He's the Baby, Gotta Love Him

Everyone loves babies!  They are adorable and precious and needy and loud and smelly and cute and innocent and destructive.  Television babies often fall into one of two categories: they are mindless props that exist to have others dote on them, or they are mini-adults with intelligence and a skewed world view.

Then there's Baby Sinclair.

Who, me?

Baby Sinclair exists in the nether region between the two types of fictional baby.  He has intelligence (at least, he can speak and reason), but he still has a solipsistic world view that drives his actions.  He doesn't give a damn about anyone else in the world or in his life.  And he thrives on it.  As a child, Baby was may favorite character because he was funny and adorable.  But now that I am older, I can see the evil tendencies that lurk behind his innocent eyes.  He is almost as bad as Cartman in his narcissism, but what do you expect?  He is just a baby after all.

Baby Sinclair was the most heavily marketed character in the series.  With his Elmo-esque voice and his violent tendencies, he became the face of the show.  Perhaps it is best to let Baby himself explain what he is all about in his hit single, "I'm the Baby (Gotta Love Me)."

That phrase is the exact reason one could consider Baby to be a malicious spirit.  He knows that he can get away with anything because he is the baby and there is no choice but to love him.  His repeated attacks on his father became his signature shtick, and although Earl tried to curry his favor with gives and affection, the baby grew ever resistant to "Not the Mama."

Earl nearly gets his wish to be rid of the little hellion in "Switched at Birth." On Baby's first birthday, it is discover that his nest was switched with that of another baby's during an earthquake at a (pointless-for-egg-laying-dinosaurs) Lamaze class.  Fearing the worst/best, the Sinclairs contact the Molehill family to meet their son and discover that the father has the exact same personality (and skin color) as Baby Sinclair.

He also has Jason Alexander's voice!

Not only that, but the Molehill's baby is quiet, reserved, non-violent, and green!

And just happened to be wearing Earl's shirt.

After a quick paternity test at "Absolute Proof Laboratories," the suspicions are confirmed that the baby's had indeed been switched.  Both fathers delight in having their new children, but the mothers having formed a bond with the babies can't bring themselves to stay apart.  Eventually it is decided that wise Solomon the Great shall decide what to do.  In reference to his biblical namesake (or was King Solomon named after him?), Solomon decrees to cut the babies in half.

Via magic act.

The fathers finally show their true colors, expressing that they've grown attached to the baby that they raised, even if they weren't their true sons.  And to wrap everything up, the tests turned out to be wrong and Baby Sinclair returns to his family to cause his father more pain.

But things get even scarier at Baby's second birthday when he enters "The Terrible Twos."  Baby was already demanding and violent to begin with, so his Terrible Two phase is exponentially worse than any other baby's.  The baby becomes so demonic that an expert exorcist... I mean, babysitter is called in to quell his hell-raising behavior.  He tries reading to him from the Good Book (a Dr. Seuss parody), pacifying him with his crucifix-shaped pacifier, and feeding him his healthy dinner of rice before dessert.

The power of rice compels you!

But even he cannot handle an amplified Baby.  Ultimately, the only solution is to trick Baby into thinking it is his third birthday and that the Terrible Twos have passed.  And the trick works because, after all, he is a baby.

But despite how scary and evil they make Baby Sinclair out to be, there is still a charm in his baby-like outlook on life.  He barely understands the stories that play out around him, but he tries to remain involved, inserting himself into the action (demanding rewards all the way).  In today's age of shows built around unpleasant, selfish, deplorable people, one need only remember that this is not a new idea. We were all babies once.

 Again!

Random Muppet #24: Azibo the Monster

On the Muppet Wiki, there is a "Random Muppet" button which sends you to the page of one of the thousands of Muppets in existence. I will press the button and discuss the importance of the Muppet that comes up, no matter how obscure. No skips. No redos. This is the Random Muppet Challenge.

Random Muppet #24: Azibo the Monster

A card-carrying monster.

Performer:  Kevin Clash

Muppet Universe of Origin:  Sesame Street (by way of Panwapa)

Most Significant Appearance:  Panwapa, October 10, 2007, Panwapa.com, "Hello Panwapa Island"

What a diverse bunch!

As a way to create a truly global Sesame Street experience, the Sesame Workshop and the Merrill Lynch Foundation created an interactive online video series known as Panwapa.  Originally Sesame World Wide Kids, Panwapa followed the exploits of a group of recycled Muppets who travel on a floating tropical island to various countries around the globe.  The show promoted cultural diversity and acceptance, proving that we are all humans and have much in common with one another.

