Since we're celebrating #TheCount today, never forget that, in 1988, scheming Ronald Grump conned Oscar out of his home and built "Grump Tower" out of trashcans and human shit in the middle of @SesameStreet. The furious residents threw Ronald in the trash and ran him out of town.

But six years later, Ronald Grump DID return. Yep. He came back, beat up several Muppets, threatened to tear down Sesame Street, and spewed a ton of hate - claiming to hate animals, hugs, and kids' television.

Oh, and that time around, he was played by f'ing Joe Pesci.

Ronald Grump returned to Sesame Street (in Muppet form) in 2015, desperately trying to destroy the happiness of the neighborhood, before being kicked out - yet again - by fed-up New Yorkers. This iteration of him was repeatedly called out for how terrible he smelled.

Sesame Street did all this and more - including calling him out by his actual name in several episodes.

Memorably, in a 1990 episode, a devious "Mr. Trump" calls Mr. Handford, a black business owner and veteran, and tries to buy his store for less than it's worth.

I grew up on @SesameStreet and it taught me a lot of the values I still hold to this day. Way to keep it real.

Didn't expect this thread to blow up like it did. No Soundcloud, but please watch my movies, WE ARE STILL HERE (on @PrimeVideo or @Shudder) and MOHAWK (on @Shudder) and listen to my five-episode radio show that celebrates forgotten film history at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-not-a-story-about/id1506800406!