The Tale of Sleeping Grouchy



 Earliest Known Appearance: Episode 4143  The Tale of Sleeping Grouchy  appears in Sesame Street  Episode 4143. The main character, Sleeping Grouchy  is played by  Grundgetta, which spoofs Sleeping Beauty from the fairy tale of the same name.

In  The Tale of Sleeping Grouchy , a very  grouchy   princess  is portrayed by  Grundgetta, & her warm, loving, synonym-spouting parents are played by Gordon & Maria, who sing a song about how much they love their  daughter.

1 day the grouchy   princess  goes on a  grouchy  walk. She says "Phooey!" so many times that it disturbs a wizard who was walking nearby. He casts a spell on her, putting her to sleep for 100 years! Sleeping Grouchy 's parents see her sleeping & become distressed that their daughter  is under a spell. The queen gets an idea to offer a big reward for whoever can break the spell.

The 1st prince to arrive is Prince Elmo of Ticklania, who will try waking her up with a giant Ticklanian chicken feather. He demonstrates its effects on the King & Queen, then tries it on the princess, not realizing that she's too grouchy to be ticklish - but the feather does make her sneeze. Prince Elmo knows exactly what to do to cheer himself up ...

The 2nd prince to arrive is Prince Telly of the Tuba, & his back-up band, The Cat's Meow. Since they woke up Rip Van Winkle by playing the tuba & meowing loudly, they figure it'll be a cinch to wake the princess  up the same way. But such is not the case, not even with participation from the viewer.

The 3rd prince doesn't show up at 1st, but is revealed to be Prince Slimey. But how can a small worm  prince break a spell? Prince Slimey was small but he also knew about Grouches & he knew that by giving the  princess  a sweet, lovable kiss, which he knows she'll hate, she'll awaken. It works!

In return for his heroic deed, Prince Slimey  wants not jewels, but  mud. He & Princess Grouchy  go off to play in the royal  mud  puddle & live  grouchily  ever after.

TV / Movies / Specials

 * Sesame Street ( 1969 - present )


 * Episode 4143 ( 2007 )