I was over 9 when Sesame Street debuted, so I wasn’t their target audience. I always found it entertaining, but strange as hell.
Like THIS video.
Why did the kid grind that ball into powder?
So he could count to three one more time. 
According to the YouTube comments, the ending was CHANGED? WHY? I haven’t seen that in nigh on 30 years now, but as soon as it started I remembered how it ended (the way it was shown). Silly.
Maybe because a lot of people said WTF!?!
after seeing the original version.
Grinding that ball up into powder is just really weird. What’s the point?
I’ve always enjoyed SS for it’s weirdness, it’s just that some of it I really don’t get.
I only vaguely remember that one, and the ending didn’t make strong impression on me either way, although it is a little weird. Maybe somebody thought it was too violent?
Now this one I remember like it was yesterday.
I like the Stewie Griffin version better.
Moved MPSIMS --> Cafe Society, where, hopefully, it will not be crushed to powder.
Don’t forget the poor lower-case n. And the Capital I.
And the music in this one is funky but the cartoon is bizarre.
Were all cartoon/kid show producers in the 60’s on an acid trip, or what?
Don’t even get me started about Sid and Marty Krofft!
Perhaps the video creator’s name was Rube Goldberg and he was very bitter about it.
Yep! I still get that song randomly stuck in my head for no apparant reason.
I don’t think the op video was a rare version; it’s definitely the one I remember from way back.
Now I want to know what the ‘other’ version is, that is one is considered rare.
ETA Found this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67khDZ0P7Xo&NR=1
I don’t recall ever seeing that one, hrm.
Maybe they just had more than one version and played both?
That wire sculpture ball sequence was built and filmed by Frank Oz. It’s narrated by Brian Henson and the girl at the end is his sister Heather.
I think there was yet* another* version of that short where, after you saw the grinder deposit the ball powder into the kid’s hand, the kid (a boy) took the powder and added it to a glass of water making a red Kool-Aid type drink.
I suspect Sesame Street quickly pulled that version because they thought too many little kids would grind up red rubber balls with the mistaken belief they were made out of Cherry Kool-Aid powder.
Oh, wow. I hadn’t seen that (either version) for maybe 25 years, but I remembered it as soon as it started.
I don’t remember that at all. If you find it please post it. I’d love to see it!
Like you, I remember the first version in the OP. The one with the little girl I remember seeing, but only after seeing the video. I just had an “Oh yeah!” moment!
I can’t imagine why they changed it, but if my memory is any indication, the grinding up of the ball is the later of the two. The cherry ending had to be done before the grinding one, because I barely have a memory of it.
I don’t know why they ground up the ball, either. I just figured it was another way to count to 3 (3 turns of the crank). I guess I never thought about it any deeper than that.
Now that you mention this, I can swear I know what you are talking about!
I think it’s great - I despair for my children when I see what’s available to them on TV nowadays, especially when they’re pre-school age.
Creativity and weirdness is always good for a kid, and most grown-ups too. Anything that makes you exercise your noggin is a plus in my book.
This! I love this. The animation and music is just so… 70s!! Sometimes I get the song stuck in my head for no reason. I am going to play this for my nephew (age 2.5) and pass along the great memory!