Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover, Abby Cadabby, Oscar the Grouch and Elmo's puppy Tango hang with WIRED to answer the Internet's most searched questions about 'Sesame Street' and themselves in this hilarious WIRED Autocomplete Interview. Can they tell us how to get to Sesame Street? How did Elmo get his name?
Director: Katherine Wzorek
Director of Photography: Francis Bernal
Editor: Eric Bigman
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Associate Producer: Kameryn Hamilton
Production Manager: D. Eric Martinez
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
Talent Booker: Jenna Caldwell; Meredith Judkins
Camera Operator: Jake Robbins
Gaffer: Mar Alfonso
Sound Mixer: Mike Guggino
Production Assistant: Caleb Clark; Justine Ramirez
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
Assistant Editor: Billy Ward
Director: Katherine Wzorek
Director of Photography: Francis Bernal
Editor: Eric Bigman
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Associate Producer: Kameryn Hamilton
Production Manager: D. Eric Martinez
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
Talent Booker: Jenna Caldwell; Meredith Judkins
Camera Operator: Jake Robbins
Gaffer: Mar Alfonso
Sound Mixer: Mike Guggino
Production Assistant: Caleb Clark; Justine Ramirez
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
Assistant Editor: Billy Ward
Category
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TechTranscript
00:00 - Hi, I'm Lois Elmo.
00:01 - And me, Cookie Monster.
00:03 - And all of our friends from Sesame Street
00:05 are here to do the Wired Autocomplete Interview.
00:09 - Yeah, I remember we did this before.
00:10 (upbeat piano music)
00:13 - I do not like the idea of people
00:16 searching things about me.
00:17 - We are just answering questions from the internet?
00:20 Then why did I dress up?
00:21 This is a rental, you know.
00:23 (upbeat piano music)
00:26 - What is Sesame Street known for?
00:28 - Ha, that's easy.
00:31 Magic.
00:31 Zippity zap.
00:32 - Cookies.
00:35 - Cute and adorable monsters, of course.
00:39 - Oh, did Grover say that about Elmo?
00:41 Oh, Grover's so nice.
00:43 You know, he's pretty cute too.
00:45 - Wait, what?
00:46 - Singing, friendship, learning, and playing together.
00:51 Oh yeah, and yuck.
00:54 - Where did Sesame Street get its name?
00:58 - You see, I was walking down the street one day,
01:00 eating a sesame bagel, when it dawned on me.
01:03 Bagel Street.
01:04 No, no, no, wait.
01:06 Sesame Street, yeah.
01:08 (laughing)
01:10 Thank goodness I was not eating a pumpernickel loaf.
01:12 - It called Sesame Street because
01:14 Snickerdoodle Street was too long.
01:16 Didn't fit on the sign.
01:17 Is it too late to call it Snickerdoodle Street?
01:20 - Like the magical phrase, open sesame.
01:24 Sesame Street is a place where anything can happen.
01:27 - Where is Sesame Street at?
01:30 At?
01:31 Wait, where is Sesame Street at?
01:33 Did we move?
01:34 Why did no one tell me we moved?
01:35 How am I supposed to get back home?
01:37 - Where is Sesame Street?
01:38 Well, Sesame Street's just where Sesame Street is.
01:41 (laughing)
01:42 That's a difficult question.
01:43 It's a place where kids who wanna learn and play
01:45 with monsters and fairies and birds and crutches can come.
01:48 Come on by.
01:49 - At the intersection of Scram and Get Lost.
01:52 - What's the next one?
01:53 - What is a Sesame Street lesson?
01:56 - Oh, that's easy.
01:57 A, B, Cs, one, two, threes.
02:00 That's two lessons.
02:02 (gasps)
02:03 Two.
02:03 There you go, numbers.
02:06 - Oh, well, you know, you know the letter C?
02:09 Well, it turns out C is for cookie.
02:14 That's a terrific lesson.
02:15 - That it's okay to be grouchy sometimes.
02:18 For all the time.
02:20 (laughing)
02:21 - To show love to one another.
02:23 You know, treat others the way
02:25 you would like to be treated.
02:26 That's very important.
