Ernie's other friends

Man did this guy hate being alone.  Even when he wasn't actively antagonizing Bert, he always had SOMEBODY with him.  He couldn't even take a bath without his Rubber Duckie.

His relationships with other people have always been far different than his friendship with Bert.  He harasses Bert.  He plays jokes on Bert.  He likes to make a fool out of Bert.  When it's someone else, though, he usually winds up on the defensive.  He becomes the VICTIM.  It's a complete role reversal.

Click to view... Ernie doesn't get to eat for once.

So then what?  He goes home and picks on Bert to make it up to himself?  It's very curious.  He never pranks anybody else.  He never knocks on Oscar's garbage can and runs away.  He never pours out millions of grains of sand in front of the Count and says "A-ha!  Try counting THESE!"  He never tugs on Super Grover's cape.

Click to view... "Don't do that!"

What is it with him?  Does he ever do ANYTHING by himself?  Read a book?  He probably reads out loud.  He wouldn't put down his Duckie long enough to play the saxophone.  He obviously doesn't have his own room.  Even his window box has friends in it.

Who is Ernie's best friend BESIDES Bert?  Even if by default?  He's always had kind of a funny relationship with Oscar.  They get along well.  Oscar never calls him names.  There seems to be a mutual respect of some kind.

"Hey Ernie, way to make Bert scream!  I heard it from way out here."

"Thanks Oscar, here's some trash."

Click to view... The ugliest thing ever seen (and heard).

The Life of Bob

Everybody likes Bob.  Wouldn't that be great?  To be liked by everyone?

Bob is of course known for being a prominent fixture on the show since it's inception, and he's still there today.  He must REALLY LIKE Sesame Street, and why wouldn't he?  He's so popular there.

See?

Bob is a music teacher.  He loves to sing, and has a good attitude almost all of the time (once in awhile Oscar the Grouch gets on his nerves).  He lives in a simple apartment somewhere above Mr. Hooper's Store.  Bob is single.  He used to have a girlfriend, or at least "special friend," Linda, back when she was around.

Bob's favorite thing is music.  Linda is deaf.  Yet ironically, they get along so well.  He makes an effort to both teach and learn sign language, she makes an effort to learn and understand his songs.  Together, they make beautiful music.

Click to view... Hat, Coat, and Pants.

How many other apartments are there in his building, and who lives in them?  Did anyone ever object to his piano playing?  The walls in that place were likely pretty thin.  Did he practice his SINGING too?  In the apartment, all by himself?  That might get annoying, I wonder who his next-door neighbor was?

Bob was out on the Street a lot, socializing, but part of his time had to be spent doing everyday bachelor things.  Laundromat.  Frozen dinners.  Crossword puzzles.  Library books.  Seems like it could be a lonely existence, good thing he had plenty of friends.

Click to view... Bob and his friends.

One of These Things Is Not Like the Others

Most Sesame Street fans are familiar with this game.  Four things are presented, and you are supposed to identify which one is "different."

Click to view... Time to Play the Game.

I understand that the whole idea is to get little children to use their brains to solve a very simple puzzle, but I would LIKE to see and participate in more challenging levels.  It's a neat idea for a game, even for adults.  You just have to make it a little bit harder.  Like, here is one that I came up with.  Who doesn't belong here, and why?

Give up?  (I hope not, it was kind of easy.)

Harvey Kneeslapper has hair on top of his head, and therefore does not belong.  The other three are all baldies.  Gordon is classic cue-ball bald, "Mr. Johnson" has male-pattern, and Kermit is an amphibian.  So that one was KIND of easy, but you would probably have to think about it for at least a MINUTE.  Not like when you are shown a tulip, a rose, a daffodil, and a chunk of cement.  "Which one doesn't belong?"  "Uhhhhhh..."

I spent weeks trying to come up with a really difficult one, but also one that would still be fair.  It can't be TOO difficult, like some rare technicality where Cookie Monster had never happened to eat a certain type of dessert or household appliance.  I really believe that a slim percentage of the population just might be able to figure this out.

*one of these things is not like the other*

Which is it?  and why?

If you really can't figure it out, e-mail me and I'll give you the answer.  If you DO figure it out, don't expect a prize.  There isn't one.

Click to view... The Bonus Round.

Are ALL Twiddlebugs dumb?

Are ALL Twiddlebugs lacking in intelligence?  Or is it just a specific trait inherent to the Twiddlebug family that lives in Ernie's window box?

Click to view... Ernie introduces the Twiddlebugs.

I would also like to know exactly where Ernie's window box is supposed to be.  You never see around that certain corner that leads into the main Sesame Street play area.  Anything could be lurking back there.

The little girl Twiddlebug seems to be the most intelligent, by default.  But even she is kind of slow to figure things out sometimes.

Click to view... "Keep licking."

Ignorance is bliss, I guess.  Especially when it comes to bugs.  I bet nobody would ever KILL a Twiddlebug.  They're so beautiful and innocent, like ladybugs and butterflies.  They get immunity.  Even a particularly crabby Oscar the Grouch or extra-hungry Cookie Monster would never eat nor harm a Twiddlebug.

Also, just because they are bugs doesn't mean that they are the dumbest entities on the Street.  There are other candidates for that.

Keep on partying, Twiddlebugs.

Click to view... Twiddlebug PARTY.

Letters and Numbers (Part 2 of 2)

So right off the bat, let's please acknowledge how awesome Pinball Number Count was.

Click to view... 4.

Beyond that, which are more important?  Letters or numbers?  I know of only ONE individual that DEFINITELY has a strong opinion.

There are only 26 letters.  Numbers are infinite.  How are you supposed to pick a favorite number?  Some people manage.

Click to view... Favorite numbers.

But yeah it's like the Count would get real bored in a hurry with the "alphabet," don't you think?  He'd be like "That's IT?  It's only 7:15 in the morning!  I guess I *COULD* read a BOOK or something, whatever."

Remember the human number GUY?  I bet not.  He painted a 3 on a piece of bread using ketchup once.

I do not have access to a picture of that particular incident, but I do believe that he was the only individual performer on Sesame Street to ever throw his support behind the relatively unloved number 11.

The number 11 is beautiful, in it's own way.  It is not 10, it is not 12.  It's 11.  and I love it.

Too many kings are small-minded when it comes to favorite numbers.  They don't even get into multiple digits.

Click to view... King of Eight.