Via the website, kids could create their own avatars and personality cards which allowed them to "explore" Panwapa Island and become a part of a larger community.

Learning is fun!

In the introduction episode, Azibo the Monster finds his way onto Panwapa Island.  The native animals are frightened at first, having never met a monster before.  Azibo is ready to call it quits when no one accepts him, but through the help of the wise owl Athena, he proves to the others that he is worth getting to know.

Why Is He the Most Important Muppet?

Society creates monsters.  That isn't to say that evils derive from a group mentality (although this is often the case).  But a society decides and defines what a "monster" is.  The more people who dislike a concept, the more monstrous that concept is.  And sometimes that concept is an individual.

The default reaction we have to the unknown is fear.  If we cannot control it or understand it, we avoid it.  The citizens of Panwapa Island were no different.  Despite being a culturally sensitive vessel, their first impulse is to run away from Azibo the Monster.  The burden is placed on Azibo's shoulders to convince the others that he is not a monster, at least, not in the way others view him.  He has done something to make others upset, and he must fix it.  And while the others learn a lesson about being more accepting, does it make their initial reaction any less valid?

He must be bad or else he wouldn't be a monster.

A scandal has recently rocked the Muppet community and all we can do is wait until we learn more.  Some may be quick to condemn, while others remain optimistic.  And then some are just devastated.  The world as they knew it has changed, and, for the time being, there is a possibility that someone we trust could actually be a monster.

We decide who to love and who to hate.  And when we our previous notions are shattered, we are at a loss for what to do.  Does this make our past a lie?  Have we been wrong this whole time?  Or are we wrong now?  Are we not giving it a fair chance?  There are no easy answers.

Sometimes we don't have all the facts.  We can only trust ourselves.  It is up to us to determine whether or not someone is truly a monster.  And it is up to them to prove us wrong.

Fat American Pigs

A month ago during my Muppets from Space review, I teased you about the identity of a random old Muppet butler that was shacking up with the rest of the crew in their summer house.  In order to fully understand who this character is, we must return to the depths of Muppets Tonight.

Now, you may not have been aware that during the original run of The Muppet Show, our friends in England were privy to two extra minutes of Muppet material that was unseen in America (except for later video releases).  These segments were called "UK Spots" because they were made to compensate for the fact that British television had shorter commercial breaks than the U.S.  These spots were usually an additional song or an unrelated backstage scene that didn't affect the overall plot of a particular episode.  Unfortunately for Muppet purists, many great moments only existed in these U.K. Spots, but fortunately, they have since all been recorded and documented.

Muppets Tonight also featured U.K. Spots.  But rather than just film new songs or scenes, the U.K. got their own series of recurring segments.  They actually got four of these series!  They had six extra secondary characters, and it is time to introduce these isolated characters to the rest of the world!

First up is The Tubmans of Porksmith (later rechristened Boarshead Revisited).

Classy British fare.

So, what is the first thing one would put into a show that they know won't be seen by American audiences?  Why a big fat American pig of course!

You can never have too much apple butter, you grotesque swine.

Yes, our hero is Howard Tubman, heir to America's oldest and fattest family.  He lives alone in a mansion, gorging himself on all varieties of food.  But he is not embittered or lonely.  He is quite content to stuff his face.  Plus, he has his butler Carter to tend to is many needs, such as walking.

Another piece of cake?  Good show, sir!

The weak, frail old servant can do no more than to shake his weary head at his employer's lifestyle.  Tubman presumably eats all of the food in the house, leaving Carter to be nothing more than skin and bones.  Carter assists Tubman on his exploits to lose weight, either by hiding food or getting him nto shape.  But whiny Tubman's demands and abuse are all that result from these endeavors.  Despite his attempts to get fit, Tubman seems quite happy with his lot in life.  So what if he can't fit into his pants?  At least he's enjoying himself.

The duo represent opposite philosophies towards indulgence, which mirrors the stereotypes of American and British culture.  Americans are greedy, lazy, and obese while the Brits are hard-working and silently suffering.  You'd think this would be offensive but, hey, it's the Muppets.  Sometimes it helps to hold a mirror up to society and laugh at your foibles.  Are all Americans like Howard Tubman?  Of course not.  But we can recognize and respect the ribbing at our expense.  At least, we should.

Otherwise, we might fight back.  You know, if it didn't take so much effort.

If only it were this easy...

All About Elmo

The Top Ten Sesame Street Song Countdown continues with a simple yet significant song.  You may love it, you may hate it, but there's no denying that nothing is quite like...

