Abby Cadabby
Encyclopedia
Abby Cadabby is a fictional three-year-old fairy-in-training who lives on Sesame Street
. She made her debut in the first episode of Sesame Street’s 37th season, when she moved into the neighborhood and met some of the Street's residents. On the day of her debut, her wand broke; Big Bird
told her to take her wand to the Fix-It Shop where Maria would fix it. Season 40 features her CGI-animated segment Abby's Flying Fairy School. The regular assistant puppeteer is Pam Arciero while Lara MacLean assisted in performing her in Season 39
Her name is a play on the magic word Abracadabra
. Abby's magical powers are limited to popping in and out of thin air, floating when she's happy, and turning things into pumpkins. Although familiar with the world of fairy tales, Abby is astounded by such basic learning skills as drawing letters or counting, prompting her catchphrase "That's so magical!" She frequently uses her wand cell phone to call her mommy. When she's asked to return home, she says that she's "gotta poof."
She can speak a language called Dragonfly and is teaching Rosita the language, while Rosita teaches her Spanish.[1] Along with Baby Bear, Abby begins attending school in a 2006 episode at the Storybook Community School, where Mrs. Goose is the teacher and other fairy tale characters like Hansel and Gretel are her classmates.
Tony Geiss conceptualized Abby as a way to simultaneously introduce a major female character to the show and add someone from a different culture, without "having consciously to introduce somebody from Indonesia or India."[2] Abby's design is an intentional departure from the typical Muppet look because she's not originally from Sesame Street. The implication is that the fairies in her old neighborhood look like her.
Abby's likeness has been adapted for a 43-foot balloon which premiered in the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a full-body costume character for stage appearances and a number of merchandise items
In 2008, Abby was added to the cast of Plaza Sésamo, the Mexican co-production of Sesame Street, appearing in new segments where she tries to perform magic tricks with various ordinary objects. In 2009, she became the host of 3, 2, 1 Vamos!, a Latin American pre-school programming block, which first aired in English in 2010, on Canadian television
She made her Street debut on August 14, 2006.
Abby was scheduled to be interviewed 10 August 2006 on The Today Show on NBC
; "NBC Special Report" coverage of the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot
pre-empted the interview. Abby appeared for a short chat on 14 August, a few short minutes with Ann Curry
and Lester Holt before the weather. The scheduled "satellite-tour" of local stations across America went on later that day.
Abby was to be featured as ABC World News "Person of the Week" on 11 August 2006; Hurricane Katrina
/2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
dog rescuer Linda Nealon pre-empted her. Cadabby was featured on the 18 August broadcast, with the teaser, "Femininity comes to Sesame Street". She was touted as the first 3-year-old "Person of The Week".
Abby appeared on the August 11 edition of All Things Considered
on NPR
.
In 2007, Abby had her own balloon made after her in the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
.
Abby is also now featured in the 2007-2009 tour of Sesame Street Live show When Elmo Grows Up
, produces the "Abby's Flying Fairy School" series.
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
. She made her debut in the first episode of Sesame Street’s 37th season, when she moved into the neighborhood and met some of the Street's residents. On the day of her debut, her wand broke; Big Bird
Big Bird
Big Bird is a protagonist of the children's television show Sesame Street. Big Bird, like many of the other Sesame Street characters, is a Muppet character. He is sometimes referred to simply as "Bird" by his friends....
told her to take her wand to the Fix-It Shop where Maria would fix it. Season 40 features her CGI-animated segment Abby's Flying Fairy School. The regular assistant puppeteer is Pam Arciero while Lara MacLean assisted in performing her in Season 39
Her name is a play on the magic word Abracadabra
Abracadabra
Abracadabra is an incantation used as a magic word in stage magic tricks, and historically was believed to have healing powers when inscribed on an amulet...
. Abby's magical powers are limited to popping in and out of thin air, floating when she's happy, and turning things into pumpkins. Although familiar with the world of fairy tales, Abby is astounded by such basic learning skills as drawing letters or counting, prompting her catchphrase "That's so magical!" She frequently uses her wand cell phone to call her mommy. When she's asked to return home, she says that she's "gotta poof."
She can speak a language called Dragonfly and is teaching Rosita the language, while Rosita teaches her Spanish.[1] Along with Baby Bear, Abby begins attending school in a 2006 episode at the Storybook Community School, where Mrs. Goose is the teacher and other fairy tale characters like Hansel and Gretel are her classmates.
