Season 9 (1977-1978)

thumb|300px|Ray Charles makes an appearance this season, as does Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, and Mummenschanz.
thumb|300px|Madeline Kahn, who sings Sing After Me with Grover.
Sesame Street Season 9 aired from November 28, 1977, to May 26, 1978.
==Overview==
The season's special topic focuses on cultural diversity via a multi-week story arc that sees the cast visit Buffy Sainte-Marie at her home on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Director Jon Stone explains, "Going to Hawaii was very good for us because it is a multi-ethnic society and one that provides an ocean-oriented milieu that we have never had on the series."Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New Avenues For 'Sesame Street' Three of the children who participated in the Hawaii shows are direct descendants of King Kaumualii, and two are descendants of King Kamehameha."'Sesame Street' films shows in Hawaii," Boca Raton News, January 13, 1978.
The curriculum also emphasizes on higher-order reading skills such as verbal blending and letter sounds. Examples include Muppet kid Farley learning how to sound out words via song, and a series of animations in which a man attempts to read out or unscramble words on signs, with each instance ending comically. Expanding from lessons included the previous year, this season features basic principles of health and nutrition, dental care, and personal hygiene. Different methods are used throughout to portray these lessons, such as Big Bird trying apples and pumpernickel breadcrumbs, a cartoon by Bruce Cayard in which a king refuses to take a bath, and Guy Smiley hosting an episode of Here Is Your Life where the guest of honor is an anthropomorphic tooth.
Pre-science skills are introduced with segments such as He, She and It, which explains how common devices and tools are made and how they work. The adventures of the diminutive Thelma Thumb also explores the environment from a different perspective, as well as problem-solving skills. Billy Jo Jive and his partner Smart Susie Sunset have their own way of investigation as a pair of young, street-savvy detectives.
==Characters and segments==
The cast and Muppets are joined by several new characters, in addition to building on those already established. A previously-unnamed cow who has appeared from time to time is given the name Gladys; her backstory includes wanting to become an actress after living the simple life on the farm. A story read by Olivia stars the Two-Headed Monster, who sometimes has difficulty in trying to cooperate. (The following year they will help out on expanding pre-reading skills and other topics.) Bert introduces his nephew Brad, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his uncle, and a girl named Georgie overcomes her shyness when she meets Oscar the Grouch. For two episodes, the cast meets a giant full-body dog character named Woof Woof (later renamed Barkley). On the non-Muppet side, Mr. Ortiz begins the first of several appearances, usually helping out at Hooper's Store; his inclusion helps shows viewers the relationships of those who may speak a different language most of the time.
Along with these characters, the lives of the Sesame Street residents are further explored with the inclusion of new sets, helping to increase the realism of their world and connect it to the viewer's own surroundings. For the first time, both the roof and basement of 123 Sesame Street are seen, as is the living room of Gordon and Susan; previously, all that was seen of it was the kitchen area. Maria's apartment is also briefly seen when Buffy stays with her for a few days (in one case her son Cody leaves his artwork all over the place). Mr. Hooper's home is visited in Episode 1155 when he invites Mr. Ortiz to stay for a while, while a couple of segments take place in Ernie and Bert's kitchen. Finally, one episode takes the viewer underground and sees the cast taking the subway - a pleasant spot for Oscar given the noise of the trains.
Aside from the previously-mentioned segments, a touch of higher-class entertainment makes its first appearance this season: Monsterpiece Theater, as hosted by the sometimes urbane (and always hungry) Alistair Cookie. The series of Consonant Sound animations by Jeff Hale also tackle letters of the alphabet, usually via limericks or other kinds of poems.
