Classic Sesame Street: Oscar Causes Trouble at the Airport

[cainster]

This is just awesome...I almost expected an entire coatrack to come out of that trash can like in a magic act

[darthmeyers074]

you never see security officers that cute

[Thirdgen83]

What exactly is this supposed to teach kids??...

[hoopersghost]

@Thirdgen83: How airport check-in is supposed to work, and an extreme example of what NOT to do when going through the metal detector. (Keep in mind that this episode aired in 1979, 20-odd years before air marshals and no-fly lists became standard parts of traveling by plane! )

[cvo85]

@hoopersghost Personally, I think Oscar would easily make a no-fly list today.

[hoopersghost]

@cvo85: Agreed...especially since most of the heavier contents in his trash can would be considered potential weapons by the TSA.

[MalnourishedGoat]

That airport security agent is fooxxxxxxxxyyyyyy! Dayum. And her and Oscar actually make a cute couple.

[Lucailey]

Oscar needs to go on "Extreme Hoarders"

[keiwansaunt]

@Lucailey that wouldn't help him any. he'd be a series regular! LOL

[jackette55]

What a friendly, casual airport.

[wsuplaya27]

Is it just me or should you not be able to bring a chain and an anvil onto a plane?

[Edgefox88]

bumb question but wouldnt that trash can be made of metal?

[hoopersghost]

@Edgefox88: The actual trash can used on the set is painted plastic, but the metal-like details (even in 1978) are pretty well done. I'm surprised that whoever played the security worker DIDN'T play along...

[normantweeter]

@Edgefox88 You'll notice that when Oscar went through the second time, only his head and shoulders are visible, with no sign of the can. He didn't take it back through the detector. This is probably one of the only times you'll ever see him outside of the can!

[sideslide23]

Oscar having problem with the TSA well since after 9/11, Oscer would not be allowed to bring his Trash can with him on the plane.

[theenforcr55576]

If oscar the grouch did this today at the airport, he probably would have been arrested. Especially with the chain. My how times have changed since the 1970's.

[bloggaloggs]

What the hell was that round thing Bob pulled oout of his pocket? A bathplug??

[hoopersghost]

@bloggaloggs:  When? If I had a time marker (X minutes/Y seconds) I'd be able to take a closer look.

[bloggaloggs]

@hoopersghost At 1:14...

[hoopersghost]

@bloggaloggs: Thanks...Now that I got a closer look, I think that the object Bob took from his pocket was a pitch pipe...used to check whether an instrument or singer is on key. (Bob does teach music on the show, so it makes sense that he'd carry a pitch pipe around. Why he'd take it on the trip, though, is anyone's guess!)

[samsticka]

Oscar wouldn't be able to get away with this today.

[lalbruiz]

LOL, nice old days when TSA staff wouldn´t hurry you up and treated you like crap...like her NY accent..."It´s a metal detecta" Now this was a good show, nowadays that answer from Oscar would have every conservative assh***claiming what a bad influence he is to kids.

[70Kenny]

Oscar proves he's a real American at 0:46 : "Next time keep your mitts on your own trash can!!" We should all say that to the TSA! I'm surprised he didn't tell her "Don't touch my junk!" That's exactly what she did. All of it, too, from what I can see.

[neoYTPism]

Is that a gun? @ 2:24

[pattypopping]

He said he would give surfing a try

[hoopersghost]

@pattypopping : That makes sense, since they are headed for Hawaii...I doubt PBS' censors would have let Bob get away with mentioning circumcision on a show for preschooleres.  Thanks for clearing that up!

[duchesseagle404]

i love ascar...his my favorite

[psychodamned]

did bob say did he ever get circumcised at 0.19 ???? Weird fella ??? : O

[hoopersghost]

@psychodamned: Sure sounds that esy, but we're probably both hearing it wrong. No way would PBS let someone get away with saying that on a kids' show!

