While reading the newspaper, Telly calls out all the adults to alert them that today is "Grouch Appreciation Day" and that they need a way to show Oscar how much they appreciate him. Gina, Maria, and Telly are preparing Oscar's favorite dish - a halibut with ice cream, served in a hat.

Big Bird greets the viewer, then ambles over to the Fix-It Shop to find out what's going on. Big Bird is still seething about not being able to go to the party.

Telly talks to the viewer about all the things on Sesame Street he can be sure about every day: Oscar will always pop out of his can, Bob will get out of his apartment, Gordon will always come out of 123 Sesame Street, and Big Bird will always come out of his nest area.

In the early morning, a nervous young man named Dan walks down Sesame Street and sits outside Hooper's Store, waiting to begin his part-time employment there. Dan finishes cleaning a window at Hooper's and asks a very busy Gina what to do next.

Mike tries bringing Telly Monster to the Barber Shop to get a furcut, but Telly stalls by pointing out the interesting spots on the sidewalk. Uncle Wally joins Mike on a bench as he waits for Telly.

Oscar welcomes the viewer and asks if they’d like to hear a good argument, and reappears in the basement of 123 Sesame Street, where the laundry room is.

Elmo joins Gordon in his kitchen, trying to guess what Gordon will be preparing. Elmo observes the newly-baked cookies and explains Gordon has stepped out to get some ice cream to eat along with them.

Big Bird and Maria chat outside the Fix-It Shop, when an announcer declares the arrival of "The Wild One," a rambunctious number one who goes all over the world counting things there are only one of.

Bob walks down Sesame Street and bumps into Buster the Horse, Hoots the Owl, Gladys the Cow, and Rudder Rabbit, all practicing their singing. Bob finally encounters Placido Flamingo, who has been looking for him.

Mr. Big Bird presents the letter J to the viewer, and Mohamed, Travis, and Vanessa display things they have that begin with J, such as jeans, a jacket, and a jump rope.

Gordon misses his bus to Madison Square Garden to see the New York Knicks game. The Sloppy Jalopy returns to Sesame Street, where Gordon shows the Grouches his map of the greater Sesame Street area.

A Grouch newsie hurls the morning paper into Oscar's trash can, right in the swimming pool. Oscar has a trick he's going to play on Bob and his band.

Gina welcomes the viewer on a nice, warm day, perfect for reading outside. Elmo returns with Telly, both dressed as snowflakes and yelling, "Whoosh! Woosh!" Gina laughs, understanding now what Elmo meant, but reminds them two snowflakes doesn't make a storm.

Elmo, Maria, Gabi, and the kids finish up their lunches, and Maria alerts them that it's time to clean up. Telly finishes eating a banana, but doesn't know what to do with his peel.

Telly invites Oscar to partake in a game and snack with him, Lisa, Jamel, and Larry, but Oscar naturally declines. Telly and the kids are now in their Grouchketeer uniforms, ready for the game of "Oscar Says."

It's a rainy day on Sesame Street and nobody appreciates it more than Oscar the Grouch. Elmo wants to see a rainbow and studies the ground below.

Gordon exits 123 Sesame Street to find a beat-up phone booth just outside, complete with a couple of localized telephone poles and Ernestine the Telephone Operator seated at a switchboard.

Oscar tells the "Grouchketeers at home" that he's expecting Grouch visitors from Grouchytown, who have never been anywhere else before. The Grouchytowners arrive, and Oscar makes sure that they've planned for niceness.

Elmo has Gordon read him a letter he received today. At a little over 3:30, Elmo checks the time on a clock on Maria's workbench.

Snuffy comes by to pick up Big Bird for a picnic in Central Park with Mommy Snuffleupagus and Alice. Out in New York City, the Snuffleupagus family heads to the park.

Bob happens upon Elmo poking his toy dinosaur, Ziggy, to "wake" him up. Bob keeps puffing into Ziggy, getting very tired.

Telly Monster hosts an edition of "The Wide World of Sesame Street" from inside Linda's apartment to watch her and Barkley.

Snuffy tells the viewer that Alice will be giving them the welcome today. At Hooper's Store, Elmo has Gina help him demonstrate rhyming by placing items into objects they rhyme with.

Gordon, Susan, Gina, and Uncle Wally convene outside Oscar's trash can to surprise him on his birthday. Telly happens over to the Fix-It Shop, where Luis is painting a sign.

Snuffy has an idea of how he and Alice can cooperate. Oscar is annoyed that Bob and Linda are teaching the kids signs right by his trash can, especially positive ones.

Big Bird welcomes the viewer, joined by a small group of tourist birds visiting from the country. Big Bird and his tour group return to Bob's for a tour of his bedroom.

Gina will be babysitting Oscar's niece, Irvine, while he and Grundgetta go to the "Everything in the Wrong Place Ball." Gina reads Irvine another book, The Genie in the Grouch Lamp.

Big Bird and Snuffy get ready to put on a Snufflepuppet show, which Hiroshi helps them out with.

Shelley the Turtle talks to his friend, Rudder Rabbit, on the Hooper's Store payphone. Rudder asks Shelley what he wants to do with the rest of the day.

Big Bird and Birdketeer troupe 1-2-3 deliver a program ID spot for Good Day Sesame Street. Buster then delivers the morning news.