Elmo
Encyclopedia
Elmo is a Muppet character on the children's television show Sesame Street
. He is a furry red monster and currently hosts the last full 15 minute segment on Sesame Street, Elmo's World
, which is aimed at toddler
s. His puppeteer, Kevin Clash
, uses falsetto
to produce his voice. Elmo's parents, Mae and Louis, speak with Southern American accents.
in the early 1970s, Brian Muehl
from 1979 to 1981, and the late Richard Hunt
from 1981 to 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". 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.
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!, 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.
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.
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.
, Big Bird
, The Count, Prairie Dawn
, Grover
, and Cookie Monster
) to see greatly reduced roles. Elmo has been referred to as the "Little Red Menace" by Sesame Street traditionalists.
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." However, Abby and Zoe, who are also in the same age group as Elmo, do not speak in the third person.
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...
. He is a furry red monster and currently hosts the last full 15 minute segment on Sesame Street, Elmo's World
Elmo's World
"Elmo's World" is a segment of the children's television show Sesame Street featuring Elmo, a small, three and a half year old, bright red monster. It debuted on November 16, 1998. Since then, it has been regularly shown during the last fifteen minutes of every Sesame Street episode...
, which is aimed at toddler
Toddler
A toddler is a young child, usually defined as being between the ages of one and three. Registered nurse, midwife and author, Robin Barker, states 'Any time from eight months onwards your baby will begin to realise he is a separate person from you...
s. His puppeteer, Kevin Clash
Kevin Clash
Kevin Jeffrey Clash is an American puppeteer and voice actor whose characters include Elmo, Baby Sinclair, Clifford, Splinter and Hoots the Owl...
, uses falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
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." The puppet was performed by Caroll SpinneyCaroll Spinney
Caroll Edwin Spinney, sometimes credited as Carroll Spinney or Ed Spinney , is an American puppeteer most famous for playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on the children's television show Sesame Street.-Life and career:...
in the early 1970s, Brian Muehl
Brian Muehl
Brian Muehl born in the 1950s, is an American book writer, and a former Sesame Street puppeteer living in Connecticut.Brian's muppet characters included Oscar the Grouch's girlfriend, Grundgetta, Telly Monster, Barkley the dog and Forgetful Jones's girlfriend Clementine. He continued to voice...
from 1979 to 1981, and the late Richard Hunt
Richard Hunt (puppeteer)
Richard Hunt was an American puppeteer best known as a Muppet performer. Hunt's Muppet roles included Scooter, Beaker, Janice, Statler, and Sweetums.-Early years:...
from 1981 to 1984. Sans continues that "...one day [in 1984], Kevin Clash
Kevin Clash
Kevin Jeffrey Clash is an American puppeteer and voice actor whose characters include Elmo, Baby Sinclair, Clifford, Splinter and Hoots the Owl...
, 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". John Tartaglia
John Tartaglia
John Nicholas Tartaglia is an American singer, actor, dancer, puppeteer.Tartaglia was born in Maple Shade, New Jersey, U.S.. He joined Sesame Street's puppetry team at the age of 16 part-time, performing as a right hand and many minor characters, including Phoebe and being the backup for Kevin...
, Matt Vogel, and Jim Martin
Jim Martin (puppeteer)
Jim Martin is a puppeteer, best known for his roles on Sesame Street. As part of the cast, he has won an Emmy Award. He has been nominated multiple times, and won for "Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling" at the Emmys, also for Sesame Street.-Early life:Martin graduated from St...
have all been secondary performers for the character, providing movement for Elmo's arms and legs, particularly in green-screen shots.
After becoming a regular guest on The Rosie O'Donnell Show
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
The Rosie O'Donnell Show is an Emmy Award-winning American daytime television talk show hosted and produced by actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell. It aired for six seasons from 1996 to 2002...
, Elmo began touring the talk-show circuit. He has appeared on Martha Stewart Living
Martha Stewart Living
Martha Stewart Living is a magazine and a television show featuring entertaining and home decorating guru Martha Stewart. Both the magazine and the television program focus on the domestic arts. Martha Stewart Living began as a quarterly magazine in 1990, published by Time Inc..and is currently...
and Martha
Martha
Martha of Bethany is a biblical figure described in the Gospels of Luke and John. Together with her siblings Lazarus and Mary, she is described as living in the village of Bethany near Jerusalem...
, The Tony Danza Show
The Tony Danza Show
The Tony Danza Show was a daytime talk show hosted by Tony Danza, but was also a sitcom featuring the same actor ....
, Rove Live, Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!, and The View. Elmo and a developmental expert gave babysitting tips on the June 18, 2005 episode of Teen Kids News
Teen Kids News
Teen Kids News, initially titled EKN Worldwide Kids News, is an educational newsmagazine series aimed at children and teenagers that debuted in first-run syndication the weekend of September 27, 2003. Teen Kids News discusses important issues in a format intended to educate and inform both children...
