Elmo

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For other uses of this name, see Elmo (disambiguation).

Elmo

Elmo is a Muppet on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is a furry red monster with googly eyes and an orange nose. He currently hosts the last full segment on Sesame Street, titled Elmo's World, which is aimed at toddlers. He is accompanied by his goldfish Dorothy, and by silent Charlie Chaplin–like characters named Mr. Noodle and Mr. Noodle's Brother Mr. Noodle. His puppeteer is Kevin Clash, who uses falsetto to produce his voice.

1 History
2 Elmo in pop culture
3 Controversy
4 Trivia
5 References
6 External links

History

Elmo's World DVD cover

The character is self-described as three and a half years old, and characteristically refers to himself in the third person. For example, "Elmo has a question" rather than "I have a question".

Sesame Street staff writer Nancy Sans once described Elmo's origins: "There was this extra red puppet lying around and the cast would pick him up sometimes and try to create a personality, but nothing seemed to materialize."^{[citation needed]} 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 him 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."^[1] John Tartaglia, Matt Vogel and Jim Martin have all been secondary performers for the character, providing movement for Elmo's arms and legs, particularly in green-screen shots.

A popular doll called the Tickle Me Elmo was manufactured in his likeness, and became the must-have toy during the Christmas season 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. He 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 ever to testify before the U.S. Congress. At the request and with the assistance of Rep. Duke Cunningham, he 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. ^[2]

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

See also Tickle Me Elmo for information about trivia and popular culture references specific to the toy.

Elmo was spoofed as a vengeful cartoon character in the Simpsons episode "Missionary: Impossible". He reminded Homer, who didn't want to pay for a pledge he 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 him 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; he said, "Elmo go to wrong fundraiser." Homer later reveals that Elmo hanged 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 another episode, 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.
An episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien aired in December of 2006 included a sketch featuring fictional series' of postage stamps released by the USPS. One group in the series was a collection of "rejected Elmo toy ideas", which included "Shave Me Elmo", "Seduce and Abandon Me Elmo" (featuring a pregnant Elmo) and "Asphyxiate Me Elmo" (showing Elmo with a plastic baggy over his head).

Controversy

Some people believe that Elmo's characteristic of referring to himself in the third person will teach children improper English usage. In its FAQ, the Sesame Workshop responds to this accusation, stating that this behavior "mimics the behavior of many preschoolers".^[3]

In January 2006, controversy surrounded the book "Potty Time With Elmo" when a mother reported that pressing the buttons caused Elmo to say "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 "Who wants to try?" but the low quality of the sound chip makes it difficult to distinguish consonant sounds. ^[4]

Trivia

In the "Birthday" segment of Elmo's World, a representation of Elmo's parents are called George and Gladys as an homage to puppeteer Kevin Clash's parents [1]. However, this representation of Elmo's parents comes from his goldfish Dorothy's imagination, a place seen in each episode of Elmo's World where Dorothy imagines several different situations and characters in the form of her owner Elmo ("Oh, look! Dorothy's imagining Elmo as an astronaut!"). Elmo's father Louie has been seen in a number of books, as well as the Sesame Beginnings video series, the special Elmo's Potty Time and with his unnamed wife in Sesame Street: Talk, Listen, Connect. According to the 1988 book When Is My Birthday?, Elmo also has at least one set of grandparents, and a sister named Daisy. Despite her close relationship to Elmo, the sister has never been mentioned before or again.
Elmo appears to be left-handed, because he uses that "paw" to draw with his crayon and, at times, operate his computer mouse. This is common with Muppet characters, 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.)
Elmo was featured on NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! with his puppeteer Kevin Clash in September 2006.
Elmo was #21 in Vh1's 40 Least Hip Hop Moments for singing his song called "5" on '123 Count With Me DVD.

Host of 'Rove Live', Rove McManus, with Elmo in the studio

Elmo has appeared on Australian talk show 'Rove Live' numerous times, even making a live appearance. These segments are almost always requested for the 'Rove Live by Request' shows.
Wesley Willis wrote a song called "Elmo Pimps Hoes," describing Elmo as "the pimp of Sesame Street", ruthless and violent.
Elmo has appeared on Total Request Live and Jeopardy!.