Season 15 (1983-1984)

thumb|300px|Kermit the Frog directs Forgetful Jones for a movie.
Sesame Street Season 15 aired from November 21, 1983, to May 18, 1984.
==Overview==
According to Dulcy Singer, this season's shows "will widen youngsters' worlds with an introduction to computers and a look at the learning resources available to them in museums and libraries in their communities.""Metropolitan Museum Musical Special Leads Landmark Sesame Street Season." CTW Press Release. October 1983 A new computer is installed for public use in Episode 1933 at the Fix-It Shop, where characters are able to use it for both leisure and work - especially coming in handy to help the failing memory of Forgetful Jones. Linda also uses a computer when she begins her job at the Sesame Street Library in Episode 1868.
A landmark moment for the series occurs during the first week of episodes, when in Episode 1839 the cast gathers to explain to Big Bird about the death of Mr. Hooper, whose performer (Will Lee) had passed away the previous year. The heavily researched and tested episode has become one of the series' highest-praised moments, with the Daytime Emmys declaring it one of the 10 most influential moments of daytime television.
The saga of the mysterious Mr. Snuffleupagus continues before his introduction to the grown-ups. Maria and Linda begin to believe Big Bird more about the elusive creature, particularly Maria when she is given proof that the others brush off (such as Snuffy's Puerto Rican cousin providing an authentic flower from his homeland). David also learns how Big Bird feels when teased about Snuffy being thought of as imaginary when he receives the same treatment trying to convince Big Bird of the existence of his friend Bill and juggler Michael Davis. Telly Monster ends up meeting Mr. Snuffleupagus on two separate occasions, though the grown-ups try their best to convince him that he only imagined him, confusing the young monster.
SSSeason15Cast.jpg
Season 15 stoop bw.jpg
SS-Season15V3.jpg
==Characters and segments==
Both younger and older cast members make brief appearances before getting recurring roles the following year. Bob's practical-joking relative Uncle Wally arrives in one episode, and the elderly Miss Trump guests in another. The teenage character Micki is seen assisting Linda at the library. From the Muppets, Captain Vegetable returns to extol the virtues of healthy eating to all the "little people" on Sesame Street (as he calls them), while David finds that an empty brick-strewn lot is the home of the sentient, slow-talking Rockheads.
"Sneak Peek Previews," a spoof of PBS' Sneak Previews hosted by Telly Monster and Oscar the Grouch, makes its debut. A short-lived series of Scanimate segments called "By the Numbers" also airs this season, where anthropomorphic numbers reside on a military base as they count off. Voices for these segments include Jim Thurman and Paul Dooley.
==Episodes==
Episodes 1836 - 1965 (130 episodes)
* Episode 1836 -- 15th season premiere; Gordon and Snuffy run the NYC marathon
* Episode 1837 -- Big Bird can't get back to sleep
* Episode 1838
* Episode 1839 -- Death of Mr. Hooper
* Episode 1840 -- Maria helps Forgetful remember things by writing them down
* Episode 1841 -- Oscar teaches the DBC's.
* Episode 1842
* Episode 1843 -- Big Bird's toys
* Episode 1844
* Episode 1845 -- Dr. Nobel Price "discovers" the law of gravity
* Episode 1846 -- Barkley's bath
* Episode 1847 -- Oscar's eclipse party
* Episode 1848 -- Dr. Nobel Price invents a puzzle
* Episode 1849
* Episode 1850 -- Max Monster's broken wagon
* Episode 1851
* Episode 1852
* Episode 1853 -- Gladys needs a new cowbell
* Episode 1854 -- Snuffy is sick
* Episode 1855
* Episode 1856 -- Polly Darton visits
* Episode 1857 -- Rhyming for Reasons
* Episode 1858 -- Captain Vegetable comes to Sesame Street
* Episode 1859 -- Bernie "tunes" Oscar's Piano
* Episode 1860
* Episode 1861 -- Telly meets Mr. Snuffleupagus
* Episode 1862 -- Teaching a baby Honker the alphabet
* Episode 1863
* Episode 1864 -- Forgetful Jones tends Hooper's Store
* Episode 1865 -- Telly's broken kite / Luis's picture
* Episode 1866 -- Oscar's ice cream stand
* Episode 1867
* Episode 1868 -- Linda's first day at the library
* Episode 1869 -- A day at the library
* Episode 1870 -- Telly wants to move in with Oscar to avoid the arrival of his new sibling
* Episode 1871
* Episode 1872
* Episode 1873
* Episode 1874
* Episode 1875 -- Big Bird, Grundgetta, and Gordon go to the department store
* Episode 1876
