Buzz
From True Blood to Mad Men and Homeland to Boardwalk Empire, no iconic TV show or film escapes the playful parody treatment by the beloved characters of Sesame Street. (“While imitation is often seen as flattery, it can also be incredibly funny,” notes the “Parodies and Spoofs” section on SesameStreet.org.) However, Bert, Ernie, Oscar, Grover, and the rest of the Sesame Street crew, particularly Cookie Monster—also known as Alistair Cookie—have been perfecting the art of parody for decades. Here are 15 unforgettable Sesame Street spoofs from years gone by.
1. MIAMI MICE
During the fourth season of Miami Vice, Sesame Street introduced Miami Mice, “The coolest, freshest, and most stylish detective series on TV,” featuring two suave rodent detectives, Tito and J.P.
2. 1 FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST
This “Monsterpiece Theater” parody of Ken Kesey’s novel and its Oscar-winning film adaptation avoids sinks crashing through windows or lobotomies. Instead, it focuses on a playful lesson in counting, taken quite literally. The segment also humorously previews next week’s feature, Rocky 20, a tale about 20 rocks.
3. TWIN BEAKS
While older audiences were captivated by the mystery of Laura Palmer’s death, Alistair Cookie stepped into the role of a detective visiting Twin Beaks—a “darn fine town” known for its “darn fine pie”—to uncover the story behind the town’s name. Among the residents he interviews is David Finch, adding a quirky twist to the investigation.
4. ABCD BLUE
The highlight of this homage to Stephen Bochco’s NYPD Blue, where Grover and Herry help local children master their ABCs, occurs in the closing scene. As the camera pans back to Alistair Cookie, he muses: “A musical police series? Who comes up with these ideas?” Notably, Bochco also created the short-lived and unconventional series Cop Rock.
5. THE 400 BLOWS
This clever nod to François Truffaut’s iconic French New Wave film captures Grover’s comical struggle to blow out his birthday cake candles. Spoiler: It takes 400 attempts, though he collapses after just 40. (The remaining 360 puffs were teased but never shown.)
6. DR. NO
In this James Bond-inspired parody, Dr. No is reimagined as an optometrist trying to assist 007 with his apparent vision issue. The catch? Bond’s overly dark sunglasses are the real culprit.
7. FAMILY FOOD
While Guy Smiley was Sesame Street’s go-to TV host, Richard Dawson stepped in to helm this playful take on Family Feud. True to form, he flirted shamelessly with every female contestant.
8. UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS
Long before Downton Abbey (or Upside Downton Abbey), there was Upstairs, Downstairs, a tale of an aristocratic family, their staff, and their shared London home. In this 1989 Sesame Street parody, the plot is far simpler: Grover spends his time running up and down a staircase. (Sharp-eyed fans might spot a portrait of Dr. Teeth hanging on the wall.)
9. LETHAL WEAPON 3
Mel Gibson and Danny Glover star as themselves in what Alistair Cookie describes as “A thrilling tale of two rugged yet compassionate friends confronting unforeseen peril.” The threat? The number three. (Gibson also appeared in another “Monsterpiece Theater” segment, Hamlet.)
10. SPACESHIP SURPRISE
This enduring Sesame Street sketch, packed with alliteration, parodies Star Trek. Each episode features the crew crash-landing on a new planet, where they explore consonant digraphs (like sh, th, and ph) and often wrap up with a lively dance. A sequel, Spaceship Surprise: The Next Generation, premiered in the early 1990s.
11. SALLY MESSY YUCKYAEL
During the 1990s talk show craze, Sesame Street introduced a Grouch-inspired version of Sally Jessy Raphaël. This character hosted discussions on topics like “Grouches who love too much,” often featuring Oscar and other Grouches as guests.
12. HILL STREET TWOS
Grover, Ernie, and even Rubber Duckie join a team of detectives struggling to understand the idea of pairs. As members of Hill Street Twos, mastering this concept is essential for their neighborhood patrols.
13. LIFESTYLES OF THE BIG AND LITTLE
Dicky Tick steps into the role of Robin Leach in this parody of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, showcasing the extravagant lives of enormous creatures and the cozy worlds of tiny ones.
14. DRAGNET
Sergeant Thursday is on a mission to track down the letter W. He’s confident it won’t be hard to spot, thanks to its unique “four vertical and horizontal lines.”
15. COLAMBO
One of Sesame Street’s most enduring parodies features a lamb portraying the rumpled detective popularized by Peter Falk. This sketch debuted in the early 1990s and ran consistently for five seasons, with occasional reappearances, including a 2000 episode where he helped Oscar find his pet elephant, Fluffy.
