Season 27 (1995-1996)

Sesame Street Season 27 aired from November 20, 1995 to May 17, 1996.
==Overview==
The show's 27th "experimental season" is "increasingly presenting its lessons in overlapping ways, to reach those whose learning may be more closely tied to musical or mathematical abilities than linguistic ones."The New York Times: TELEVISION; Curriculum Update For 'Sesame Street' Even in the season opener, songs are used more frequently in teaching lessons, with helping Big Bird remember the alphabet, Count von Count explaining how "Counting Is Wonderful," and the street residents expressing joy by singing the "Sesame Street Theme." Other instances include Slimey participating in the Worm World Music Festival, Zoe joining the "Sesame Street Almost All Kazoo Band," and Oscar the Grouch teaching baby worm Sloppy how to wiggle and crawl. A more subtle example uses a sound effect at the end of each episode when the letter and number of the day are announced.
Valeria Lovelace of the production staff describes a change in the show's insert format, using an early edit of one episode as an example: "Lessons on one topic are to be clustered during an hour rather than spread out through the show as they have been. One show in January, for example, will portray the letter "D" in three consecutive segments: first it's marked out in candles, then it's depicted in a sand animation, and finally it's shown growing out of the ground. This will be followed by three segments on another topic, rain. First, Ernie and the Twiddlebugs go out in the rain, then there is a rain dance in clay animation, and finally rain and wind are rendered in Chinese calligraphy. In addition to being clustered, these segments are in tune with the new approach because they stress not only the visual and the verbal but also musical, interpersonal and spatial relationships."The New York Times: TELEVISION; Curriculum Update For 'Sesame Street' Researchers found that this method worked very well, as Lovelace explains: “We were very surprised at how children in our research responded. By the second segment, they are more animated. By the third, they are very much engaged.”Education Week: Sesame Street Incorporates Theories on Cognition The choice to feature only one Letter of the Day per new episode is a deliberate one, as research had shown that kids were able to retain the lessons when two segment clusters featuring the day's letter and inclusion during the street story gave a 50% increase in letter recognition among the preschool viewers. It was also useful when emphasizing the literacy goals presented.Truglio and Fisch. G is for Growing. p. 67-69
The show continues its second in a three-year lesson plan on increasing literacy and reading awareness. Typical cases include Oscar attempting to write a grouchy story, an inspired Prairie Dawn using her surroundings to come up with a new pageant, and the Readers of the Open Range becoming the "Readers and Writers of the Open Range." As mentioned above, interpersonal communication is also emphasized, such as Big Bird receiving a time out for his behavior and Baby Bear and Goldilocks putting aside their feud on the Sally Messy Yuckyael show.
==Characters and segments==
The child cast, consisting of Gabi, Miles (now played by Imani Patterson), Carlo, Tarah, and Lexine among others (such as Michael Bundy) begin to appear more frequently with the adult cast and Muppets. Carlo in particular gets a job working at Hooper's Store, taking over Gina's old job when she opens up a day care center around the corner. Additionally, Big Bird makes continuing appearances in insert material and Muppet-only segments, re-used for later episodes.
Muppet characters are presented as superheroes in a couple of lessons, which would continue the following year. Baby Natasha makes her debut as Superbaby, while the foursome of Elmo, Zoe, Rosita, and Telly form the non-violent Super Morphin Mega Monsters. The human Alphaboy teaches letter recognition in film inserts, with other segments utilizing a karate class, a farm landscape, kids on a safari, and a unique device called the "Shpritzer Honker Splasher" to teach letters, counting, and relational concepts.
In order to entice viewers to keep tuning in, a special preview is included at the end of each episode with Big Bird announcing, "Coming soon on Sesame Street..." followed by a brief excerpt. This would continue until season 30.