* Episode 1877
* Episode 1878
* Episode 1879 -- Oscar writes a play about trash
* Episode 1880 -- Oscar and the butterfly
* Episode 1881 -- Oscar takes temporary residence at David's (repeat)
* Episode 1882 -- Telly and the fire bell (repeat)
* Episode 1883 -- Timi works for WORM-TV (repeat)
* Episode 1884 -- Timi signs another day of WORM-TV programming (repeat)
* Episode 1885 -- Visiting Grandma Grace's farm (repeat)
* Episode 1886 -- Oscar vacations at Camp Killjoy (repeat)
* Episode 1887 -- A basketball practice (repeat)
* Episode 1888 -- Mumford produces shapes (repeat)
* Episode 1889 -- The Daily Bird (repeat)
* Episode 1890 -- The Count remembers (repeat)
* Episode 1891 -- Oscar contracts the grouch flu (repeat)
* Episode 1892 -- Telly prepares for hail (repeat)
* Episode 1893 -- Oscar tries camouflage (repeat)
* Episode 1894 -- Bob reads to the Two-Headed Monster (repeat)
* Episode 1895 -- Big Bird and Snuffy hunt for treasure (repeat)
* Episode 1896 -- A dance partner for David (repeat)
* Episode 1897 -- Herry moves the mailbox (repeat)
* Episode 1898 -- Missing Snuffy (repeat)
* Episode 1899 -- Bob talks to the Phone (repeat)
* Episode 1900 -- Oscar enters the Grouch Auto Show (repeat)
* Episode 1901 -- Paper airplanes with Big Bird
* Episode 1902
* Episode 1903 
* Episode 1904
* Episode 1905
* Episode 1906 -- Telly helps at Hooper's
* Episode 1907
* Episode 1908
* Episode 1909
* Episode 1910 -- Gladys jumps over the moon
* Episode 1911 -- Oscar and the Snuffleupagus trashcan
* Episode 1912
* Episode 1913 -- Snuffy's disguises
* Episode 1914 -- Mrs. Honker's child
* Episode 1915 -- A day at the library with Don Music
* Episode 1916 -- Grandma Grace's birthday
* Episode 1917 -- Grandpa Grouch at the library
* Episode 1918 -- Big Bird's ABIERTO sign
* Episode 1919
* Episode 1920
* Episode 1921 -- Grundgetta enjoys the rain
* Episode 1922 -- Forgetful doesn't know what to buy; Snuffy's letter L
* Episode 1923
* Episode 1924 -- Birdwatching with Nobel Price
* Episode 1925 -- Forgetful Maria
* Episode 1926 -- Oscar's Groucheteria
* Episode 1927 -- Gordon and Susan babysit
* Episode 1928 -- Snuffy sleeps over at Big Bird's
* Episode 1929 -- Uncle Wally visits
* Episode 1930 -- Big Bird gives away WALKs
* Episode 1931 -- Captain Vegetable's superhero test
* Episode 1932 -- David's grandma visits once more
* Episode 1933 -- The new computer
* Episode 1934 -- Snuffy's cousin Señor Esnofelopago visits from Puerto Rico
* Episode 1935 -- Telly the Helper
* Episode 1936 -- Telly and Don Music make music
* Episode 1937 -- A day with pets on Sesame Street
* Episode 1938 -- Big Bird and Snuffy at the movies; Telly's computerized version of Ask Oscar
* Episode 1939 -- Grundgetta meets astronaut Sally Ride
* Episode 1940 -- David's imaginary friend
* Episode 1941 -- Dr. Price works on inventions for the library
* Episode 1942 -- Telly prepares for a trip to Mexico
* Episode 1943 -- Fluffy goes missing
* Episode 1944 -- Inspector Bird and the balloons
* Episode 1945 -- Telly worries about playing a game on the computer
* Episode 1946
* Episode 1947
* Episode 1948
* Episode 1949 -- Remembering Mr. Hooper's egg cream
* Episode 1950 -- Captain Vegetable rhymes / Forgetful in the Fix-It Shop
* Episode 1951 -- David shares his grandma for the day
* Episode 1952 -- Hooper's has a broken window
* Episode 1953 -- The adults plan a picnic
* Episode 1954
* Episode 1955 -- Telly's gravity experiment
* Episode 1956
* Episode 1957 -- Election Day on Sesame Street
* Episode 1958 -- Luis' birthday
* Episode 1959 -- Juggler Michael Davis visits
* Episode 1960 -- Slimey plays basketball
* Episode 1961
* Episode 1962 -- Telly doesn't get angry
* Episode 1963
* Episode 1964 -- A noisy day in the library
* Episode 1965 -- 15th season finale; Sally Ride talks about being an astronaut
==Notes==
* This is the first season to have the Sesame Street sign and the CTW logos (with the debut of its then new font) appear on-screen. The in-credit logos would appear in a still frame of a random scene from an episode or over the final action scene. Originally, the superimposed logos (with different colored variants per episode) were still and flashed on screen one at a time. Starting with Episode 1915, a new closing logo graphic was introduced, with the Sesame Street logo flipping in, followed by the "CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP" words sliding in one by one. This would continue until the end of season 26 (with the exception of repeat episodes that aired during seasons 27 and 28).