9. Elmo's Song - Elmo, Big Bird, and Snuffy

The force that is Elmo did not occur overnight.  The character slowly built his presence on the street over a couple of years, edging his way into the spotlight gradually and confidently.  But if we were to pinpoint a pivotal moment in Elmo's career, it would be "Elmo's Song."

Elmo speaks in the third person.  While this was intended to be a sign of his youth and innocence, it also works as a sign of Elmo's solipsism.  The world revolves around Elmo.  He is the most important creature in the universe.  He is the ultimate being.

In this scene, Elmo has written a little jingle that lacks thought-provoking lyrics and only comments on the fact that Elmo has written a song.  But he hasn't just written any song.  He has written "Elmo's Song," the song to replace all other songs.  When his friends are depressed for lacking a song of their own, the great Elmo graciously lends them his song.  But while it may be "Big Bird's Song" or "Snuffy's Song" temporarily, it is always "Elmo's Song."

After all, he wrote the music.  He wrote the words.

This song quickly became Elmo's main theme music and an adapted version of it was used to introduce the "Elmo's World" segments of the 21st Century.  Right, one half of each Sesame Street was devoted to Elmo.  And he didn't just have a street.  He owned the world!

Time to take over the world! Ahahaha!

This song merely hints at the path Sesame Street would take at the dawn of the new millennium.  Elmo is not a monster to be trifled with.  He has laid his claim to all of music and has won over trusted friends, lulling them into a false sense of security.  By participating in his charade, Big Bird has lost the power he once held.  His era is over.  There's a new kid on the block.

Forget it, Big Bird.  It's Elmo's Town.

Mr. Cool Shades

Okay, so The Jim Henson Hour was a bust, but one Muppet emerged unscathed: Clifford the... Clifford.  And it was evident that Clifford was supposed to be the next big Muppet, a signature Muppet for Kevin Clash to perform.  Yes, Clash had Elmo, but Elmo was stuck on Sesame Street (and he eventually ruled it with an iron fist).  Clifford was going to be laid-back and cool and non-ambiguously African American.

He is the only Muppet with dreadlocks to this day.

Clearly, Henson was priming Clash to be a crucial member of the Muppet team and he had made plans for Clifford to be the host and star of the next version of The Muppet Show.  Unfortunately, Henson passed away shortly after appearing on The Arsenio Hall Show alongside Clash and Clifford.

Although Kermit appeared, Clifford was the focal point of the interview.  It appeared as if Henson were passing the torch to Clash and Clifford to be the next face/phase of the Muppets.  But with his untimely death, the plans for the next Muppet Show were put on hold.  It wasn't until six years later that the next show premiered.

Muppets Tonight seemed to be a step in the right direction.  Clifford was ready to take the lead.  But there was one vital change made that Kevin Clash believes killed the character: they removed his sunglasses!!!

The better to see you with.

Clifford was supposed to be cool.  And you can't visually convey that a character is cool in the '90s without sunglasses!

Catch ya on the flip side, dudemeisters!  NOT!

Although the glasses seems trivial, it was true.  Clifford lost his vibe.  He had no more edge.

In order to stay true to the character, Clifford gets the hosting gig in the very first episode by accident.  Kermit, who is running the Muppet television network KMUP, finds himself with an unfilled 30-min slot in his primetime lineup.

Just imagine: a whole channel with nothing but Muppet shows.  It boggles the mind.

Kermit decides to throw together a show at the last minute and asks for volunteers for the hosting gig.  Clifford, who was on his cellular phone ('90s!) with his girlfriend misses the conversation and doesn't get a chance to escape with the rest of the familiar Muppets.  And so, this once mellow dude becomes high-strung and frantic as he scrambles to put a show together

 I'm going crazier than my tie!

Clifford became a bit snarkier due to his position of responsibility, and he always maintained a vague sense of self-awareness as to his role as a Muppet.  The character whose motto was once "Chill out, man" was now tortured and tormented by the Muppets he was in charge of (much as Kermit was before him).

Muppets Tonight lasted a season longer than The Jim Henson Hour, but it still did poorly in the ratings and thus was met with a premature cancellation.  It's hard to judge what exactly killed the show, but Clifford the worrywart wasn't helping matters.

Clifford the dancer, however, was a wonderful delight!

In future Muppet productions, Clash put his foot down, refusing to perform Clifford again unless he had his shades back.  Those glasses were crucial to his character.  Like the legendary bad-haircut-victim Samson before him, Clifford lost his mojo once his signature appearance was altered.  These glasses were a necessary accessory.

