The Number of the Day premiered as a daily segment on Sesame Street in Season 33, which aired in 2002. The sequence originally featured the Count playing a musical scale on his organ to get to the number of the day.
Originally, the segments had two different transitions: the first one featured tiles with the Count and numbers in them and the second one featured animated numbers playing an organ. In Seasons 34-36, the animated numbers transition was the only one used and a new transition featuring tiles with numbers replaced it in the next season.
Two entirely new series of Number of the Day segments were produced for Season 36. Segments for numbers 1-10 were remakes of the Number Song Series opening sequence done in CGI ribbon effects, followed by a human child playing with a jack-in-the-box to get to the number of the day. Newer segments for higher numbers featured a "Number of the Day Waltz" with Count von Count and the Countess.
By Season 37, the segments featured the Count interacting with real kids on the street. For Season 38, the original pipe organ skits re-ran. Starting in Season 39, new segments, usually connecting with the episode's street scenes, were produced. In Season 40, Murray Monster began hosting the Number of the Day, in addition to introducing various other show elements. The pipe organ segments are featured in every episode of the 2010 Shalom Sesame revival.
Right before he can play a note, The Count's organ suddenly disappears with a puff of smoke, indicating that the number of the day is zero. Nonetheless, the Count enjoys this, celebrating with a few bars from the song "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'."
After practicing a few times, The Count hits an organ key, and the number is one. One elephant appears.
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Two tap dancing tubas in tutus show up after learning that the number of the day is two.
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Baby Bear, Mama Bear, and Papa Bear show up after learning that the number of the day is three.
Four Honkers (including Mr. Honker) show up after the number of the day (four) is announced.
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This segment was taped on May 29, 2001 and was directed by Lisa Simon.[1]
Five bats show up when the Count reveals that 5 is the number of the day.
Five sheep and a duck celebrate the fact that the number of the day is 6.
Seven dancing chickens show up for the number of the day.
Eight bats show up when the Count reveals that 8 is number of the day.
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After learning that the number of the day is nine, The Count counts bats.
A talking number 10 appears after it's revealed that ten is the number of the day.
After learning that the number of the day is eleven, when the balloons and confetti fall from the ceiling, the Count is so overjoyed he asks for more balloons and confetti.
After learning that 12 is the number of the day, a tap-dancing number twelve appears.
13 dancing vegetables show up after it's revealed that thirteen is the number of the day.
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A flag with the number 14 on it pops out of a cannon after The Count learns that it is the number of the day (after gaffeing on 4 and 10).
The Count sings as he tries to get to the number of the day, and a penguin presents him with a number 15.
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A beauty queen 16 appears after 16 is announced to be the number of the day.
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A singing 17 appears after 17 is announced to be the number of the day.
A jumping 18 appears after 18 is announced to be the number of the day.
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The number 19 shows up after 19 is announced to be the number of the day.
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After it's revealed that the number 20 is the number of the day, a large number 20 appears.
Leela now enlists the help of Gina to get Horatio out, who suggests Leela pull and she’ll pull on Leela, but with no success. At least he can see the number of the day...
Chris washes the number of the day, 1.
Rosita frantically searches for the number of the day (2), and finds it in Big Bird's nest.
The Count pulls the lottery number of the day - the number 3.
Gordon is supposed to introduce the number of the day at the laundromat, but he's got socks stuck to him. After counting them, Gordon discovers that there are four socks--the number he was going to show anyway.
As Chris washes carrots, Elmo the magician comes back to present the number of the day, subtracting 1 carrot from 5 to make 4 carrots.
Rosita frantically searches for the number of the day, 5, and finds it in Big Bird's nest.
On the Big Bird and Snuffy talent show, the five flying 5s perform their talent.
Chris chats with six fireflies, who form the number of the day, 6.
Alan serves Gina her lunch, a plate of spaghetti and meatballs. She counts 6 meatballs on her plate. The 6 cheerleaders pop up and shout “6!”, causing her to spill her food on her shirt, leaving a 6-shaped stain.
Big Bird finishes reading a different version of Cinderella to Connor and Tiffany and opens the "Number of the Day" book.
The Count pulls the lottery number of the day - the number 8. Nadine Zylstra directed this sketch.
Elmo and Zoe vote on seeing a film about the number 9, but said number says otherwise and wishes to see a film about sheep. They compromise and watch a film about 9 and sheep.
Gabi counts her toes to display the number of the day, 10.
Leela jogs by and runs into the letter V, who tells her that he’s playing Hide and Seek with Rosita. His way of hiding to split in half and become the number 11. Once Rosita leaves, he becomes a V again.
Baby Bear wears a vest with numbers all over it. On the back is the number of the day, which is 12.
Maria and Luis are dancing, when they get a knock at the door. The number 13 enters and wants to dance. He and Maria share the dance floor.
Big Bird finishes reading a different version of Cinderella to Connor and Tiffany, opens the "Number of the Day" book.
Gina checks up on Slimey and his pet bug and she sees Dirty write a 15 in the dirt.
Baby Bear wears a vest with numbers all over it. On the back is the number of the day, which is 16.
In a parody of The Tonight Show, Big Bird presents Snuffy who will wear a banner with a 17 on it. Big Bird sees no 17 on Snuffy’s banner until Snuffy turns around and shows it on the other side.
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The Alpha-Beta Bots now become The Number Bots to show the viewer the number of the day, 17.
Gina finds Marco awake again and tries putting him to sleep with the number of the day. She whips out his "18 Bears" book and quickly goes to sleep.
Baby Bear opens his next present, which turns out to be the number of the day.
Chris washes the number of the day, 20.