02:28 - Where is Sesame Street Elmo?
02:31 - You're looking at him.
02:32 - Where isn't Sesame Street Elmo?
02:34 He everywhere.
02:35 There, he there, he there, he there, he there.
02:37 You never know.
02:38 - Miss Justine.
02:39 - Hi, Elmo. - Miss Justine, hi.
02:41 Would you mind, when you peel the question,
02:42 can you read it for Elmo?
02:43 Because, well, Elmo can't read yet.
02:46 - Sure, no problem.
02:47 - Thank you.
02:48 Go for it.
02:49 - What are Elmo's friends' names?
02:52 - Oh!
02:54 Let's see, Elmo has a lot of friends.
02:56 So there's Abby and Cookie Monster,
02:59 and Big Bird, and Felix, and Bert and Ernie,
03:02 and Grover, Gonger,
03:03 - Wearing a 200 monster baby bear guy,
03:05 Smiley Guy, Music Lefty,
03:06 Harvey and the Slapper.
03:08 Is that it?
03:10 Oh, Elmo's afraid he left somebody out.
03:12 Um, well, they'll be okay.
03:15 Let's see what the next one is, Miss Justine.
03:16 - What is Elmo scared of?
03:19 - Oh, what is Elmo scared of?
03:22 Well, sometimes Elmo gets scared of the dark.
03:25 That's why Elmo has a robot night light.
03:27 Anytime Elmo feels scared or nervous
03:30 or has any big feelings,
03:32 Elmo's friends taught him to do belly breathing.
03:35 Look at this.
03:36 (sighs)
03:40 Yeah, it always helps Elmo feel really relaxed and calm.
03:44 Oh, Elmo's so calm now.
03:45 - What's Elmo's goldfish name?
03:49 - Oh, Elmo's goldfish is named Dorothy.
03:52 Yeah, she's the best, sweetest goldfish
03:54 a monster could ask for.
03:56 You know, Elmo fed her this morning.
03:58 Yeah, and she went,
04:00 (gulping)
04:02 which means thank you and hello.
04:06 - What's Elmo's favorite song?
04:08 - Ooh, favorite song.
04:10 That's really difficult
04:11 because we sing so many wonderful songs on Sesame Street.
04:14 But Elmo would have to say his favorite song is,
04:18 wait for it, it's gonna shock you.
04:20 You have no idea this is coming, ready?
04:23 Elmo's song.
04:24 (laughs)
04:25 ♪ La la la la, la la la la, Elmo's song ♪
04:29 You know what Elmo loves about it?
04:30 You can put anybody's name in there.
04:32 Like Justine, we could do,
04:33 ♪ La la la la, la la la la, Justine's song ♪
04:37 It's adaptable.
04:39 Okay, Justine, what's the next one?
04:40 - How many fingers does Elmo have?
04:42 - Does the thumb count?
04:44 - I count it.
04:45 - Okay, cool.
04:46 One, two, three, four fingers.
04:48 High four.
04:51 - High four.
04:52 How did Elmo get his name?
04:54 - Well, Elmo got his name from his mommy and daddy.
04:57 They told Elmo that his name means love.
05:00 And Elmo loves that.
05:02 So Elmo guesses that Elmo's that.
05:05 - Is Elmo a monster?
05:07 - Oh, well of course Elmo's a monster.
05:10 Look, see, Elmo has red monster fur.
05:13 Everybody knows that Elmo's a monster.
05:15 - Elmo, I just heard you're a monster?
05:19 Oh, congratulations.
05:20 - Almost everybody knows.
05:24 - Come on.
05:25 I wanna show everybody else that you're a monster.
05:28 - Does Elmo have a New York accent?
05:30 - Wait, Elmo doesn't think so.
05:32 Elmo just kinda sounds like Elmo.
05:34 Elmo doesn't think it's a New York accent.
05:35 That would be like, hey, Elmo's walking here.
05:40 Let Elmo get a slice of pizza, coffee light and sweet.
05:43 That's not how Elmo sounds.
05:44 - Does Elmo love me?
05:46 - Oh, of course.
05:48 Elmo loves you.