It all goes to show that you should always hold on to what makes you unique.

Or, in this case, exaggeratingly cliché.

I Want My MTV(?)

The "MuppeTelevision" segments of The Jim Henson Hour were exactly what you'd expect when you hear the phrase "late '80s Muppet Show."  And that may have led to its quick demise.  The Muppet Show, while it was a product of the 1970s, was still timeless.  The set-up and acts were based on vaudeville routines and old show tunes.  The guest stars were an even blend of stars at the ends of their career, stars at the beginning, or stars in the middle.  The Muppet Show still holds up today because there is no need to explain references to current events or pop culture.  There is enough substance and charm to make it a classic.

"MuppeTelevision" could only exist in the late '80s.  Had it been given time to develop, it may have earned a spot in our collective conscience as "the second Muppet Show."  But the digital effects, spoofs of then-recent movies and TV shows, and overall approach to entertainment hinder it's ability to remain relevant decades later.  Needless to say, it was familiar, yet wildly different in tone.

It's all our old friends!!!  Wait, who are these people?

The show's cast was an odd mix of popular Muppet Show stars and brand new Muppets (of which only one of them survived past this series' cancellation).  Frank Oz and Richard Hunt rarely appeared in the program, so appearances by their signature characters were treated more like cameos and guest stars.  And Jerry Nelson appeared a few times, but none of his main characters made appearances.  The actual main returning cast members were Kermit the Frog, Gonzo, and Link Hogthrob, for some reason.  I guess Henson just really liked Link.  Can't blame him, though.

He is the best Muppet, after all.

Then we had Bean Bunny, who at the time was only familiar to audiences due to The Tale of Bunny Picnic, but I've already discussed his influence on the show.  The rest of the cast were basically replacements of older characters.

There was Lindbergh the Kiwi, the station's maintenance man, voiced by Gord Robertson doing his best impression of Beauregard the Janitor.

And nary a New Zealand accent.  A missed opportunity.

Vicki, voiced by Fran Brill, was the Scooter of the bunch, acting as the stage manager who was much younger than the rest of the gang.

In other words, Prairie Dawn.

And then we had Clifford, voiced by Kevin Clash, filling in for Floyd.  He led the band Solid Foam (great name) which occasionally had appearances by Electric Mayhem members.  He was the laid back musician and he was to become Clash's main Muppet character.

We'll get to you later.

As our sources of chaos, to round out the cast, were Digit, the robotic person who was the holdover from Inner Tube and Leon, another Clash character, who had shifty eyes and was always trying to grift people.  In fact, he once swindled Bill Cosby in his own show!

This is a surreal event that occurred once on our television screens.

The first episode of the show doesn't really bother with introductions and just assumes that we know who all of these people are.  Kermit, having been put in charge of the Inner-Tube-ish Muppet Central, interacts with these new characters as if they are old friends and we, the audience, are slow for not remembering who these Muppets are.

The main story concerns Digit being able to transport alien television channels through his body into our world, and then the cast takes a trip inside his robotic head to fix him when he malfunctions.  It's quite a trip for a first-time audience.

I understand why Kermit and Louie Anderson are there, but nothing else makes sense!

Oh, did I mention how this show also had guest stars?  And they were confined to their sketches and television monitors in the background, making for some pre-recorded awkward dialogue that would have made the creators of Space Ghost from Coast to Coast proud?  Also, there was no laugh track which I would normally consider a good thing, but coming from The Muppet Show, this new program just feels empty without it.

The first episode ends with the Muppets meeting their alien doppelgangers, the Teppums.  And this would have been neat had the cast not been so completely filled with new faces that seeing their bizarro alternates means nothing to us.

What is happening?!  Where are the old Muppets?!

While this first episode is a big departure from what we are used to from a Muppet television show, you shouldn't think that the whole show should be easily dismissed.  In fact, there are moments of sheer brilliance throughout the following episodes and I shall be discussing some over the next few posts.

I just wanted to prepare you to leave your comfort zone.  Because things are about to get weird.  But with Jim, we wouldn't want it any other way.

Christmas Overload

I have a dilemma.  I am running low on Christmas specials that Henson oversaw.  So tonight, I have a choice.  I could either discuss one of the many short pieces that appeared in larger Christmas variety specials or I can focus on a post-Henson special.  Because the Christmas shorts are hard to come by (and those that are easily found don't set out to accomplish much beyond some jokes), I will stray from my mantra and look at one of the Christmas specials that premiered after 1990.