==Episodes==
Episodes 1056 - 1185 (130 episodes)
* Episode 1056 -- 9th season premiere, Bert's marching band; Oscar's cooking show; Grover drives
* Episode 1057 -- Big Bird and Snuffy wash the dishes for David
* Episode 1058 -- Mr. Hooper wants to stay young
* Episode 1059 -- The Count distracts Maria by exercising
* Episode 1060 -- Olivia's bad day; The Count counts angry people
* Episode 1061 -- Maria and the kids help Oscar complete his poems about noise
* Episode 1062 -- Big Bird gives Mr. Hooper a present
* Episode 1063 -- Children help Big Bird feed his bird friends
* Episode 1064 -- Signing with Linda and Timi
* Episode 1065 -- The garden on the roof
* Episode 1066 -- Oscar has a sale
* Episode 1067 -- The Count is left in charge of Hooper's Store
* Episode 1068 -- Bert babysits nephew Brad
* Episode 1069 -- David's grandmother helps Oscar write a love poem
* Episode 1070 -- Oscar falls in love with Hermine
* Episode 1071 -- Big Bird and Luis design a birdhouse
* Episode 1072 -- Linda uses a machine to call her father on the phone
* Episode 1073 -- Herry Monster is visited by his sister Herriet
* Episode 1074 -- The Count counts containers of milk
* Episode 1075 -- Mr. Hooper is going to a discotheque.
* Episode 1076 -- Buffy invites her friends to visit her in Hawaii
* Episode 1077 -- Mr. Snuffleupagus is homesick for Hawaii
* Episode 1078 -- Mr. Hooper invents "hooperburgers" 
* Episode 1079 -- The Big Trip game show
* Episode 1080 -- Bob learns to express emotions through sign language
* Episode 1081 -- Susan and Gordon have an argument
* Episode 1082 -- Big Bird packs for his trip to Hawaii
* Episode 1083 -- Gordon tries to start his car
* Episode 1084 -- Oscar's total grouch exercises
* Episode 1085
* Episode 1086 -- Big Bird pretends to be a fireman
* Episode 1087 -- The bookmobile stops at Sesame Street
* Episode 1088
* Episode 1089 -- It rains on Sesame Street on the day before leaving for Hawaii
* Episode 1090 -- Hawaii Day 1 – Big Bird and his friends take a trip to Hawaii
* Episode 1091 -- Hawaii Day 2 – The gang arrives in Hawaii; Big Bird hears the legend of the Snuffleupagus Mountain
* Episode 1092 -- Hawaii Day 3 – Big Bird and Snuffy search for the Snuffleupagus Mountain
* Episode 1093 -- Hawaii Day 4 – Big Bird and Snuffy continue searching for the Snuffleupagus Mountain
* Episode 1094 -- Hawaii Day 5 – Big Bird and Snuffy find the Snuffleupagus Mountain at last
* Episode 1095 -- Hawaii Day 6 – Last day in Hawaii
* Episode 1096 -- Returning from Hawaii
* Episode 1097 -- Oscar launches a rocket
* Episode 1098 -- Mr. Hooper hires Mr. Ortiz, a Spanish-speaking helper
* Episode 1099
* Episode 1100 -- Gordon and Big Bird use a telescope
* Episode 1101 -- Big Bird makes wooden snowflakes (repeat)
* Episode 1102 -- Big Bird plans for snow (repeat)
* Episode 1103 -- A Muppet is hired to shovel snow (repeat)
* Episode 1104 -- David puts up a bulletin board (repeat)
* Episode 1105 -- Big Bird wants to stop noise pollution; Oscar's frammis (repeat)
* Episode 1106 -- Headline Howie gets the scoop on Snuffy (repeat)
* Episode 1107 -- Big Bird runs for president (repeat)
* Episode 1108 -- Oscar and the kids pretend to be in the Old West; Big Bird is sick (repeat)
* Episode 1109 -- Mr. Hooper goes to the hospital for a checkup (repeat)
* Episode 1110 -- Luis yells at Herry Monster (repeat)
* Episode 1111 -- The Count forgets a number (repeat)
* Episode 1112 -- The Amazing Mumford makes Sesame Street disappear (repeat)
* Episode 1113 -- Sam the Machine tries to prove he has feelings (repeat)
* Episode 1114 -- Super Grover helps David close Hooper's Store (repeat)
* Episode 1115 -- Mr. Hooper goes back to school (repeat)
* Episode 1116
* Episode 1117 -- Big Bird goes to the library
