Season 19 (1987-1988)

thumb|301px|Maria and Luis on their wedding day. Said Oscar of Maria's wedding, "Yes, I was there — I threw some of the rice. But they weren't too happy because I had cooked it first." "[http://www.life.com/image/86360728/in-gallery/35992/oscar-the-grouch-sesame-stories The Reflections of Oscar the Grouch]," Oscar the Grouch, guest editor, November 5, 2009. Life Magazine.
thumb|300px|"My Best Friend"
Sesame Street Season 19 aired from November 16, 1987, to May 13, 1988.
==Overview==
The special topic covered for the majority of the season is love and marriage. For fourteen seasons, Maria and Luis had worked together at the Fix-It Shop and become close friends. Their relationship is expanded with the discovery of a sick kitten and how the two take care of it, eventually leading to a storyline of Maria and Luis falling in love. Characters such as Big Bird and Elmo learn about the different kinds of love (such as for a toy or pet), and how it's different when two people have these complicated emotions for each other. Eventually, Luis and Maria decide to get married, and the ceremony is held during the season finale on the roof of 123 Sesame Street.
Other educational topics are added to the curriculum, such as storybook reading.Truglio and Fisch. G is for Growing. p. 33 Consonant blends and diagraphs are also incorporated into the pre-reading goals. These are notably featured in the "Spaceship Surprise" segments, a Star Trek parody in which the daring crew explores new planets and civilizations, discovering that the planet "CH" is home to chimneys, cherry trees, and cheering chairs.
==Characters and segments==
Gina becomes a full-time member of the cast, assisting David at Hooper's Store. Mr. Snuffleupagus introduces everyone to his little sister Alice, who repeats almost everything she hears and has the tendency to be a little overeager when meeting others. Bob's friend Hiroshi makes an appearance in Episode 2459, where he teaches Elmo about his culture and some of their traditions; he would eventually become a member of the regular cast the following year. The season also features the final new appearances of Olivia (though library material would continue to be used in the following years).
With Camille Bonora becoming a full-time Muppet performer, she is given two recurring characters. One was introduced the previous year - Meryl Sheep, a glamorous actress with a slight ego problem. The other is Ruby, a rambunctious young monster who's curious about the world and loves using her imagination. 
In addition to "Spaceship Surprise," additional new segments include appearances by Edgar Turtle, a banjo-playing reptile who teaches simple folk songs. "Pretty Great Performances" is also introduced, hosted by Phil Harmonic and often starring the first bird of opera, Placido Flamingo.
==Episodes==
Episodes 2356 - 2485 (130 episodes)
* Episode 2356 -- 19th season premiere; Gordon brings Elmo and Miles to the zoo
* Episode 2357 -- Big Bird writes to Cinderella
* Episode 2358 -- David hires Gina to work at Hooper's
* Episode 2359 -- Mumford's mustache trick
* Episode 2360 -- Mumford's duck-radio trick
* Episode 2361 -- The Earthworm's Book of Magic (repeat)
* Episode 2362 -- The Count's suitcases (repeat)
* Episode 2363 -- Big Bird practices magic (repeat)
* Episode 2364 -- Rubén Blades visits (repeat)
* Episode 2365 -- Forgetful Jones joins the Birdketeers (repeat)
* Episode 2366 -- Night time on Sesame Street (repeat)
* Episode 2367 -- Jiffy the turtle / Barkley the cow (repeat)
* Episode 2368 -- Miss Blechman visits Oscar, her favorite student (repeat)
* Episode 2369 -- A day with books on Sesame Street (repeat)
* Episode 2370 -- Making pig calls (repeat)
* Episode 2371 -- A hot day on Sesame Street (repeat)
* Episode 2372 -- Big Bird loses Radar (repeat)
* Episode 2373 -- Oscar thinks Slimey has run away (repeat)
* Episode 2374 -- David and the potted plant (repeat)
* Episode 2375 -- Oscar writes poems (repeat)
* Episode 2376 -- Slimey's movie (repeat)
* Episode 2377 -- Grandma Grace surprises David (repeat)
* Episode 2378 -- Big Bird and Snuffy's notes (repeat)
* Episode 2379 -- Oscar's "New School for Grouch Research" (repeat)
* Episode 2380 -- Big Bird and Snuffy pretend to explore Sesame Street (repeat)
* Episode 2381 -- Maria's mother comes to visit.
