| Character | Defining Trait | Highlight Segment | Core Lesson / Educational Focus |
| Elmo | Enthusiasm | "Ate My Red Two" | Subtraction & Emotional Expression |
| Cookie Monster | Impulse Control | "The 39 Stairs" | Logical Sequencing & Delayed Gratification |
| Telly Monster | Anxiety/Passion | "My Triangle" | Geometry (Triangles) & Perseverance |
| Zoe | Self-Expression | "Take Care of Your Hair" | Hygiene & Personal Identity |
| The Count | Order/Logic | "Transylvania 6-5000" | Numeracy & Auditory Patterning |
| Ernie & Bert | Complementarity | "Cookies In Bed" | Conflict Resolution & Sharing Space |
| Oscar | Boundary Setting | "I Love Trash" | Self-Acceptance & Divergent Thinking |
| Rosita | Cultural Identity | "No Matter What Your Language" | Bilingualism & Global Citizenship |
| Big Bird | Wonder | "ABC-DEF-GHI" | Literacy (The Alphabet) & Scale |
| Snuffy | Gentle Presence | "Summer of Snuffy" | Perspective Taking & Patience |
| Grover | Effort/Resilience | "Waiter: Alphabet Soup" | Perseverance (The "Service" Mindset) |
| Abby Cadabby | Curiosity | "For Broccoli" | Nutrition & Scientific Discovery |
Facts
The 2012 DVD Best of Friends was a one-of-a-kind fan-driven project. Back in January 2012, for two weeks, Sesame Workshop let the public curate the tracklist on Facebook. Fans could choose from four classic clips for each of the 12 featured characters, making it one of the first major home media releases to be crowdsourced via social media.
The DVD's got a rare "Monsterpiece Theater" segment called The 39 Stairs. It's a parody of the Alfred Hitchcock thriller The 359 Steps. In this version, Grover tries to climb a huge staircase while counting each step. The set design uses forced perspective to make the climb look much steeper and more exhausting than it actually was for the puppeteer.
Liam Neeson was in a segment with Count von Count called Transylvania 6-5000. It was a nod to the well-known jazz standard Pennsylvania 6-5000. In this bit, Neeson plays a serious, "tough-guy" version of himself while trying to help the Count count his many capes. They used a lighting setup called Chiaroscuro to give the Transylvanian castle a moody, cinematic feel.
Grover's "Spider-Monster" bit, which originally aired in 2011, made fun of the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. The puppet had eight functional legs, four of which were controlled by thin, almost invisible monofilament wires. This meant the character could "web-swing" across the street set using a complex pulley system hidden in the studio rafters.
James Blunt performed a triangle-themed version of his hit "You're Beautiful" titled "My Triangle." For this performance, the props department made a "Mega Triangle" that was way bigger than a normal musical instrument. This highlighted the shape's geometric features, like its three sides and three vertices. The sound of a triangle is made by high-frequency vibrations that travel through the metal when the beater hits it.
The DVD's got a big "GNN" news segment with Anderson Cooper. Cooper reported from a "trash site" alongside Oscar the Grouch. To make the Muppet News Desk look real, the designers used scaled-down versions of the real broadcast equipment. The segment used the journalistic concepts of "who, what, where, and when" while staying within Oscar's "grouchy" thematic universe.
Julianne Moore joined the Count for a performance of "Far from Seven." They used a "split-screen" technique to film this bit, so you can see Moore and the Count in different places at the same time. This meant that the actors could make it look like they were having a seamless long-distance conversation. Moore's bit was filmed on a simple set so that the focus was on the numbers and the rhythm of the counting.
Parent's Guide
The "Cookie Monster" section is all about balancing a love for cookies with essential lessons on healthy habits. In the "Healthy Food" bit, Cookie Monster looks at the plus points of good-for-you snacks. Meanwhile, "Monsterpiece Theater: The 39 Stairs" teaches us a thing or two about persistence and counting. This variety is a really useful tool for executive function. It shows your child that even someone who has strong impulses can learn to stay focused on a goal. If you're really hungry, you'll learn a lot more if you eat a balanced diet.
Ricky Gervais joins Elmo for a "Celebrity Lullaby." This lovely segment is all about self-regulation and how important it is to have a calming bedtime routine. It helps toddlers move from a day of active play to a night of restful sleep.
In the "Count von Count" chapter, it's like star power makes maths feel like a big party. Whether it's singing with Liam Neeson or exploring the number 7 with Julianne Moore, the Count shows how numbers are recognised and matched up. These segments are a must for preschool STEM, as they combine rhythmic counting with visual cues. Your child will get to grips with mathematical sets by seeing the Count interact with "NasCount" or his bats.
The 'Rosita' and 'Abby Cadabby' bits show off their cultural awareness and reading skills. Rosita's duet with Gloria Estefan and her lesson on different languages promote diversity and bilingualism. Meanwhile, Abby's "I Love Words" segment is great for helping kids to recognise sounds in words and get them interested in finding out more. So, all these characters show that the "Word of the Day" is a great way to make new friends and see the world in a different way.
Oscar the Grouch and Grover teach us about emotional intelligence and social etiquette. Oscar's worked with music legends like Johnny Cash and James Taylor, and he's shown kids that it's OK to have days where you're just feeling grumpy. Everyone has their own way of expressing themselves. Then there's "Waiter Grover," which is a classic reading readiness tool where kids help identify letters in a bowl of alphabet soup. It's all about showing empathy and patience, and it's a great reminder that trying your best for a friend is what really counts.
