"So Long, Mr. Hooper" (1839) is a Season 15 episode of Sesame Street, which aired on November 24, 1983.
In this episode, Big Bird is giving his grown-up friends pictures of them that he drew as presents for them. He gives every picture he made except for one of Mr. Hooper, and is reminded by Maria that Mr. Hooper died. Big Bird says he'll give the picture to Mr. Hooper when he comes back, but then starts to get upset when the grown-ups explain Mr. Hooper is not coming back.
Segments:
- Street Scene 1
- Animation: "Jive Five"
- Muppets: Prarie Dawn's Feelings Pageant
- Animation: Five Tall Things
- Film: Sand Creations
- Muppets: "Fuzzy and Blue (and Orange)"
- Animation: "J Family Jamboree"
- Street Scene 2
- Film: Jumping
- Animation: J in sand
- Film: Tugboats
- Insert: Umbrellas
- Animation: Jam
- Film: Dance Lessons
- Muppets: "Sing After Me" with Madeline Kahn
- Animation: Mighty M
- Street Scene 3
- Film: Polar Bear Feeding
- Muppets: Ernie and Bert at the movies
- Animation: Animals who stole/ruined a man's clothing
- Muppets: A man closes everything
- Animation: How do frogs make more frogs?
- News Flash: Who the princess wants to marry
- Film: The Hospital
- Street Scene 4
- Muppets: Bert's missing paper clips
- Animation: "That's About the Size of It"
- Street Scene 5
- Film: Parts of a flower
- Animation: Don't pick the flowers
- Street Scene 6
Sponsors of this episode:
- J
- M
- 5
This episode provides an example of:
- Birth-Death Juxtaposition: The new neighbors' baby is born around the time Mr. Hooper dies.
- Bittersweet Ending: In the final scene, just as Big Bird is hanging up Mr. Hooper's picture as a sign that he's beginning to come to terms with his loss, he meets some new neighbors and their baby.
- Break the Cutie: Big Bird does not handle the news of Mr. Hooper's death well. It takes Gordon's Meaningful Echo to help him move on.
- The Character Died with Him: Mr. Hooper was killed off after his actor, Will Lee died on December 7, 1982.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: Well, Big Bird saw the new baby.
- Everybody Cries: A hallmark part of the episode. The actors, who had become close to Will Lee as their fictional counterparts had to Mr. Hooper, make no effort to hide their tears as they try to remind Big Bird why Mr. Hooper was no longer around. At one point, Bob's (Bob McGrath) voice cracks as he tries to explain that while it is OK to be sad and to miss Mr. Hooper (as they all do), they all can take solace in their memories. Moments earlier, Susan (and by extension, Loretta Long) was struggling to hold her composure when explaining that "When people die, they don't come back." In the end, viewers – especially younger ones – see that it is perfectly normal and OK to cry when someone you love dies, and that in fact many families cry, sometimes together, when grieving the passing of a loved one.
- Five Stages of Grief: The first (denial), second (anger) and fifth (acceptance) are explored. The first two come in the episode's definitive scene, the fifth in the closing scene where Big Bird meets new neighbors and their baby.
- Hidden Depths: Who knew Big Bird was such an amazing artist?
- In Memoriam: The episode ends with the dedication to Will Lee (1908–1982).
- Meaningful Echo: When Gordon asks why Big Bird was walking with his head down between his legs, Big Bird answers "Because. Just Because". When Big Bird tearfully asks why Mr. Hooper had to die, Gordon just answers, "Because. Just Because."
- Mood Whiplash: Everyone happy and praising Big Bird's photos up until Big Bird decides to give Mr. Hooper his sketch. Cue the Stunned Silence and Wham Line below.
- Passing the Torch: Well, Mr. Hooper left the store to David.
- Put on a Bus: Shortly after Will Lee's death, several options were reportedly discussed to explain why Mr. Hooper was no longer around, including having him leave (quietly) during the off-season and then make a brief mention that he had retired and moved from the area. Famously averted in the end, however.
- Stunned Silence: When Big Bird shows off his sketch of Mr. Hooper, he states that he [Big Bird] can't wait to show it to him [Mr. Hooper]. Cue all the adults who were happily chatting away, becoming utterly silent.
- Very Special Episode: It's actually a typical Sesame Street episode until the final 15 minutes or so, when the subject of Mr. Hooper comes up, which made it an important moment for children's television. It aired on Thanksgiving Day 1983, specifically because it would be a day when parents would be home with their children and could discuss the episode with them.
- Wham Episode: This episode revealing the death of Mr. Hooper and everyone, particularly Big Bird, learning to cope with the loss.
- Wham Line:
- "Big Bird, don't you remember what we told you? Mr. Hooper died. He's dead!" And ...
- "Big Bird, when people die ... they don't come back."
