The Remembering Game
a skit starrring Guy Smiley (Jim Henson),
Cookie Monster (Frank Oz), and Mr. Bill Smith (Jerry Nelson)
originated in 1971
[drumroll]
Announcer: And now, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for everybody's favorite TV game show, The Remembering Game.
[Game show music plays]
And here's everybody's favorite TV host, Guy Smiley!
[applause]
Guy: Hi there! Hi there, everybody! And welcome to everybody's favorite TV game show, The Remembering Game!
And this is the show, as you know, where our contestants try to remember the prizes hidden behind our fantastic gameboard over here, right?
Ok! I think we're ready to meet our contestants now. Here's our first one: Mr. Bill Smith, a pipe salesman from Cedar Rapids, Iowa! Come on in, Bill!
[Contestant intro cue plays as Bill Smith enters the stage from the curtain and stands on to Guy's left]
Guy: Wonderful, Bill. Come right over here and stand right there.
And our second contestant is a monster from Sesame Street: Mr. Cookie Monster! Come on in, Cookie!
[Contestant intro cue plays again as Cookie Monster enters the stage from the curtain and stands on to Guy's right]
Guy: Wonderful! Wonderful! A pleasure to have you here!
Cookie Monster: Hi, Guy!
Guy: Hi!
Cookie Monster: Mr. Smith.
[Cookie Monster and Bill Smith shake hands wishing each other luck]
Guy: Look at that! Good sportsmen, aren't they, right, folks?
Ok. Now, we both know how to play our game, right?
Cookie Monster: Yeah.
Guy: So, Cookie Monster, you're going to get to go first.
Cookie Monster: Oh, boy.
Guy: I want you to look at our contest board over there. Look at the gameboard and pick a number.
[Thinking cue plays as Cookie Monster makes his decision]
Cookie Monster: Uh, let's me see, uh ... Oh, let me pick number ... 4.
Guy: Ok, let's see what's behind number 4.
[Drumroll as the number 4 space spins revealing a picture of a jet plane; cymbals]
Guy: It is a jet plane. Well, what do you think of that? Okay, Cookie Monster.
Cookie Monster: Yeah? So what?
Guy: This is a very exciting moment. If you pick another number that has a jet plane behind it, you're going to win a jet plane. Ok? So, take a number.
[Thinking cue plays]
Cookie Monster: Oh, I don't care. How bout number, uh ... uh .... 1.
Guy: Ok, let's see what's behind number 1.
[Drumroll as the number 1 space spins revealing a picture of a cookie; cymbals; audience groans]
Guy: So sorry, Cookie Monster. The only thing behind number one is a cookie.
Cookie Monster: COOKIE!
Guy: No, you did not win a prize.
Cookie Monster: I want cookie! Cookie!
Guy: No, no. You don't win a prize. And so, our next contestant gets a chance. Mr. Bill Smith. Ok? Look at our gameboard and pick a number.
[Thinking cue plays as Bill Smith chooses]
Bill Smith: Right, you are, Guy. Let's see. Uh ... Oh, what could it be, but number 3.
Guy: Ok, let's see what's behind number 3.
[Drumroll as the number 3 space spins revealing a picture of a jet plane; cymbals]
Bill Smith: Wowie-Kazowie!
Guy: Yes, indeed. It's a jet plane, Bill Smith.
Bill Smith: Jet plane.
Guy: A jet plane. And listen. If you pick the other number that has a jet plane behind it, you're going to win that jet plane, Bill Smith!
Bill Smith: Oh, wowie-kazowie. I hope I can remember.
Guy: Think hard. Think very, very hard, Bill Smith and pick a number.
[Thinking cue plays]
Bill: Uh ... Oh, what'll I do, but pick number 2.
Guy: Ok, let's see what's behind number 2.
[Drumroll as the number 2 space spins revealing a picture of a cookie; cymbals; audience]
Guy: So sorry, Bill. Oh, it's really too bad because it was a cookie behind number 2.
Cookie Monster: Cookie.
Guy: And so you did not win a prize and Cookie Monster gets another chance.
Cookie Monster: Me next! Cookie! Cookie! Cookie!
Guy: Ok, Cookie Monster, it's your turn. [Thinking cue plays]
Take a look at the board. Take a look at the board.
Cookie Monster: Yeah, I try to remember ... I try to remember where cookie was.
Cookie at number .... Cookie behind number 4.
Guy: Let's see what's behind number 4.
[Drumroll as the number 4 space spins revealing a picture of a jet plane; cymbals]
Guy: Look at that, Cookie Monster. It's a jet plane. Ok.
Cookie: No want ...
Guy: This is your big chance, Cookie Monster. If you can remember where the other jet plane was ....
Cookie Monster: No can eat jet plane.
[Thinking cue plays]
Guy: Ok, but choose one anyhow. Which number do you pick?
Cookie Monster: Uh ... I think cookie behind number 3. 3.
Guy: Behind number 3. Let's see what's behind number 3.
[Drumroll as the number 3 space spins revealing a picture of a jet plane; cymbals; applause; win cue plays]
Cookie Monster: Wha ...
Guy: Wow! Look at that! It's a jet plane! You have matched the two jet planes. You get to win a jet plane, Cookie Monster! Wonderful! Wonderful!
[Consolation prize cue plays]
Cookie Monster: Ahhhh ... No want jet plane. Me want cookie.
Guy: Mr. Smith, I'm sorry. All you get is a consolation prize of a cookie.
Bill Smith: A cookie?!
Cookie Monster: Cookie?!
Bill Smith: Oh, I coulda had a jet plane!
Guy: [being overlapped by Cookie Monster's next line] Well, that's the way we play our game, and ...
Cookie Monster: Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait a minute, Guy! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait!
[To Bill Smith] You want jet plane ...
Bill Smith: Do I? Yeah.
Cookie Monster: Me want cookie. Me want cookie. You want trade?
Bill Smith: Sure!
Cookie Monster: Ok. Ok, I got cookie!
Bill Smith: [joyfully] Oh, I got the jet plane!
Guy Smiley: Wonderful!
[Last several lines are overlapped to mention 'em all as the end theme plays]
Transcribed by and pics supplied by David Frangioso