Tony Geiss conceptualized Abby as a way to simultaneously introduce a major female character to the show and add someone from a different culture, without "having consciously to introduce somebody from Indonesia or India."[2] Abby's design is an intentional departure from the typical Muppet look because she's not originally from Sesame Street. The implication is that the fairies in her old neighborhood look like her.
Abby's likeness has been adapted for a 43-foot balloon which premiered in the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a full-body costume character for stage appearances and a number of merchandise items
In 2008, Abby was added to the cast of Plaza Sésamo, the Mexican co-production of Sesame Street, appearing in new segments where she tries to perform magic tricks with various ordinary objects. In 2009, she became the host of 3, 2, 1 Vamos!, a Latin American pre-school programming block, which first aired in English in 2010, on Canadian television
Character launch
Abby Cadabby was officially announced in TV Guide, months before the 37th season debut of Sesame Street, and a press kit was issued soon after. Rumors had floated on the Internet before that, with an anonymous Sesame Workshop or Muppet insider revealing the addition on Muppet Wiki.She made her Street debut on August 14, 2006.
Abby was scheduled to be interviewed 10 August 2006 on The Today Show on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
; "NBC Special Report" coverage of the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot
2006 transatlantic aircraft plot
The 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot was a terrorist plot to detonate liquid explosives carried on board at least 10 airliners travelling from the United Kingdom to the United States and Canada...
pre-empted the interview. Abby appeared for a short chat on 14 August, a few short minutes with Ann Curry
Ann Curry
Ann Curry is an American television news journalist and co-anchor on NBC's morning television program Today. She is the former news anchor on Today, a role she began in March 1997, and was the host of Dateline NBC from 2005-2011.Curry is a Board Member at the IWMF .-Biography:Curry was born in...
and Lester Holt before the weather. The scheduled "satellite-tour" of local stations across America went on later that day.
Abby was to be featured as ABC World News "Person of the Week" on 11 August 2006; Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
/2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
The 2006 Lebanon War, also called the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War and known in Lebanon as the July War #Other uses|Tammūz]]) and in Israel as the Second Lebanon War , was a 34-day military conflict in Lebanon, northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. The principal parties were Hezbollah...
dog rescuer Linda Nealon pre-empted her. Cadabby was featured on the 18 August broadcast, with the teaser, "Femininity comes to Sesame Street". She was touted as the first 3-year-old "Person of The Week".
Abby appeared on the August 11 edition of All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
on NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
.
In 2007, Abby had her own balloon made after her in the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, often shortened to Macy's Day Parade, is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than...
.
Abby is also now featured in the 2007-2009 tour of Sesame Street Live show When Elmo Grows Up
Animation team
The animation studio SpeakEasy FX, founded by director Scott StewartScott Stewart (director)
Scott Stewart is an American film director, writer, producer and visual effects developer.-Biography:...
, produces the "Abby's Flying Fairy School" series.
Criticism
- Some longtime fans of Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
have criticised Abby for her apparent oversaturation of Sesame Street's airtime. Some have been known to compare her to Paris HiltonParis HiltonParis Whitney Hilton is an American businesswoman, heiress, and socialite. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton . Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a sex tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood...
, Anna Nicole SmithAnna Nicole SmithIn 1992 Smith was chosen by Hugh Hefner to appear on the cover of the March issue of Playboy, where she was listed as Vickie Smith, wearing a low-cut evening gown. The centerfold was photographed by Stephen Wayda. Smith said she planned to be "the next Marilyn Monroe". Becoming one of Playboys...
, and Lindsay LohanLindsay LohanLindsay Lohan is an American actress, pop singer and model. She began her career as a child fashion model before making her motion picture debut in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap at the age of 11...
, the role of the "homewrecker" Some also say that Abby Cadabby has replaced Zoe, Elmo's long-time best friend. It is often stated that Abby is Elmo's new best friend. However, many others disagree. Producers are ecstatic about a new female addition to the Sesame Street gang. In previous years, the male to female ratio was "woefully disproportionate", as TV Guide stated in a 2009 article. Abby Cadabby has recently gotten very popular among children, even boys, and is catching up with Elmo's widespread fame. An Abby Cadabby balloon was featured in the 2009 Macy's Day Parade.