A Celebration of Me, Grover

A Celebration of Me, Grover is a 2004 Sesame Street direct-to-video special honoring Grover and his many deeds as a public servant. His friends have gathered for a Flyer's Club Roost, and the framing sequence is peppered with classic clips covering Grover's diverse career.
A tie-in music album, also titled A Celebration of Me, Grover, was released in conjunction with the DVD. A Grover Matching Game appears as a feature on the DVD. The video was included as a bonus feature on Being Brave.
==Segments==
Image	Segment 	Description
 	FRAME 1 	An announcer introduces today’s festivities at The Flyer’s Club Roost (“The party that’s for the birds!”). Big Bird, the emcee, opens with a joke. He then announces that Super Grover'll be awarded the Golden Flyer Award for being the Flyer’s Club “Frequent Flying of the Year”. Big Bird then explains that the party's a roost, which means they say nice things, unlike a roast. The mention of the word “roast” makes a nearby chicken freak out, which Oscar uses to his advantage.
 	FRAME 1 cont'd	Big Bird brings up how hard working Grover is. Everyone pays tribute to his multitude of careers by singing “Grover Work Song” over a montage of his assorted jobs.
 	FRAME 1 cont'd	Mr. Johnson wonders why he showed up to the banquet, when Waiter Grover appears to take his order. When asked why he’s working at his own banquet, Grover remarks “I gotta make a living.” He brings Mr. Johnson the fish, who tells him to eat the steak instead.
 	FRAME 1 cont'd	Big Bird mentions how great a flyer Super Grover is, being able to fly over, under, around and through things. But of course, he practices...
 	Muppets 	Grover sings "Over, Under, Around and Through."New sound effects added
 	FRAME 2 	Elmo, dressed in telegram deliver outfit, delivers a singing telegram from Dorothy about Grover, who taught Elmo how to perform such a task.
 	Muppets 	Grover trains Elmo to deliver singing telegrams. He goes to Mr. Johnson's apartment to show Elmo how it's done, but gives Mr. Johnson the wrong telegram. Mr. Johnson's angry, because the telegram's noted as being from his mommy in Cincinnati, while Johnson claims his mommy's in Chicago. Elmo decides to deliver the same telegram but state that it's from his mom in Chicago, and Mr. Johnson tells Elmo to come back anytime (without Grover).
 	FRAME 3 	Bert gives his reason for liking Grover: he's friendly. He recalls when they first met, he said to him "How do you do?" Ernie wonders where he learned that...
 	Muppets 	Lena Horne sings "How Do You Do?" to Grover.
 	FRAME 4 	Big Bird asks Oscar to say something nice about Grover. He remarks how bad Super Grover's flying is, but loves the way he lands!
 	Montage 	A montage of various crash landings by Super Grover, leading to a sketch...
 	Muppets 	Super Grover crash-lands inside an apartment, and when he sees that the lamp light's on, he decides that he needs to save energy by turning off the lamp. His method to turning off the lamp is blowing the light out, but a girl just turns off the switch.Intro cut
 	FRAME 5 	Big Bird announces it's almost time to present the award. Grover must make a hasty exit to a telephone booth. Mr. Johnson still wants dinner, however, and orders what another lady bird's having. Grover literally complies and asks a duck for directions.
 	FRAME 5 cont'd	Cookie Monster steps up to the podium now to deliver his speech about Grover's neglected profession: actor. He almost eats the trophy while demonstrating, but eats his speech instead.
 	Muppets 	Monsterpiece Theater: The King and IModified version of second intro used, Alistair Cookie scenes cut, but some dialogue from his intro remains in voice-over, New sound effects added
 	FRAME 6 	Roger Ebert gives his own personal review of the film.
 	FRAME 6 cont'd	Big Bird brings in three kids, who name why they like Grover.
 	Montage 	A montage of various scenes featuring Grover and kids set to an instrumental version of "Me."Additional sound effects added in some clips
 	FRAME 7 	Grover waits for the Elephant to finish using the telephone booth. However, he's unable to free himself. Grover helps pull and ends up sending them both flying and crashes on top of Grover.
 	FRAME 7 cont'd	It's Zoe's turn to speak. Before she gives her speech, she and a duck named Igor do a brief version of the kids' ballet, Duck Pond. She then claims she likes Grover because he likes to dance too.
 	Muppets 	"ABC Disco"Intro and closing cut; new sound effects added
 	FRAME 8 	Mr. Johnson (referred to by Big Bird as "Mr. Blue") agrees to say something nice about Grover. However, he has a hard time, since Grover always gives him trouble no matter where he is.
 	Muppets 	Grover attempts to sell Mr. Johnson a wig, but when he finally finds one that suits him, it turns out to be a guinea pig.New sound effects added
 	FRAME 9 	It's time to present the award, but Grover's not around. Meanwhile, he tries to open the phone booth, until Maya shows him how to use the door's handle. He makes a quick change into Super Grover and flies off to the banquet (with a helping push from Maya).
 	FRAME 9 cont'd	A lady bird alerts everyone that Super Grover's coming. He smashes through the roof and lands on Mr. Johnson. He's given the trophy and a feather in his cap, making him proud. Everyone sings "Proud of Me" for him while he flies around the ballroom. He makes another crash landing on the podium, but's alright.
