Episode 3879

	Sesame Street
	Big Bird and Snuffy explore things that are alive
Air date	February 10, 2000
Season	Season 31 (2000)
Written by	Judy Freudberg
Production	October 28, 1999; November 11, 1999
Sponsors	A, 16
Syndication	123 Sesame Street; PBS Sprout

Picture	Segment	Description
	SCENE 1	Big Bird and Snuffy, dressed in explorers' outfits, are ready to go explore Sesame Street today, and invite the viewer to come with them. They sing their explorer's song (twice), and venture off.
	Song	"Explore With Me" (reggae) (First: Episode 3531)
	Cartoon	An orchestra conductor asks "May I have an A, please?" at which point a giant letter A falls from the sky. (First: Episode 0770)
	Animation	Letter Garden: A (First: Episode 3027)
	Cartoon	An ape takes a bite out of a yellow A. (First: Episode 2813)
	SCENE 2	Big Bird and Snuffy encounter Oscar's trash can, which they look closely at. They hear snores coming from inside it, and think that it's sleeping. Science teacher Gordon shows them that trash cans are not alive, because they don't eat, breathe, grow, or need water. Gordon is about to leave, when Big Bird stops him to point out that, unlike the trash can, Gordon eats, breathes, grows, and needs water, so he is alive! Big Bird and Snuffy realize that Oscar is alive, too, so they knock on his trash can to tell him so. They sing their explorers' song again, and continue their journey. Oscar laments, "Why me?"
	Song	Joe Raposo sings "Take a Breath." (re-filmed version) (First: Episode 2518)
	Animation	Counting to 16 on quilt patterns (First: Episode 2996)
	Film	Kid mural painting #16 (First: Episode 3625)
	Animation	Sixteen TV sets are counted. (First: Episode 2850)
	SCENE 3	Big Bird and Snuffy meet Bob and Linda playing a game of checkers. They see Bob eating and drinking, and make sure he's breathing. They conclude that he's alive, and notice the same about Linda. They also learn that the checkers are not alive.
	SCENE 3 cont'd	They walk over to observe Barkley, and note that his dog dish and dog toy are not alive, but he is. They sing their song, and head off to explore some more.
	Cartoon	Anansi the Spider tells a story of how he helped the monkey and the baboon reach a compromise. (First: Episode 3361)
	Muppets / Celebrity	Patti LaBelle sings "Gospel Alphabet" with a chorus of Muppets. (First: Episode 3825)
	SCENE 4	Big Bird and Snuffy run into Maria working at the Fix-It Shop, and remember that she is alive as well! They also learn that toasters aren't alive, because they don't eat bread, they toast it.
	SCENE 4 cont'd	They ask Maria if she has anything else that's alive. She points to the screen, and a film is shown of an armadillo moving around in the sand. When the film is over, they sing their explorers' song as they head off. Maria eats the piece of toast she just made, happy to be alive.
	Cartoon	A turtle recalls a time he fell in love with a seashell, before realizing it's not alive. Artist: Fred Garbers (First: Episode 3715)
	SCENE 5	Susan displays the letter of the day, A, to the viewer. Big Bird and Snuffy show up, and examine the letter until they realize which one it is. They learn that the letter doesn't eat, breathe, grow or need water, so it is not alive. However, Susan points out that it is the first letter in the word "alive." The word is not alive, but after talking it over, Big Bird and Snuffy conclude that Susan is alive. Blooper: In some broadcasts, the word "alive" doesn't appear on screen, so Big Bird and Snuffy look up at nothing, and Susan points to nothing.
	Film	A for action, acrobat, art, artichoke, and applause. (First: Episode 3266) cut from the Noggin version
	Song	"Litter Rap" (First: Episode 2646)
	Cartoon	Ball-dribbling characters count the feet on a wall ruler. Artist: Bill Davis (First: Episode 3227) cut from the Noggin version
	SCENE 6	In the garden, Gordon waters some plants with the kids, and are visited by Big Bird and Snuffy, who go over what they learned today. They know that Gordon and the kids are alive, and Gordon shows them that flowers and plants are alive as well, because they grow, and they need water. But do plants eat? Gordon says yes, thanks to the soil that they grow in. They also breathe, but in their own way.
	SCENE 6 cont'd	Stinky is glad to hear that he's alive, and asks to be watered.
	Film	Kids observe different types of bugs and flowers. (First: Episode 3696)
	Muppets	The Martians discover a sparkly number 16. (First: Episode 3387)
	Cartoon	"Sixteen Blues" (First: Episode 2755)
	SCENE 7	Big Bird returns to his nest with Snuffy, and they decide to explore each other. By asking each other questions, they learn that they're both alive! They share a hug.
	Muppets	Elmo's World: Farms
	SCENE 8	Big Bird relaxes with his best friend Snuffy, as they announce the sponsors.