The ninth season of "Sesame Street" begins with a bang. The bang of drums, that is, because Bert is leading a brass band down the street. Later on, in Hooper's Store, the folks watch a grouch cooking show hosted by Oscar, who demonstrates how to make a 'new kind' of chicken soup. At the end of the day, Grover pretends to drive Gordon's car (with the latter there to supervise, of course). Today's show is brought to you by the letter H and the number 2, the latter paid respects by the Pointer Sisters in one of their typical "Pinball Number" songs. Our favorite frog sings the rather melancholy "Song From Kermit". A woodsman in the countryside sings about how much he loves the great outdoors, totally unaware of the demolition going on behind him. The human cast plays a game of "One of Us is Not Like the Others", to the chagrin of Gladys the Cow. In a couple of animated sequences, a live typewriter demonstrates how the word 'hand' begins with the letter H, and it is demonstrated how to say every letter in sign language. A boy explains to the viewers how his father makes Chinese noodles in his factory. Grover and John-John count one penny, and a short cartoon kid figures out how to get a drink from a water fountain out of his reach.
—Shanak41