The Countess

The Count and Countess, whichever one it is, in The Number of the Day from Season 36

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The Countess is the title held by Count von Count's lady friend on Sesame Street. In keeping with his numbers obsession, however, and as the only Sesame Street Muppet with an active love life, the Count has been involved with multiple countesses. Count Von Count tries to find out what the "Number of the Day is", so he counts the number from 1-20, and as soon as he gets to the "Number of the Day", The Countess shouts across the room saying "Stop!" The fact that each Countess uses the same pattern and resembles a feminized Count, and is generally listed as simply "The Countess" on albums, has generated confusion. However, at least three of them can be individualized.

"The Countess"

The earliest known appearance of a Countess was in Episode 0953. The Count is noted as having fallen in love with a "Countess" who loves to count. She reappears in episode 1015 as the Count's fiancee, and the couple count the number of times he asked her to marry him.

An unnamed Countess also appears in the song "Transylvania Love Call." Recorded in 1979, the album Love cites her name simply as "The Countess." Performed by Richard Hunt, she has been designated in subsequent albums as "A Great and Good Friend," suggestive of both their romantic relationship but perhaps also the Count's desire to keep her identity a secret, to avoid arousing jealousy from whichever Countess happens to be the current incumbent.

Countess Dahling von Dahling

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Countess Dahling von Dahling with Masha

Countess Dahling von Dahling debuted in Season 12, and was performed by Fran Brill. This Countess had a pet dog named Masha and spouted a Marlene Dietrich-esque accent and allure.

Countess von Backwards

The Count with Countess von Backwards and her mother

Countess von Backwards appeared on Sesame Street in 1994, performed by Fran Brill. She was also performed by Camille Bonora in Season 28. As indicated by her name, her own obsession lies in counting backwards. When she's finished counting, the howl of a wolf can be heard, in contrast to the Count's thunder and lightning.

Her mother also appeared on the show (also performed by Fran Brill), and the two performed "I Could Have Counted All Night" with the Count. For that one number she was performed by Louise Gold. When the song was included on The Count's Countdown CD, she was identified simply as "The Countess."

Current Status

A Countess has appeared more recently, such as with the Count and Johnny Cash in the late 1990s, and since Season 36, has appeared regularly in "The Number of the Day" sketches (performer unknown). Whether this Countess is von Backwards, von Dahling, or yet another figure is unclear. She does possess a Germanic accent, however, affectionately referring to the Count as "Mein Schnitzel."

Book Appearances

• I Have a Friend (1981) (Countess Dahling von Dahling)
• From Trash to Treasure (1993)