Picture Segment Description

SCENE 1 Maria, Luis, and Susan are bothered by the strange smell and blaring smoke alarm coming from Oscar's trash can. Oscar explains that he's having a little backyard barbecue, but the others demand that he end it. Oscar feels insulted: "You know what's wrong with people around here? Nobody appreciates the finer things: noise, rotten smells... bad cooking!" Maria, Luis, and Susan make off-hand comments about sometimes wishing they didn't have a Grouch living on Sesame Street. Outraged by their insensitivity, Oscar gets his copy of the New York Pest and looks through the classifieds, finding a listing for an abandoned trash can on the sweetly-named Candy Cane Lane. He decides to move there that very day. "I'm going, and when I'm gone you'll realize what you've lost. And you'll miss me, too, but it'll be too late, because I'll be living somewhere else!!" he tells the now-concerned group.

Cartoon Gordon's Voiceover 'T/t': Two caterpillars form T and t.
(First: Episode 2223)

Song Olivia sings "The Riddle."
(First: Episode 1721)
cut from the Noggin version

Cartoon Snacks on Parade - The Raisin
Artist: Bruce Cayard
(First: Episode 1171)

Muppets Say the Word — Contestants Chester O'Leary and Maurice Monster must get their partner to say the secret word by giving them clues.
(First: Episode 1373)

Cartoon Stop! (Moving Colored STOP signs in fast-motion)
(First: Episode 0776)

SCENE 2 As Oscar peeks from his can, Telly clutches a small suitcase and talks to Maria trying to decide whether or not to go to Candy Cane Lane with his best friend. ("It's not easy loving people," he moans.) Oscar fakes affection and tells him that he should stay behind for his own good, especially since Telly's company would annoy him. He lays in thick letting Telly know how bad the monster would feel if he were to annoy his best friend and is "only thinking of him": "Yeah, yeah, this is all just for you. That's the ticket, it's for you, Telly!" Telly is touched that Oscar's thinking of him, but Maria clearly sees through to his true motives.

Film Elephants (African percussion soundtrack)
(First: Episode 0389)

Cartoon Q-quiet! (tree chopping)
(First: Episode 0675)

Celebrity Helen Reddy sings "Wonder Child."
(First: Episode 0774)

SCENE 3 Maria and the Grouchketeers console a sobbing Telly. As Oscar starts up the Sloppy Jalopy to leave, Telly asks Oscar to do the old "cookie can trick" one last time. Oscar looks forward to playing the same trick on the people of Candy Cane Lane, knowing the new crowd will get angry at his tricks. Elmo tries a last ditch effort to stop him from leaving by using his own STOP sign and passionately begging Oscar not to go. Oscar is untouched and casually brushes him off, while Elmo quickly recovers and moves on. Oscar drives off to his new home as Fluffy waves from the backseat. Once they have left, Maria is confused as to why she feels so sad. Telly confirms it's because he just lost his best friend, and gives her a hug.

Cartoon A blue man (voiced by Casey Kasem) explains that “Q” starts the word “quarter.”
(First: Episode 0046)

Muppets Ernie doesn't want to play with Bert, who sings "I Wish I Had a Friend to Play With Me".
(First: Episode 1819)

Film Old Time Movies: Anne Meara observes wondering if the dashing hero will go over or under.
(First: Episode 0517)
cut from the Noggin version

Cast Maria as Chaplin falls in love with a painting (Linda) at the art museum.
(First: Episode 2033)

Cartoon Man counts all forty stars at night.
(First: Episode 2243)

SCENE 4 Maria, Luis, and Susan visit Oscar's old can, disappointed to see how empty and deserted it is. Telly, who plans to bring Oscar his mail, asks for their help finding Oscar's new address, and the group decides to see how he's doing at his new place.

SCENE 4, cont'd Oscar is situated at Candy Cane Lane. His new trash can is much nicer than the previous one, but he looks forward to upsetting his new neighbors. He tries to pull some of his tricks on passersby, but they don't pay any attention. A well-dressed couple meet him, but when he tries his cookie can trick and having his pet whale Moby Jane squirt water at them, they keep a straight face and remain unfazed, aware of what a Grouch can do.

Cartoon Actor demonstrates anger towards casting director - literally!
(First: Episode 2061)
cut from the Noggin version

Film Stop! (kids dancing)
Music: Joe Raposo
(First: Episode 0681)

Muppets "The Question Song"
(First: Episode 0378)

Cartoon Ants Carry the Letter Q Up Hill
(First: Episode 0787)

Muppets Anything Muppets: Family Arrangement — A family classifies themselves into different groups.
(First: Episode 0275)

Cartoon Drawing of man playing guitar
(First: Episode 0791)

SCENE 5 Everyone passing by on Candy Cane Lane pay no attention to Oscar, and he begins to miss everyone on Sesame Street. He briefly tries to pretend he's back there, and imagines playing the cookie trick on Susan. He realizes just how lonely he feels when Maria, Luis, and Susan visit to give him some trash, seeing he's clearly ashamed to admit to his mistake. Oscar confides in Maria his dilemma when Telly arrives and tearfully begs Oscar to return to Sesame Street, saying how much he and everyone else misses him. Oscar finds his opportunity and decides to move back to Sesame Street, claiming it's just for Telly's sake. For a grand exit, he gets his whale to squirt Maria in the face, and basks in his old friends chewing him out, saying, "Heaven! It's Sesame Street again!"

Cartoon The Typewriter has an electric train.
(First: Episode 0785)
cut from the Noggin version

Film Kids go roller-skating in a playground as ragtime music plays.
(First: Episode 1234)
cut from the Noggin version

Muppets Count's Castle: Bats Want to Count — The bats are upset because only The Count gets to count.
(First: Episode 0625)

Cartoon A beaver does his exercises, while his friends make fun of him. He then uses his strength to save his friends when the dam breaks.
Artist: Irra Verbitsky
(First: Episode 2067)

Muppets Kids narrate as Snuffy takes a walk in the park and Barkley follows him.
(First: Episode 1873)

Cartoon Jazz Alphabet: male vocalists shout each letter.
(First: Episode 0619)

Muppets Two-Headed Monster: Listening — Kermit the Frog explains the importance of listening, using the monster as an example.
(First: Episode 1767)

Cartoon How many legs does a horse have?
(First: Episode 1523)

Film Marching Band #4
(First: Episode 0529)

SCENE 6 Back on Sesame Street, Oscar conducts a music lesson with Telly, the other Grouchketeers, and Fluffy. He puts on an album of Fats Alpert and the Tijuana Tom-Toms for them to play along to, and soon all the neighbors are complaining about the noise as usual. Oscar is satisfied: "I've searched the whole world over, and found grouchiness here in my own backyard!" Luis announces the sponsors.