Maria as Chaplin skits

A recurring Sesame Street skit paid tribute to silent film star Charlie Chaplin. Maria (dressed to resemble Chaplin's standard film persona) would engage in silent film antics, sometimes as stand-alone sketches, and at other times within the context of other sketches. The sketches appeared on the show as early as season 6.

Sonia Manzano reflected on the sketches in a 2003 interview on Art Express:

“I loved Charlie Chaplin when I was a college student, and I have been able to write myself as Charlie Chaplin. So, I was able to fulfill a little fantasy of my own on Sesame Street and I was happy that I was able to fulfill their education goals with that as well.”

Sketches

Picture	Summary / EKA	Description
File:2356-8.jpg	EXIT Episode 0926	Charlie Chaplin (Maria) tries to outwit a tricky EXIT sign.
	Top and Bottom Episode 0986	A voiceover instructs Charlie Chaplin (Maria) where to put the shirts and the towels. Later airings of this sketch replace the music and narration.
	Surprises Episode 0989	Maria makes a cameo as the Tramp during an ensemble song about surprises.
	ME Episode 1032	Maria as Chaplin looks in a mirror and sees "ME." Maria's reflection is played by Linda. Video: Old School: Volume 2
	Bench Balancing Episode 1421	Two Tramps (Maria and Linda) find ways to balance both sides of a see-sawing park bench.
	Long, Longer, Longest Episode 1460	Maria as Chaplin tries to get to the door, but the suspenders are hooked to the wall.
	HAT Episode 1648	The Tramp finds a HAT sign near a hatrack with a new hat. He tries replacing his crummy, worn-out one with it, but the sign falls apart each time.
	Umbrellas Episode 1839	The two Chaplin impersonators open umbrellas. Emilio Delgado plays the other one.
	Newspaper Episode 1840	Chaplin tries to throw away a newspaper into a rapidly moving litter can. When she finally does, the exit door also moves and she breaks down the wall.
	COLD Episode 2040	The Tramp is out in the cold.
	Number Six Episode 2163	The Tramp illustrates the number 6 using balloons.
	HOP Episode 2244	Charlie Chaplin obeys the word HOP, then switches it to STOP.
	Museum Episode 2269	Maria as Chaplin falls in love with a painting at the art museum. The woman in the painting periodically changes her pose.
	Tuxedo Thread Episode 2274	Chaplin notices a short thread on Luis' tuxedo, which becomes long as he pulls it, unraveling Luis's trousers!
	What Happens Next Episode 2407	Gordon hosts "What Happens Next," with help from the Dinger and Maria (as the Chaplin character). The viewer has to guess before Gordon rings the bell. On the first round, Maria slips on the banana peel on the ground. On the second round, Maria sits on a bench with only three legs and it collapses. Then on the third (and final) round, Maria uses the cane to push the cloud into the game show studio, drenching Gordon and causing him to sneeze a lot.
	In the Rain Episode 2638	Chaplin leaves a store on a rainy day. When Chaplin's umbrella doesn't work well, he looks for something else to keep him dry. He first hides under a woman's (Linda) poncho, then buys a newspaper from a store keeper (Luis), but as soon as Chaplin puts the newspaper over his head, it stops raining. Video: Old School: Volume 3
	The Picnic Episode 2762	Ernie and Bert go to the movies to see a silent movie, "The Picnic," starring Chaplin and his date (played by Linda Bove). Online: (YouTube)

Notes

• A new sketch was scripted for use in Episode 2912 (originally planned to be Episode 2888), entitled "Chaplin and the Litterbug." Set in a park, the sketch would feature Chaplin (Maria) attempting to get a villainous litterbug (Gina, portraying a male character) to throw his crumpled piece of trash into a can instead of the ground.

See also

• Sesame Street Human Cast Sketches