Elmo
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Elmo takes the spotlight in new YouTube series
Sesame Street's producers realize that kids these days are spending their days glued to devices other than their TVs. Its presence on YouTube has more than two million subscribers, and it recently launched Sesame Studios to test new ideas on web-savvy kids. But that doesn't mean that the regular Street channel is being neglected, since it's about to devote the next six months to making Elmo a YouTube star. The Sesame Workshop is launching the "Love to Learn" campaign that'll see the channel providing a series of themed videos between July and December. Each month will tackle a different topic, from Animals and Music through to Cooking and Kindness.
Sesame Street's executive producer on staying relevant after 46 years
Thanks to Netflix, Amazon and YouTube, the competition for kid's eyeballs is fiercer than ever, but that's not slowing down Sesame Street. Now in its 46th year, the show is making a bigger and bigger push into social media, with often hilarious (but secretly educational) results. I sat down with the show's Senior Vice President and Executive Producer, Carol Lynn-Parente, shortly after meeting my new best friend, Cookie Monster, to talk about the show's digital life and more.
Cookie Monster: The Engadget Interview
It'd be wrong to say that the cast of Sesame Street just discovered the internet. As it is, the show's characters have dozens of games and mobile apps, with a large video archive that goes at least as far back as "Me Lost Me Cookie At The Disco." It would seem, though, that someone over at the Sesame Workshop has been working to bring Big Bird and co. into the twenty-first century. For starters, Big Bird only just issued his first tweet ("tweet" -- get it?) last week. Meanwhile, PBS Kids just premiered Cookie Monster's first movie, The Cookie Thief, and, in an effort to promote it, also came up with this ingenious gif generator that basically lets Cookie take over your browser.
Elmo Live! gets stripped of his dignity, red fur
Heads-up: this post contains graphics unsuitable for viewing by not-yet-hardened 6 year olds. Now that you've read that (and hopefully shielded your youngin's innocent eyes from the image above), we're here to tell you that the unspeakable (though inevitable) has occurred. Yes, friends, dear Elmo Live!, which probably won't be seen selling for MSRP until January of 2009, has been splayed. Torn down. Stripped of every ounce of animality he had. All so that you could see what really makes this bizarre critter tick. You can tap the read link for more, but trust us, the worst is already staring you in the face.
Elmo Live! gets hands-on video review, which is as close as you'll get without eBay
The characters over at RobotsRule managed to snag one of the rare review units of the new Elmo Live!, and according to them, the standard order they placed last week has already been canceled by Toys R Us. In other words, this hands-on video review really may be as close as you get to this intelligent ball of fur without forking out wads of cash. Based on the four minutes we get to share with Fisher-Price's latest cash, um, cow, it's easy to see how crazy awesome this thing will seem to your youngster. He recognizes when he has fallen over and begs for help, he goes bonkers when you squeeze his nose and he tells stories and jokes while moving in a fashion that's more "lifelike" than ever. Heck, it even puts itself to sleep to save batteries should your youngin' get called away for chores. All that aside, the best part is Elmo's attempt to bust rhymes, scat and get your kid jumpin' -- seriously, check it out at the 1:15 mark after the break.[Via RobotsRule]
Elmo Live! on sale tomorrow for $59.99 (if you're lucky)
After the whole Tickle Me Elmo craze a few years back, you just knew Fisher-Price was going to ride this wave until it simply couldn't stay afloat any longer. Elmo Live!, hailed as the "most innovative and engaging Elmo toy ever," will officially hit store shelves tomorrow (October 14th) for $59.99, though we suspect the first batch will be snapped up in no time flat. Of course, those of you intent on retaining your sanity probably pre-ordered a few months back, but for everyone else, your battle to get one of this year's hottest holiday gifts starts in under 24 hours. For those wondering what's so special about this fellow, he supposedly tells jokes and makes movements that "give kids the feeling that Elmo is alive in their own homes." Whether that's really a good thing, however, is totally up to you.%Gallery-34362%
Elmo Live ready for pre-order by dutiful parents
Although it hits retail on Thursday, you might want to get your pre-order in now given the way these things tend to go scarce near the Xmas rush. We're talking about Elmo Live of course, the singing, dancing, and story telling robot with wobbly red limbs and interactive sensors scattered around the monster's face and ticklish belly. Available now for about $65 pre-tax at all the usual on-line shops for our tiniest consumers. We've dropped in the video after the break as a reminder of things to come.[Via I4U]Read -- AmazonRead -- Wal-martRead -- ToysRUs
When good toys go bad X: Elmo makes death threats to toddler
Sure, it seemed like after the years of hard drinking, petty crime, and run-ins with the law, Elmo had cleaned up his act -- but a shocking report out of Tampa Bay, Florida, says otherwise. A two-year-old's life has been turned upside down by vicious talk coming from his favorite toy, Elmo Knows Your Name. It seems that after a recent battery change, the PC-interfacing doll began spouting death threats of "kill James" at the toddler, with seemingly no explanation as to how the new phrase entered his vocabulary. The situation came to a head when the boy's mother heard her son repeating the twisted suggestion. Of course, what she didn't hear was Elmo's other threat: that he would "cut anyone who crossed [him] end-to-end with a Bowie knife," and, "dine on their internal organs." Fisher Price says it has a team of experts working on the case, and enough tranquilizer darts to put Elmo down, "For good."[Thanks, Jordan]Read - Toddler's Elmo Doll Makes Death Threats, Family SaysRead - Video of Elmo making death threats
Elmo Live breaks it down on video, seems too smart for his own good
We were warned that Elmo Live was pretty much a full-fledged robot, but we can't say we envisioned this. This critter sings, dances and does a decent job of freaking us out with his innate intelligence. Seriously, you've got to see it to believe it -- good thing the video's just one click away.
