Category — Elmo

Way back in March I mentioned that Elmo Live will be available in October 2008, just in time for Holiday Wish Lists. Well, pre-order time is at hand, so if the little one in your life has their hopes set on Elmo Live, now is the time to take action!

As I have said before, this particular Elmo toy scares the bejeezus out of me, but I am sure kids will really dig the freaky animatronic interaction. Good times. Elmo Live is set to hit store shelves on October 14th, so brace yourselves.

I noticed a plastic Elmo toy called the Sesame Street Giggle Doodler in the back window of a Mercedes today. Yes, I am ridiculous enough to be able to identify the kind of toy I see in the back of a car driving past. Anyway, it brought to mind a few more random Elmo thoughts that I want to jot down before moving on to m next kid mystery:

• I originally thought Elmo was the result of some genetic experiment combining Grover’s DNA with a turnip, but it turns out he actually has a whole back story that includes a mother who is possibly named Gladys, a mustached father named Louie and an older sister named Daisy.
• In addition to being annoying, Elmo dolls sometimes make creepy threats–check out this video. (Notice the mother says that her son was hooked on Elmo ever since he saw Elmo on his diaper. I think she is probably referring to Pampers Pull-up, which currently feature Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go. When I get to my post on Dora the Explorer, I will be curious to see if her face on the Pampers sparked the current Dora craze.)
• Another Elmo death threat.
• And then there’s Masochist Elmo, who demands beatings. I am starting to think someone at the manufacturing plant has a sick sense of humor.
• This makes me feel like I am truly living in The Matrix, but according to Wikipedia, “Elmo is the only Muppet ever to testify before the U.S. Congress.” Ummmmm…..all the stuff that is going on in the world, and ELMO gets to address a Congressional Subcommittee????? I am all for supporting arts education, but is Elmo really the best spokesperson? Apparently the former Congressman who proposed this as a good idea either wanted to annoy his fellow members of Congress to death, or assumed the members of Congress had the mental capacity of 3 year olds who can only refer to themselves in the third person and wanted to engage them at their own level.
  
• An Elmo impersonator was arrested and taken away in handcuffs for harassing tourists near Hollywood and Highland a few years ago.  Will there be no end to the crimes?
• O.M.G.  I just found this new Elmo toy -Elmo Live!  I am scared, and not just because of that weird Satanic altar-like background in the video.  O.M.G. Does a doll really need to do all that?  It’s freakier than the clown from Poltergeist!  Elmo Live is due for nationwide release in October, which means it will probably be high on the average toddler’s Christmas wish list.  The article mentions “A pre-sale opportunity will be available in the spring for consumers to reserve Elmo Live for delivery on October 14th.”  I think anyone who needs to shop for tots should get on that, in spite of how freaky and potentially annoying Elmo Live seems to be.  I foresee a full post devoted to Elmo Live in the future.

Ok, I’ve had all the Elmo I can stand for one day.  Next post: The Wiggles.

I think most parents have a love/hate relationship with Elmo. On the one hand, parents love the hours of amusement and distraction the tinny-voiced puppet provides their little one; on the other hand, they loathe the non-stop high pitched “singing” and “giggling” that is Elmo’s stock and trade. Oh, it’s cute at first, when the baby timidly pushes the button on Tickle Me Elmo or Chicken Dance Elmo, is surprised and then starts laughing. Adorable. Kodak moment for sure. The problem is that once is never enough for the toddler who has discovered Elmo. They will keep pushing that button over and over and over, once they figure out how to do it. They will cry and scream when a frustrated parent says “Enough” after hours and hours of noise and takes Elmo away. They will beg and resort to tantrums to have their friend Elmo returned.

You may be thinking, if Elmo toys are so annoying, why should I buy one for Baby X? Well, the annoyance is part of the fun, especially if it is not YOUR Baby X. This “annoyance factor” is a feature that distinguishes memorable gifts from truly unforgettable ones. Elmo toys are pretty much instant hits with almost all kids, so the kid will be totally psyched to receive the toy. They will want to play with the toy frequently. The kids will think you are the coolest for getting them such an awesome toy. The parents will undoubtedly notice their child’s devotion to the Elmo toy, and will thank you every time they see you. In fact, they’ll start thanking you whenever they see Elmo, whether or not you, the gift giver, is around.

In my case, I gave a Chicken Dance Elmo to my niece about 5 years ago. Elmo got passed to her cousin, then back to her younger brother, then to another cousin, then to another younger brother. Elmo was sent to live the the grandparents a couple of years ago to minimize the total amount of Elmo exposure, to no avail. Now, every time the word “Elmo” is uttered, every adult in ear shot cringes and voices an exasperated, “Thanks, Aunt T!”, while the kids drag Elmo from his latest hiding spot and start that music playing again. That singular gift, handed down many times already, has cemented my reputation as the “cool aunt” with 5 kids. Even in spite of my siblings’ promises and thinly veiled threats to return the Elmo favor when I have kids, I still think it was an incredible return on investment. If Elmo ever does it make it into my house, though, we may have a problem.