Countdown series

The Countdown series was a recurring animated segment during the early years of Sesame Street, starting in the first season and having its final appearance during Season 12. 
Each clip began the same: a wide-mouthed launch director (perched atop a podium) stands next to a button, ready to trigger a rocket (proudly displaying the letters "USA" on its side). A group of people closely stand by, awaiting the launch. The director counts backwards, from ten to one, but when he's finished counting, some kind of disaster often occurs. In early episodes, Carol Burnett would appear at the end of one or more of these segments in a filmed tag, where she laments, "Well, back to the ol' drawing board."
The segments were done by former Disney animator Floyd Norman.
The first three Countdown films appeared on the Sesame Street Pitch Reel and This Way to Sesame Street.
==Segments==
Picture	Summary / First Appearance 	Description
 	#1: FlopEpisode 0018 	After the countdown, the rocket flops over. The director nervously chuckles.
 	#2: SootEpisode 0018 	The rocket lifts early, and showers everyone in soot.
 	#3: Director LaunchEpisode 0018 	After countdown, the director himself is launched into space as the rocket stays put.
 	#4: WaterEpisode 0022 	After the countdown, water comes out of the rocket and splashes everyone.
 	#5: DignitariesEpisode 0022 	Minus his podium, the director laughs nervously as he accidentally launches the spectators into space.
 	#6: Early Launch; ToppleEpisode 0022	Rocket takes off at 7. Then it comes down so the man can continue his countdown, but at 1, it falls over with a huge crash.
 	#7: Successful LaunchEpisode 0042 	Unlike previous segments, the rocket successfully launches at the right time as everyone celebrates, and the director grins at the camera.
 	#8: Delayed LaunchEpisode 0148 	The rocket doesn't go off until a few seconds after the countdown commences.
 	#9: Hat LaunchEpisode 0148 	After the countdown, the director's hat blasts off instead.
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:Sesame Street Animated Segments
Category:Numbers