Season 18 (1986-1987)

Sesame Street Season 18 aired from November 17, 1986, to May 15, 1987.
==Overview==
The curriculum for season 18 focuses on math literacy, including lessons on counting from 1 to 40. "Our information told us that many 5-and 6 year olds could count up to 100," said Dr. Valeria Lovelace, director of research for the series. "We'll be trying to put mathematics in everyday situations within our street scenes."Herald-Journal: Open Sesame! Children's Program Enters Its 18th Year On Public Television. The concept of zero is also introduced in a variety of ways, such as Luis portraying the mysterious Señor Zero and Count von Count discovering the infinite possibilities of counting objects that aren't really there. Addition and subtraction is expanded to include numbers between 10 and 15 to come up with larger sums and differences, notably with the home video release Learning to Add and Subtract.Truglio and Fisch. G is for Growing. p. 32 The concept of numbers after twenty is demonstrated in stories such as Numberella and a sketch in which Ernie attempts to write a poem about the number 12, only for the actual digit to switch itself into the number 21 and vice versa. Sequence and patterns were also added and integrated into everyday situations.The Montreal Gazette: Sesame Street starts its 18th season with old faces and some new ones, too.
With the addition of baby Miles last season, the show continues addressing the growth and development of a baby into a toddler. In one episode, Mr. Snuffleupagus recalls the time he took his first steps, and everyone takes turns remembering when they were young in a later show. The bicentennial of the Constitution of the United States is also celebrated with American-themed segments such as Kermit the Frog interviewing the confused colonists who partake in the Boston "T" Party, and Bob wondering what it was like to meet the people in his neighborhood from 200 years ago.
==Characters and segments==
Teenager Gina joins the cast in a few episodes, spending her first time on Sesame Street getting acquainted with the assorted Grouches, monsters, and Honkers that call it home. On the other side of the age spectrum is the elderly Professor D. Rabbit, a friend of Uncle Wally who used to be a magician's assistant. Sonny Friendly also makes the first of numerous appearances, eventually becoming the series' "traveling game show host," popping up everywhere and anywhere at any time - whether people like it or not. Telly finds comfort when he meets Juliet, a young monster who's just as worried about everything as he is. A few other characters are performed by Muppet newcomers David Rudman and Camille Bonora; Rudman performs ursine writer Flo Bear and the excitable Athena, a young owlet who hopes to follow in the performing footsteps of her grandfather Hoots. Bonora, toward the end of the season, performs a new celebrity Muppet parody: Meryl Sheep, who shows off her acting chops when playing Sleeping Beauty in a play written by the Count. The first of Sesame Street's many duck characters is featured as an assistant to the Amazing Mumford, though Mumford ends up making Maria quack like a duck instead.
Several of the established characters' roles are explored and expanded in different ways. With Big Bird becoming less naive than originally written, Elmo begins to fill the role of the precocious child always asking questions, appearing more frequently as an audience surrogate. Linda becomes the permanent owner of Barkley in an episode with guest star Andrea Martin, ensuring that the oversized dog will not get overfed and will be better behaved... at least once in a while. Hoots opens a new nightclub called Birdland, and despite its name Telly and Juliet learn that one doesn't have to be a bird in order to enjoy it.
Recurring segments introduced this season include: "The American Revolution," where the Sesame Street Muppets act out famous historical moments in a comical manner; Live from the Nest, a spoof on Live from the Metropolitan Opera hosted by Phil Harmonic and usually starring Placido Flamingo; the animated Detective Series; and Sky Dive Sal, whose landings always end in an unexpected manner (echoing the first season's Countdown series).