==Episodes==
Episodes 3396 - 3525 (130 episodes)
* Episode 3396 -- Big Bird gets the Memory Flu
* Episode 3397 -- Gina quits Hooper's to open up her daycare
* Episode 3398 -- Big Bird helps Carlo and Gina
* Episode 3399 -- Baby Bear's tie shrinks
* Episode 3400 -- Big Bird sleeps over at Gabi's
* Episode 3401 -- Snuffy visits Miles
* Episode 3402 -- Hatching a Honker egg
* Episode 3403 -- Zoe steals Elmo's joke
* Episode 3404 -- Natasha is scared of the rain
* Episode 3405 -- Wolfgang wants Ruthie's fish
* Episode 3406 -- Snuffy's sore foot
* Episode 3407 -- Telly wins a contest
* Episode 3408 -- Big Bird wants to be the Alligator King
* Episode 3409 -- Benny Rabbit's surprise birthday party
* Episode 3410 -- Baby Bear draws a picture of Elmo
* Episode 3411 -- Oscar buys the newsstand (repeat)
* Episode 3412 -- Baby Bear and Telly's friendship (repeat)
* Episode 3413 -- The Betty Lou Clinic (repeat)
* Episode 3414 -- The Strange Squeaky Sound at the Furry Arms Hotel; Gordon tutors Carlo (repeat)
* Episode 3415 -- What can Natasha do? (repeat)
* Episode 3416 -- Telly does something original (repeat)
* Episode 3417 -- Zoe's new bed (repeat)
* Episode 3418 -- Telly makes his own breakfast (repeat)
* Episode 3419 -- Elmo's mini golf game (repeat)
* Episode 3420 -- Yes and No Man (repeat)
* Episode 3421 -- Snuffy's birthday party
* Episode 3422 -- Telly breaks Big Bird's toy car
* Episode 3423 -- Walt Dizzy searches for "The Chicken King"
* Episode 3424 -- The letter X wants to quit the alphabet
* Episode 3425 -- Telly tries to blow bubbles
* Episode 3426 -- Elmo witnesses as Linda breaks Ruthie's pitcher
* Episode 3427 -- Following a butterfly
* Episode 3428 -- The Bears have dinner with the Robinsons
* Episode 3429 -- Elmo takes pictures with his camera
* Episode 3430 -- Elmo's crying game
* Episode 3431 -- Big Bird and Gabi play airplanes
* Episode 3432 -- Telly and the Slap-Happy Cap
* Episode 3433 -- A day at Oscar's newsstand
* Episode 3434 -- Big Bird has the birdy pox!
* Episode 3435 -- Rosita and Elmo try farming
* Episode 3436 -- Big Bird and Luis convince Hans that he's not an ugly duckling (repeat)
* Episode 3437 -- Luis and Maria fix things (repeat)
* Episode 3438 -- Telly and Oscar share a magic lamp (repeat)
* Episode 3439 -- The Grand High Triangle Lover's Success Story (repeat)
* Episode 3440 -- Betty Lou and her dolly (repeat)
* Episode 3441 -- Elmo starts running
* Episode 3442 -- Gabi gets sick on her birthday
* Episode 3443 -- Telly and Baby Bear play catch
* Episode 3444 -- Celina watches Barkley
* Episode 3445 -- Baby Bear visits the Furry Arms hotel
* Episode 3446 -- Hickory Dickory Dird
* Episode 3447 -- Telly Monster, Stamp Putter-Onner
* Episode 3448 -- The worm world music festival
* Episode 3449 -- The Cloud Who Wanted to Leave the Sky
* Episode 3450 -- Big Bird wants to be a dancer
* Episode 3451 -- Zoe joins the band
* Episode 3452 -- Alice dresses up
* Episode 3453 -- Baby Bear wants to change his name
* Episode 3454 -- Stinky gets repotted
* Episode 3455 -- Telly learns rhythms
* Episode 3456 -- Slimey's New Trick (repeat)
* Episode 3457 -- Michael Tweeter at Birdland
* Episode 3458 -- Rosita and Elmo learn patterns
* Episode 3459 -- Oscar writes a story
* Episode 3460 -- Oscar advertises his newsstand
* Episode 3461 -- Gordon takes Telly and his friends to go hiking
* Episode 3462 -- Prairie Dawn writes in a nest
* Episode 3463 -- The Grouchiest "NO" on Sesame Street
* Episode 3464 -- Telly and Rosita read
