Kids TV Shows: Elmo’s World: Sesame Street’s Show-within-a-show
Kids who love the fuzzy, red, 3-year-old monster will be happiest at the 40-minute mark of their favorite TV show when their hero takes over the program.
The set is dominated by Elmo’s crayon drawings. This harkens back to the introduction of Elmo in the Eighties, when he was revealed to be the one who was making crayon graffiti all over Sesame Street.
If you watch Sesame Street’s 35th anniversary (an extended Elmo’s World about the show itself) you’ll notice that Elmo is seen drawing with crayons as he sings the Elmo’s World theme song. Thus, we learn that Elmo’s World consists of Elmo living in an imaginary world that he drew himself.
Elmo opens the show by welcoming viewers and introducing them to his goldfish, Dorothy. Then he asks, “Guess what Elmo’s thinking about today?”
His door opens to reveal the show’s topic: bikes, music, doctors, the sky âÂ?¦ any topic that would interest a preschooler.
From there, Elmo opens his window shade to explore the topic with Mr. Noodle, a mute clown played by Bill Irwin. Kristin Chenoweth sometimes pops up as Miss Noodle, and the late Michael Jeter portrayed “Mr. Noodle’s brother, Mr. Noodle.”
Throughout the show, Elmo interacts with the crayon-drawn objects in the room. Drawer opens to help him answer questions like, “What has feet, and what doesn’t have feet?” Computer appears to deliver a video e-mail from one of the usual Sesame Street Muppets like Ernie, Telly or Oscar the Grouch.
The highlight of the show is when Elmo asks “How can we find out more? HmmmâÂ?¦” This means Elmo is about to watch a TV show, so he turns on the Bird Channel or the Dancing Channel or whatever.
The TV cartoons feature Second City Television alumna Andrea Martin, who sings a goofy song about the topic of the day. Her cartoon alter ego is the Bug Lady or the Tree Lady or The Weather Lady. Martin’s over-the-top antics really punch up otherwise mundane songs like “The Chicken Dance” or “The Hokey Pokey.”
The end of the TV segment is usually good for a joke for the parents: “Coming up on the Getting Dressed Channel, “Shall We Pants?” starring Shirt Reynolds.”
The Elmo’s World segments wrap up with a personal visit from the day’s topic. “Wanna talk to a bicycle?” Bicycle asks as she enters Elmo’s World with her friend, Helmet. They fill in any remaining gaps that Elmo may not have covered. Helmet keeps repeating “Not without me!” to reinforce the idea that kids should always wear their helmets.
Other visitors to Elmo’s World include Top Banana, Big Foot, King Fish and groups of doctors, cowboys, birds, bugs and wild animals.
By the end of the episode, kids have learned a lot about the topic. The mini-show moves quickly between segments to keep kids from getting bored. The only drawback to Elmo’s World is for that group of parents who just cannot stand the Elmo and his constant, high-pitched giggling. If you’re in the anti-Elmo camp, it’s time to break out the iPod for 15 minutes. All in all, Elmo’s energy and desire to learn make Elmo’s World a good way to wrap up one of the best kids’ TV shows ever.