* Episode 1118 -- Oscar's Grouchketeer meeting
* Episode 1119 -- Luis trades junk with Oscar
* Episode 1120 -- Woodrow Woodpecker visits Big Bird
* Episode 1121 -- Mr. Snuffleupagus cleans his pajamas
* Episode 1122 -- Luis teaches Herry how to use different tools
* Episode 1123 -- Mr. Hooper's new frying pan
* Episode 1124 -- Cody keeps making a mess
* Episode 1125 -- Gordon and Susan accidentally lock themselves out of 123 Sesame Street; Cody makes a mess in Oscar's trash can
* Episode 1126 -- David delivers a sandwich to Maria
* Episode 1127 -- Cody receives a teddy bear and a sweater
* Episode 1128
* Episode 1129 -- Susan babyproofs her apartment for Cody
* Episode 1130 -- Maria dislikes David's new mustache
* Episode 1131 -- Big Bird's block tower
* Episode 1132 -- Big Bird learns about child care
* Episode 1133 -- Bob's piano playing disturbs Mr. Hooper
* Episode 1134 -- Bob and Luis prepare cereal
* Episode 1135 -- Oscar buys every cleaning item in Hooper's Store
* Episode 1136 -- Mr. Hooper babysits Cody
* Episode 1137 -- Oscar's important message
* Episode 1138 -- Big Bird tries to amuse Cody
* Episode 1139 -- A day at the subway
* Episode 1140 -- Children pretend to ride in different types of transportation 
* Episode 1141 -- Cookie Monster outsmarts Maria, and Big Bird can't sleep
* Episode 1142 -- Herry gives Cody unusual toys
* Episode 1143 -- Buffy and Cody leave Sesame Street
* Episode 1144 -- David and Oscar's ventriloquist dummies
* Episode 1145 -- Mumford works at Hooper's Store
* Episode 1146 -- Big Bird's "One Way" journey
* Episode 1147 -- Gordon tries to start his car
* Episode 1148 -- James Earl Jones visits Sesame Street
* Episode 1149 -- Oscar calls a veterinarian for his pet worm
* Episode 1150 -- Maria and Olivia repair a bike
* Episode 1151 -- Big Bird gets jealous of Gordon's niece
* Episode 1152
* Episode 1153
* Episode 1154 -- Up on the roof
* Episode 1155 -- Mr. Ortiz stays with Mr. Hooper
* Episode 1156 -- Susan washes her car
* Episode 1157 -- Playing the Mirror Game
* Episode 1158
* Episode 1159 -- Big Bird tries to use a washing machine
* Episode 1160 -- Luis and his friends leave for New Mexico (repeat)
* Episode 1161 -- Big Bird arrives at the ranch in New Mexico and makes friends with the animals (repeat)
* Episode 1162 -- Oscar tries to get comfortable at the New Mexico ranch. (repeat)
* Episode 1163 -- At the New Mexico ranch, Big Bird misses Mr. Snuffleupagus (repeat)
* Episode 1164 -- Big Bird, Maria and Buffy visit the Taos Pueblo (repeat)
* Episode 1165 -- Big Bird wants to help build the new house at the New Mexico ranch (repeat)
* Episode 1166 -- Big Bird wants to know what he's best at (repeat)
* Episode 1167 -- Big Bird tries to run away
* Episode 1168 -- David remembers a childhood dance
* Episode 1169 -- Oscar uses measuring tools
* Episode 1170 -- Big Bird collects round objects; Oscar has termites
* Episode 1171
* Episode 1172 -- Big Bird loses a contest
* Episode 1173
* Episode 1174 -- A man wants to cut down the tree on the block
* Episode 1175 -- Oscar rents out his can
* Episode 1176
* Episode 1177 -- Woof Woof meets the residents of Sesame Street
* Episode 1178 -- Oscar watches Georgie
* Episode 1179
* Episode 1180
* Episode 1181 -- Big Bird identifies sounds with his eyes closed
* Episode 1182 -- Oscar forms trashcan towers and singing groups
* Episode 1183 -- Oscar tries to replace his trash can lid
* Episode 1184 -- Woof Woof counts; Big Bird plays limbo
* Episode 1185 -- 9th season finale; another visit from David's grandmother
==Notes==
* This is Sam Pottle's final season as music director. Pottle passed away shortly after this season finished airing. However, a number of songs composed by Pottle prior to his passing would debut the next season.
