Elmo!
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Elmo History
Elmo's World DVD coverThe character is supposed to be about three and a half years old, and characteristically refers to himself in the third person. For example "Elmo wants to play" or "Elmo likes Pie". Elmo is often described as overly optimistic, annoying, and nice. Some critics correlate the rise in Elmo's popularity with the "dumbing down" of Sesame Street.Sesame Street-staff writer Nancy Sans once described Elmo's origins: "There was this extra red puppet lying around and the cast would pick Elmo up sometimes and try to create a personality, but nothing seemed to materialize." The puppet was performed by Caroll Spinney in the early-1970s, Brian Muehl from 1979-1981, and the late Richard Hunt from 1981-1984. Sans continues that "...one day in 1984, Kevin Clash, a talented puppeteer, raised Elmo up and brought energy and life into Elmo and from that day forward we would all write for Elmo. Kevin's performance inspired the writers to develop Elmo's character. The lesson here is never think you're unimportant because you never know what is going to happen." John Tartaglia, Matt Vogel and Jim Martin have all been backup performers for the character.
A popular doll called the Tickle Me Elmo was manufactured in Elmo's likeness, and became the must-have toy during Christmas in 1996. Other Elmo toys include Hokey Pokey Elmo ("Hokey Cokey Elmo" in the United Kingdom), Limbo Elmo and Let's Pretend Elmo. Another version, Elmo Knows Your Name, comes with a CD that allows parents to program Elmo to say the child's name and other personalized phrases.
After becoming a regular guest on The Rosie O'Donnell Show (June 28, 1996, December 24, 1997, February 16, 1998, November 5, 1998, November 5, 1998, January 28, 1999, September 21, 1999, December 6, 1999, January 4, 2001, September 21, 2001, February 6, 2002, May 2, 2002), Elmo began touring the talk-show circuit. Elmo has appeared on Martha Stewart Living and Martha (September 13, 2005), The Tony Danza Show (October 11, 2004, April 11, 2005, November 10, 2005), Rove Live (March 20, 2001, September 24, 2002, 2004 and July 11 2006). Elmo and a developmental expert gave babysitting tips on the June 18, 2005 episode of Teen Kids News.
Elmo was the star of the 1999 full-length, theatrically-released motion picture Elmo in Grouchland.
Elmo also appeared in a fifth season episode of The West Wing. In the March 3, 2004 episode "Eppur Si Muove", Elmo receives a medical checkup from Abbey Bartlet, the First Lady, and cheekily questions her about the validity of her medical license.
Elmo is the only Muppet to ever testify before the U.S. Congress. At the request and with the assistance of Rep. Duke Cunningham, Elmo testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education in April 2002, urging support for increased funding in music education.
Emeril and Elmo's Healthy Start was a special featuring Elmo and Emeril Lagasse, that aired November 4, 2005 at 8 pm. Aired as part of the Food Network's second annual "Cook With Your Kids Week", the special was produced in conjunction with Sesame Workshop's Healthy Habits for Life program.
Elmo in pop culture
Elmo briefly appeared as a vengeful cartoon character in the Simpsons episode "Missionary: Impossible". Elmo reminded Homer, who didn't want to pay for a pledge Elmo made to a PBS telethon, that "Elmo knows where you live." Also, in another episode of The Simpsons, a Tickle Me Elmo doll appears in Maggie's nursery. Moe then tickles him, as Elmo slaps Elmo and says "'No' means 'No' for Elmo!" Finally, in "Bart-Mangled Banner", Elmo appeared in a political prison after supporting opponents of George W. Bush; Elmo said, "Elmo go to wrong fundraiser." Homer later reveals that Elmo hung himself.A parody of Tickle Me Elmo was included in the Jhonen Vasquez comic, Squee, entitled Tickle Me Hellmo.
Elmo, as well as Sesame Street itself, has been parodied on MadTV. Elmo, in pain, yells "Tickle Me" and "Help Me" in turn.
In an episode of MADtv, Elmo appears in a sketch where Big Bird catches the bird flu, thus infecting everyone on Sesame street. Elmo appears in a cart of dead muppets, says "Hahahaha, tickle me, tickle me, hahahah!" before dying.
Elmo performed a cover of "Slide" by the Goo Goo Dolls, with the name and lyrics revised to "Pride", alongside the Goo Goo Dolls themselves in an episode of Sesame Street.
Elmo appears in The West Wing episode Eppur Si Muove when an episode of Sesame Street is shot at the White House.
Elmo Controversy
In January 2006, controversy surrounded the book "Potty Time With Elmo" when a mother reported that pressing the buttons caused Elmo to say "Uh oh, who wants to die?" The book's manufacturer said that this was not an isolated claim, and that they'd had several complaints about the book. In fact, Elmo is saying "Uh oh, who has to go?" but the low quality of the sound chip makes it difficult to distinguish consonant sounds.Elmo Trivia
His parents, according to the birthday segment of Elmo's World, are named George and Gladys. These are also the names of puppeteer Kevin Clash's parents. According to one Sesame Street picture book, Elmo also has at least one set of grandparents, and a sister. Despite her extremely close relationship to Elmo, the sister has never been mentioned before or again. According to the parody song "Elmo You Can Drive My Car" (based on The Beatles's "Drive My Car"), Elmo had a "maybe I love you" romance with a girl that had celebrity aspirations. The song is likely not part of the Sesame Street canon.Elmo appears to be left-handed, because Elmo uses that "paw" to draw with Elmo's crayon and operate Elmo's computer mouse. This is common with muppets, due to the method of operation. Also because of this, most muppet guitarists are left-handed. (Right hand operates the mouth, left hand operates the left paw/hand, right hand is operated by a second person.) Wesley Willis wrote a song called "Elmo Pimps Hoes," describing Elmo as "the pimp of Sesame Street", ruthless and violent.
Elmo was featured on NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! with Elmo's puppeteer Kevin Clash in September 2006.
