Waiter Grover is Grover's most frequent occupation. As a waiter, Grover usually works at Charlie's Restaurant, although he has also toiled at O'Brien's Fast Food Restaurant, an airport restaurant, and a few other locations. In later years, he has appeared as a waiter for Hooper's Store.
Grover's most frequent customer is Mr. Johnson, a Fat Blue Anything Muppet, who has become increasingly frustrated over the years with the poor service that Grover provides. In the earlier skits, Mr. Johnson and Grover's roles were switched; Mr. Johnson was calmer, but Grover was usually the victim. Other customers that have been served by Waiter Grover include Simon Soundman and the Count.
The framing story of the video Let's Eat!: Funny Food Songs involves Grover working as a waiter at Planet Storybook. He was also a waiter at his own tribute in A Celebration of Me, Grover, and a waiter during the Muppets anniversary celebration in The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years, handing the bill to Jim Henson. He has appeared in a number of Sesame Street video games, most notably Counting Café and the iPhone application, "Grover's Number Special," wherein Waiter Grover counts the items he needs to make Mr. Johnson's food. Grover took on waiter responsibilities for his 2005 appearance on Emeril Live, and also works as a waiter at Shoanan's local coffee house in the 2010 revival of Shalom Sesame.
In episode 211 of The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo, Grover appears in a restaurant setting as the studio chef instead, while still giving Mr. Johnson a difficult time in preparing his order.
In 1993, a song titled "Oops!" was written, in which Grover sings while constantly spilling beans on Mr. Johnson, with Elmo, Telly Monster, and Zoe providing back-up vocals. The song was never used on the show.[1]
Sketches[]
Mr. Johnson[]
for occasions where Grover served Mr. Johnson in a non-restaurant setting see: Grover and Mr. Johnson
Other customers[]
Street scenes[]
| Picture | Episode / Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
Episode 4140 2007 |
Grover and Mr. Johnson appear briefly, affected by Zoe's magic spell making everyone dance ballet. Grover is seen wearing his waiter shirt and wrist cuffs, suggesting the two danced over from a restaurant scenario. |
 |
Episode 4608 2016 |
Grover the Dinosaur Waiter brings in foods for a game called "Feed the Dinosaur." |
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Episode 4822 2018 |
While not appearing formally as a waiter, Grover offers his services to Mr. Johnson at Hooper's (who recoils at the sight of him). |
 |
Episode 4932 2019 |
In the episode's coda, Grover is hired as the new waiter at Baby Bear's Just Right Café (to Mr. Johnson's dismay). |
 |
Episode 5328 2023 |
Waiter Grover, working at Hooper's Store, and Mr. Johnson deal with the results of the letter C going on vacation, and the other letters taking her place (resulting in C-word items becoming new things). |
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Episode 5335 2023 |
Waiter Grover and Mr. Johnson are briefly seen during "Things We've Seen in Our Submarine." |
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Episode 5402 2023 |
With Chris absent from Hooper's, Waiter Grover runs the shop with the aid of an octopus chef who can only cook bread. |
Games[]
| Picture | Production / Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
Counting Café 1994 |
The game centers on Waiter Grover collecting items in the kitchen to fulfill his customer's orders. |
 |
Get Set to Learn! 1996 |
During "Cookie's Kooky Cookie Game," Grover appears at the kitchen door with breakfast, lunch, and dinner items when it is clicked. He also serves Cookie Monster a plate of cookies when each round is completed. |
 |
Elmo's Reading Basics 1998 |
Grover appears as a waiter in the "Cooking with Cookie" game. |
 |
Elmo in Grouchland CD-ROM 1999 |
As in the film, Grover appears briefly as a waiter before transforming into Super Grover. |
 |
Ernie's Adventures in Space 2000 |
Grover works as a space waiter in Cosmo's Diner. |
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Grover's Number Special 2009 |
The "Waiter Grover" routines serve as the basis of the game. |
Other appearances[]
| Picture | Production / Year | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
"When It's Time for a Snack" date unknown |
In a commercial send-up, Biff walks into a dull restaurant that livens up when Grover serves them carrots. | ||
 |
"People in Your Neighborhood" Episode 0903 1976 |
Grover appears as a waiter to sing to Bob about his job. | ||
 |
A Celebration of 30 Years 1986 |
Waiter Grover is glimpsed at work in the banquet hall during the special, most notably presenting Jim Henson the check at the special's end. Grover also waits on Kermit and Miss Piggy in a TV Guide interview promoting the special. | ||
 |
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland 1999 |
Grover abandons his post as waiter to become Super Grover and rescue Elmo's blanket. | ||
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Let's Eat! 1999 |
Grover takes up a job at Planet Storybook and tries to get Mr. Johnson to eat a healthful meal. | ||
 |
Food Elmo's World: Food Episode 3816 1999 |
A brief original segment is shown at the end of Elmo's quiz to illustrate that grown-ups eat...unless Grover is their waiter.