==Cast==
;Cast
:Linda Bove, Northern Calloway, Emilio Delgado, Will Lee, Loretta Long, Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath, Roscoe Orman, Alaina Reed, Buffy Sainte-Marie Wolfchild
;Jim Henson's Muppets
:Caroll Spinney, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt (Uncredited: Fran Brill, Peter Friedman, Olga Felgemacher, Bob Payne, Toby Towson)
;Guest Stars
:Keola Beamer, Winona Beamer, Richard Belzer, Victor Borge, Ray Charles, Michael Christensen and Paul Binder, The Deadly Nightshade, Linda Delgado, Brian Doyle-Murray, Judy Finelli, Ron Howard, James Earl Jones, Madeline Kahn, George "Boogie" Kalama, Mummenschanz, Paul Simon, Henry Winkler
===Characters===
;Humans
:Linda, David, Luis, Mr. Hooper, Susan, Maria, Bob, Gordon, Olivia, Buffy, Mr. Macintosh, Willy
;Muppets
:The Amazing Mumford, Bert, Biff, Big Bird, Brad, Bruce, Cookie Monster, Count von Count, Don Music, Ernie, Farley, Fred the Wonder Horse, Georgie, Gladys the Cow, Grover, Guy Smiley, Harvey Monster, Herry Monster, Mr. Johnson, Kermit the Frog, Little Bird, Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats, Maurice Monster, Mommy Snuffleupagus, Oscar the Grouch, Prairie Dawn, Rodeo Rosie, Same Sound Brown, Simon Soundman, Slimey, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Sully, Two-Headed Monster, Woof Woof
==Credits==
thumb|300px|credit crawl
*Executive Producer: Jon Stone
*Producers: Dulcy Singer, Al Hyslop
*Directors: Jon Stone, Bob Schwarz, Jimmy Baylor
*Writers: Judy Freudberg, Ray Sipherd, Emily Perl Kingsley, David Korr, Tony Geiss, Sara Compton
*Music Director: Sam Pottle
*Original Muppets by: Donald Sahlin, Kermit Love
*Current Muppets by: Caroly Wilcox, John Lovelady
*Supervising Film Producer: Edith Zornow
*Associate Producer: Lisa Simon
*Director of Operations: Ronald L. Weaver
*Production Supervisors: Frieda Lipp, Robert M. Dahl
*Music Coordinator: Danny Epstein
*Post Production Supervisor / 2nd Unit Director: Ozzie Alfonso
*Associate Director: Emily Squires
*Assistant to the Producer: Amy Hutchings
*Production Assistants: Selvin Evans, Joseph Catalano, Charles Gibson, Diane Mitchell, Thelma Moses, Mercedes Polanco
*Production Secretary: Sharen Gay
*Art Director: Alan J. Compton
*Production Stage Manager: Chet O'Brien
*Stage Managers: Jimmy Baylor, Mortimer J. O'Brien
*Set Decorator: Nat Mongioi
*Costume Designer: Bill Kellard, Domingo Rodriguez
*Graphic Artist: Gerri Brioso
*Senior Scenic Artist: Victor DiNapoli
*Film Editor: Mike Breddan
*Technical Advisor: Walt Rauffer
*Unit Manager: Glenda Jones
*Technical Director: Ralph Mensch
*Lighting Directors: George Riesenberger, Dick Weiss, Tony DiGirolamo
*Sound Effects: Dick Maitland, Roy Carch
*Audio: Jay Judell, Blake Norton, Mike Shoskes
*Video: Bryan Keen
*Videotape Editors: Vincent Sims, Jack Langan
*Make-Up: Mickey Scott
*Hair Stylist: Mickey Lawrence
*Wardrobe: Grisha Mynova
*Curriculum Coordinator: Robert Emerick
*Vice President of Research: Edward L. Palmer, Ph.D.
*Associate Director of Research: Lewis Bernstein
*Chairman, Board of Advisors: Gerald Lesser, Ph.D.
*Creative Consultant: Jon Stone
*Vice President for Production: David D. Connell
*Recorded at Reeves Teletape 81 St. Studio
*Remote and Video Facilities by Compact Video Systems, Inc. (1095)
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
 09