But which one to choose?  A Very Muppet Christmas Movie is too long to tackle in one day.  Letters From Santa is kind of all over the place.  A Sesame Street Christmas Carol has kind of been done before (and will take away from the Muppet version).  And I cannot handle more than two-minutes of Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree due to Robert Downey Jr. speaking like a madman.

Seriously, it gives me an aneurysm trying to decipher his words.

It looks like it is up to everyone's favorite furry red monster to save the day!  I have decided on the following special because it is the only one that is actually a (mostly) original story, rather than a Muppet version of a typical Christmas tale.  And lo and behold, it actually covers some dark territory for Sesame Street. No, they don't quite make 'em like Elmo Saves Christmas.

It's like Groundhog's Day for kids!

As with all great stories, the great Maya Angelou narrates this yuletide Aesop Fable to convey the weight and magnitude of the situation young Elmo finds himself in.  After one of the young Muppets nonchalantly declares that he wishes it were Christmas every day, Angelou sets the record straight about having too much of a good thing.

Well, this Christmas party did not turn out quite as expected.  No adults even RSVP'd.

The story begins with everyone on Sesame Street preparing for Christmas the next day.  The shopping is done, the decorations are up, and spirits are high.  Elmo prepares for the arrival of Santa by waiting by the fireplace all night.  Suddenly, he is awoken by the sounds of Mr. Claus trapped in his chimney.

Jackpot!

Elmo frees Santa, thus saving Christmas!  The End!

Wait, no.  Santa rewards Elmo with a snow globe that grants wishes when you shake it.  Elmo decides to hold on to his gift for a special occasion.  And then comes Christmas, the most special occasion of all!  Elmo enjoys walking about town, receiving gifts from neighbors and enjoying the laughter and songs.  And so he is struck with a brilliant idea.

I will take over Sesame Street, and then, the world!  All for my amusement!

He wishes for Christmas to occur every day.  Now, usually, on the day after Christmas (after everyone has spent their gift cards and returned their gifts), people are turned off by everything Christmas-related.  No more Christmas songs are played and no more Christmas movies are watched.  It's as if we all breathe a collective sigh of relief that Christmas is over.  Perhaps it is because we know that it is the day that is furthest from the next Christmas so we do not want to be disappointed by reminders of yesterday.  Whatever the case, everyone is done.

But on Sesame Street, everyone quickly jumps on board with the idea and looks forward to Christmas #2.  Santa Claus, however, has a different agenda, and realizes that someone made that wish again.  So he sends Elmo on a time-traveling trip with his fastest reindeer Lightning so that he can see the negative effects of "Christmas every day."

Rudolph may be able to see through fog, but Lightning can break the space-time continuum.

Elmo and Lightning witness Christmas on Easter, Christmas on the Fourth of July, and Christmas on next Christmas, with each visit depicting a world that grows darker and darker.  The novelty has quickly worn off and people have all become bitter and depressed.  All businesses have closed, the Count has grown tired of counting Christmases, and worst of all, Big Bird has been separated from his best friend Snuffy, who was supposed to comeback from visiting relatives "the day after Christmas."  By the time December 25th rolls around again, it's just the 366th Christmas in a row, so no one even acknowledges it's significance.

The saddest sign to see every single day.

Elmo learns his lesson (finally!) and then returns back in time with Superman to stop himself from ever receiving the snow globe in the first place.  Instead, he settles for the greatest gift of all, a moo-bunny.

Not to be confused with a "cabbit."

This special stands out above the other post-Henson fare because it deals with a topic that many children can relate to at Christmas time.  We build it up to be such a magical day that, for over-indulgent children, they do not understand the reason we cannot have it all the time.  This show teaches the concepts of "forever" and  "special" in a way that few other children shows have tackled.  To a child, it would be great to eat chocolate for every meal or watch television all day long or only have recess instead of classes.  Moderation is foreign to them.  So to see Elmo go through the journey with such resistance to accept the horrors around him, it can be very eye-opening to a young child.

I quite enjoyed the small touches this episode had (that were not present in the Sesame Street special I covered earlier this week).  Even though this was very much Elmo's story, he took a backseat as he observed the trials of all other characters.  This allowed the ensemble to work cohesively, rather than all focused on one objective.

My favorite moments include:

- Bob leading the carolers in the song "It's Christmas Again" every single day.  I loved how the song evolved from a joyous romp into a monotonous routine with new lyrics for each day.

