1969

S4.E1 ∙ Big Bird on the Street

Sun, Nov 12, 1972

A fun week of sketches and songs: lessons on subtraction, the wind and acorns; Big Bird learns how to wash his face; and a concert by Jerry and the Monotones, the Muppet rock group. Also: stories show that "big and rich" doesn't necessarily mean "better or smarter."

8.2 /10

S4.E2 ∙ Episode #4.2

Mon, Nov 13, 1972

Big Bird dons a policeman's uniform and declares he's going to pretend to be a member of the law enforcement, but he doesn't know what police officers actually do. He asks David, who tells him police often arrest people for such crimes as stealing. He tries to arrest Maria when he sees her removing a bag from the Hooper's Store counter, but Mr. Hooper confirms the bag belongs to her - it's her groceries.

7 /10

S4.E3 ∙ Episode #4.3

Tue, Nov 14, 1972

Gordon greets the viewer by waving four of his hands. Big Bird is amazed by this, not realizing Gordon has help from a young child behind him.

7.2 /10

S4.E4 ∙ Episode #4.4

Wed, Nov 15, 1972

Big Bird approaches Susan playing in the arbor with some kids. He says he has a neat trick which involves counting from 1 to 10 forward and backward. First, he counts to 10, then turns his back, and counts to 10 again. He's impressed by his joke, but Susan challenges him to count down from 10 to 1 and leads the viewer for the count.

6.8 /10

S4.E5 ∙ Episode #4.5

Thu, Nov 16, 1972

Susan helps Big Bird find the bus stop on the block. He reads the sign to make sure it's correct, which causes him to miss his bus. Cartoon-The word BUS

6.8 /10

S4.E6 ∙ Episode #4.6

Sun, Nov 19, 1972

Oscar adopts a pet skunk.

0 /10

S4.E7 ∙ Episode #4.7

Mon, Nov 20, 1972

Susan helps Big Bird find the bus stop on the block. He reads the sign to make sure it's correct, which causes him to miss his bus. Cartoon-The word BUS

6.8 /10

S4.E8 ∙ Episode #4.8

Tue, Nov 21, 1972

Mr. Snuffleupagus greets the viewer, and "telestrates" the letter O with his snuffle. Cartoon-A cowboy tries to lasso a rolling letter O. Bill Cosby plays twins who recite the alphabet together.

6.8 /10

S4.E9 ∙ Episode #4.9

Wed, Nov 22, 1972

Big Bird greets the viewer, and shows the difference between big and little, comparing his size to that of a kid. He notices that Gordon is bigger than the kid, but smaller than him. Just then, a giant (David) emerges, asking Big Bird for directions to the nearest beanstalk.

6.6 /10

S4.E10 ∙ Episode #4.10

Thu, Nov 23, 1972

Mr. Snuffleupagus greets Jay on the street and explains that he was writing the alphabet, but he made a mistake, so he's going to throw his paper away. When he tosses it on the ground, Jay tells him he can't just dispose of it anywhere, it has to go in a trash can. Snuffy realizes what he's done, leaves the trash where it is for now, and leaves to go home and retrieve his trash can.

6.6 /10

S4.E11 ∙ Episode #4.11

Sun, Nov 26, 1972

David, Bob, Maria and Susan try to stack and count 12 cartons, but Big Bird knocks them over while looking for Alphabet Bates. They stack the boxes again, but Big Bird knocks them over again while looking up. They all decide to take a rest.

6.8 /10

S4.E12 ∙ Episode #4.12

Mon, Nov 27, 1972

David and some kids demonstrate first and last by getting in a line. Muppets Two brothers, First and Last, sing about how their names affect how they do things.

6.8 /10

S4.E13 ∙ Episode #4.13

Tue, Nov 28, 1972

Maria recruits Oscar the Grouch to teach the concept of here and there. Oscar obliges, militantly barking orders to the viewer. Maria says there's a nicer way to do it, but Oscar grows tired of her standing here near his trash can, and there behind the construction doors of Big Bird's nest. Just as he's complaining about how dull it all is, a second Maria appears next to him, placing her both here and there.

6.8 /10

S4.E14 ∙ Episode #4.14

Wed, Nov 29, 1972

Oscar is constantly bothered by people tapping on his trash can. Susan suggests he find a home that isn't made of metal. Cartoon-Donnie Budd counts four lions. Artist: Bud Luckey

7 /10

S4.E15 ∙ Episode #4.15

Thu, Nov 30, 1972

Gordon appears on Sesame Street (wearing blue against a chroma key background) with parts of his body missing. He talks to the audience as each body part returns (removing blue sleeves and leggings).

7 /10

S4.E16 ∙ Episode #4.16

Sun, Dec 03, 1972

Bob greets the viewer, and thinks he hears the sound of the milkshake machine inside Hooper's Store. He goes in and asks David for a milkshake, and David jokingly gives him a glass of wood shavings from the board he was drilling.

