The world's greatest counter references a different kind of counter.
Formica is a brand of lamination, a composite material made from paper. Created in 1912 by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, it was created to be used in place of a mineral called mica (hence the name) and has since been used for countless applications, including kitchen countertops, furniture, and wallboards.
References
- In Episode 0807 of Sesame Street, Count von Count namedrops the brand when bragging about how excellent a counter he is. After forgetting the word for the number three, he brushes it off by stating, "Who could forget such a thing? I, the greatest counter since Formica!"
- During a 2014 appearance on Kerrang! Radio, Elmo and Phoebe Furchester-Fuzz are asked if Cookie Monster should start eating fruits and vegetables. Elmo explains that Cookie Monster has a well-rounded diet and will even eat non-food items: "He'll eat Formica."