==Episodes==
Episodes 2226 - 2355 (130 episodes)
* Episode 2226 -- 18th season premiere; Miles' first birthday
* Episode 2227 -- Elmo sleeps over at Maria's apartment
* Episode 2228 -- Susan writes a letter to her parents
* Episode 2229 -- Elmo asks questions
* Episode 2230 -- It's a cold day on Sesame Street
* Episode 2231 -- How Oscar came to Sesame Street (repeat)
* Episode 2232 -- Having fun with a paper towel tube (repeat)
* Episode 2233 -- Linda's friend Ed visits (repeat)
* Episode 2234 -- The Martians cause trouble for Big Bird (repeat)
* Episode 2235 -- A day with Geri Jewell (repeat)
* Episode 2236 -- Oscar has a pet lobster. (repeat)
* Episode 2237 -- Mumford brings Cinderella to Sesame Street (repeat)
* Episode 2238 -- The Sesame Street Pet Show (repeat)
* Episode 2239 -- Oscar preps for the Pork Stakes race (repeat)
* Episode 2240 -- Telly becomes a firefighter (repeat)
* Episode 2241 -- Snuffy joins the Grouchketeers (repeat)
* Episode 2242 -- Two-Headed Monster at the library (repeat)
* Episode 2243 -- Big Bird stays up late (repeat)
* Episode 2244 -- Telly the detective (repeat)
* Episode 2245 -- Super Bird / Miss Trump dances (repeat)
* Episode 2246 -- Irvine crosses the street (repeat)
* Episode 2247 -- There's a blackout on Sesame Street (repeat)
* Episode 2248 -- Remembering Mr. Hooper / Oscar's stop sign (repeat)
* Episode 2249 -- The Grouch Of The Year Award (repeat)
* Episode 2250 -- Big Bird and Officer George look for Barkley (repeat)
* Episode 2251 -- Snuffy has the snuffle-flu
* Episode 2252 -- Slimey's new girlfriend
* Episode 2253 -- Gordon's class field trip
* Episode 2254 -- Elmo starts his own Fix-It Shop
* Episode 2255 -- Elmo hangs out with Luis/Dr. Nobel Price invents something original
* Episode 2256 -- Elmo names his doll after David
* Episode 2257 -- Luis gets glasses
* Episode 2258 -- Computer trouble
* Episode 2259 -- Barkley finds a home
* Episode 2260 -- Telly meets Juliet at Birdland
* Episode 2261 -- Telly and Juliet make a list of their worries
* Episode 2262
* Episode 2263 —- Snuffle Puppet Show about shapes
* Episode 2264 -- Pile Appreciation Day
* Episode 2265
* Episode 2266
* Episode 2267 -- The adults watch Snuffy as a baby
* Episode 2268 -- Big Bird's imaginary campout
* Episode 2269 -- Oscar moves to Candy Cane Lane
* Episode 2270
* Episode 2271 -- Elmo's new shoes
* Episode 2272 -- Elmo meets Robert Klein
* Episode 2273 -- Planning for the "My Best Friend Game Show"
* Episode 2274 -- The My Best Friend Game Show
* Episode 2275
* Episode 2276
* Episode 2277 -- Telly Vision
* Episode 2278
* Episode 2279 -- Dwayne the Dragon gets lost
* Episode 2280 -- Big Bird does something original
* Episode 2281
* Episode 2282 -- Dr. Nobel Price's new invention; The Count counts Maria's groceries
* Episode 2283 -- Telly and the Count play hide-and-seek
* Episode 2284
* Episode 2285
* Episode 2286
* Episode 2287
* Episode 2288 -- Bob's deaf friend / Singing out of tune
* Episode 2289 -- The Adventures of Senor Zero!
* Episode 2290 -- Take a Cowboy or Cowgirl to Lunch Day
* Episode 2291 -- The Count chases Maria
* Episode 2292 -- Placido Flamingo sings opera
* Episode 2293 -- Big Bird and Snuffy go exploring; Maria falls victim to the Amazing Mumford's trick
* Episode 2294
* Episode 2295 -- Linda trains Barkley
* Episode 2296 -- Playing baseball
* Episode 2297 —- Talking about fear
* Episode 2298
* Episode 2299
* Episode 2300
* Episode 2301 -- Transylvania Counting Day
* Episode 2302 -- Dr. Price looks for movies with canine appeal.
* Episode 2303 -- Professor Rabbit and Garbo
* Episode 2304 -- Olivia sings at Birdland
* Episode 2305
* Episode 2306 -- A day with Simon Soundman
* Episode 2307
* Episode 2308 -- Luis' missing watch
* Episode 2309
* Episode 2310 -- Mumford turns Gordon into a Grouch
* Episode 2311
* Episode 2312 -- Forgetful Jones and the sheep
* Episode 2313 -- When they were little
* Episode 2314
* Episode 2315
* Episode 2316
* Episode 2317 -- Placido Flamingo's Sesame Street opera
* Episode 2318
* Episode 2319 —- Big Bird and Snuffy adventure across the street
* Episode 2320
* Episode 2321
* Episode 2322
* Episode 2323
* Episode 2324
* Episode 2325
* Episode 2326 -- Miles' grandmother visits
* Episode 2327 -- Mr. Three-In-A-Row Smith plays Tic-Tac-Toe
* Episode 2328 -- Pete Seeger returns
* Episode 2329 -- David Attenbird studies Sesame Street
* Episode 2330
* Episode 2331
* Episode 2332
* Episode 2333 —- Spring on Sesame Street
* Episode 2334
* Episode 2335 —- A day with Gladys
* Episode 2336
* Episode 2337
* Episode 2338 —- The Count and Maria go camping
* Episode 2339
* Episode 2340 -- Big Bird runs
* Episode 2341 -- The Amazing Mumford reverses Maria's age
* Episode 2342
* Episode 2343
* Episode 2344
* Episode 2345 -- The Count's newspaper
* Episode 2346
* Episode 2347
* Episode 2348
* Episode 2349 -- Remembering with Forgetful Jones
* Episode 2350 -- Grouch Airlines
* Episode 2351 —- Elmo forms a Three-Headed Monster
* Episode 2352 -- The Count's "Sleeping Beauty"
* Episode 2353 —- Sign language at the library
* Episode 2354
* Episode 2355 -- 18th season finale
==Notes==
* This was Eddie Castrodad's final season as Piri, who only appears in a couple of episodes.