05:49 Oh, and Elmo loves you too, Miss Justine.
05:52 Come down here for a hug.
05:53 Elmo can't say Elmo loves you without a hug.
05:56 She has a face.
05:57 Isn't that amazing?
05:58 Miss Justine.
06:00 - Oh, what does Cookie Monster actually ear?
06:05 What that word?
06:06 Ear?
06:07 What Cookie Monster actually ear?
06:10 Oh, eat.
06:11 Oh, well.
06:12 Actually, cookies.
06:17 And pretty much everything else.
06:20 Yeah, and you know it not have to be food.
06:22 Me once ate a truck.
06:24 Me not picky eater.
06:25 Next question, nicely pulled.
06:28 What is Cookie Monster's job?
06:31 Oh, me professional monster.
06:34 Oh, me also work on foodie truck.
06:35 Yet a side gig.
06:37 Oh no.
06:38 Oh, now me never gonna know question.
06:42 Maybe me could help.
06:43 - Do?
06:49 - Do.
06:49 What does Cookie Monster like to do?
06:51 Well, me got a little bit of tape on me.
06:54 Thank you.
06:55 Oh, well, you know, me well-rounded monster.
06:59 Yeah, most people think that all me do is eat cookies.
07:03 But no, me like to read books about cookies.
07:06 Paint picture of cookie.
07:09 Or say poem about cookie.
07:11 Not all about eating cookies.
07:14 Who's Cookie Monster's--
07:16 what is it?
07:18 Oh, best friend.
07:20 Uh--
07:20 - Who's your best friend?
07:21 - Oh, well, yeah, well, it could be Abby.
07:24 Me have so many--
07:26 Elmo, Grover, Justine.
07:29 Justine in the running.
07:31 Oh boy.
07:35 You know what?
07:36 They all me best friends.
07:37 What Cookie Monster taught us about self-control.
07:45 Oh boy, we going deep now.
07:47 Ha, yes, me do struggle with self-control issues, yes.
07:52 But me have strategies that me like to use.
07:56 You know, like me could see a cookie there.
07:59 And instead of just going after it, me could sing a song.
08:02 Or me could take a deep breath.
08:05 Or, you know, hug me self.
08:07 That all ways to help with self-control or delayed
08:11 gratification, as we say it in the business.
08:14 Does Cookie Monster have a family?
08:18 Of course me have family.
08:19 Yeah, me got a mommy and daddy.
08:22 Oh, and me got cookie niece.
08:24 Yeah, me get to babysit and, you know, make cookies together.
08:28 Yeah, me love me family.
08:30 Maybe you could come over for a family reunion.
08:33 I would love to.
08:34 You in?
08:35 Is Abby Cadabby--
08:36 Am I?
08:37 --a fairy?
08:37 What?
08:38 Am I a fairy?
08:40 Come on, the wings, the magic wand, plus-- oh my goodness--
08:45 my love for animals and nature and art and music.
08:51 Well, I'm 100% fairy.
08:53 What does Abby Cadabby like to do?
08:55 I like to play with my friends.
08:57 And oh, I like making up silly stories about hedgehogs
09:02 and grow pumpkins in my garden and visit my fairy tale friends.
09:06 And I love making glitter jars.
09:09 See that?
09:09 You just shake it up when you have big feelings.
09:12 And then you watch the glitter swirl around.
09:15 And as it settles down, it calms your body down.
09:19 I love glitter jars.
09:20 What is Abby Cadabby known for?
09:23 Probably my magic.
09:24 Yeah, I do a lot of magic.
09:26 And my great singing skills.
09:27 [SINGING]
09:31 Who is Abby Cadabby's best friend?
09:33 Ah, that's easy.
09:35 All my friends are the best.
09:37 Is Grover from Sesame Street a cat?
09:42 A cat?
09:43 Why would anyone think that?
09:44 Do people not know that I am a monster?
09:48 Oh, look at that cute little kitty cat.
09:50 No, you're not.
09:50 Oh, you're so cute.
09:52 Look at you.
09:53 You know what?
09:53 This feels so good.
09:54 Is your name Whiskers?