* Episode 2382 -- Bob discovers a "COLD" sign on Hooper's
* Episode 2383 -- Luis and the stray kitten
* Episode 2384 -- Feeding the kitten
* Episode 2385 -- Luis and Maria develop feelings for each other
* Episode 2386
* Episode 2387 -- Meryl Sheep's Cinderella show
* Episode 2388
* Episode 2389 -- Telly uses Spanish throughout the day
* Episode 2390 -- Discussing morning routines
* Episode 2391 -- M*A*T*H comes to Sesame Street
* Episode 2392 -- Understanding Barkley
* Episode 2393
* Episode 2394 -- The Count conducts Bob's band
* Episode 2395 -- Elmo plays with his new goldfish, Barkley
* Episode 2396 -- Big Bird's day with keys
* Episode 2397
* Episode 2398 -- Barkley's tricks
* Episode 2399 -- Ronald Grump builds the Grump Tower
* Episode 2400 -- Big Bird's note to Hoots
* Episode 2401 -- Big Bird's Happy Meter
* Episode 2402 -- Maria can't get Irvine to go back to sleep
* Episode 2403 -- Planet Zingo
* Episode 2404 -- Maria and Luis realize they're in love
* Episode 2405 -- Maria and Luis love each other
* Episode 2406 -- Oscar's School for Worms
* Episode 2407 -- The Count's paintings
* Episode 2408 -- Jay Leno visits
* Episode 2409
* Episode 2410 -- Introducing Snuffy's sister Alice
* Episode 2411 -- Big Bird learns about love
* Episode 2412 -- Snuffy walks Barkley
* Episode 2413
* Episode 2414 -- Love in the Fix-It Shop
* Episode 2415 -- Placido falls for Maria
* Episode 2416 -- Slimey goes for a ride
* Episode 2417 
* Episode 2418
* Episode 2419 -- Big Bird learns about siblings
* Episode 2420 -- A visit from Kronos Quartet
* Episode 2421 -- Sesame Street after dark
* Episode 2422 -- Señor Zero strikes again!
* Episode 2423 -- Bob plays Name That Sound / The Count watches the Fix-It Shop
* Episode 2424 -- Big Bird learns about sadness
* Episode 2425 -- Elmo makes some alone time
* Episode 2426 -- Alice needs a nap
* Episode 2427
* Episode 2428 -- Maria plays "Sightword"
* Episode 2429
* Episode 2430 -- Linda fixes Buster's horseshoe
* Episode 2431 -- Big Bird's gift for Luis / Elmo watches for stars
* Episode 2432 -- Olivia's box of junk
* Episode 2433
* Episode 2434 -- The Meryl Sheep School of Acting
* Episode 2435
* Episode 2436 -- Barkley won't take his bath
* Episode 2437
* Episode 2438
* Episode 2439 -- Richard Stoltzman visits
* Episode 2440 -- The Count gives up counting
* Episode 2441
* Episode 2442 -- Lunches at Birdland and Hooper's
* Episode 2443 -- Rooftop sing along
* Episode 2444 -- Big Bird's Little Bo Peep play
* Episode 2445
* Episode 2446 -- Animals at the library / Snuffy makes art
* Episode 2447 -- Lovebirds at Birdland
* Episode 2448 -- Snuffy's store, etc.
* Episode 2449 -- Big Bird and Snuffy send a letter
* Episode 2450 -- Telly's magic pencil
* Episode 2451 -- Oscar and the monkey
* Episode 2452 -- A visit from Little Jerry and the Monotones
* Episode 2453 -- Making rhythms with the Honker and Dinger
* Episode 2454 -- Magic on Slimey's birthday
* Episode 2455 -- Maria and Luis decide to get married
* Episode 2456 -- Natasha joins clubs
* Episode 2457
* Episode 2458 -- Big Bird listens
* Episode 2459 -- Hiroshi visits from Japan
* Episode 2460 -- Big Bird and Snuffy play games / Elmo sleeps over
* Episode 2461
* Episode 2462
* Episode 2463 -- Miles' first day at daycare
* Episode 2464 -- Big Bird and Anna play with rope
* Episode 2465
* Episode 2466 -- Bob birdwatches
* Episode 2467 -- Big Bird starts a nest shop
* Episode 2468 -- Gina writes the Hooper's Store menu
* Episode 2469
* Episode 2470 -- Elmo's secret word
* Episode 2471 -- Elmo gets a kitty cat
* Episode 2472
* Episode 2473
* Episode 2474
* Episode 2475 
* Episode 2476 -- Shelley the Turtle and Gordon race
* Episode 2477 -- Telly and Alice practice saying hello and goodbye
* Episode 2478
* Episode 2479
* Episode 2480 -- Telly reports on nursery rhymes
* Episode 2481 -- Don Music's song of "AMOR"
* Episode 2482 -- The Big Zero Game
* Episode 2483 -- Maria and Luis hold a pre-wedding party for Maria's mother and Luis' uncle
* Episode 2484 -- Maria and Luis prepare for their wedding
* Episode 2485 -- 19th season finale; Maria and Luis get married
==Notes==
* This is the final season where the number sponsors only go from 2 through 12.
