Episode 2539

Picture	Segment 	Description
 	SCENE 1 	Maria finds Telly and Juliet preparing a birthday poem for Telly's aunt. The two panic that if the card is so good, Telly's aunt might rush outside to show people and slip in a mud puddle. Telly resolves not to send it at all, but Maria assures them this won't happen. Juliet dictates the message as Telly writes it down: "Happy birthday to the best aunt in town / I hope you don't run outside, slip in a mud puddle, and fall down!"
 	Cartoon 	Two alpine climbers hike up a letter Z and stake a claim on it.
 	Song 	Joe Raposo sings "Kangaroo Blues." (re-filmed version)
 	Muppets 	Grover plays a detective at his office. A frantic city gent (Brian Muehl) rushes over to warn him about something that's bothering him outside, which, unbeknownst to both of them, turns out to be a very strong wind that blows everything away—including Grover's office.
 	Cartoon 	Sign Sounds: Hand
 	Muppets 	An Anything Muppet family arranges themselves in different ways.
 	Film 	Some kids have a bike race by the river.
 	SCENE 2 	Maria tries to mail Telly's card when Barkley gets in the way. The monsters think he might be stopping her for a deliberate reason (like there being a birthday card thief in the mailbox). They also guess that he wants the birthday card for his own because today is his birthday. Linda isn't sure about this; she says Barkley just showed up on the street one day, so they have no idea when his birthday is or how old he is, adding that the vet's studies suggest he's about five. Juliet proposes that they throw him a birthday party today.
 	Cartoon 	Luis (in voice-over) counts racehorses numbered 9 to 1 as they cross the finish line.
 	Song 	Joe Raposo sings "Hippopotamus Round."
 	Muppets 	The Two-Headed Monster spells the word TAP, then tap-dances away.
 	Animation	Yellow drops don't want to play with a red ball at first, but they make a good flower together.
 	Muppets 	
 	Cartoon 	Letter U salesman
 	Muppets 	Oscar and Grundgetta sing "The Off-Key Song."
 	Cartoon 	A man uses his memory to tell a woman how to get to a red house.
 	Film 	Two kids visit the police department and watch a policeman prepare some horses for a parade happening in New York City. The kids even get to ride the horses and watch the parade.
 	Muppets 	
 	Cartoon 	Abierto: Ali Baba arrives a bit late and gets run over by the 40 thieves leaving.
 	Muppets 	
 	Cartoon 	"Poverty U" -- A figure gives a salute to the letter U, and presents the letter with a bouquet of flowers. Artist: Cliff Roberts
 	SCENE 3 	Everyone sets up the party in Linda's apartment. Telly notices the lightbulb above Linda's door starting to fritz and fears that if the lights go out, the party will be ruined. Linda points out that's actually her doorbell, which helps her see rather than hear when someone is at the door. Many guests arrive, including a Grouch (David Rudman) who delivers a singing telegram on behalf of Oscar. Oscar has also sent someone else in his place - his pet pig, Spot.
 	Cartoon 	“Signing Alphabet,” an animated film by Steve Finkin. Music for voice and electronics by Joan La Barbara.
 	Film 	A man makes a shadow puppet of a swan.
 	Cartoon 	A man (voiced by Jack Dodson) describes places that begin with U and what you can do with the letter U.
 	Celebrity	Smokey Robinson performs “U Really Got a Hold on Me” with a clingy letter U.
 	Cartoon 	Big, bigger, biggest (strongmen)
 	SCENE 4 	The gang presents Barkley with a dog bone-shaped cake and sings "Happy Birthday to You" (in woof). Everybody helps him blow out the candles when Juliet notices Spot looking sad and left out, so they sing the song again in oink.
 	Cartoon 	The story of an old woman who lived in a nine.Artist: Bud Luckey
 	Muppets 	Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats sing "You're Alive."
 	Cartoon 	An alien lands on Earth, looking for a Z to eat. He snatches one off a policeman's uniform, eats it, and rests.
 	Film 	A mandrill carries her young.Music: Joe Raposo
 	SCENE 5 	Barkley paws at his gifts, finding there's only one left unopened. The adults help open a box from Oscar and Spot, who have gifted him with a flea collar (along with a flea). Snuffy announces the sponsors.
==Notes==
* This episode marks the first appearance of a dramatic violin music sting that plays whenever Telly and/or Juliet would have their worries build up into bigger scenarios. This underscore would only last for a few years, remaining with Telly after Juliet's departure and appearing as late as season 23.
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 2539
 2539
Category:Birthday Episodes
Category:Sesame Street Episode Season 20