* Episode 3465 -- Snuffy is having trouble with tap dancing
* Episode 3466 -- Rosita at the Furry Arms
* Episode 3467 -- Elmo and Rosita find a penny
* Episode 3468 -- Mumford's sheep spell
* Episode 3469 -- Big Bird the teacher
* Episode 3470 -- Telly and Zoe write
* Episode 3471 -- The Count visits day care
* Episode 3472 -- Stinky meets Fern
* Episode 3473 -- Oscar looks after Natasha
* Episode 3474 -- Dreams
* Episode 3475 -- Telly practices for a pageant
* Episode 3476 -- The Amazing Mumford switches personas with a dog (repeat)
* Episode 3477 -- Practicing for a marching band (repeat)
* Episode 3478 -- Cyranose falls in love with Roxanne (repeat)
* Episode 3479 -- The Count's Australian friend (repeat)
* Episode 3480 -- Slimey's birthday (repeat)
* Episode 3481 -- Kingston's day (repeat)
* Episode 3482 -- Oscar can't get the Sesame Street theme song out of his head (repeat)
* Episode 3483 -- Slimey's Errands (repeat)
* Episode 3484 -- Big Bird finds a wand (repeat)
* Episode 3485 -- Oscar and Telly meet Soh Daiko (repeat)
* Episode 3486 -- Baby Bear and Goldilocks on Sally Messy Yuckyael
* Episode 3487 -- Tarah sleeps over at Gabi's
* Episode 3488 -- Goldilocks is sad
* Episode 3489 -- Telly makes a list
* Episode 3490 -- Rosita finds a button
* Episode 3491 -- Zoe, Telly and Baby Bear re-enact the Three Little Pigs
* Episode 3492 -- Gabi's day at day care
* Episode 3493 -- Zoe and Big Bird play pirate
* Episode 3494 -- Zoe and Oscar on being angry
* Episode 3495 -- Maria and Luis take care of Barkley
* Episode 3496 -- Telly's fear of sliding (repeat)
* Episode 3497 -- Telly's list (repeat)
* Episode 3498 -- Elmo pretends to be Lincoln (repeat)
* Episode 3499 -- The Sesame Street Talent Show (repeat)
* Episode 3500 -- Herry plays with Wolfgang (repeat)
* Episode 3501 -- Zoe Gets a Library Card
* Episode 3502 -- Biff has a bowling ball stuck on his hand (repeat)
* Episode 3503 -- Linda's running record (repeat)
* Episode 3504 -- Zoe plays with Davey and Joey
* Episode 3505 -- Zoe wants a pet
* Episode 3506 -- Stinky and Tarah at day care
* Episode 3507 -- Martians visit, Bob fixes Telly's juice.
* Episode 3508 -- Baby Bear sleeps over at Gina's, Pt. 1.
* Episode 3509 -- Baby Bear sleeps over at Gina's, Pt. 2.
* Episode 3510 -- The world's loudest singer
* Episode 3511 -- Big Bird goes fishing for Wolfgang.
* Episode 3512 -- Zoe wants to slide down a pole.
* Episode 3513 -- Magical Hide-and-Seek
* Episode 3514 -- Sir John acts like a chicken.
* Episode 3515 -- Big Bird watches Barkley.
* Episode 3516 -- Zoe's pretend wedding
* Episode 3517 -- Granny Bird might visit
* Episode 3518 -- Renata Scotty employs Bob
* Episode 3519 -- Grouches who love too much
* Episode 3520 -- Baby Bear draws Gabi
* Episode 3521 -- Big Bird gets a time out
* Episode 3522 -- Grundgetta makes Oscar look yucky
* Episode 3523 -- Sloppy learns to wiggle and crawl.
* Episode 3524 -- Maria, Luis, and Gabi look after Alice.
* Episode 3525 -- Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop visit.
==Notes==
* Starting with this season and lasting through Season 33 (2002), the music that concludes every episode is a remix of the original Sesame Street opening theme from 1969 (replacing the calypso-flavored rendition heard at the end of episodes for the past two seasons). This version retains the sung verses by The Kids, featuring a previously unheard harmonica solo for longer uses, and closes out with the ending from Toots Thielemans's original closing theme performance.
