For Sesame Street's 40th birthday, First Lady Michelle Obama poses with Big Bird and friends.
(Richard Termine/Reuters)Photos (1 of 1)
Sesame Street at 40: Our favorite clips
For Big Bird's birthday, we picked 11 of our favorite clips from Sesame Street's 40-year run.
By Andrew Heining | 11.04.09
Sesame Street is 40, as we were reminded this morning by a Google Doodle of Big Bird’s legs, and what better way to celebrate than to look back at the memorable moments from the show’s history?
Sesamestreet.org is sponsoring a vote on viewers’ favorite episodes, but we went to YouTube to bring you our staff picks. Here’s a small sampling of our favorite Sesame Street clips from over the years:
12: This crazy clip of an animated pinball machine helped kids count to 12 in fantastic fashion.
The “Yip Yip” Martians: They discovered everyday objects with a comic curiosity that kept us laughing. Here, they meet a telephone as only they can.
Batty Bat: The Count is one of our favorite Sesame Street characters. Here, with the help of his fanged friends, he reminds us of his favorite dance step: The Batty Bat.
Honkers: Who hasn’t wished their nose wasn’t more like these guys’? Here, the Honkers help the Count count to 20.
Doin the Pigeon: Bert, the less amiable but just as lovable half of the dynamic Bert & Ernie duo, has a special place in his heart for that most lowly of urban inhabitants, the pigeon. Here, he gets down with his favorite feathered friends.
Vintage opening: This clip, from show 2178, shows one of the show’s early intro sequences, complete with running kids, a Big Bird cameo, and that old familiar tune.
C is for Cookie: Though the Cookie Monster has recently toned down his fanaticism for cookies (some were concerned he was encouraging obesity), this is vintage cookie-crazed Cookie Monster. Favorite line: “Hey, you know what? A round cookie with one bite out of it looks like a C.”
Rubber Ducky: In one of the catchiest (and hardest to get out of your head) tunes from Sesame Street’s run, Ernie sings about his favorite bath-time pal, his trusty yellow rubber duck. But you’ve been warned: once you watch this, it’ll be in your head for the rest of the day.
Feist sings 1234: Some of the most fun clips feature celebrities dropping in on Sesame Street. Here, singer Feist leads a custom version of her song 1234 with a (if you’re not familiar, you’ll remember it from those iPod ads) with a troop of furry friends.
Stevie Wonder’s Superstition: Sesame Street has long featured some of the most popular artists of the day. Here, Stevie Wonder and his band play a rendition of their hit “Superstition” that’s a good as any other. This is one of our faves.
Michelle Obama visits: As the show has advanced in age, so has its ability to attract big names to help spread its message. Here, First Lady Michelle Obama reminds kids (and her friend Elmo) of the importance of a healthy diet and staying active.
Have a favorite clip we didn’t feature? Drop us the link in the comments, and be sure to follow us on Twitter.
<< Big Bird goes Google for Sesame Street’s 40th birthday | MainComments
2. Kiki | 11.04.09
You missed the Classic puppets and kids segments, with John John and Joey, for example. They’re adorable, and my favourite part of Sesame Street, no question.
John John: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5VGabbDceY
4. Ernie | 11.04.09
Ernie singing “I’d Like to Visit the Moon” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoteMQ6w0SE
African Alphabet Song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcpTCKOzJjA
5. Cinema Dave | 11.04.09
“PUT DOWN THE DUCKY!!!!!!!!”
Look at the cast from that one…here is the link;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMAixgo_zJ4
6. Cinema Dave | 11.04.09
“PUT DOWN THE DUCKIE!!!”
This video has a great all star cast, some dead, some alive and some in prison! Here is the link; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMAixgo_zJ4
7. April | 11.04.09
These are wonderful … they bring back very sweet memories of when my children were young … my son especially loved Sesame Street and would squeal in delight even before he could talk when he saw the logo on the TV or heard the music.
8. Dan | 11.04.09
Actually, Sesame Street won’t be 40 until next week. It premiered on 10 November, 1969. I hope Google plans on keeping those Big Bird legs up all week!
9. Mom24@4evermom | 11.04.09
Who could forget the anguish when Mr. Hooper died? Big Bird’s confusion was so, so sad.
10. Doug | 11.04.09
The discussion between the cast and Big Bird about Mr. Hooper’s death was one of the program’s best segments and the most moving for me. I would like to see that again.
11. Carl T. | 11.04.09
Patti LaBelle singing the alphabet!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlFqhHJczDs
12. Kirk Rense | 11.04.09
There was a sequence years ago where Buffy Ste. Marie and her infant son were on the program and she demonstrated breast feeding to Ernie(?), a rather brave sequence for the times and perhaps the first time a woman had been shown nursing her child on TV. Great breakthrough.
13. Tim | 11.04.09
“Tt’s Not Easy Being Green” was a favorite of me and my kids.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIcffgtzs14&NR=1
The Ray Charles version and the version with Lena Horne are both great too!