==Cast==
;Cast
:Alison Bartlett, Linda Bove, Northern Calloway, Emilio Delgado, Loretta Long, Sonia Manzano, Bill McCutcheon, Bob McGrath, Roscoe Orman, Alaina Reed (Uncredited: Miles Orman, Loretta Tupper, Gedde Watanabe)
;Muppet Performers
:Caroll Spinney, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson, Martin P. Robinson, Kevin Clash, Pam Arciero, Fred Garbo, Bryant Young, Camille Bonora, David Rudman, Judy Sladky, Jim Henson (Uncredited: Fran Brill, Patricia Hodelin, Pat Hudson, Peter MacKennan, Jim Martin, Richard Termine, Caroly Wilcox)
;Guest Stars
:Rubén Blades, Aram Delgado, Edouard DeSoto, José Ferrer, Matt Frewer, Pee-Wee Herman, Lillian Hurst, Dana Ivey, Madeline Kahn, Kronos Quartet, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Jay Leno, Andrea Martin, Paul Simon, Mookie Wilson
===Characters===
;Humans
:Gordon, Susan, Maria, Luis, Linda, Bob, David, Uncle Wally, Olivia, Gina, Miles, Mr. Macintosh, Miss Trump, Hiroshi
;Muppets
:Alice Snuffleupagus, The Amazing Mumford, Anything Muppets, Athena, Baby Natasha, Barkley, Bert, Biff, Big Bird, Buster the Horse, Clementine, Chip and Dip, Cookie Monster, Count von Count, Dingers, Don Music, Elmo, Ernie, Farley, Forgetful Jones, Gladys the Cow, Grover, Grundgetta, Guy Smiley, Herry Monster, Mr. Honker, Honkers, Hoots the Owl, Irvine, Juliet, Kermit the Frog, Little Jerry and the Monotones, The Martians, Meryl Sheep, Miami Mice, Dr. Nobel Price, the Oinker Sisters, Oscar the Grouch, Placido Flamingo, Prairie Dawn, Professor D. Rabbit, Ruby, Shelley the Turtle, Simon Soundman, Slimey, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Sully, Telly Monster, Two-Headed Monster
==Credits==
*Executive Producer: Dulcy Singer
*Producer: Lisa Simon
*Directors: Jon Stone, Lisa Simon, Emily Squires
*Head Writer: Norman Stiles
*Writers: Nancy Sans, Luis Santeiro, Cathi Rosenberg-Turow, Jeff Moss, Sonia Manzano, Belinda Ward, David Korr, Sara Compton, Mark Saltzman, John Weidman, Jocelyn Stevenson, Tony Geiss, Christian Clark, Emily Perl Kingsley, Tom Dunsmuir, Judy Freudberg, Jon Stone
*Supervising Film Producer: Edith Zornow
*Coordinating Producer: Arlene Sherman
*Muppets by: Kermit Love and Caroly Wilcox, with Richard Termine, Jitka Exler, Peter MacKennan, Stephan Rotondaro, Mark Zeszotek
*Music Director: Joe Raposo
*Special Songs: Joe Raposo, Jeff Moss, Chris Cerf, Cheryl Hardwick
*Music Coordinator: Danny Epstein
*Associate Music Director: Dave Conner
*Production Supervisor: Frieda Lipp
*Editing Supervisor: Robert J. Emerick
*Associate Directors: Ted May, Diane Mitchell, Eulogio Ortiz Jr.
*Production Designer: Victor DiNapoli
*Costume Designer: Bill Kellard
*Graphic Artist: Mike Pantuso
*Set Decorator: Nat Mongioi
*Production Stage Manager: Chet O'Brien
*Stage Manager: Mortimer J. O'Brien
*Curriculum Coordinator: Diane Mitchell
*Production Assistants: Cheryl Ann Jung, Carol D. Mayes, Rudy Vallecillo, Ruth Hiatt
*Assistant to the Producers: Danette DeSena
*Script Coordinator: Thelma Moses
*Children’s Casting: Martha O'Connor
*Unit Manager: Eleanor McIntosh
*Technical Director: Ralph Mensch
*Lighting Director: Dick Weiss
*Sound Effects: Dick Maitland
*Audio: Blake Norton, Tim Lester
*Cameras: Frank Biondo, Dave Driscoll
*Videotape Editor: Evamarie Keller
*Make-Up: Lee Halls
*Hair Stylist: Karen Specht
*Wardrobe: Grisha Mynova
*Chairman, Board of Advisors: Gerald Lesser, Ph.D.
*Vice President for Research: Keith Mielke, Ph.D.
*Director of Research: Valeria Lovelace, Ph.D.
*Curriculum Specialist: Margarita Perez
*Vice Presidents for Production: David D. Connell, Al Hyslop
*Facilities by Unitel Video, Inc.
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
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