Episode 3358

Picture	Segment 	Description
 	COLD OPEN 	Monster on the Spot reporter Telly is covering a disturbance in the alphabet (as represented in this episode by a pile of large alphabet blocks). The letter Z (Camille Bonora) is sick of being the last letter of the alphabet and wants to be first. Telly points out that A is first, to which the letter A (Peter Linz) agrees and asks Z to be a "good letter" and go back to the end of the alphabet where she belongs. Z refuses to comply, and Telly tells the viewers not to worry as he segues to the opening theme song.
 	SCENE 1 	The letters continue to bicker as Maria, Lindsay, and Thea arrive, having heard the news. The letter A insists that everyone knows he's the first letter in the alphabet, and he has the kids sing "The Alphabet Song" to prove his point. Z suggests changing the alphabet, but Maria says that then everyone would have to learn it all over again. Besides, A likes where he is and doesn't want to budge. The letter Z starts sobbing that she'll never get to be first, so Maria tells Z that just because she can't be first in the alphabet doesn't mean she can't be the first letter of a word. Z likes this idea and decides to quit the alphabet altogether! "Why be last when I can be first?" she says before leaving. A shocked Telly Monster advises viewers "DON'T PANIC!" as he promises to get Z back.
 	Film 	Kids sing the alphabet on an island.
 	Muppets 	Prairie Dawn and Cookie Monster demonstrate first and last with cookies, but Cookie Monster is hesitant to eat the last cookie because he thinks it’s the last cookie in the world.
 	Animation 	The word EGGS is shown, followed by eggs frying in a skillet.
 	SCENE 2 	Telly reports from Hooper's Store, where the letter Z declares that she will never be the last letter again. She denies Telly's pleas to rejoin the alphabet, and instead has her mind set on being the first letter in the word "eggs." Mr. Handford disagrees, pointing out that E is first in his "EGGS" sign. Z places herself in front of the word anyway, which now reads "ZEGGS." Telly argues that "zeggs" isn't a word when a Muppet woman (Julianne Buescher) enters the store and orders a couple of zeggs, just as the sign now says. Mr. Handford tells her they don't have any zeggs, so she heads off to the zupermarket for some. The letter Z decides to catch up with her ("Last one there is a rotten zegg!") as Telly follows in pursuit.
 	Animation 	Z / z Gregorian chant
 	Muppets 	Kermit's Lectures: Kermit talks about the letter Z, but it turns up and becomes an N.
 	Cartoon 	"Poverty Z" -- A figure tries to sell a Z. His only customer stops him by locking him inside a zoo cage.Artist: Cliff Roberts
 	Song 	"Around and Around"
 	Cartoon 	A wizard walks through a door. A boy in pajamas tries to imitate him without success.
 	Muppets / Cast 	Maria, Big Bird, Oscar and The Count sing "Happy Birthday to Me."
 	Animation 	Stop-motion representation of "Happy Birthday," with balloons, gummi bears, glitter, etc.
 	Cartoon 	Autumn leaves form a capital "N" and lowercase "n."
 	Film 	The floating kids form a letter N.
 	Cartoon 	"Lowercase n"
 	Film / Animation 	A class makes up a story about a fish named Billy, which is told through animation based on the kids' drawings.
 	Muppets 	
 	Cartoon 	Number Guy: ‘’’How Many Elephants Can You Fit in a Room?’’’ The answer is 4.
 	Animation 	Four butterflies fly across a film of a waterfall.
 	Animation 	Egyptian figures illustrate the number 4.
 	Film / Animation 	Oranges are peeled and sliced in stop-motion, and some kids eat them. (new audio)
 	SCENE 3 	Telly reports that Z has just made up her own alphabet, which makes her not only the first letter but every letter as well. She proceeds to sing "The Alphabet Song" with every letter replaced with Z. Telly and the kids halfheartedly join in as she sings a second time, but the kids lose interest and leave partway through. Telly explains that it's not fun just singing the same letter over and over. Z sees his point and starts to miss all her letter friends. Telly suggests that she return to the alphabet, and while she may not be first, she'll be with her friends again. The Z agrees and goes to ask for her old job back.
 	Cartoon 	Two alpine climbers hike up a letter Z and stake a claim on it.
 	Muppets 	Over the Top sing "ZZ Blues."
 	Cartoon 	Two white squares try to push a great big object and are reluctant to let a black square join them at first.Artist: Fred Garbers
 	Film 	Children in Jamaica learn how to make their own tie-dyed shirts.
 	Cartoon 	A paranoid bird doesn't like to be surprised ... unless it's a surprise party.Artist: John Korty
 	Muppets / Celebrity	Tim Robbins and Elmo talk about surprise.
 	Cartoon 	A girl explains why she likes the poet Grubby Groo.Artist: Mo Willems
 	Cast 	Savion sings the “Rhyming Tap Rap."
 	Muppets 	The Two-Headed Monster spells the word TAP, then tap-dances away.
 	Cartoon 	Anansi the Spider tells the story of how the sun and the moon came to live in the sky.
 	Film 	Joe Raposo sings "Dressed Up."
 	Muppets 	
 	Animation 	Teeny Little Super Guy finds his friend Jane giving up on learning to ride the eggbeater. He tells her that it takes time and practice to learn things, and gives Jane some training beaters to help her keep her balance.Artist: Paul Fierlinger
 	Cartoon 	A flea sets up camp on a dog.Artist: Bruce Cayard
 	Film 	Wegman's dogs form all the letters of the alphabet.
 	SCENE 4 	The kids sing "The Alphabet Song" once more, with Z back in her proper place. Telly interviews Z afterwards, who now doesn't mind being last in the alphabet and remembers that she starts lots of words (even mentioning zeggs). Telly concludes that everything is back to normal... until Z reconsiders and thinks maybe she could be in the middle of the alphabet instead. She sings the alphabet, inserting herself between L and M, and Telly replies that it sounds terrible. As the Z continues trying to find a new place, Maria announces the sponsors.
==Notes==
*This episode was later re-aired in Season 28 as Episode 3603.
*Kevin Clash voices the Monster on the Spot announcer.
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 3358
 3358
Category:Alphabet
Category:Sesame Street Episode Season 26