Kermit the Frog the fall after Henson's death, he had not taken over the role of Ernie until three years later. His first televised performance was a brief line in the 1993 New Year's special, Sesame Street Stays Up Late. One of the first, new "Ernie and Bert" sketches, with Whitmire as Ernie, premiered on the February 16, 1994 broadcast in the show's 25th season.

In the sketch, Ernie finds a new fascination with the Spanish language...

	Bert admires his bottlecap collection.
Bert	...Figgy Fizz. (laughs) Oh yeah, love that. Oh, Cherryola, my favorite! And, uh, Grape Surprise, and the...
	Ernie opens the apartment door and stands in the doorway.
Ernie	Hola, Bert.
Bert	Huh?
	Ernie leaves, closing the door behind him. Bert looks and sees he has gone.
Bert	Was that Ernie?
	Ernie enters again.
Ernie	Hola, Bert.
	Ernie leaves.
Bert	...what's he doing?
	Ernie enters again.
Ernie	Hola, Bert.
	Ernie turns to exit, but Bert stops him.
Bert	Ernie, Ernie, ho-ho-ho, Ernie, Ernie. Wait a second. C'mere, c'mere.
Ernie	Yes, Bert?
Bert	W-what's going on?
Ernie	Oh, well, I'm practicing saying "hola."
Bert	You're practicing saying... "hola."
Ernie	Mm-hmm, yeah. You see, "hola" is the Spanish word that means "hello." And I'm saying it over and over and over so I get good at it.
Bert	Uh-huh.
Ernie	Hola, Bert.
	Ernie runs out of the apartment and shuts the door. Bert takes to the camera. Ernie re-enters.
Ernie	Hola, Bert.
	Ernie exits. Bert sighs and Ernie enters again.
Ernie	Hola, Bert.
	Once more, Ernie leaves and Bert sighs. Ernie re-enters.
Ernie	Hola, Ber-
Bert	ERNIE! C'mere, c'mere. Ernie?
Ernie	Yes, Bert?
Bert	That is enough, okay? Enough! Do you hear me? Enough!
Ernie	Well, you're absolutely right, Bert.
Bert	Fine!
Ernie	I know "hola," the Spanish word for "hello," about as well as anyone possibly could know it.
Bert	Good. Fine.
Ernie	I won't have to practice saying "hola" anymore.
Bert	Right!
Ernie	Now, I'll practice the Spanish word for "goodbye." Adios, Bert.
	Ernie runs out the door and closes it. Bert sighs and Ernie re-enters a moment later.
Ernie	Adios, Bert.
Bert	Oh, brother!
	Bert starts to leave.
Ernie	Hey, Bert. Where ya' goin'? Aren't you even gonna say "adios?"
Bert	AHHHH!
	Bert runs out of the room.
Ernie	Uh, no, Bert! That's "AHHHH-dios!" (laughs)
	Ernie goes out and shuts the door as the closing music sting plays.