Las Culturistas: “Two Guys, Five Rings: A Sesame Street Crossover Special”

Hosts: Matt Rogers & Bowen Yang
Date: January 31, 2026
Produced by: Big Money Players Network & iHeartPodcasts
Special Guests: Elmo, The Count, Grover, Cookie Monster (with cameos from Oscar the Grouch and others)

Episode Overview

In this playful, heartwarming, and delightfully meta crossover, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang invite some of Sesame Street’s most iconic residents into their “cozy winter cabin” for an exuberant discussion of the 2026 Winter Olympics, “the beating heart of culture.” Expect pop culture observations, Olympic trivia, high fashion talk, plenty of jokes about Italian airports, and a riot of joyful chaos courtesy of Elmo, The Count, Grover, and Cookie Monster. The episode deftly blends Las Culturistas’ self-aware wit with Sesame Street’s signature earnestness, making it as enjoyable for grownups as the young at heart.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: The “Winter Cabin” and Breaking the Fourth Wall

• Matt and Bowen play up the fiction of broadcasting from a real mountain cabin, with constant winks that it’s an LED wall or a green screen.
• Elmo and Grover play along, with Elmo hilariously pointing out the artifice early on.
  • Elmo: “Elmo hates to break it to you, but this is... this is fake.” [01:29]

2. Elmo Talks Winter Olympics, Travel, and Sports

• Elmo is excited to visit Milan for the Olympics (though hasn’t been to Italy before).
• Bowen and Matt joke about travel tips for Italian airports and packing light—Elmo notes he “travels light” by virtue of not wearing clothes.
• The hosts and Elmo riff on Olympic sports including:
  • Ski mountaineering (which Elmo describes as “where there are skis and there’s a mountain”). [04:51]
  • Bobsledding: Elmo jokes, “But Elmo does not know one thing about it. Who is Bob? And why does he love it so much?” [05:17]
• Discussion of possible Mariah Carey appearance at the Opening Ceremony, prompting Elmo to consider duetting “When You Believe.”
  • Elmo: “Elmo could ask her if maybe we could do, like a song together.” [04:12]
• Elmo shares excitement for watching ice skating, emphasizing love for the spinning, the drama, and the costumes. [07:24]
• The Friends recall real Sesame Street “Bob,” as conversation drifts into loving tribute to “Bobs everywhere.” [06:10-06:30]

3. Olympic Athletes & Winter Sports Chat

• Elmo shouts out Lindsey Vonn, Mystique Rowe (skeleton), Madison Chock & Evan Bates (married ice dancing pair), and snowboarder Chloe Kim.
• Matt explains skeleton to Elmo: “It means you lay on your stomach and then you basically shoot down a mountain.” [08:44]
• Elmo is sweetly candid about his lack of knowledge: “Elmo knows what he doesn’t know.” [07:06]
• Chloe Kim’s upcoming victory celebration is pitched as a hot chocolate playdate with Elmo. [09:45]
• The Kachuk brothers are dubbed “the perfect sound for hockey” (“Kachuk!”). [10:12]

4. Olympic Trivia Quiz with The Count

• The Count hosts a trivia segment on the 2026 Winter Olympics:
  • Number of Olympians/Paralympians: 3500 [15:06]
  • 93 nations competing, 3 making their debut (Benin, Guinea Bissau, UAE) [16:41]
  • Best number of marshmallows in hot cocoa while watching the Games: “12!” [15:52]
  • “How many sports will Oscar the Grouch cheer for?” – “Zero. Grouches do not cheer. They jeer.” [17:24]
• The Count’s irrepressible joy is on full display:
  • The Count: “Did you know that this year’s Games, 3 is the number of times that Italy will have hosted the Winter Games?” [13:45]
• Matt and Bowen are gently roasted for their hilariously bad trivia guesses.