[cbsteffen]

I couldn't help but laugh when I heard the alarm from 2:50-3:00.

[hviw]

I've been stuck behind people like that. the people who take out one coin walk through then another coin etc with like 50 coins.

[chusidhe]

usually it's the ticketing, security, and baggage folks who are the grouches! and i have never seen any airport security employee look nearly that attractive.

[treadley]

reminds me of my mom's garage

[stevenscottoddballz]

Wouldn't the metal fastenings & the sliding part of Mr. Hooper's suspenders ALSO set it off?

[Mysterycat74]

@stevenscottoddballz I thought of Mr. Hooper's suspenders too!

[tjcaleb]

awsome video how can anyone hate oscar

[menslady125]

UGH! I HATE Oscar!

The lesson here: never take Oscar with you on a plane!

[AnthonyP73]

Very suggestuve, the way she looks into his eyes while pulling on his chain there...

[cainster]

@AnthonyP73 "Very suggestuve, the way she looks into his eyes while pulling on his chain there..." <-- It's called 'Corpsing.' It's when an actor breaks up while on camera, usually forcing a retake. In this case, you can tell she was trying hard not to burst out laughing, and you can see Carol (Oscar) playing her up real good, too...I bet this whole scene took at least six to eight takes, most coming from the chain scene. Still a good actress and an awesome scene for Oscar!

[battybuddy]

I wonder if Oscar counts as carry-on luggage. :D

He'd probably like it.

[beatledude2]

what did that first guy have in his pockets? it looked like makeup or a cigar. i wouldn't doubt it, he was carrying a purse

[evan22303]

Was this at LaGuardia or JFK?

Or maybe Newark Liberty?

[GameShowNetwork]

This was shot at LaGuardia airport. During the metal detector scenes, this was used a fake airport set.

[MalnourishedGoat]

Oh man, that lady was totally crushing on Oscar. They had good chemistry together. Maybe it was the tunnel of love afterall...

[012345678939489]

The Rule Is You Have To Be At The Airport 2 Hours Early Pryor Til Departure , I Like Flight Delays , I Fly Alaska Airlines  Love Scott Orvik

[jmcjmc2007]

It scares me to think what those woman had in those hand bags that they passed around..

[redfox409]

How did Oscar get passed security with a metal trash can?

[hoopersghost]

One of those things the writers should have thought about...that part of the scene was probably shot on a fake airport set.

[NyeTunes]

@hoopersghost Oh please, the metal detector is so obviously on a set (which doesn't even match the REAL airport shots) it's not funny... who would think this was real??

[Superstarseven]

@NyeTunes Perhaps the preschoolers who were watching this.

[drsdino]

How did he fit all of that in there?

[avidviewer67]

Simple, drsdino. Oscar's trashcan is bigger inside than out, just like the TARDIS in Doctor Who! :-)

[SilverEspeon26]

@avidviewer67 Yeah...apparently, it's even a portal to Grouchland. I saw that movie D:

[bcopel182]

I wonder if he is carrying any liquids.

[simonizer888]

Back in 1978, you wouldn't have to worry about carrying fruit punch in a bottle. Today, in a post 9/11 world, we worry much about miniknives in shoes, to box cutters, to anthrax. Boy, times have changed to drastically soon! =oS

[tobesters]

Great scene!

Who is the lady? - is she a celeb guest or a bit part actress for sesame st?

[CDenic]

I like how she nearly lost it at the anvil line.

Funny how I never get a pretty security office like that at the airport...I always get the mean lookin' old lady with the glove and the infected lip...

[Blondiegreeneyes72]

where's Luis, David and Gordon and Susan?

[hoopersghost]

Still behind on the Street; United Airlines could pay for only so many cast members to travel with Buffy Sainte-Marie. (She'd planned to celebrate her son's first birthday in Hawaii, and CTW decided to make a story arc out of the trip.)

