The spinoff: a tradition as old as television itself. Sometimes there are successes, and other times, there are ones that don’t get too far. For every Frasier, Family Matters, and The Jeffersons, there’s a Joey, AfterMASH, and The Tortellis. The producers of Sesame Street tried to see if they had what they needed for a spinoff of their own for the 34th anniversary special in 2003. The problem is that the public was never told, and what happened next was a strange chapter in the show’s long legacy.
Donny Wilde, a street hustler-turned-private investigator, arrives on Sesame Street in search of information about a local crime ring, rumored to have stashed millions of dollars from a recent bank robbery somewhere on Sesame Street. After asking Grover if he’s seen any shady characters hanging around (to which Grover gives Wilde a lesson on how the sun makes shadows), he turns his sights to a tough-looking monster: Herry.
Of course, the audience knows that Herry’s a gentle soul who doesn’t know his own strength, but Wilde thinks he may be connected. After a tense interrogation, Wilde realizes Herry doesn’t know anything about the money and apologizes for his behavior. Herry goes on his way to the laundromat, where he spots someone dumping a backpack into one of the dryers and then slipping out the back door. As the suspicious character leaves, Herry discovers the backpack is full of money. After a funny montage of Wilde asking the residents of Sesame Street (including a particularly funny “Who’s On First”-esque bit with Cookie Monster), Herry finds him and warns him about the person in the laundromat. Wilde claims that he can stop the crime ring and recover the money… but he’ll need Herry’s help.
Wilde slips on a disguise (while Herry teaches everyone what a disguise is) and acts like a laundromat attendant. Meanwhile, Herry pretends to do laundry. The crook returns with a friend, Dominic Scherzo, head of the infamous Scherzo crime family. Wilde witnesses the exchange and attempts to apprehend them. A fight breaks out as Scherzo grabs the backpack and heads for the exit. Herry bumps the washing machine and manages to block the door, allowing for Wilde to knock both people out.
As the police arrive to make their arrests, Wilde thanks Herry for his help, and makes him an offer: he’s finally striking out to start his own PI office in Las Vegas, and he wants Herry to go with him. Herry explains that it’s a great opportunity to help people, but he doesn’t know if he’s ready to go just yet. Wilde explains that the door’s always open to him, and Herry ends the special saying “you know, I might just take you up on that.”
Of course, Herry didn’t go to Las Vegas. The special was just a backdoor pilot for a new detective series, Wilde & Herry, After fans didn’t take to the idea of Herry Monster leaving Sesame Street, Sesame Workshop quickly scrapped the idea, and returned Herry to a life of occasional appearances on the show. The special has yet to be released on home video, though it is available for view at The Museum of Television Spinoffs in Los Angeles… if you go to the reception desk, say “Larry and Phyllis sent me,” and then sit at the northeast-most console. Otherwise, you’re out of luck. (Of course, having viewed it myself, if you do watch it, you’re also out of luck.) Happy viewing!
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by Matthew Soberman