==Gallery==
Production photos:
CelebGrover-BBSG.jpg
CelebGrover-BE.jpg
CelebGrover-ElmoZoePenguin.jpg
CelebGrover-BECM.jpg
CelebGrover-MrJohnson.jpg
==ProductionTony Geiss papers at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University==
Development for a Grover-themed home video had begun years prior. Writer Tony Geiss previously devised a game show-based theme to showcase Grover's many jobs. When the "Global Grover" segments came about, renewed interest in the video came up to capitalize on Grover's enhanced presence on the show.
Further ideas were suggested, such as an event at Kennedy Monster Center, a Charlie Rose-style interview, or a release titled "Super Grover's Super Hits." By November 2002, the video was pitched as a "Monster Friar's Club Roast," hosted by Elmo, Zoe, Telly, and the Two-Headed Monster, along with special guests Mr. Johnson, Captain Vegetable, the letter G, and live celebrities. By the time full production began, the club was given an avian theme instead.
With a finalized concept and script in place, production on the framing scenes took place during the week of January 26, 2004.
==Releases==
Image:CelebrationMeGroverVHS.jpg|2004Sony WonderLV 55327
Image:Celebrationgrover.jpg|2004Sony WonderLVD 55327
File:Newcelebrationofmegrover.jpg|2009Genius Entertainment (front)
File:CelebrationofMeGrover2009backcover.jpg|2009Genius Entertainment (back)
Image:Noimage-big.png|2010Warner Home Video
Grover USB.jpg|2010ATP
BeingBrave.jpg|Warner Home VideoBonus feature
Acelebrationofmegrovercookiemonstersbestbites.jpg|2006ABC Video for KidsDouble feature with Cookie Monster's Best Bites
IloveGrover Aus DVD.jpg|2014ABC Video for KidsDouble feature with Happy Healthy Monsters
Acelebrationofmegroverasianvcd.jpg|2006Berjaya HVNcat. no 614939
Susam-sokagi-acikgoz-icin-ozel-bir-kutlama.jpg|Tiglon
==Characters==
*Linking Footage
::Grover, Big Bird, Elmo, Zoe, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Mr. Johnson, Oscar the Grouch, Grover's Mommy, The Amazing Mumford, Fred the Wonder Horse, Frank the Elephant, Penguin, Mel, Ralphie, Dorothy, Poco Loco, Turkey Conductor, Chickens, Ducks, Birdnardo Birdtolucci, Anything Muppets
*Inserts
::Grover, Mr. Johnson, Kermit the Frog, Telly Monster, Harvey Monster, Stuie Monster, Maurice Monster, Elmo, Anything Muppets
==Cast==
*Starring The Muppets of Sesame Street:
**Eric Jacobson as Grover and Bert
**Caroll Spinney as Big Bird and Oscar
**Kevin Clash as Elmo
**Steve Whitmire as Ernie
**Fran Brill as Zoe
**David Rudman as Cookie Monster
**and Jerry Nelson as Fat Blue Customer
**with Muppet Performers: Joseph Mazzarino, Matt Vogel, Carmen Osbahr, Pam Arciero, Jim Martin, John Kennedy, Jennifer Barnhart, Paul McGinnis, Peter Linz, Neil McNally, Lisa Buckley, Jim Kroupa, Michael Lisa
*Special Guest Cameos: Roger Ebert, Lena Horne
*Segment Performers: Alice Dinnean, Jane Henson, Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, Camille Kampouris, Noel MacNeal, Alison Mork, Kathryn Mullen, Robert Payne, Martin P. Robinson, John Tartaglia, and Frank Oz
==Credits==
*Producer: Dionne Nosek
*Directed by Kevin Clash
*Written by Tony Geiss
*Co-Producer: Kevin Clash
*Music Director: Mike Renzi
*Production Designer: Victor DiNapoli
*Lighting Designer: Dan Kelley
*Costume Designer: Bill Kellard
*Senior Muppet Consultant: Kevin Clash
*Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop: Jason Weber, Rollin Krewson, Connie Peterson, Polly P. Smith, Sarah Luraschi, Michael Schupbach, Jane Pien
*Associate Director: Ken Diego
*Stage Manager: Adam Matalon
*"Grover Work Song" Music and Lyrics by Tony Geiss
*"Proud of Me" Music and Lyrics by Sam Pottle, Carol Hall
*Vocal Coach: Dave Conner
*Music Coordinator: Danny Epstein
*Sound Effects: Dick Maitland
*Segment Directors: Lisa Simon, Emily Squires, Jon Stone
*Segment Writers: Judy Freudberg, Cathi Rosenberg-Turow
*Segment Music: Cheryl Hardwich, Joseph Raposo
*Video Engineer: Tom Guadarrama
*Audio: Blake Norton, Carla Bandini-Lory, Steve Watson
*Camera: Frank Biondo, Jimmy O'Donnell, Jerry Cancel
*Utilities: Gordon Price, Chuck Tutino, Jason Zampino
*Set Decorator: Nat Mongioi
*Production Assistants: Lauren Macey, Mindy Fila, Catherine Kwan, Elysa Marden, Ellen Tam
*Vice President, Education and Research, Sesame Workshop: Rosemarie T. Truglio, Ph.D.
*For The Jim Henson Company: Jill Colley, Janelle Courts, Joey Roddy
*For Sesame Workshop: Fay Corinotis, Ray Hammerman, Meredith Halpern, Heather Hanssen, Sharon Lyew, Peter MacKennan, Tamra Seldin, Richard Siegmeister
*Very Special Thanks to Frank Oz
==Sources==
Footnotes
==External links==
* Tough Pigs Journal: A Celebration of Him
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Category:Sesame Street Video
Category:Sesame Street Direct-to-Video