09:55 I'm just going to play along with it.
09:57 [GROWLING]
09:59 Cute as a--
10:00 [LAUGHTER]
10:02 Can Grover from Sesame Street--
10:06 I bet that says street--
10:07 jump rope?
10:08 Can a fish play the fiddle?
10:10 Can an egg tap dance?
10:11 Yes!
10:12 Of course I can jump rope.
10:13 Imagine a rope, if you will.
10:18 See?
10:19 Look at me jump this imaginary rope.
10:21 Whoa, whoa, whoa.
10:22 [SCREAMING]
10:24 The imaginary rope made me realistically fall.
10:29 Does Grover from Sesame Street have toes?
10:33 Well, let us see.
10:34 Let us find out, shall we, together?
10:37 All right.
10:38 Yeah, looks like I have toes on this foot.
10:41 I have toes on this foot as well.
10:43 Yes, indeed.
10:43 Grover does have toes.
10:45 Whoa!
10:46 Just need a leg to stand on, I guess.
10:52 Does Grover from Sesame Street play?
10:55 Oh, well, I love to play games, yes.
10:58 All kinds of games.
11:00 Oh, instruments.
11:03 Well, I love to play instruments as well.
11:06 Yeah.
11:07 I can play them all.
11:09 Ha, ha, ha.
11:12 Yeah, just not very well.
11:16 Keep it up.
11:16 I'm loving this.
11:18 OK, Miss Justine, let's see.
11:19 What's the next question?
11:21 What breed of dog is Tango from Sesame Street?
11:24 Tango is brave like a beagle.
11:27 [BARKING]
11:28 Yeah, and smart like a terrier.
11:31 And very fluffy like a poodle.
11:34 I'm going to say Tango is also part cookie monster,
11:37 because she loves to eat.
11:40 Can Tango from Sesame Street fly?
11:43 Can Tango fly?
11:44 No.
11:49 Why Tango from Sesame Street with Elmo?
11:52 Well, Elmo really loves Tango.
11:54 You know, when Elmo takes care of Tango and plays with Tango,
12:00 there's no better pair than a monster and his doggy.
12:04 Can Tango from Sesame Street dance?
12:07 Oh.
12:08 Let's see.
12:09 Dance, Tango.
12:10 [BARKING]
12:16 Oh, yes.
12:17 So I'm supposed to answer these questions, huh?
12:21 These right here?
12:22 All right.
12:23 What in Oscar the Grouch trash can?
12:28 First of all, I just have to say I love this grammar.
12:31 What's in my trash can?
12:32 I got lots of stuff.
12:33 It's pretty messy.
12:35 I got trash, of course.
12:37 Then there's a swimming pool for my pet elephant, Fluffy,
12:41 an old bowling alley, a piano.
12:44 And that's just my first floor.
12:46 Why is Oscar the Grouch so grumpy?
12:50 Now, this is a good question.
12:51 Simple.
12:52 Because I'm a grouch.
12:53 It's in my nature.
12:54 Now, can we get to the next question?
12:56 How long do I have to sit here for, huh?
12:58 How did Oscar the Grouch turn green?
13:02 Well, it is true.
13:04 I used to be orange.
13:05 Then I went on vacation to Swamp Mushy Muddy.
13:09 There was so much muck and green moss there.
13:11 When I came back, I looked like this.
13:14 A nice hue of muck.
13:16 What makes Oscar the Grouch happy?
13:20 Happy?
13:21 But why are you searching for that, huh?
13:23 On principle, us grouches try to be in a constant state
13:27 of unhappiness.
13:29 I will say, though, my head does perk up at the smell of
13:33 trash in the morning.
13:34 -Oh, that was a lot of fun, wasn't it, Cookie?
13:36 -Wait, we done?
13:37 -Yeah, it's all over.
13:39 -Oh, because we don't need this anymore.
13:41 -What?
13:41 -Um, num, num, num, num, num.
13:43 - Okay, bye everybody.
13:45 - Want some?
13:47 - No, thank you.
13:48 - Om nom nom, nom nom nom, nom nom nom.
13:52 Nom nom nom nom.