- Big Bird's story about being unexpectedly torn away from his best friend, especially him writing the same letter every day ("Dear Snuffy, I miss you.  Your best friend, Big Bird") and the letters piling up by his nest because the mail isn't picked up on Christmas.

- The Count's Christmas outfit:

- Bert and Ernie responding to George Bailey talking to Bert and Ernie in It's a Wonderful Life (which plays nonstop on every television set).

- And Oscar wallowing in everyone's misery throughout the year.  On the final Christmas, when Elmo says he was planning on using his final wish for rollerblades but decides instead to wish for one Christmas a year again, Oscar butts in, "No! Go for the rollerblades!"  That's the Christmas-hating grouch we love.

Yes, this was truly a Christmas special that felt like a Jim Henson production.  Even though he was not around to oversee it, it manages to keep his spirit alive with its sharp wit, catchy songs, and a thoughtful message to all viewers.  Christmas is special.  We can keep it's spirit alive all throughout the year.  But a little bit can go a long way.  If we got everything we wished for, there would be no more motivation in life.  Sometimes it is what you rarely experience that makes you appreciate the moments in between.

That was great!  Same time next year?

Must-Have Monstrosity

Black Friday has descended upon us.  While most of you are fighting crowds, attempting to get as much merchandise as you can grab while the sales last, let us not forget the individual who was born on this day to spread joy and peace throughout the world.  Although he brought messages of peace, wars have been fought over him and people have been critically injured.  I speak, of course, of Tickle Me Elmo.

Consumerism Incarnate

While the toy itself lacks any complexities (you touch or "tickle" it three times to send it into a vibrating laughing frenzy), this plush inexplicably became the hottest selling item of 1996.  Many people view Sesame Street as consisting of two time periods: the Classic Era and the Elmo Era.  This toy is what sparked the turning point.

Prior to that fateful Black Friday in 1996, Elmo had been mostly a background Muppet on the street.  When Kevin Clash picked him up after another puppeteer tossed him aside, he provided the small monster with a baby-like voice and a three-year-old's speech pattern.  He became very endearing and started to be used more and more.  Eventually he got has much screen time as any of the other characters, but the show was still and ensemble piece with Big Bird being the undisputed "star" of the show.  But, as with any work of fiction, the audience tends to have their favorite characters.

I recall a girl in my elementary school who was obsessed with Elmo.  It was quite bizarre because by second grade, most of us had moved on from Sesame Street and this girl in particular was very tomboyish and forceful.  But at the mention of Elmo, her knees would weaken and her heart would soften.  There was no denying that the furry red monster had a powerful effect on us.

Elmo had another huge fan, though.  One who had status and power and a daytime talk show with millions of viewers at her disposal.  I speak, of course, of Rosie O'Donnell.

The Queen of Daytime Television?

Rosie would frequently have Elmo on as a guest and was not shy about expressing her love for the puppet.  TYCO inventor Ron Dubren had spent years working on a ticklish doll using a device that would later be used to make cell phones vibrate.  He had originally planned on making a Tickle Me Tasmanian Devil, but TYCO lost their arrangement with the Looney Tunes franchise and so he decided that this young monster would be a fine candidate.  The toy was made in July and Rosie O'Donnell received one of the first ones.  She featured in on her show constantly, and by October, her staff received hundreds to give as gifts to the audience.  This was just the boost the toy needed, so, on that fateful Black Friday, history was changed.

Originally, 400,000 dolls had been expected to be sold throughout the season and they were all gone by the third hour of Black Friday.  This $29 dollar toy started appearing on the black market and other sources where people were known to pay hundreds of dollars for them.  The demand was so high that high-end jeweler Cartier placed one in their store window on Fifth Avenue wearing a diamond necklace and bracelet (a combined value of $1 million) and promised customers that if they purchased the displayed jewelry, Elmo would come with it for free.

It's nice, but does it come on a monster from a kids show?

In the following years, variations on the Elmo doll have been released, incorporating other characters and scenarios, but none have reached the heights of success of that original stuffed toy.  What was it about Tickle Me Elmo that made the whole world crazy one year?  Yes, Black Friday has evolved into a madhouse, a frenzy to satisfy our consumerism and greed, and a chance to see some bloodshed at the mall.  But is it all necessary?  Surely these store-goers were rational people who understand that this toy is not worth over $500.  Yet that is what many people paid for it.  Logic is no match for mob mentality.

Whatever the case may be, I find it fitting that the de-facto mascot of Black Friday represents what each and every one of us become during the holiday season: a self-indulgent monster.

Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! That tickles!