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Episode 3405

Sesame Street
Wolfgang wants Ruthie's fish
Air date December 1, 1995
Season Season 27 (1995-1996)
Written by Judy Freudberg
Directed by Lisa Simon
Production August 28, 1995
Sponsors Q, 1


Picture Segment Description

SCENE 1 Maria drops off Gabi and Big Bird at Finders Keepers, where Ruthie will look after them while she runs some errands. Ruthie plays a guessing game with the two as she sets up a fish tank, pouring in gravel, adding a miniature scuba diver, and plugging in the air filter. It turns out to be the home of her new goldfish, Jacques Cousteau.
SCENE 1 cont'd Wolfgang the Seal catches word of her new fish and rushes into the store, wishing to eat it.
Animation Fred the fish needs water to swim in, and Betty the bird needs air to fly in. Vanessa the vacuum cleaner sucks up all the air and water, but can't hold it all in. (new narration by Jim Thurman added)
(First: Episode 2564)
Song "Ja, Ja, That is the Mountain"
Artist: Jane Aaron
(First: Episode 2780)
Film A boy hikes up a mountain with his family.
(First: Episode 2734)
Muppets Muppet & Kid MomentKermit talks with Chris about teaching his little sister, Stephanie, to talk. Chris practices the alphabet.
(First: Episode 0495)
Film Children on a playground form the letters of the alphabet. (new music added)
(First: Episode 1966)
SCENE 2 Ruthie restrains Wolfgang when Gabi proposes they fill him up with other fish so he won't be hungry for Jacques. Big Bird fetches a bucket and they feed him 40 fish, which seems like plenty, but he still goes crazy for Jacques.
Cartoon 40 lemmings (doo-wop) (new sound effects added)
(First: Episode 2873)
Muppets Ernie and Bert: Watching FishErnie wants to go outside and play catch, but Bert gets him interested in watching his goldfish.
(First: Episode 1422)
Song David sings "I'm Pretty" over a film of fish and other sea creatures.
Re-filmed version
(First: Episode 2490)
Cartoon Fish swim to form Q and q. (new sound effects added)
(First: Episode 3105)
Film Girls do a hand-clap game about the letter Q.
(First: Episode 3322)
Animation Planet Q / q
(First: Episode 2838)
SCENE 3 To take Wolfgang's mind off fish, Big Bird has set up a musical game for him: "Here Are Some Things" using gloves and a mitten. The game works, but Big Bird lets the word "fish" slip and sets Wolfgang off again.
Cartoon "Part of the Whole"
Artist: Sally Cruikshank
(First: Episode 2714)
Film A puzzle of a zebra is put together.
(First: Episode 3056)
Muppets Elmo sings "Right in the Middle of My Face" while walking through an animated art gallery.
(First: Episode 3130)
Cartoon Parts of a face are drawn in black on-screen before forming a picture.
(First: Episode 3320)
Song "You Can Get Right Up": a song about getting active to cheer up.
(First: Episode 3142)
Cartoon A baby and father illustrate up and down.
(First: Episode 2687)
SCENE 4 The three decide to cover up Wolfgang's eyes so he can't see the fish, but he can still smell it. They then plug his nose, then his ears when he hears the word "fish" again. However, now Wolfgang becomes disoriented and crashes into everything due to his coverings. Ruthie removes them and Big Bird gets a great idea, carrying Wolfgang out of the store.
Cartoon A chicken gets an idea to sit on a football and hatch it like an egg.
Artist: Dan Haskett
(First: Episode 2360)
Animation Arrows give a presentation of the human body.
(First: Episode 2839)
Cartoon Slot-machine legs: Cowboy & horse
(First: Episode 1702)
Song "It's a Long Hard Road, But I'm Gonna Get There." (Vocals by Jerry Nelson)
(First: Episode 3398)
Muppets "Pond Full of Fish"
(First: Episode 2840)
Cartoon "Water Conservation": Frank the fish calls Carl and tells him not to leave the water running while brushing his teeth, otherwise the lake will be dry.
Artist: Peter Chung
(First: Episode 2689)
SCENE 5 Big Bird has dressed Wolfgang up like a cow, since cows don't eat fish. Wolfgang doesn't like the grass Big Bird feeds him, he struggles to "moo," and certainly can't give milk. He continues to set his sights on the fish.
Film What sound does a cow make?
(First: Episode 3403)
Muppets The Two-Headed Monster finishes drinking milk, and doesn't know what to do with the cartons at first, but gets the idea to "recycle" them and play with them like a train.
(First: Episode 2726)
Film / Animation A class makes up a story about a fish named Billy, which is told through animation based on the kids' drawings.
(First: Episode 3358)
Animation A group of 1s chant, "We're the number 1!"
(First: Episode 3238)
Song "We're Talking 'Bout the Number One"
(First: Episode 3154)
Cartoon One chef takes one of each vegetable to make one salad.
(First: Episode 3238)

Muppets / Celebrity Fish seller Trasha (Tracey Ullman) gives some grouchy voice lessons to Grundgetta while Oscar watches. They are shocked to learn Trasha wasn't always so grouchy and flashes back to her mentor, Professor Piggins (played by a Cockney Oscar). He teaches her a grouchy song - "Grouches in the South of France." After the flashback, Grundgetta begins to get the hang of the accent.
(First: Episode 2584)
Animation Airplanes carve the letter Q.
(First: Episode 3179)
Film Q, for quack. Quiet!
Animation In reversed film, Q and q candles are unmelted.
(First: Episode 3079)

SCENE 6 Maria returns to pick the kids up and Big Bird and Gabi recount all the craziness they've had today with Wolfgang, seen in thought balloons above their heads. They decide to let Gabi take Jacques home with her, while Ruthie tends to the sobbing Wolfgang and announces the sponsors.
COMING SOON Coming soon on Sesame Street: Celina teaches everyone (including a bandaged Snuffy) "The Snuffle Shuffle" at her dance studio.


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