==Cast==
;Cast
:Carlo Alban, Alison Bartlett-O'Reilly, Lexine Bondoc, Linda Bove, Michael Bundy, Ruth Buzzi, Desiree Casado, Annette Calud, Emilio Delgado, Loretta Long, Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath, Roscoe Orman, Imani Patterson, Tarah Schaeffer, David L. Smyrl
;Muppet Performers
:Caroll Spinney, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Martin P. Robinson, Kevin Clash, Fran Brill, David Rudman, Joey Mazzarino, Carmen Osbahr, Pam Arciero, Camille Bonora, Peter Linz, Noel MacNeal, Judy Sladky, Jim Martin, Bryant Young, Lisa Buckley, Bruce Connelly, Louise Gold (Uncredited: Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Alice Dinnean, John Kennedy, Rick Lyon, Steve Whitmire)
;Guest Stars
:Tony Bennett, Downtown Julie Brown, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Ray Charles, Ellen DeGeneres, Laurence Fishburne, Julie Hagerty, Michael Jeter, Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop, David Robinson, Spin Doctors, Patrick Stewart
===Characters===
;Humans
:Gordon, Susan, Maria, Luis, Gabi, Miles, Carlo, Celina, Gina, Mr. Handford, Bob, Linda, Ruthie, Lexine, Tarah, Michael
;Muppets
:Alice Snuffleupagus, The Amazing Mumford, Anything Muppets, Baby Bear, Baby Natasha, Baby Tooth and the Fuzzy Funk, Barkley, Betty Lou, Benny Rabbit, Bert, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, The Count, Cyranose de Bergerac, Dinger, Elmo, Ernie, Grouches, Grover, Grundgetta, Guy Smiley, Herry Monster, Honkers, Hoots the Owl, Humphrey, Ingrid, Irvine, Kermit the Frog, Kingston Livingston III, Mama Bear, Mrs. Grouch, Mommy Snuffleupagus, Oscar the Grouch, Papa Bear, Prairie Dawn, Rosita, Sally Messy Yuckyael, Sherlock Hemlock, Slimey, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Stinky the Stinkweed, Telly, Uncle Talbot, Walt Dizzy, Wolfgang the Seal, Zoe
==Credits==
*Executive Producer: Michael Loman
*Supervising Producer: Lisa Simon
*Producer: Arlene Sherman
*Directors: Emily Squires, Lisa Simon, Ted May, John Ferraro, Steven Feldman, Chris Kelly, Gary Shimokawa, Victor DiNapoli
*Head Writer: Norman Stiles
*Writers: Judy Freudberg, Lou Berger, Joey Mazzarino, Cathi R. Turow, Josh Selig, Tony Geiss, David Korr, Sonia Manzano, Nancy Sans, Molly Boylan, Sara Compton, Christine Ferraro, Jeff Moss, Adam Rudman, Ian Ellis James, Luis Santeiro, Belinda Ward, Emily Perl Kingsley, Mo Willems, John Weidman
*Line Producer: Yvonne Hill Ogunkoya
*Production Designer: Victor DiNapoli
*Lighting Designer: Bill Berner
*Costume Designers: Bill Kellard, Terry Roberson
*Muppets, Costumes, Props: Ed Christie, with Mark Zeszotek, Stephen Rotondaro, Lara MacLean, Mark Ruffin, Carlo Yannuzzi, Fred Buchholz, Ann Marie Holdgruen, Larry Jameson, Tom Newby
*Muppet Coordinator: Kevin Clash
*Associate Producers: Carlos Dorta, Teri Weiss
*Music Director: Robby Merkin
*Associate Music Director: Dave Conner
*Music Coordinator: Danny Epstein
*Original Songs and Arrangements: Chris Cerf, Dave Conner, Sarah Durkee, Tony Geiss, Paul Jacobs, Gail Sky King, Stephen Lawrence, Robby Merkin, Jeff Moss, Joe Raposo
*Graphic Designers: Mike Pantuso, Pete Ortiz
*Set Decorator: Nat Mongioi
*Art Director: Bob Phillips
*Production Supervisor: Frieda Lipp
*Editing Supervisor: Robert J. Emerick
*Associate Directors: Cher Jung, Ted May, Arlene Sherman, Tony Siegel, Ken Diego
*Production Stage Manager: Charles Raymond
*Stage Managers: Chris Kelly, Hank Smith
*Curriculum Coordinator: Cher Jung
*Talent Coordinator: Danette DeSena
*Production Associates: Tim Carter, Melissa Dino
*Production Assistants: Heather L. Dick, Kim J. Kennedy, Pamela Liu, Ruth Luwisch, Ted Pierson, Jason Schneider
*Children’s Casting: Gabrielle Howard
*Production Coordinator: Karen Ialacci
*Post-Production Coordinator: Carol-Lynn Parente
*Script Coordinator: Thelma Moses
*Technical Director: Ralph Mensch
*Sound Effects: Dick Maitland
*Audio: Blake Norton
*Second Audio: Carla Bandini
*Video: Dick Sens
*Cameras: Frank Biondo, Dave Driscoll, Mark Whitman
*Videotape Editors: Evamarie Keller, Dawn DeSimone, John Tierney
*Make-Up: Joe Cuervo
*Hair Stylist: Karen Specht
*Wardrobe: Colleen Noe
*Scenic Artist: Pamela Lenau
*Production Accountant: Marta Palko
*Script Typists: Tom Harris, Lynda Holder
*Opening Sequence: Balsmeyer & Everett, Inc.
*Assistant Vice President, Production Research: Valeria Lovelace, Ph.D.
*Chairman, Board of Advisors: Gerald Lesser, Ph.D.
*Senior Vice President for Production: Marjorie Kalins
*NEP Facilities: Tom Carey, Dean Pearson, John Seminario
*Post Production by Windsor Video
*Taped at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
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