7 /10

S4.E17 ∙ Episode #4.17

Mon, Dec 04, 1972

David finishes painting a chair, and is about to make a "wet paint" sign, when Sam the Robot offers to do it for him. The first sign he generates is too small, then the next one is too big. David shows Sam the kind of size he wants for his sign, and Sam starts spewing signs all over the place.

7.8 /10

S4.E18 ∙ Episode #4.18

Tue, Dec 05, 1972

Big Bird observes Luis and some kids playing with drums, and suddenly wants to build a drum of his own. Cartoon: "The J Commercial:" Two boys scrutinize a J, saying it looks like a fish-hook. A resonant voice (Gary Owens) informs them that it's the letter J. This leads to a jazzy story about Joe. Moral: "Don't jive a judge by jamming a junebug."

0 /10

S4.E19 ∙ Sam the Robot helps with the laundry

Wed, Dec 06, 1972

Susan, Bob, Luis and Big Bird greet the viewer, then they all watch a parade of all the letters of the alphabet.

7.2 /10

S4.E20 ∙ Episode #4.20

Thu, Dec 07, 1972

Luis is cleaning three mud spots off the front window of the Fix-It Shop which he suspects were left from a car driving by. He asks the viewer if he cleans one off, how many will be left. He cleans off each spot, subtracting as he goes, until all the spots are gone.

7 /10

S4.E21 ∙ Episode #4.21

Sun, Dec 10, 1972

Bob displays a picture with words ending in "IG." Muppets-"The IG Family Song". Cartoon-Speech Balloon: P - pin. Film: Footage of a city neighborhood; includes shots of a sno-cone vendor.

7.3 /10

S4.E22 ∙ Episode #4.22

Mon, Dec 11, 1972

Big Bird encounters Mr. MacIntosh's produce cart, which is unattended. He tries to clear it so he'll be able to ride on it but ends up making a mess of apples. He decides to sneak away from Sesame Street, but then the kids help pick up all the apples. Cartoon- "I in the Sky". The kids finish putting the apples back on the cart. Big Bird disguises himself and sneaks away, but Maria catches up to him. He confesses what he did, and Maria tells him to go apologize to Mr. MacIntosh and put the apples back on the cart. To Big Bird's surprise, the apples are already on the cart.

6.8 /10

S4.E23 ∙ Episode #4.23

Tue, Dec 12, 1972

David greets the viewer, and gives a lesson in subtraction using his feet.

7 /10

S4.E24 ∙ Episode #4.24

Wed, Dec 13, 1972

Gordon and the kids imagine threes of different things they don't usually count on the street. Oscar can't stand hearing their discussion, but unwittingly does three of something - put out his "DO NOT DISTURB" sign, put on his earmuffs and go inside his can.

7 /10

S4.E25 ∙ Episode #4.25

Thu, Dec 14, 1972

Maria greets the viewer, and hears Oscar throwing trash out of his trash can, which puts him in a musical mood. He sings "I Love Trash", and Maria begins putting the trash back into his can.

6.8 /10

S4.E26 ∙ Episode #4.26

Sun, Dec 17, 1972

Luis, Susan and the Kids sing "We've All Got to Work Together" while cleaning the street. Oscar doesn't believe they can do it, but they succeed. Oscar even helps by taking a big pile of trash into his can.

7 /10

S4.E27 ∙ Loud and Soft

Mon, Dec 18, 1972

Maria greets the viewer, while quietly reading a book. Oscar, meanwhile, practices for a yelling contest, which bothers Maria. She repeatedly tells him to stop, and Oscar is impressed with her loud yelling.

7.2 /10

S4.E28 ∙ Episode #4.28

Tue, Dec 19, 1972

At Hooper's Store, Mr. Hooper climbs up and down the ladder to get balloons off the top shelf for customers. Muppets-Bert sings the club song for The National Association of W Lovers.

6.8 /10

S4.E29 ∙ Episode #4.29

Wed, Dec 20, 1972

Maria shows the viewer what the Sesame Street sign looks like without its E's. Cartoon-A man saws a letter E through the wall.

7.2 /10

S4.E30 ∙ Sam the Machine Tries to Make a Handball

Thu, Dec 21, 1972

Gordon demonstrates up and down by showing how Oscar lifts his trash can lid whenever he comes up and goes down.

7.2 /10

S4.E31 ∙ Episode #4.31

Sun, Dec 24, 1972

Susan explains to Luis, in his first day on the job, how to stack and count sacks that come off an assembly line.

7 /10

S4.E32 ∙ Susan Tests Big Bird's Memory

Mon, Dec 25, 1972

Big Bird and Grover play hide-and-seek. Grover is "it" but he keeps forgetting what number comes next and has to get help from Big Bird, who's trying to hide. He reaches 10 and finds Big Bird right away.