. He has also appeared on Emeril Live
Emeril Live
Emeril Live is a program on The Cooking Channel hosted by Emeril Lagasse. It formerly aired on Food Network and Fine Living.Emeril Live features many of the same elements as Emeril's other program, Essence of Emeril, and often has a Creole theme...
, helping Emeril make (non-alcoholic) eggnog during a Holiday Special shown in December 2008. Kevin Clash and Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He has had four top-20 hits in the United States along with four platinum-certified albums...
were also guests on this show. On a special episode of Oprah
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
called "The Faces Behind The Famous Names," Kevin Clash and Elmo appeared at the same time.
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 Saves Christmas
Elmo Saves Christmas is a children's home video that was released in 1996. In the story, Elmo learns that Christmas cannot occur every day. The Christmas special is the basis idea from the Christmas short story, 'Christmas Every Day' by William Dean Howells,...
.
Elmo also appeared in a fifth season episode of The West Wing
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
along with his friends Zoe
Zoe (Sesame Street)
Zoe is a 3-year-old, orange female monster on Sesame Street, performed by Fran Brill. She was designed in her color to complement her best friend Elmo, who was gaining popularity at her introduction in 1993....
and 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....
. In that episode, Elmo receives a medical checkup from Abbey Bartlet
Abbey Bartlet
Dr. Abigail Anne "Abbey" Barrington Bartlet, MD, is a fictional character played by Stockard Channing on the television serial drama, The West Wing. In the show, she is the First Lady of the United States, the wife of President Josiah Bartlet.-Overview:...
, the First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
(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
Duke Cunningham
Randall Harold Cunningham , usually known as Randy or Duke, is United States Navy veteran, convicted felon, and former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from California's 50th Congressional District from 1991 to 2005.Cunningham resigned from the House on November 28,...
, 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.
Emeril and Elmo's Healthy Start was a special featuring Elmo and Emeril Lagasse
Emeril Lagasse
'Emeril John Lagasse is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, and cookbook author. A regional James Beard Award winner, he is perhaps most notable for his Food Network shows Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril as well as catchphrases such as “Kick it up a notch!” and...
that aired on November 4, 2005 at 8 p.m. as part of the Food Network's
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
second annual "Cook With Your Kids Week". The special was produced in conjunction with Sesame Workshop's Healthy Habits for Life
Healthy Habits for Life
Healthy Habits for Life is a series of segments and storylines in children's television series Sesame Street. Launched in season 36, the segments are a "multi-year, content-driven initiative to help young children and their caregivers establish an early foundation of healthy habits that can last a...
program.
Criticism and controversy
Fans of Sesame Street have complained that Elmo's prominent status has caused some older characters (such as Oscar the GrouchOscar the Grouch
Oscar the Grouch is a Muppet character on the television program Sesame Street. He has a green body , has no nose , and lives in a trash can. His favorite thing in life is trash; evidence for this is the song "I Love Trash". A running theme is his compulsive hoarding of seemingly useless items...
, 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....
, The Count, Prairie Dawn
Prairie Dawn
Prairie Dawn is a fictional character, a rather mature seven-year-old Muppet girl on the children's television program Sesame Street. She is similar in appearance to a character from the Anything Muppets. She is famous for writing school pageants for her friends, mostly Ernie and Bert, Herry,...
, Grover
Grover
Grover is a Muppet character on the popular television show Sesame Street. Self-described as lovable, cute and furry, he is a monster who almost never uses contractions when speaking or singing....
, and Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster is a Muppet on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is best known for his voracious appetite and his famous eating phrases: "Me want cookie!", "Me eat cookie!", and "Om nom nom nom" . He often eats anything and everything, including danishes, donuts, lettuce, apples,...
) to see greatly reduced roles. Elmo has been referred to as the "Little Red Menace" by Sesame Street traditionalists.
In its FAQ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions are listed questions and answers, all supposed to be commonly asked in some context, and pertaining to a particular topic. "FAQ" is usually pronounced as an initialism rather than an acronym, but an acronym form does exist. Since the acronym FAQ originated in textual...
, 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." 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" using the first person pronouns "I", "me", and "my" as he mimicked what Ernie was singing. 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".External links
- Tickle Elmo
- Elmo's World
- Downloadable 15-minute interview with Elmo voice and puppeteer Kevin Clash from Wisconsin Public Television - Kevin Clash talks about how he became Elmo and how the muppet is able to affect children's lives
- "Sesame Street: A YouTube Interview with Elmo." - Sesame Street Official Channe;, YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....