| ||
 |
"Put a Lid on It" Episode 3900 2000 |
Grover brings Mr. Johnson his milk stirred, but not shaken. Mr. Johnson explains that he wanted it shaken, not stirred: a milkshake. As Grover tries to accommodate him, he drops the glass of milk, and the sketch breaks out into "Put a Lid on It" by the Squirrel Nut Zippers, but with different lyrics. Mr. Johnson is named Fred during the song. | ||
 |
A Celebration of Me, Grover 2004 |
Grover works as a waiter at the Flyer's Club during his own celebratory banquet. "I gotta make a living," he states. | ||
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Shalom Sesame 2010 |
During his stay on Rechov Sumsum, Grover is seen working as a waiter at Shoshana's Cafe in "Chanukah: The Missing Menorah." | ||
 |
Growing Hope Against Hunger 2011 |
To help combat the country's hunger problem, Grover combines his waiter and superhero alter egos to become "Super Waiter" (merely adding his waiter shirt cuffs to his Super Grover costume). | ||
 |
Can't Stop Singing 2012 |
Baby Bear visits Charlie's for porridge and, with magical influence from Elmo, sings "Yummy Yummy Porridge" with Waiter Grover. | ||
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Good Morning America 2014 |
Waiter Grover spills prune juice on "that bald blue guy" during "Another Good Morning Here on Sesame Street." | ||
 |
Elmo's World: Restaurants Episode 4720 2017 |
Waiter Grover appears briefly in animated form, causing trouble for Mr. Johnson as usual. | ||
 |
Real Grouches of Sesame Street 2017 |
In the third part of the online video series, Grover works as a waiter at Diva Garbagedump's Fur Lounge. | ||
 |
Sesame Street Memories 2019 |
During Jack McBrayer's video, Waiter Grover pursues Mr. Johnson for leaving his restaurant before he could take his order. | ||
 |
See Amazing in All Children 2021 |
In the video "The Pizza Problem," Grover works at Hooper's Store for their special Family Night. | ||
 |
Sesame Street Alphabetically 2023 |
Waiter Grover illustrates the letter K with a bottle of ketchup, spilling it on Mr. Johnson. |
Book appearances[]
Waiter Grover serves Elmo some alphabet soup in an illustration by Ernie Kwiat.
- The Sesame Street Neighborhood Coloring Book (1976)
- Grover's Super Surprise Book (1978)
- The Sesame Street Dictionary (1980)
- What Do You Do? (1981)
- Which One Doesn't Belong? (1981)
- Seasons of the Year (1982)
- Math (1989)
- I Can Do It! (1997)
- Elmo's Easy As ABC (2005)
- Grover's Guide to Good Eating (2007)
- What's the Word on the Street? (2008)
- You're My Little Cookie Monster (2025)
Sources[]
External links[]
- ToughPigs Anthology: Troubled Waiter - sketch transcripts