14. Ian | 11.04.09
Elena C. That is ADORABLE. Joey is probably just 2-3 years younger than me. She probably has children of her own now. Thanks for sharing.
15. BJ | 11.04.09
Cut the political plug for Michelle Obama, and add the Corsican Monsters - “Manamana…”
16. Juddy | 11.04.09
From a full-on Stevie Wonder concert to ‘Elmo’s World’..
Makes me ill. Why did we give up on children?
17. Susan | 11.04.09
MY God– John John & Grover counting to 10 and back– the most adorable thing! that little squeak at the end…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk7mkIAMc7s&feature=related
18. Tim Jones | 11.04.09
I love the video where Kermit the Frog helps a nutty song writer with the lyrics to a song. “and his bicycle had a flat tire”
21. ELV | 11.04.09
BJ- I love the Manamana song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRRFfg2Guq4
I also like the turtles singing “Come follow”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Al2Dirlsio
22. Tina | 11.04.09
This almost made me cry! Seeing clips I saw as a child brought back so many momories of my childhood! I definitely loved the Rubber Ducky song!
23. Rita | 11.04.09
two of my all-time favorites are the “you have a banana in your ear” skit between Bert and Ernie and “It’s a lovely eleven morning” (I used to sing that one to wake my kids up in morning and still sing to my grandkids!)
25. TheJediCharles | 11.04.09
The Michelle Obama inclusion is frankly a joke. There’s only 42,546,133 choices in 40 years of Sesame Street that are less politically contrived and meaningful towards this anniversary.
Jeez, it’s patently obvious “loaf of bread, stick of butter, container of milk” will continue to be remembered when the political love affair with the Obama’s will long be forgotten.
That’s the embarrassment with the left and Obama, the inability to comprehend when it is NOT a time to remind us of them.
Please.
26. Mike | 11.04.09
I agree with Elena C. That is the best moment ever.
I’m surprised though that no one has mentioned the contribution of Jim Henson. I believe Sesame Street would not have had the impact that it did, if were not for the genius and imnagination of Jim Henson and Frank Oz.
27. Shellie | 11.04.09
The Lady Bugs Picnic was one of my most favorite counting songs. I’m 42 and grew up with Sesame Street, the Lady Bugs 12 were from the early days of Sesame Street.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr8vUTm64h0
And forever ingrained is the most catchy tune - ‘One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong.’
Electric Company came on after Sesame Street in my area of North Texas, I wonder how old it is and when did it stop production.
28. Peggy | 11.04.09
Who could forget the twiddle bugs?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M36TyN2TXrY
And The Ladybugs’ Picnic?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr8vUTm64h0
And The Alligator King?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg71djeZfos
29. Adam | 11.04.09
ABCDEF Cookie Monster! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptbp0pmcg3U
“I love you …”
“I love you too.”
“Aw thanks!”
30. BeckEye | 11.04.09
“Born to Add” by Bruce Stringbean and the S Street Band = Greatest. SS Vid. EVER.
31. MaryB | 11.04.09
It’s great to think back to old skits, but what about Elmo and Norah Jones… Don’t Know Why Y Didn’t Come…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c3fvqNlFvc
32. Jessica | 11.04.09
One of the best videos was defintely Letter B by the Beetles 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3WWrrNjGxQ
34. william hogan | 11.04.09
Outstanding!
A favorite of mine: Denyce Graves singing a bedtime Carmen to Elmo. Brilliant.
35. Debbie | 11.04.09
I used to drive my mom nuts in the car counting 1-10 in Spanish and going “yup yup yup yup” I LOVED the aliens and the telephone.
37. Hannie | 11.04.09
I loved the episode when Bert and Ernie went to Egypt and Ernie ended up dancing with that mummy inside the pyramid!
38. craig musselman | 11.05.09
what? who withheld WITCH WANDA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lXL_c4UIOs
and the ever intellectual Operatic Orange.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8TqOTe3ODc
and the Aligator King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVDUYJo3CjU
and of course the baker falling down the stairs
40. Angel | 11.06.09
Ernie counts Sheep, Fire Engines and Balloons. Hilarious! I still giggle when I see it. Burt’s scream at the end…sooo funny!
41. JlG | 11.06.09
The episode w/ Smokey Robinson and the letter X… X really had a hold on him LOL!!!
43. Joe | 11.06.09
Sad that your favorite clip is with Michelle Obama, of all the great ones over the years…
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
2. Big Bird goes Google for Sesame Street's 40th birthday | csmonitor.com (big bird s birthday) | Today's Hot Stories | 11.04.09
3. Big Bird goes Google for Sesame Street's 40th birthday | csmonitor.com (sesame street 40th anniversary) | Today's Hot Stories | 11.04.09
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1. Elena C. | 11.04.09
The sweetest moment, and my personal favorite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptbp0pmcg3U