Episode 3578

Picture	Segment 	Description
 	SCENE 1 	Miles welcomes the viewer as Gordon and Susan make preparations for Grandpa Bill and Grandma Sarah's 45th wedding anniversary party being held at their apartment. The whole family is coming to celebrate; cousin Leon and his children, Alison, Carla and baby Celina, are already present. Susan explains once the happy couple arrives, some special performances will occur, including a poem from Miles, who quickly changes the subject to the food spread. Susan hopes no other family member brings potato salad; they have some bowls of it already. Bill and Sarah arrive, bringing Miles' favorite treat - sweet potato pie. Bill addresses baby Celina, assuring her that though her mom isn't present, there's enough family to substitute. Her sister asserts Celina doesn't know what "family" is, so Gordon leads them in a song - "Bountiful Tree."
 	SCENE 1 cont'd	After the song, Gordon's brother Aaron (played by Kevin Clash) arrives with his wife and kids, Wayne and Alana, who'll be performing an African dance later. The whole family reprises their song.
 	SCENE 1 cont'd	Big Bird arrives for the festivities, bringing some of his birdseed potato salad. Grandpa Bill leads a family "thank you" and they all dig into the feast.
 	Animation 	Kids talk about families, often mentioning having rhinoceroses as pets.
 	Muppets 	Elmo and Winston, a beluga whale, demonstrate the word LOVE.
 	Cartoon 	A baby demonstrates 'happy,' 'surprised' and 'sad.'
 	Celebrity 	Ray Charles sings the Alphabet Song, and various celebrities join in, including Michael Jeter, Patrick Stewart, Tony Bennett, Shari Lewis, Lamb Chop, Harry Belafonte, Grover, David Robinson, and Ellen DeGeneres.
 	Cartoon 	"Name That Food" game show hosted by Don CarrotArtist: Len Glasser
 	Film 	A visual representation of the nursery rhyme "Pat-a-Cake" with Wegman's dogs.
 	SCENE 2 	Gordon gives a heartfelt thank you to his parents and introduces Miles to read his poem. Miles hesitates, then claims the African dance should go first. So, Leon, Wayne and Alanda perform their dance (as Leon drums). After it’s over, Gordon cues Miles, who now wishes to learn the dance and everyone teaches him.
 	SCENE 2 cont'd	Susan pulls Gordon into the hallway. She suspects he doesn’t want to read his poem, but they’re not sure why.
 	Cartoon 	A map of Africa morphs into the shape of animals that are found there.
 	Muppets 	The Count's main jumping-over-the-bed flock of sheep quits on him, so he calls the "24 Hour Emergency Counting Service". A reluctant deliveryman in sheep's clothing laments, "It's not an easy way to make a livin' ..."
 	Cartoon 	Number Guy: "How Many Sheep Will Jump Over My Bed?" The answer is 9.
 	Film 	Milo Counting: 9
 	Cartoon 	Rap #9
 	Muppets 	Lexine and Cookie Monster tell each other they like each other, then hug.
 	Cartoon 	"Family Dance"Artist: Karen Aqua
 	SCENE 3 	Now, the whole family is doing the dance. Gordon and Susan want Miles to do his poem befor their song-and-dance, but he’s “out of breath” from the dancing. Gordon and Susan dance to an old Hoots the Owl record - “Dancin' Beak to Beak.” Big Bird provides some chicken clucking during the bridge. Grandma and Grandpa take a turn to strut their stuff too, inviting the rest of the family to dance too.
 	Cartoon 	An elephant, a zebra, a hedgehog, an ostrich, a frog and a ladybug create a rhythm with their footsteps.Artist: Karen Aqua
 	Muppets 	Kingston Livingston III sings "Just Happy to Be Me."
 	Film 	The letter P dances at the beach.
 	Cartoon 	Peter Panda, the potter, makes a pyramid, a pear and a pot for his plant.
 	Song 	“Praise the Letter P, Please, Please, Please” (James Brown style)
 	SCENE 4 	Next, Allison and Carla do a hand-clap with letters of the alphabet; something they learned in school. Gordon introduces Miles, but he’s nowhere to be seen. Gordon goes outside, while the rest go eat some pie.
 	Muppets 	Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster, Prairie Dawn, and Herry Monster sing "I Think That It Is Wonderful".
 	Animation 	In a painting, a man flips a coin, and it flies in and out of buildings.
 	Film 	Caitlin gets her eyes examined, and picks out a pair of glasses.
 	Cartoon 	African quilt pattern #2
 	Muppets 	Grover tries to explain an EXIT sign, but monsters keep trampling over him. He moves over away from the door, but the EXIT sign moves with him.
 	Animation 	A Keith Haring mural comes to life after some kids EXIT.
 	Cartoon 	"From Your Head"Artist: Sally Cruikshank
 	SCENE 5 	Gordon finds Miles sitting on the stoop. He admits his poem isn’t as good as the other performances. Gordon assures him it will be good enough, because he’s good enough. With newfound pride, Miles heads back inside to read.
 	Song 	"Me, M-E, Me!"
 	Muppets 	Baby Bear and Papa Bear visit the Museum of Modern Art, and observe a Piet Mondrian painting full of rectangles, squares and colors. Baby Bear is reminded of the rectangles and squares that are all around us.
 	Song 	"I'm in Great Shape": Kids dance with triangles, circles and squares.
 	Animation 	The letter P appears in words on buildings.
 	Animation 	“Letter P Menu”
 	Cartoon 	P for paper, point, poke, paint, pat, peel
 	Animation 	Arnold uses his imagination and rides his chair.
 	Muppets 	Elmo sings "In Your Imagination."
 	Cartoon 	The story of Tommy LaPlaid, the painter so sad until he discovered the joys of kicking his paints on the canvas.Artist: Mo Willems
 	SCENE 6 	Miles finally reads his poem, where he lists his African American heroes, whom he doesn't love as much as his grandparents. Bill and Sarah enjoyed the party and lead everyone in a reprise of "Bountiful Tree." Miles announces the sponsors.
 	COMING SOON 	Coming Soon on Sesame Street: Ruthie, Oscar, Telly and Lexine watch as the worm circus gets underway.
==Guest cast==
* Theresa Merritt as Grandma Sarah
* Helmar A. Cooper as Grandpa Bill
* Kevin Clash as Aaron
* Pamela Isaacs as Pearl
* Akwesi Asante as Cousin Leon
* Alljahni Mack as Baby Selina
* Devon Mack as Wayne
* Ife Tiye Collymore as Alanna
* Nicole A. Davis as Cousin Leon's daughter
* Carla A. Davis as Cousin Leon's daughter
==Notes==
*This episode was originally written for Season 27. In the earlier script draft, the episode began with a scene of Miles on the stoop, agonizing over writing his poem. Big Bird comes by and tries to read the poem, but Miles prevents him. The scene does reveal why Big Bird is in attendance at the party; Miles is permitted one guest and invites Big Bird, who believes he can blend in by claiming to be a distant relative.Tony Geiss Papers at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University
==Sources==
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 3578
 3578
Category:Family
Category:Sesame Street Episode Season 28