Mine-itis sweeps Sesame Street
Season 39 (2008)
Leela is about to have her lunch break with Elmo when Bert, Grover, and Cookie Monster walk by, chanting "Mine!" and taking her food one by one. At that moment, a "Sesame Street Nightly News Update" with Brian Williams reports that no one is sharing on Sesame Street. Leela and Elmo can't believe it, so they set out to prove that people are still sharing.
They first approach Big Bird, expecting him to share. Elmo asks if he can hug Radar, but Big Bird refuses, shouting "Mine!" Next, they encounter Snuffy holding a balloon, but he also shouts "Mine!" and walks away. They ask Alan for a newspaper, but he grabs as many as he can and runs inside Hooper's Store. Brian Williams returns with another update, saying, "I told you so."
Leela and Elmo hear the sounds of someone sharing and discover Luis, Maria, and Gabi having their annual family picnic with Mexican food. They're relieved to see someone still sharing. Elmo makes his own report that people are still sharing, but Oscar warns that it won't last due to a case of "Mine-itis," a Grouch disease that seems to have spread to everyone.
Maria begins showing symptoms of Mine-itis, and the disease quickly spreads to Luis and Gabi. As the camera pans down the street, we see all the residents grabbing whatever they can, chanting "Mine!" Brian Williams reports on the situation and eventually catches Mine-itis himself. Elmo and Leela become depressed, while Oscar is delighted and celebrates with an anchovy sundae. However, Brian takes Oscar's binoculars and sundae, forcing Oscar to reveal the cure: getting a Grouch to share with you.
Oscar offers Brian an old shoe, which he takes and is immediately cured. Oscar then cures the rest of the street, but not before enjoying one last look at the greedy residents. Brian Williams wraps up the story, and the chicken returns to borrow his microphone, signing off by saying, "Good night, and good cluck."
Cookie Monster sings "What is Friend?" as scenes of a child playing with their friend are shown.
Celebrity guests Tilly and the Wall perform "The Alphabet Song."
In the Letter of the Day segment, Chris plans to show the viewers the letter of the day, but it's dirty, so he has to wash it. In the meantime, he shows the viewers the letter G in the washing machine.
In Murray Has a Little Lamb, Murray's lamb Ovejita leads him to another secret school with clues like socks, a hat, and ice skates. The school turns out to be Ice Skating School, where Murray learns the basics of skating.
Cecille sings "I'm Gonna Get to You."
In the Number of the Day segment, Chris washes the number of the day, 20. They count 20 fish.
Elmo searches for a friend to play with when Abby Cadabby appears. She thinks she can make a friend for him appear. First, she tries to make Dorothy appear but ends up creating a pumpkin in a fishbowl. Then, she tries to make Bert appear but conjures a pumpkin with Bert's hairstyle. Abby feels like a failure until Elmo points out that she did bring a friend to play with - herself!
Suzie Kabloozie sings "Somebody Come and Play."
Dan Zanes and friends perform "Jump Up."
In Elmo's World, the theme of the episode is Friends.