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Elmo

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Wildonrio (talk | contribs) at 03:50, 31 January 2011 (Added an interesting new section on a couple very rare occasions when Elmo has spoken in the first person). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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

Elmo
Sesame Street character
File:Elmo.PNG
First appearancec. 1972 (as Baby Monster)
1981 (in print)[1]
November 18, 1985 (as Elmo)
Portrayed byKevin Clash
In-universe information
GenderMale

Elmo is a Muppet on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is a furry red monster. He currently hosts the last full 15 minute segment on Sesame Street, Elmo's World, which is aimed at toddlers. His puppeteer is Kevin Clash, who uses falsetto to produce his voice. Elmo's parents, Mae and Louis, speak with Southern American accents.

History

Elmo is self-described as three-and-a-half years old and characteristically avoids pronouns, referring to himself in the third person (e.g. "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.[2] 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.

File:Elmo.jpg
Elmo on a 2009 Rose Parade float

After becoming a regular guest on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Elmo began touring the talk-show circuit. He has appeared on Martha Stewart Living and Martha, The Tony Danza Show, Rove Live, Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!,[3] and The View. Elmo and a developmental expert gave babysitting tips on the June 18, 2005 episode of Teen Kids News. He has also appeared on Emeril Live, helping Emeril make (non-alcoholic) eggnog during a Holiday Special shown in December, 2008. Kevin Clash and Aaron Neville were also guests on this show. On a special episode of Oprah called "The Faces Behind The Famous Names," Kevin Clash and Elmo appeared at the same time.[4]

The Elmo character is often used to reach children with important messages, such as fire safety.

Elmo was the star of the 1999 full-length, theatrically-released motion picture Elmo in Grouchland. He also starred in the film Elmo Saves Christmas.

Elmo also appeared in a fifth season episode of The West Wing along with his friends Zoe and Big Bird. In that episode, Elmo receives a medical checkup from Abbey Bartlet, the First Lady (who is making a guest appearance on Sesame Street), and cheekily questions her about the validity of her medical license.

Elmo is the only non-human or puppet 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.[5]

Emeril and Elmo's Healthy Start was a special featuring Elmo and Emeril Lagasse that aired on November 4, 2005 at 8 p.m. 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.

Criticism and controversy

A woman protesting Elmo at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.

Fans of Sesame Street have complained that Elmo's prominent status has caused some older characters (such as Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, The Count, Prairie Dawn, Grover, and Cookie Monster) to see greatly-reduced roles.[6] Elmo has been referred to as the "Little Red Menace" by Sesame Street traditionalists.[7]

In its FAQ, the Sesame Workshop responds to the allegation that Elmo referring to himself in the third person will teach children improper English, stating that this behavior "mimics the behavior of many preschoolers."[8] However, Abby and Zoe, who are also in the same age group as Elmo, do not speak in the third person.

Speaking in the first person

There are a few occasions where Elmo has uncharacteristically spoken in the first person. Once was when he was being Ernie's echo during the song "Sing After Me"[9]. Another time was when he was playing an asparagus in Prairie Dawn's Food Pageant. When the stage light crew was having trouble keeping the spot light on him, he said "follow me"[10].

See also

References

  1. ^ Kingsley, Emily Perl; Stevenson, Nancy W (1981). The Sesame Street circus of opposites : featuring Jim Henson's Sesame Street Muppets. Western Publishing. ISBN 9780307231413. OCLC 8493158.
  2. ^ Shon, Debora (2006-01-31). "Sesame Street will spend this weekend in Poughkeepsie". Poughkeepsie Journal.
  3. ^ Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! : NPR
  4. ^ A Guy's Guide to Oprah: "Barbie, Marc Jacobs, Jimmy Choo, and Elmo" (June 2008)
  5. ^ American Music Conference
  6. ^ "Jumptheshark.com". Archived from the original on 2007-10-10.
  7. ^ "Elmo dethrones Big Bird", Kim Lyons, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Jan. 11, 2006
  8. ^ "Why does Elmo refer to himself in the third person? Won't this teach kids improper English?". Frequently Asked Questions. Sesame Workshop.
  9. ^ "Sing After Me (Ernie and Elmo version)". {{cite web}}: Check |archiveurl= value (help)
  10. ^ "Prairie Dawn Food Pageant". Archived from the original on 2011-1-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)

Elmo on Muppet Wiki

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