[Blondiegreeneyes72]

yeah that's true it's expensive to travel. I am glad to see Mr. Hooper in this one. :)

[MrLogoman007]

After all, somebody has to keep Hooper's open.

[Blondiegreeneyes72]

how does Oscar have room for all of that stuff in his garbage can?

[Blondiegreeneyes72]

Mr Hooper! :D i miss him being on Sesame Street :(

[Blondiegreeneyes72]

what year was this from?

[hoopersghost]

It first aired in 1978.

[Ja100453]

Wow

Airport Security is 10 times tougher then 1977 becaue after 9/11 Airtport Secrity and it restrictions trippled becaue now you must take your shues off when crossing the Medel decter and put bags to Xray to see if you are a Criminal or not.

[moatguy]

I wonder how Carrol Spriney worked Big Bird and Oscar in the same shots.

[OtherBrother09]

How beautiful Sonia Manzano is. No wonder the entire (straight) male cast had a crush on her at some point, according to the book Street Gang.

[OtherBrother09]

Seriously hi-larious.

[cannonballsax]

Is the actress with the long dark hair named Maria? Or is it someone different?

[ExplorerDS6789]

Where was Big Bird during the security scene?

[hoopersghost]

Probably looking for Snuffy...he was out on the tarmac hunting for the guy at the last minute, too.

[ExplorerDS6789]

Oh yeah. That was back when nobody else could see him.

[hoopersghost]

Right; Snuffy first met the adult cast in the mid-1980s. This happened partly because CTW writers were running out of near-miss gags, partly because the curriculum staff was worried that kids might learn not to trust adults with important news (like telling them about abuse at home). Granted, seeing a hard-to-catch friend is a far cry from abuse, but I do understand the logic!

[moatguy]

1985 it was 2 years before I was born.

[LeslieChimes]

Oscar's trashcan is the TARDIS.

[DaveLH]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks Oscar has access to Time Lord technology.

[RedUncle]

"tunnel of love" hahaha!! that's awesome

[samsticka]

Back when airport security was simple. I miss those days.

[torturetoi]

Did anyone notice that they empty their pockets on the far side of the metal detector, instead of having to back up before emptying pockets?

[samsticka]

Why would CTW have needed permission for the cast to go through security?

[hoopersghost]

If the scene with Oscar was NOT shot separately at the studio (unlikely but possible), they'd have needed permission to check the trashcan through at least.

[samsticka]

Oh, OK. Today, if they'd actually filmed at this at LaGuardia or at JFK, then they would've needed permission to get the cast through security.

[ExplorerDS6789]

More than likely the scene of going through security was a studio set; however the opening shot was filmed on location, I'm sure.

[moatguy]

Crikey! He could put three washing macheins in his can and still travel light. LOL

[LoriLasko]

"hey, what's that, tunnel of love or somethin'?

LOL

[efil4own1]

This is why certain Muppets are on the no-fly list.

[SMSTERN2]

They should've taken Oscar to Hawaii-he's only a grouch and doesn't like good and happiness!

[michaelmoval]

I'm saying to the female security guard on this clip, "Hey, ma'am, you look beautiful with that cap on!"

[AnthonyP73]

Damn right. I wonder does anybody know who the actress was?

[caitlinjane92]

I was nervous when I first went through a metal detector. First, it happened at Six Flags, and then at the airports in New York and Boston when we went on our cruise this year.

[dorourke105]

That's a helluva lot of stuff oscar has.

[Blondiegreeneyes72]

yea lol, where does he have the room to fit all of that stuff in his can? :D

[avonee1976]

I'd have to leave Oscar's you know what in New York! I'm from Chicago and he'd REALLY cause a ruckus at O'Hare.

[Makingnewnamesisdumb]

"CTW must've gotten special permission for the staff to let the cast through!"

That, or most of the footage was recorded in a studio. With actors.

[rrunner81sg]

"What is this, the tunnel of love?"...Best Sesame Street line ever!