* After a nine year absence, Joe Raposo returned as musical director and would remain with the show until his death.
* This was the first season with the Muppets Inc. copyright, in addition to the Children's Television Workshop copyright, at the end of the episodes.
* Despite being released between seasons 16 and 17, the filming of the Sesame Street movie Follow That Bird commenced shortly after this season had finished.
* This is the last season with Brian Muehl as a credited Muppet performer, although he would return for multiple uncredited performances during the 1990s.
* According to CTW's executive vice president David Britt, by this time, merchandising accounted for 70% of the show's yearly budget. This season is the first to operate without a government grant. Its budget came from public broadcasting station contributions ($2.7 million), CTW merchandising ($5.6 million), and international broadcast royalties.Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, SD) via Associated Press "When Big Bird talks, kids listen" by Ann Blackman, Nov 27, 1983
==Cast==
;Cast
:Linda Bove, Northern Calloway, Emilio Delgado, 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, Bryant Young (Uncredited: Cheryl Blaylock, Fran Brill, Ed Christie, Jim Kroupa, Noel MacNeal)
;Guest Stars
:Marv Albert, Roger Caras, Carol Channing, Michael Davis, Ben Harney, B.B. King, Robert MacNeil, Sally Ride
===Characters===
;Human Characters
:Gordon, Susan, David, Maria, Luis, Linda, Bob, Olivia, Akim, Uncle Wally, Micki, Miss Trump, Mr. Macintosh
;Muppets
:AM Monsters, Anything Muppets, Bad Bart, Barkley, Bert, Betty Lou, Biff, Big Bird, Bruno the Trashman, Buster the Horse, Captain Vegetable, Clementine, Cookie Monster, Count von Count, Dinger, Don Music, Dr. Nobel Price, Elmo, Ernie, Esme, Ferlinghetti Donizetti, Fluffy, Forgetful Jones, Gilbert and Sullivan, Gladys the Cow, Grandpa Grouch, Granny Bird, Grover, Grundgetta, Guy Smiley, Honkers, Mr. Honker, Irvine, Kermit the Frog, Little Chrissy, Max, Mommy Snuffleupagus, Oscar the Grouch, Osvaldo, el Gruñón, Polly Darton, Prairie Dawn, Rockheads, Slimey, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Sully, Telly Monster, Tough Eddie, Two-Headed Monster
==Credits==
*Executive Producer: Dulcy Singer
*Producer: Lisa Simon
*Directors: Jon Stone, Lisa Simon, David Heeley
*Head Writer: Norman Stiles
*Writers: Joseph A. Bailey, Gary Belkin, Sara Compton, Tom Dunsmuir, Judy Freudberg, Tony Geiss, Emily Perl Kingsley, David Korr, Jeffrey Moss, Luis Santeiro
*Music Director: Joe Raposo
*Supervising Film Producer: Edith Zornow
*Associate Producer: Arlene Sherman
*Original Muppets by: Donald Sahlin, Kermit Love
*Current Muppets by: Caroly Wilcox, with Cheryl Blaylock, Richard Termine, Edward Christie; assisted by Susan Moore, Noel MacNeal
*Music Coordinator: Danny Epstein
*Assistant Music Director: Dave Conner
*Post Production Supervisor: Ted May
*Associate Directors: Andy Bamberger, Tony Marshall, Craig Bigelow, Ted May
*Production Supervisor: Frieda Lipp
*Art Director: Victor DiNapoli
*Production Stage Manager: Chet O'Brien
*Stage Manager: Mortimer J. O'Brien
*Set Decorator: Nat Mongioi
*Costume Designer: Bill Kellard
*Graphic Artist: Gerri Brioso
*Senior Scenic Artist: Jane Asch
*Production Assistants: Joseph Catalano, Cheryl Ann Jung, Stuart Lowery, Noel McNeil, Diane Mitchell, Danette Morganelli, Thelma Moses, Mercedes Polanco, Lynn Roberge, Richard Grigonis
*Unit Manager: Eleanor McIntosh
*Technical Director: Ralph Mensch
*Lighting Director: Randy Nordstrom
*Sound Effects: Dick Maitland
*Audio: Blake Norton
*Video: Martin Gaujenieks
*Camera: Miguel Armstrong, Frank Biondo, Arnold Giordano
*Videotape Editors: John Hutchison, Evamarie Keller
*Make-Up: Lee Halls
*Hair Stylist: Karen Specht
*Wardrobe: Grisha Mynova
*Curriculum Coordinator: Robert J. Emerick
*Vice President for Research: Edward L. Palmer, Ph.D.
*Director of Research: Valeria Lovelace, Ph.D.
*Associate Director of Research: Istar Schwager, Ph.D.
*Assistant Director of Research: Ellen Saltzman
*Chairman, Board of Advisors: Gerald Lesser, Ph.D.
*Vice Presidents for Production: David D. Connell, Al Hyslop
*Recorded at Reeves Teletape III
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
 15