| Category | Details |
| Episode Number | 0330 |
| Season | Season 3 (1971-1972) |
| Air Date | January 28, 1972 |
| Grand Opening | The L and R Fix-It Shop (formerly the Library) |
| Letters of the Day | S, B |
| Number of the Day | 12 |
| Prop of the Day | Flashlights (Grand Opening Giveaway) |
| Human Cast | Luis, Rafael, Susan, Tom |
| Muppet Stars | Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Sherlock Hemlock, Grover |
| Disguises | Farmer, Old Man, Elephant, Granny Bird |
| Key Concepts | Repair, Cooperation, One-per-customer, Counting |
| Sponsors | B, S, 12 |
Street Scenes
Luis and Rafael are opening the L and R Fix-It Shop in the old library. Susan brings in a broken picture frame for repair. The shopkeepers gave her a new flashlight as a gift for the grand opening. This event celebrates the art of restoration. You can see how neighbors maintain their belongings rather than throwing them away.
Big Bird wants more flashlights. He uses costumes to trick the shopkeepers. He comes to the shop as a farmer and an old man. He even pretends to be an elephant. At last, he dons a shawl to resemble his grandma. Rafael gives him the last flashlight. Big Bird then removes his disguise. He returns all the flashlights in a big box. He wants the shop to have enough gifts for the other neighbors. This shows that they're loyal and generous.
Oscar the Grouch won't share his tools. Rafael needs pliers to finish a job. Oscar gives the group a hard time about not being more cooperative. Eventually, the neighbors settle things at the store. They get that working together means using the same tools. Susan picked up her fixed frame. She uses the object to frame her face while saying goodbye. You learn that communities depend on the things people lend to each other.
Parent's Guide
Grover tries to show the audience his front and his back. Every time he turns, the camera cuts to the opposite side of his body. This might frustrate his lesson, but it'll definitely teach you about spatial awareness. You see, the front and back are relative to where a person stands. This helps kids develop a sense of orientation in the physical world.
Luis and Rafael are opening a repair shop and they're letting everyone in for free if they bring in a flashlight to be fixed. Big Bird uses costumes to trick them into giving him more. He acts like a farmer, an old man, and an elephant. He finally dresses as his grandmother to get the last light. Big Bird then comes back without a disguise. He gives the shopkeepers a big box of flashlights to share with others. This story is about empathy and generosity. You learn that it's better to contribute to a community than to take more than your share.
Susan is looking for a book on repairs, but the library is now a shop. Luis and Rafael offer to fix her broken frame. This segment is all about community services. You see that neighbors have different skills to solve specific problems. Relying on the expertise of others makes a neighborhood stronger.
Oscar draws a picture of a trash can. Rafael asks to borrow his pliers. Oscar won't share because he's a bit of a grouch. Rafael explains why cooperation is important. Oscar eventually lends the tool while complaining. This is a great example of negotiation. It's interesting how people can still be helpful even when they're feeling grumpy. It shows kids that they can help others while staying true to themselves.
Ernie and Bert look at their separate grocery bags. The items might seem a bit boring at first. They put their food together to make peanut butter sandwiches. This is a perfect example of synergy. Two things that are better when used together are... This gets kids thinking about working together.
