<P> The Count mentions 2: 30 at any chance he can get and often makes jokes about it . This number is likely a tooth - related pun ("Tooth Hurty"). During the afternoon, his segments of the show always come on at exactly 2: 30 p.m. or during the "fashionably late" segment, which airs at 2: 31 . </P> <P> The Count's signature song is "The Song of the Count". </P> <P> The Count debuted on Sesame Street in Season 4 (1972--73), and was conceived by Norman Stiles, who wrote the first script . The Count was performed by Jerry Nelson, who brought the character to life . He was originally made out of the Large Lavender Live Hand Anything Muppet pattern . Nelson voiced the Count until his death on August 23, 2012 . At that time, Matt Vogel had taken over performing the puppetry of the Count . Upon Nelson's death, Vogel started performing both the Count's voice and puppetry . His first performance of the Count was in a YouTube video called "Counting the Yous in YouTube", a song about the celebration of Sesame Street's YouTube channel reaching 1 billion views . </P> <P> In the early 1970s, following a counting session, the Count would laugh maniacally, "AH AH AH AH AH!", accompanied by thunder and lightning flashes . He wouldn't let anything interrupt his counting, and used hypnotic powers to temporarily stun people with a wave of his hands . This practice, however, was discontinued in the mid-1970s because of concern that young viewers would become frightened . In the mid-1970s, the Count became friendlier, did not have hypnotic powers, and interacted more with the characters (both live actors and Muppets). His laugh also changed from maniacal laughter to a more triumphant, stereotypical Dracula - style laugh . </P>

Who does the voice of the count on sesame street