Question About a Classic Sketch

[D'Snowth]

In this sketch, a very old Herry tells a very old Grover a "secret", which is simply the alphabet; Grover then tells a green female AM monster, who tells an orange male AM monster, who tells a lavendar female AM monster. They all start saying the alphabet then Herry walks over and says "you're very good at reciting the alphabet Grover, but you're lousy at keeping secrets!". And now, onto my questions:

1. Why the heck was the alphabet so secretive anyway?
2. Who all performed the AM monsters?
3. What was the orange monster doing in the paper bag?
4. What year was this sketch made?

 

[The Count]

Well... It's not so much that the alphabet was so secretive, as it was just one of those sketches where they were teaching the alphabet with some sort of general usual daily life scenario. You know how kids play the Secret or Telephone or I've Got a Message game... Well, they did the same thing here with the alphabet. Just some good ol' every day fun.
Not sure hexactly, but I believe the sketch is from anywhere within the first three seasons of the show.

 

[NantoSeiken]

In this sketch, a very old Herry tells a very old Grover a "secret", which is simply the alphabet; Grover then tells a green female AM monster, who tells an orange male AM monster, who tells a lavendar female AM monster. They all start saying the alphabet then Herry walks over and says "you're very good at reciting the alphabet Grover, but you're lousy at keeping secrets!". And now, onto my questions:

1. Why the heck was the alphabet so secretive anyway?

Because it contains the letters C, I and A.

2. Who all performed the AM monsters?

The green lady was Jerry Nelson, the orange monster in a bag was Richard Hunt.

3. What was the orange monster doing in the paper bag?

That wasn't made clear, I guess maybe the writers just thought it would be funny and weird. As a kid, I always assumed that he lived in that paper bag.

4. What year was this sketch made?

1972.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Well... It's not so much that the alphabet was so secretive, as it was just one of those sketches where they were teaching the alphabet with some sort of general usual daily life scenario. You know how kids play the Secret or Telephone or I've Got a Message game... Well, they did the same thing here with the alphabet. Just some good ol' every day fun.
Not sure hexactly, but I believe the sketch is from anywhere within the first three seasons of the show.

Exactly, the "secret" thing was just another creative way to introduce the alphabet, while still having a witty punchline.

 

[mikebennidict]

Yeah. SS has always done such things and there's really no good reason other than just for entertainment.

 

[fuzzygobo]

If you enjoyed it, then it was a good enough reason for doing it.