Big Bird and Snuffy are all about spatial reasoning and gross motor skills. In "Wheels on My Feet" and the "Snuffle Shuffle," kids are encouraged to get up and move, promoting physical literacy. Big Bird's "I Just Adore Four" and the "Summer of Snuffy" are great for developing mathematical fluency and community awareness. These segments remind preschoolers that being a best friend means supporting each other's growth, whether learning to count or practising a new dance step.
Summary
Some of the segments in "Sesame Street Best of Friends" are as follows:
In the section reserved to Elmo:
"Elmo's Ducks" is a popular song sung by Elmo playing the guitar and first aired on Sesame Street Episode 4180. Elmo's Ducks has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award. The song is also featured in the videos for "The Best of Elmo 2", "Best of Friends", "Love to Learn 2" and "50 Years and Counting".
Celebrity Lullabies is the song first sung by Ricky Gervais in Sesame Street Episode 4201. Ricky Gervais tries to put Elmo to sleep with a lullaby. The song Celebrity Lullabies is also featured in the videos "Singing with the Stars", "Best of Friends", "Alphabet Songs", "Awesome Alphabet Collection", "50 Years and Counting".
"A Monster Went and Ate My Red Two" is a song first sung by Elvis Costello and Elmo in Episode 4267. The song, with lyrics by Joey Mazzarino, is also featured in the videos "The Best of Elmo 3", "Cool Counting Collection", "Sesame Street Best of Friends".
In the section reserved to Cookie Monster:
If Moon Was Cookie is a song sung by Cookie Monster in which he imagines the moon to be a cookie. First aired on Episode 1789, If Moon Was Cookie also appeared in the videos "Bedtime Stories & Songs", "Cookie Monster's Best Bites", "Good Night Sesame", "C is for Cookie Monster", "Best of Friends".
39 Stairs is a video from the Monsterpiece Theater series. In the video, Cookie Monster appears as Alistair Cookie. Grover climbs 39 steps and doesn't find what he hoped for above. It was first aired on Episode 2342.
Healthy Food is a song first sung by Cookie Monster in Episode 2404. In the song, Cookie Monster talks about the importance of eating healthy foods other than cookies.
In the section reserved to Telly Monster:
Telly Tut is a song first released on Episode 3823 sung by Telly Monster. In the song, Telly Monster acts Telly Tut and talks about the triangular love of the pharaoh.
Three Sides Now is a song sung by Telly Monster about his love for triangles. The song is only featured in the "Sesame Street Best of Friends" video, apart from Episode 3457.
Telly's Aquarium is a song sung by Telly and other fish in the aquarium like himself. Telly's Aquarium first airs in Episode 3849.
In the section reserved to Zoe:
The song Take Care of Your Hair is sung by Zoe, Elmo and Gabi.
Share is a song first sung by Elmo and Zoe in Episode 3825. The original version of the song is sung by Cookie Monster and Ernie. Zoe has a glass of milk and Elmo has a plate of cookies. Will they discover what it means to share in Sesame Street Best of Friends?
Little Miss Count Along is a song first sung by Zoe and The Count in Episode 3393 of Sesame Street.
In the section reserved to Count von Count:
Nascount is a sketch of The Count in which the Count takes part in a race and counts the cars instead of racing.
In another "The Count" sketch, The Count directs a movie featuring Liam Neeson in Best of Friends.
The Count and Julianne Moore are featured in a sketch where the number 7 is the main theme.
In the section reserved to Ernie and Bert:
In a sketch, Bert tells Ernie not to eat cookies in bed, and Ernie decides to eat them in Bert's bed.
At the Movies: Lady In Tall Hat. In a sketch, Ernie and Bert are watching a movie in the movie theater and the woman sitting in front of them is wearing a huge hat.
In the section reserved to Oscar the Grouch:
The song That Grouchy Face is performed by Oscar and James Taylor.
The song "Bein' Green", which has many versions, is performed by Oscar in an adapted version.
Nasty Dan is a classic song sung by Johnny Cash to the Oscar and first appeared in Episode 0558.
Anderson Cooper interviews Oscar and his friends.
In the section reserved to Abby Cadabby:
Abby Cadabby sings For Broccoli Hurray-Hurrah.
Rebecca Romijn and Abby Cadabby present the word "Accessory" in the "Word of the Day" segment.
Abby Cadabby, Rosita and Zoe sing Because We're Friends.
In the section reserved to Rosita:
The song Sing, Sing A Song performed by Gloria Estefan and Rosita.
Little Richard sings Rosita with Rosita.
Rosita and Gabi sing Tu Me Gustas.
In the section reserved to Big Bird:
Big Bird sings Admiral Bird.
Big Bird and the Tarnish Brothers sing I Just Adore Four.
Big Bird sings Wheels on My Feet.
In the section reserved to Snuffy:
Snuffy sings If I Was a Cloud in the Sky.
Big Bird wants to teach Snuffy how to ice skate. This segment is one of the Ice Follies sketches.
Snuffy sings The Snuffle Shuffle with Susan and the kids.
In the section reserved to Grover:
Waiter Grover Alphabet Soup: Mr. Johnson asks for hot alphabet soup. Waiter Grover tries to add the missing letters in the soup.
Super Grover Telephone Booth: Grover Kent transforms into Super Grover to help a little girl looking for a phone booth to get home.
SpiderMonster The Musical: Mr. Johnson is the only participant in SpiderMonster the Musical. Mr. Johnson tries to teach Grover to fly using the reels.
