Episode 2952

Picture	Segment 	Description
 	COLD OPEN	Gina is approached by a well-dressed and very polite gentleman waiting for his student to arrive. He introduces himself as Professor Huggins (played by an on-screen Jerry Nelson) of the Professor Huggins Traveling School of Nice, where he teaches his students how to be nice. Grundgetta, his student, finally arrives. She explains it's Oscar's birthday today and she's going to surprise him by acting nice, which will make him angry. "It's the perfect gift for the Grouch who has everything," says Grundgetta. Professor Huggins starts off the lesson with some nice music for them to listen to... the Sesame Street Theme; Grundgetta runs off in agony.
center 	Muppets 	The Hispanic community of Anything Muppets sings "It Sure is Hot!"
 	Cartoon 	L for Lion (poem)Artist: Jeff Hale
 	Film 	Footage of a baby learning to walk.Music: Joe Raposo
 	Muppets 	Spaceship SurpriseThe crew lands on the Planet TR, where they are greeted by Trevor Trout.
 	Cartoon 	Two monkeys argue over what to watch on TV, growing bigger the angrier they get.
 	SCENE 1 	Professor Huggins catches up with Grundgetta and they begin the lesson. He hands her a broken wheel and a stuffed animal, then sets out some more stuffed animals and sings a musical matching game. Grundgetta successfully matches the animals together, but runs off again when she has to cuddle them all. Huggins checks his pocket watch and decides it's time for recess.
 	Cartoon 	A mouse riding an armadillo sings a song about 13, his lucky number.
 	Muppets 	Caveperson DaysCaveman Bert reminds Caveman Ernie (his son) to take out the trash. Ernie realizes that his drum can also be used as a wastebasket, and is able to take several pieces of garbage to the dump at once instead of one at a time.
 	Song 	A piece of land with water all around it is an "Island."Artist: Jane Aaron
 	Cartoon 	"Why Bears Smile" - a story of a bear who learned which body part to cover when sneezing.Artist: Bruce Cayard
 	SCENE 2 	Professor Huggins admits he cannot help Grundgetta; she's a Grouch and he can't change who she really is. However, she can pretend to be nice, which is an idea that Grundgetta can get behind. He sings her a song with words most nice people use - "How Do You Do, Excuse Me, Thank You, Please." Grundgetta thinks she's got it, though uses the word "thanks" accidentally following the song.
 	Cartoon 	The Typewriter: W, Wall
 	Muppets 	Guy Smiley hosts "What's My Part?" The contestants are Bennett Snerf, Arlene Frantic and Professor Hastings, and the mystery part is a foot.
 	Cartoon 	Speech Balloon: L for Light
 	Song 	"Pig's Love Song" (live-action version)
 	Insert 	Elmo explores Sesame Street, and observes Susan as she does some writing.
 	Cartoon 	Rap #13
 	Muppets 	Phil Harmonic hosts another evening at the Nestropolitan Opera, featuring a performance by Placido Flamingo, "The Telephone of Brazil," to the tune of "Funiculì, Funiculà."
 	Film 	Ornate Ws spin around in accompaniment to a song.
 	Film 	"Visiting Iesha": Olivia sleeps over at Iesha's house, and spend the morning together. Olivia is white and Iesha and her family is black. Next time, Iesha wants to visit Olivia's family.
 	Cartoon 	Apple: a riddle
 	SCENE 3 	Mr. Handford is shocked to see Hooper's Store in such a messy condition under Gina's watch. She tells him that Oscar's surprise party is going to be held there, billed as a "Come As a Grouch" party. Mr. Handford begins to act defensive against Gina, but reveals that he's merely practicing to be a Grouch in time for the party. The two then begin to hurl insults and make Grouch noises for more practice.
 	Cartoon 	W for Wash
 	Muppets 	The Two-Headed Monster is in a disagreement about where to go for vacation: the mountains or the seashore. Cookie Monster says he likes both, better than going to Cucamonga for the National Cookie Convention. 2-Head gets inspired, and heads off for Cucamonga, leaving Cookie to choose between the mountains and the seashore.
 	Film 	Some kids learn how to use Logo, a computer programming language, to draw shapes on computers.
 	Cartoon 	With the help of his assistant, Dr. Geo shows the viewer what a globe is.
 	Muppets 	Story: "The Geefle and the Gonk"The Geefle and the Gonk, two aliens, learn how to cooperate and gather nectarines together.
 	Cartoon 	Zork lands on the coast of California, where he meets a slick agent.Artist: ArtistMike
 	Song 	"Conga Counting Song"
 	SCENE 4 	Mr. Handford invites Oscar to the store to collect some trash as a cover for getting him to the party, which is also attended by the Grouchketeers. Grundgetta shows up in a nice dress and does some last minute reviewing with Professor Huggins. Bruno brings Oscar to the store and he's definitely surprised (though he hates surprises and parties). He's taken aback by Grundgetta when she speaks so kindly to him, but he becomes sad after seeing what a goody-goody Grundgetta has become. Grundgetta admits that she's only pretending, which cheers Oscar up... and that makes him angry! Bruno and the Grouches leave (it's a tradition that Grouches never attend their own birthday parties) while Professor Huggins cheerfully recites the sponsors.
==Notes==
*The theme music heard from Professor Huggins' tape player during the cold opening is the slower-paced instrumental that was usually heard at the beginning of many classic Sesame Street episodes heard directly after the opening theme song. This is one of the few times, if not the only time, that the opening scene music preceded the theme song.
==See also==
*Jerry Nelson cameos
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 2952
 2952
Category:Birthday Episodes
Category:Manners
Category:Sesame Street Episode Season 23