Elmo

Elmo is a fictional character on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is a furry red Muppet monster with googly eyes and an orange nose. He currently hosts the last full segment on Sesame Street, called Elmo's World, which is aimed at toddlers. He is accompanied by his goldfish, Dorothy, and silent Charlie Chaplin–like characters named Mr. Noodle and Mr. Noodle's Brother Mr. Noodle.

History

The character is supposed to be about three and a half years old, and characteristically refers to himself in the third person. He is often described as overly optimistic and annoying which became the butt of many jokes among the entertainment industry about him.

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." The puppet was performed by Caroll Spinney in the early-1970s, Brian Muehl from 1979-1981, and 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." Should Clash be unable to perform Elmo, John Tartaglia is the current backup performer. [1]

A popular doll called the Tickle Me Elmo was manufactured in his 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 a becoming a regular guest on The Rosie O'Donnell Show (28 June 1996, 24 December 1997, 16 February 1998, 5 November 1998, 5 November 1998, 28 January 1999, 21 September 1999, 6 December 1999, 4 January 2001, 21 September 2001, 6 February 2002, 2 May 2002), Elmo began touring the talk-show circuit. He has appeared on Martha Stewart Living and Martha (13 September 2005), The Tony Danza Show (11 October 2004, 11 April 2005, 10 November 2005), Rove Live (20 March 2001, 24 September 2002, 2004). Elmo and a developmental expert gave babysitting tips on the 18 June 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 3 March 2004 episode "Eppur Si Muove", Elmo receives a medical checkup from Abbey Bartlet, the First Lady, and cheekishly questions her about the validity of her medical license.

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.

International

Sesame Street is customized for some different international markets, and Elmo is often renamed. In Portuguese children's books (in Portugal, he did not appear in the TV series), he's known as Simão (Simon). His voice in Sesamstraat, the Dutch version of the show, is done by Hein Boele.

Other international version actually include Elmo in Street scenes. On South Africa's Takalani Sesame, he is renamed Neno, and his personality stays essentially the same.

Elmo in pop culture

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

• Elmo briefly appeared as a vengeful cartoon character in a Simpsons episode. He reminded Homer, who didn't want to pay for a pledge he made to a PBS phone-a-thon, that "Elmo knows where you live."
• In another episode of The Simpsons a parody of post-9/11 America, Elmo appeared in a political prison after supporting opponents of George W. Bush, he said, "Elmo go to wrong fundraiser."
• 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!"
• A parody of Tickle Me Elmo was included in the Jhonen Vasquez comic, Squee titled Tickle Me Hellmo.

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 [2]. 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 he uses that "paw" to draw with his crayon and operate his computer mouse. This is common with muppets, due to the method of operation. (Right hand operates the mouth, left hand operates the left paw, right hand is operated by a second person.)
• 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 books manufacturer said that this was not an isolated claim, and that they'd had several complaints about the book. [3]