* The additions to math literacy for this year's curriculum focus coincides with the debut of CTW's math-based program for older kids - Square One TV - in January of 1987.
==Cast==
;Cast
:Linda Bove, Northern Calloway, Emilio Delgado, Loretta Long, Sonia Manzano, Bill McCutcheon, Bob McGrath, Roscoe Orman, Alaina Reed (Uncredited: Alison Bartlett, Micki Barnett, Eddie Castrodad, Miles Orman, Loretta Tupper)
;Muppet Performers
:Caroll Spinney, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson, Martin P. Robinson, Kevin Clash, Pam Arciero, Fred Garbo, Bryant Young, David Rudman, M. Elizabeth Houston, Jim Henson (Uncredited: Camille Bonora, Fran Brill, Jim Kroupa, Noel MacNeal)
;Guest Stars
:June Angela, Tichina Arnold, Thomas Barbour, John Candy, Bill Cobbs, Celia Cruz, Danny DeVito, Naseer El-Kadi, Shawn Elliott, Frances Foster, Four Tops, Anita Gillette, Keith Hernandez, I.M. Hobson, Robert Klein, Patti LaBelle, Pete Seeger, Joe Williams, Mookie Wilson
===Characters===
;Humans
:Gordon, Susan, Maria, Luis, Linda, Bob, David, Uncle Wally, Miles, Mr. Macintosh, Olivia, Micki, Piri, Miss Trump, Gina
;Muppets
:Anything Muppets, the Amazing Mumford, Athena, Barkley, Bert, Biff, The Big Bad Wolf, Big Bird, Buster the Horse, Chip and Dip, Clementine, Cookie Monster, Count von Count, Dingers, Don Music, Dr. Nobel Price, Ducks, Dwayne, Elmo, Ernie, Ferlinghetti Donizetti, Flo Bear, Fluffy, Forgetful Jones, Garbo, Gilbert and Sullivan, Gladys the Cow, Grandpa Grouch, Grover, Grundgetta, Guy Smiley, Herry Monster, Honkers, Hoots the Owl, Irvine, Juliet, Kermit the Frog, Leo the Party Monster, Little Bird, the Martians, Meryl Sheep, Miami Mice, Baby Natasha, The Oinker Sisters, Old MacDonald, Oscar the Grouch, Placido Flamingo, Prairie Dawn, Professor D. Rabbit, Shelley the Turtle, Sherlock Hemlock, Simon Soundman, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Slimey, Sonny Friendly, Sully, Telly Monster, The Three Little Pigs, The Twiddlebugs, Two-Headed Monster
==Credits==
*Executive Producer: Dulcy Singer
*Producer: Lisa Simon
*Directors: Jon Stone, Lisa Simon, Emily Squires
*Head Writer: Norman Stiles
*Writers: Nancy Sans, Luis Santeiro, Cathi Rosenberg-Turow, Jeffrey Moss, Sonia Manzano, Mark Saltzman, Belinda Ward, David Korr, Sara Compton, Tom Dunsmuir, Tony Geiss, Emily Perl Kingsley (Uncredited: Christian Clark, Lloyd Garver, Michael McCarthy)
*Music Director: Joe Raposo
*Supervising Film Producer: Edith Zornow
*Associate Producer: Arlene Sherman
*Muppets by: Caroly Wilcox and Kermit Love, with Richard Termine, David Velasquez, Robert Flanagan, Mark Zeszotek
*Music Coordinator: Danny Epstein
*Assistant Music Director: Dave Conner
*Production Supervisor: Frieda Lipp
*Editing Supervisor: Robert J. Emerick
*Associate Directors: Niles Goodsite, Eulogio Ortiz Jr., Robert J. Emerick, Diane Mitchell
*Production Designer: Victor DiNapoli
*Costume Designer: Bill Kellard
*Graphic Artist: Sam McLean
*Set Decorator: Nat Mongioi
*Production Stage Manager: Chet O'Brien
*Stage Manager: Mortimer J. O'Brien
*Curriculum Coordinator: Joseph M. Catalano
*Production Assistants: Diane Mitchell, Cheryl Ann Jung, Rudy Vallecillo
*Assistant to the Producers: Danette DeSena
*Script Coordinator: Thelma Moses
*Child Talent Coordinator: Carol D. Mayes
*Unit Manager: Eleanor McIntosh
*Technical Director: Ralph Mensch
*Lighting Director: Dick Weiss
*Sound Effects: Dick Maitland
*Audio: Blake Norton
*Cameras: Frank Biondo, Arnold Giordano, Jerry Gruen
*Videotape Editor: Evamarie Keller
*Make-Up: Lee Halls
*Hair Stylist: Karen Specht
*Wardrobe: Grisha Mynova
*Chairman, Board of Advisors: Gerald Lesser, Ph.D.
*Vice President for Research: Keith Mielke, Ph.D.
*Director of Research: Valeria Lovelace, Ph.D.
*Curriculum Specialist: Margarita Perez
*Vice Presidents for Production: David D. Connell, Al Hyslop
*Recorded at Reeves Teletape III
==Sources==
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