Back on December 31, 1986, Sesame Street delivered a delightful dose of Martian mayhem with the skit “Computer Trouble,” written by the clever Mark Saltzman. This laugh-out-loud segment from Season 18 is all about what happens when our favorite fuzzy aliens get their hands—or tentacles—on a computer.
The scene kicks off in the Fix-It Shop, where David strolls in with a broken malt maker. Luis, ever the handy hero, promises to have it fixed in no time, even though lunch is just around the corner. As they chat, David notices something flashing on the computer screen. No big deal, says Luis—it’s just the cursor, showing where he last left off typing. But little do they know, there’s about to be some extraterrestrial intervention.
Enter the Martians! As soon as Luis and David step away, these curious creatures fade into view, ready to explore this strange new “beeping box.” The computer screen displays a to-do list:
- Fix Bob’s music stand
- Order lumber
- Call Mrs. Tupper
- Fix Gina’s radio
Intrigued, the orange Martian hits a key, and suddenly the cursor starts moving across the screen. The Martians are ecstatic—they’ve cracked the code of this human contraption! But then, things take a hilarious turn when the computer starts beeping, and the orange Martian suddenly catches feelings for the machine. Yep (or should we say, “YIP), it’s love at first beep!
But just as they’re getting cozy with the cursor, they hear Luis and David returning. In a Martian-sized panic, they scramble to move the cursor to the bottom of the screen and vanish before getting caught.
Luis and David return, scratching their heads over the shifted list and the wandering cursor. Luis is convinced someone’s been messing with the computer, but David thinks maybe the computer had a mind of its own. Luis, the voice of reason, reminds him that computers only do what they’re told—they’re not alive! But when they hear the Martians’ voices floating around, all bets are off.
“Computer Trouble” is a perfect example of Sesame Street’s ability to blend humor, education, and a touch of whimsy. The skit not only introduces young viewers to the concept of computers and cursors but also provides a nostalgic and hilarious moment as the lovable Martians wreak their “yip-yip-yip” to “nope-nope-nope” brand of havoc.