7.2 /10

S4.E33 ∙ Episode #4.33

Tue, Dec 26, 1972

Luis finishes fixing a mirror frame, and invites some kids to look into the mirror and make different faces. Luis's reflection, however, has a mind of its own.

7 /10

S4.E34 ∙ Episode #4.34

Wed, Dec 27, 1972

At Hooper's Store, Big Bird tells David that he's been practicing adding and subtracting. A new kid in the neighborhood, Alex (nickname "Smart Alex") approaches and asks for an orange. Big Bird tries to solve the subtraction problem, but Alex beats him to it. Big Bird worries that David might like "Smart Alex" better than him.

6.4 /10

S4.E35 ∙ Episode #4.35

Thu, Dec 28, 1972

Bob welcomes the viewer to Sesame Street, pointing out how nice it is to be together with friends. Listen My Brother sings "Togetherness Song."

7 /10

S4.E36 ∙ Episode #4.36

Sun, Dec 31, 1972

Susan engages Big Bird, John-John, and Shola in a guessing game on the steps of 123 Sesame Street. Matching items to the words they rhyme with, Susan says the last item in the box rhymes with "big". Big Bird asks if it could be a pig.

7.5 /10

S4.E37 ∙ Episode #4.37

Mon, Jan 01, 1973

Bob greets the viewer while pushing Debo on the tire swing. He asks the other kids around if they have any older or younger siblings, then gauges how old each of them are (as well as the viewers). He then imagines what it was like when he turned six years old.

6.8 /10

S4.E38 ∙ Episode #4.38

Tue, Jan 02, 1973

Outside the Fix-it Shop, Luis welcomes the viewer while putting tacks into a coffee can. He leaves for the bank, and Big Bird and Mr. Snuffleupagus find the coffee can. Snuffy thinks it's a perfect thing to keep his crayons in, but he accidentally knocks it over. Big Bird gets the idea to find Luis and tell him the truth about the accident.

7 /10

S4.E39 ∙ Episode #4.39

Wed, Jan 03, 1973

Maria paints shapes on a plexiglass screen - a square, a triangle and a rectangle - then obscures the entire screen. Cartoon-B is for bubbles, bubbles and more bubbles. And Bosco, who is taking a bath.

7 /10

S4.E40 ∙ Episode #4.40

Thu, Jan 04, 1973

Big Bird encounters his friends collecting empty bottles to be recycled, and offers to help out. Cartoon-A man creates an avalanche on the letter A. Artist: Cliff Roberts

6.8 /10

S4.E41 ∙ Episode #4.41

Sun, Jan 07, 1973

Big Bird demonstrates the difference between fast and slow with his toy box: first, he dumps the toys on the ground and picks them up one by one (slow). Then, he dumps them out again, and they all go back into the toy box themselves with a reverse-tape edit (fast).

6.7 /10

S4.E42 ∙ Episode #4.42

Mon, Jan 08, 1973

While some kids play softball in the arbor, Maria introduces the letter H. She joins in the game, and points out the words "hit" and "home run".

6.6 /10

S4.E43 ∙ Episode #4.43

Tue, Jan 09, 1973

Luis saws a wood plank into 6 pieces as kids count them. He then puts the plank back together with a reverse-tape edit, as the kids count backwards.

6.6 /10

S4.E44 ∙ Episode #4.44

Wed, Jan 10, 1973

Big Bird greets the viewer, wheeling a giant styrofoam L. He gives it back to Gordon, then notices his dolly cart also looks like an L.

7 /10

S4.E45 ∙ Oscar Really Likes Noise

Thu, Jan 11, 1973

Loud crashes and bangs are coming from inside Oscar's trash can. Luis and Susan ask what's going on, and Oscar says that he's making something he likes - noise.

7 /10

S4.E46 ∙ Episode #4.46

Sun, Jan 14, 1973

Luis plays a "what happens next" game with some kids: he shows them some out-of-order picture sequences and has them arrange them correctly. He introduces Batman.

7 /10

S4.E47 ∙ Episode #4.47

Mon, Jan 15, 1973

Bob, Maria, and the kids observe their cold weather clothing as Big Bird joins them. He's been sent a package of winter clothes from his Granny Bird, but he's wearing each item incorrectly. Everyone helps him to dress properly.

6.6 /10

S4.E48 ∙ Episode #4.48

Tue, Jan 16, 1973

Everyone steps out into the morning snow, but they're not quite ready. With the blink of an eye, each of them gets equipped with the gear they need for the weather.

7 /10

S4.E49 ∙ Episode #4.49

Wed, Jan 17, 1973

David demonstrates "next to". Muppets-Little Bird explains "next to". Then Cookie Monster cuddles up next to Little Bird.

7.2 /10

S4.E50 ∙ Episode #4.50

Thu, Jan 18, 1973

At the Fix-it Shop, Luis welcomes the viewer, and explains the importance of adding spaces between words by displaying a "SESAMESTREET" sign. Cartoon-Violet climbs a vine with V words.

7.4 /10