Episode 2923

Picture	Segment 	Description
 	SCENE 1 	Mr. Handford introduces Big Bird to Speedy Van Gough (Robert Townsend), the world's fastest painter. ("I paint good, I paint fast - I paint good and fast!") He's being commissioned to paint something on the blank, brick outside wall of Hooper's Store. Speedy is ready to go, but Mr. Handford tells him to hold off until they have an idea. He intends to consult everyone on the street and see what they'd like a painting of. In the meantime, Big Bird turns Speedy's attention to the following...
 	Video 	A family prepares a picnic lunch in fast and slow motion with synthesized music in the background.
 	Muppets 	
 	Cartoon 	P for Pack
 	Song 	"Ookyook Song," a Joe Raposo song with the Alaskan words for all the things you need to put on when it's ukiuq (winter).
 	Muppets 	Grover the Elevator Operator demonstrates front and back by telling the passengers on his elevator where to stand.
 	Animation 	Sand N/n
 	SCENE 2 	Gina, Savion, Bob, Kaitlin, Telly Monster, Count von Count, Oscar, and Bruno have gathered in the yard to pitch ideas for the mural. Oscar wants to see nothing but the bricks, but everyone else pitches something different (such as plants, lots of color, plenty of numbers, triangles, a dinosaur, and a fish). Oscar thinks this may work better, as nobody can agree on one single idea. Speedy proposes all the ideas combined into one piece. To everyone's shock, Speedy gets the painting done in a matter of seconds and the awestruck crowd applauds his work.
 	Muppets 	How Now Brown and the Moo Wave performs "Wet Paint."
 	SCENE 2 cont'd	Everyone is amazed at Speedy's work and he helps them see their requests embedded into the artwork. He also points out the small selection of unpainted bricks he's left for Oscar, who isn't satisfied. Just as he is about to leave, Mr. Handford requests he stays for the second round of applause (mostly) everyone gives him.
 	Cartoon 	A lizard sings about how she likes to be "Above it All", as well as below.Artist: Sally Cruikshank
 	Film 	The Count (in voiceover) subtracts from five to one to zero children on a park bench.
 	Muppets 	
 	Cartoon 	Cap'n Feenie asks, "What is it?" It's the ocean.Artist: ArtistMike
 	Film 	Balloons are popped in front of kids' faces, demonstrating surprise.
 	Muppets 	Underwater #5
 	Film 	Slide puzzle - truck
 	Cartoon 	N is for nose.
 	SCENE 3 	Bruno marches back and forth in front of the mural, as Oscar protests with a "NO" sign. Mr. Handford tries pointing out some of the grouchy things Oscar can interpret from the painting (the bricks, a worm, and a wilted flower) to quell his disdain. Oscar realizes there's one good thing about the mural he likes: it gives him a chance to say his favorite word: "NO!"
 	Song 	Gina and Maria sing The Word is "No".
 	Film 	A child in a classroom draws a picture of her dog Puck, and goes over the care required to keep a pet.
 	Cartoon 	Hortense sees 5 waltzing brooms in her room.Artist: Michael Sporn
 	Muppets 	Herry Monster and John-John on up and down.
 	Song 	14 Karat Soul sings about what's "Down Below the Street."
 	Cartoon 	A letter "P" sits on an island before a rotating sunset. The ridges of the letter "P" moves along the letter and flash in different colors.
 	SCENE 4 	Speedy now paints a portrait of Big Bird. At first, he forgets to put in his beak, then he forgets his legs. Finally, he remembers every part of the body but he gives Big Bird a mustache. He remedies this by sticking a mustache on Big Bird's actual beak, matching the painting.
 	Cartoon 	Edgar Turtle plays the banjo as some kids sing the "Bird Song."
 	Film 	Children on a playground form the letters of the alphabet.
 	Muppets 	Cookie Monster sings "Healthy Food."
 	Animation 	OP words (Drop / stop / top / hop / pop)
 	Film 	A zydeco band plays "Allons a Lafayette" while people dance.
 	Muppets 	Prairie Dawn and The Count are contestants on "Squeal of Fortune."
 	Film 	A boy draws a picture of his friend, Kerry.
 	Cartoon 	Sign Sounds: WET PAINT
 	SCENE 5 	Big Bird and Kaitlin announce the sponsors as Speedy rapidly paints them on a series of easels.
==Notes==
* The original mural on Hooper's was noticeably fading as the series went on. Thus, during season 20, the mural would be painted over brick by brick following each show taping until it became a blank wall. The producers wished to add a new mural and Nancy Sans volunteered to write an episode around it.Writing for Television: Sesame Street panel at the Museum of TV & Radio, October 1, 1992.
*Speedy van Gough was originally intended to be a Muppet character.
* In addition to using fast-motion for Speedy's painting process, chroma key is utilized by having a solid color Townsend uses to paint with replaced by whatever finished artwork is needed. The end result makes it appear that a simple brush stroke produces a wide variety of details and color.
==Sources==
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 2923
 2923
Category:Sesame Street Episode Season 23