The Grouchketeers

"How can you tell a Grouchketeer? He's the one with the thumb in his ear!"

The Grouchketeers, like Birdketeers the Birdketeers are a group of real kids dressed in costumes based on their leader, in this case Oscar the Grouch. Oscar depends on them to help him demonstrate things to the viewer (such as a game of Three of These Things), help him make things trashy or noisy, and sometimes even find him some more trash. Telly was a long-time Grouchketeer.

The group did a dance called "The No-No-No!" in one episode; Elmo was a member at the time. (The song is included on the Hot! Hot! Hot! Dance Songs album.)

In episode 3963, Rosita wanted to be a Grouchketeer, and was grouchy because she didn't get to be one. She became so angry at Oscar, that he was impressed and made Rosita a Grouchketeer.