Monsterpiece Theater’s take on Howards End is Howard, a rattlesnake with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Le groan.

There was a second Sammy the Snake on Sesame Street; whereas his 1971 appearance was an original and classic song; his reappearance in May 1988 with guest star Carol Channing, singing Hello, Sammy! — i.e., a spoof of “Hello, Dolly!” with snake- and letter-S-friendly lyrics — was, well, less memorable and more risible. (“You make me glow, Sammy / ’Cause you’re so … clammy”?)

It’s quite possible that Sammy the Snake was my first exposure to the idea of a snake. First broadcast in late 1971 as part of Sesame Street’s third season and presumably broadcast many times thereafter, the catchy song was also included on several Sesame Street albums, including the 1996 two disc-set Sing the Alphabet, which is still available. So I guess it’s a classic.

What, were you expecting me to point out that snakes can’t sing or something?