5. Grover’s Guide to Olympic Fashion

• Grover arrives feeling himself but comically misinformed about Milan’s geography (expecting a beach).
  • Grover: “And I cannot wait to go to the beach at this.” Bowen: “It’s the Dolomites, hun.” [19:34]
• The hosts share the “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rule” for packing—Grover fixates on “just two socks?” [20:41]
• Grover claims he’ll participate in “runway walking,” a joke sport that blends his “panache” with Olympic glam.
• Grover aspires to skate to “The Wheels on the Bus” and is excited about “competitive snow angel making.” [24:53, 25:21]

6. Cookie Monster: Olympic Food Correspondent

• Cookie Monster is introduced as the “official, self-appointed Olympic food correspondent.” [27:53]
• Cookie Monster dives into cannolis and ravioli, turning the episode briefly into an ASMR feast.
  • Cookie Monster: “Me love the cookies, but at Olympics they have golden cookies—no cookies. No golden cookies?... It’s a golden cookie!” [28:22]
  • [ASMR cannoli eating: 29:55]
• Cookie declares enthusiasm for all food (“Me not one-dimensional monster. Me like all flav[ors].”) and tries ravioli on air. [30:01]
• Joking about sports, Cookie Monster ranks hockey (the puck looks like a cookie), curling (the stone becomes a massive cookie), and even imagines being a goalie.
• The concept of curling with “cookies with handles” arises—“Genius!” [34:42]

7. Meta Comedy, Recurring Gags, and Memorable Moments

• The “fake cabin”/“video wall”/“green screen” debate remains a meta gag throughout, with guests consistently breaking or playing with the fourth wall.
• Cookie Monster’s accidental eating of the supposed gold medal Elmo meant for Matt and Bowen is played for laughs, resulting in a warm, silly denouement (“We’re happy for Cookie.”) [38:03]
• The show ends in a euphoric group singalong—performed, naturally, in “Om nom nom nom”s, led by Cookie Monster. [38:52]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Elmo’s candor on Olympic knowledge:

  • “Elmo knows what he doesn’t know.” [07:06]

• Elmo on airport packing:

  • “Only Elmo travels light. I’ve seen the benefits of not wearing clothes.” [02:33-02:38]

• On Olympic bobsledding:

  • “But Elmo does not know one thing about it. Who is Bob? And why does he love it so much?” [05:17]

• The Count on his passion:

  • “You know why they call me the Count? Because I love to count things.” [12:49]

• Cookie Monster’s non-cookie tastes:

  • “Me not one-dimensional monster. Me like all flav[ors]. Mead bicycle. Well, mead canoe.” [30:49]

• On curling innovation:

  • “Cookie with a handle.” [34:39]
  • “This new dimension we’re adding to curling, I think is gonna skyrocket its popularity as a winter sport.” – Bowen [34:44]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Opening: Winter Cabin Bit & Elmo Arrival
  • [00:30] The “fake cabin” introduction, Elmo joins
• Elmo on Olympics, Travel & Mariah Carey
  • [02:01]-[05:10] Italian travel, Olympic events, Mariah Carey duet idea
• Olympic Sports Chat
  • [07:17]-[10:21] Figure skating, drama, relationship dynamics, Chloe Kim, Kachuk brothers
• The Count’s Olympic Quiz
  • [12:07]-[18:25] Counting trivia, marshmallow guesses, countries, Oscar question
• Grover’s Fashion Segment
  • [19:15]-[26:19] Fashion advice, packing rules, panache, event aspirations, snow angels
• Cookie Monster: ASMR & Food at the Olympics
  • [27:04]-[36:29] Cannoli and ravioli ASMR, Olympic food, sports as cookies, jaw stretches
• Closing: Elmo’s Medal & Singalong
  • [36:38]-[end] The “gold medal” confusion, Cookie Monster’s apology, group Om nom nom song

Tone & Style

The episode is highly playful, cheekily self-aware, and warmhearted. The Las Culturistas hosts relish the opportunity to both riff with and be the straight men to the Sesame Street cast’s unmistakable personalities. The puppets remain true to form, delivering gentle punchlines, earnest wisdom, and signature catchphrases. Even as gags abound about “fake” cabins and fictional sports, there’s a genuine joy at the intersection of culture, sport, and friendship that shines through.

For First-Time Listeners

This is a pitch-perfect family-friendly crossover, brimming with the quirks and joy fans expect from both Las Culturistas and Sesame Street. No real expertise on the Winter Olympics required—just a readiness to giggle and bask in cultural camaraderie. Whether you’re in it for pop culture, sports, comedy, or Muppets, this episode promises pure, cookie-filled fun.