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Sesame Street
Premiere November 23, 1981 (1576)
Finale May 21, 1982 (1705)
Episodes 130
Snow Zero courtyard with band

A two-week spread of episodes show how two visitors adapt to the cold winter on Sesame Street.

Cedric

Madeline Kahn and Muppet performer Richard Hunt play birdwatchers in this season's premiere episode.

Aristotle-Book

Aristotle is introduced.

CrayonFactory

"Crayon Factory" film

FishyFishyFishy

Ernie shows Bert his unique method of fishing.

HarryBelafonteandCount

"Coconut Counting Man"

1655f

In Episode 1655, Big Bird orders a new telephone...

1660f

... and starts a library the following week.

Arrow-Song

"Arrow Song"

Diana Ross and Big Bird

Diana Ross and Big Bird

Song

"Fuzzy and Blue (and Orange)"

ProudtoBeaCow

In song, Gladys proclaims why she's "Proud to Be a Cow."

2096w

"Dance Myself to Sleep"

14KaratSoul

Singing group 14 Karat Soul give musical lessons on school, the alphabet, and blending words.

HonkAroundtheClock

"Honk Around the Clock"

1695a

Simon Soundman dines with two fellow noisemakers: a Honker and a Dinger.

MonaMonster

Mona Monster, Telly's older sister, makes her first appearances this season.

Handcard

"A grown-up friend's hand: don't cross the street without it!": a series of sketches this season spoof the American Express ads.

Irvingsesstreet

Julius "Dr. J" Erving makes several appearances this season.

Characters

"I'm in Love with U," a parody of "Indian Love Call" from Rose-Marie.

Olivia-Library

Olivia, on location to cover what librarians do.

BabyHonker

A family of Honkers try to teach their newly-hatched baby how to talk... er, honk.

Bae21

Bert and Ernie go to Egypt, where they face an Abbott and Costello-esque run-in with a statue.

FamilyFood

Richard Dawson hosts "Family Food."

1668b

"Monica and I," a song in which Ari explains how he and Monica are able to explore the world without sight.


Sesame Street Season 13 aired from November 23, 1981, to May 21, 1982.

Overview[]

This season expanded its curriculum to include new emphasis on the development of listening skills and the ability to follow directions. Pre-reading segments include illustrations on the practical uses and pleasures of reading.[1] Other topics include sound pattern recognition (such as order, number, rhythm, dynamics, pitch, and tempo) and getting along in school.[2]

The concept of environment is also introduced this season. Al Hyslop comments, "For 2 and 3 year olds, the fact that there is an environment is terribly important, though they won't recognize it as that. When you are 4 and 5, you begin to discover there are certain qualities that have to do with environment, like endangered species." In the premiere episode, the concept of "endangered species" focuses on Big Bird as the rare beast in question. Another group of episodes set in wintertime shows how Maria's visiting cousin Mercedes from Puerto Rico attempts to adjust to the freezing temperatures. Likewise, Big Bird's penguin cousin Zero has the opposite problem as he compares a Sesame Street winter to the climate of the South Pole.

Characters and segments[]

A new Muppet character named Aristotle, who is a blind monster, is introduced this season to continue exploring the area of the handicapped.[3] Through the character, the viewer learns how the blind are able to adapt to their surroundings by relying on their other senses and by memory, and to appreciate the sounds around them. Also introduced is Mona Monster, Telly's older sister who is always using her imagination to be many different people and things; one day she's Little Bo Peep, the next day she's a tree. Akim, the teenage niece of David, occasionally helps out with work at Hooper's Store. The boisterous Honkers are now joined by a Dinger, who communicates through the bell on their head, and a group of wooly lambs make their first of many appearances.

Several of the characters introduced during season 12 have been either dropped or have switched performers. Puppeteer Michael Earl's Muppets are now in the hands of Richard Hunt (Forgetful Jones) and newcomer Martin P. Robinson (Mr. Snuffleupagus and Slimey, as well as the former Kevin Clash character Buster the Horse). Another "character" is the pay phone which is located outside of the Fix-It Shop. Though it works like a usual phone, in one episode it is revealed to be sentient (and mischevious).

Segments include a series of Canadian-based animations that teach letters, numbers, and animals. Olivia is also featured in a recurring segment where she takes pictures of various people in the real world, always taking one of the kids along with her to learn about different occupations. Several characters appear throughout the season to teach an important traffic lesson by pitching a very useful item: a grown-up friend's hand. The tagline: "Don't cross the street without it!"

Episodes[]

Episodes 1576 - 1705 (130 episodes)

Cast[]

Cast
Linda Bove, Northern Calloway, Emilio Delgado, Will Lee, Loretta Long, Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath, Roscoe Orman, Alaina Reed (Uncredited: Toni Agard)
Jim Henson's Muppets
Caroll Spinney, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Brian Muehl, Martin Robinson (Uncredited: Cheryl Blaylock, Ed Christie, Kathryn Mullen, Bryant Young)
Guest Stars
Harry Belafonte, José Carreras, Richard Dawson, Julius Erving, Suzanne Farrell, 14 Karat Soul, Madeline Kahn, Diana Ross

Characters[]

Humans
Gordon, Susan, Maria, Luis, Linda, Bob, David, Mr. Hooper, Olivia, Mr. Macintosh, Willy, Akim
Muppets
The Amazing Mumford, Anything Muppets, Aristotle, Barkley, Bert, Biff, The Big Bad Wolf, Big Bird, Bruno the Trashman, Buster the Horse, Clementine, Cookie Monster, Count von Count, Dinger, Dr. Nobel Price, Elmo, Ernie, Farley, Ferlinghetti Donizetti, Forgetful Jones, Frazzle, Fred the Wonder Horse, Gladys the Cow, Granny Bird, Grouches, Grover, Grundgetta, Guy Smiley, Herry Monster, Mr. Honker, Honkers, Irvine, Kermit the Frog, Oscar the Grouch, Maurice Monster, Mommy Snuffleupagus, Mona Monster, Osvaldo, el Gruñón, Peligro, Poco Loco, Polly Darton, Sheep, Sherlock Hemlock, Simon Soundman, Slimey, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Sully, Telly Monster, The Twiddlebugs, Two-Headed Monster, Uncle Slim, Zero

Credits[]

Sources[]

  1. The Miami News: 'Sesame Street' a teen, but still thinks young
  2. Truglio and Fisch. G is for Growing. p. 32
  3. Ocala Star-Banner: 'Sesame Street' A TV Teen-Ager


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Season 12 (1980-1981) Season 14 (1982-1983)
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