SESAME STREET — Producers of the long-running children's television program pushed the envelope even further this year, as a Pride Month Sesame Street special featured Elmo teaching kids numbers by counting all of his STDs.

The beloved muppet was shown in a segment of the show helping children learn to count by listing all of the sexually transmitted diseases he had contracted over the decades as a featured cast member of the popular educational series.

"Count with Elmo! Ha ha! Herpes! Gonorrhea! Chlamydia! Ha ha!" Elmo said cheerfully as child cast members learned to count in the scene. "You can use Elmo's suffering for your own benefit! Elmo has so many STDs that it makes life difficult! Let's count with Elmo! Hepatitis B! Syphilis! Ha ha! Don't let Elmo's discomfort be in vain! Ha ha!"

The mother of one young viewer was impressed with the show's creativity in helping children learn. "Elmo's plight has really paid off for our kids," said Lauren Darby. "I'm sure things have been unpleasant for him because of all of these STDs he has accumulated over the years, but my kids are really getting the hang of counting. My children have never been able to count to such high numbers before. Thanks, Elmo!"

Producers said Elmo's STD count would likely help young viewers learn a higher number than the show had ever reached in any previous episode.

At publishing time, Sesame Street producers said an upcoming episode would feature the Count leading viewers through a numbering of all of the genders and sexual orientations recognized by the program.

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