New Elmo Live can sit, stand and tell stories -- is in league with your three-year-old
If you hadn't noticed by now, Elmo is rapidly on his way from being a creepy laughing toy -- and annoyingly difficult to find during the holidays -- to being a full-fledged creepy robot... and even more difficult to find during the holidays. The new Elmo Live, which Fisher-Price is announcing at Toy Fair 2008 this week, can mouth his words like a real-live Muppet, and can sit, stand and gesture as he tells stories, jokes, sings and play games. Of course, we're sure you can still tickle him and set him on fire, but the depth of interaction Elmo Live brings should surely bring the creepiness factor to whole new levels. Which is why this is potentially the best toy ever. Hopefully you can re-program him to drop kick your Pleo. Elmo Live will be out on October 14th for $60.
Fisher-Price announces T.M.X. Elmo "eXtra Special Edition"
It looks like those in need of a new Elmo toy for one reason or another have a new model to put on their wish list this holiday season, as Fisher-Price has just announced the new and improved T.M.X. Elmo "eXtra Special Edition." This one apparently boasts all the "eXtreme" features of the regular T.M.X. Elmo, plus some "extra-special fun," including hidden surprises that can only be found if you "play, pose and tickle Elmo in the right sequence." If that sounds like the challenge you've been waiting for, you'll be able to pick one up on November 13th for the same $40 that the original version set you back.
Go ahead, just try tickling ElmoSapien
As you've probably already figured out, only one creation can emerge when you combine Elmo and Robosapien: ElmoSapien. This admittedly bizarre mishmash of toys combines WowWee's Robosapien RS Media and Sesame Street's famed Elmo (or his costume, at least) into one creature that somehow manages to look innocent and menacing simultaneously. 'Course, there's only so much a picture can show, so be sure and check out ElmoSapien's adventures on video after the jump for a hearty chuckle.
Speecys SPC-101C laughs, can never feel
We spotted the SPC-101C face-recognizing bot from Speecys a couple weeks ago, but what we didn't know is that under that cold hard exterior is the ability to emulate joy with cold hard precision. Check out the video after the break. We've included video of a laughing Elmo as well for creep-o comparison -- we don't think SPC-101C even comes close, but you're always entitled to your own opinion.[Thanks, Robert O]
T.M.X. Elmo gets his comeupance, laughs through the flames
To be honest, it didn't really take a video of T.M.X. Elmo being set on fire while laughing maniacally to give us nightmares about the fuzzy red doll, we find the pyro-free version to adequately creepy as well. Peep the video after the break, never have a restful night again.[Via Digg]
Nintendo Wii or Tickle Me Elmo?
We're not sure what's more disturbing, the fact that 50% of the people who look at the Wii on Amazon go on to buy TMX Tickle Me Elmo, or that a TMX Tickle Me Elmo even exists. It's been ten years since the first Tickle Me Elmo arrived in stores, hence the TMX (the x stands for ten) version. Is this one of the most telling stats about the audience the Wii is hitting? Admittedly, after watching the video for this guy it's hard not to want to get one, for the sheer horror value alone. This toy is going to make some kid psychotic later in life, and lead to a ton of therapy bills.He may be cute and cuddly, and laugh like someone stoned out of their mind, but at nearly $150 for a new one, he's laughing all the way to the bank. At least the other 50% buy Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which will only set you back $49.90. Link or laughter -- you make the call.
Record your xtreem exploits with Elmo's SUV-Cam
If one of your stoner friends is planning on emulating something they might see in Jackass 2, and they'd rather not have a camera involved that happens to be as fragile as their spine, you might want to recommend the new SUV-Cam from Elmo. Not only is the camera unit waterproof, but it snakes away from the recorder unit for easier positioning and extra durability. The recorder features a 2.2-inch LCD and stores vids via SD card, but only boasts two hours of battery life, so we suppose Elmo figures you'll either be dead or worn-out by you xtreem tasks before you use all the juice. The best news is that the camera features a 440,000 pixel CCD, and records 25fps at a 704 x 480 resolution, so you won't have to trade off as much quality as usual to bring your camera to the action. Unfortunately, the SUV-Cam has a price to match its feature set: ¥88,900, about $761 USD. The device should be available (in Japan) on September 29th, so start planning your nefarious deeds accordingly.[Via Digital World Tokyo]
