This morning, after months of hype created by Fisher-Price and ignored by mostly everyone else in the world, the newest incarnation of Tickle Me Elmo was unveiled. Called TMX (the X stands for "extreme" and also "excessive marketing of a plush Sesame Street toy"), the new Elmo doesn't simply laugh and shake when tickled; he raises his hand in a sort of "heil Hitler" pose before dropping to the ground and convulsing into laughing fits that suggest lil' Elmo's more pickled than tickled. (Maybe he's been sneaking into Cookie Monster's "special" brownies.) I have to admit, it's pretty freaking cute if you can look past the whole Hitler thing.
I grew up in an age before Elmo, when Sesame Street Muppets were a little more edgy, a little less fire-engine red. And I wouldn't know what to do with a Tickle Me Elmo. Tickle it? Sure. But after that? My morals (and my part-time gig writing about the toy industry) prevent me from hoarding toys and reselling them on ebay. (That, and I'm too freaking lazy to box it up and go to the post office.) The cat would get a kick out of it, but his favorite toy right now is a bottle of bubbles I bought for $.50. He doesn't need Elmo. But I have to admit: I want one. The marketing worked. Even before seeing TMX, when my only connection to the holiday season's self-proclaimed "must-have" toy was a countdown clock in the Jersey City Target, I had to have one. I felt like if I didn't, I'd be missing out on Wonka's golden ticket, a limited-edition Gone With the Wind collector's plate from the Franklin Mint, and the last dose of Cipro during an Anthrax breakout all rolled into one.
Then I remembered. I have two nieces. They're 1 and 4! Surely my tuned-in, SUV-driving, suburban sister would be the first in line to bring Elmo home, where he'd be tickled and loved and eventually covered in Cheerios and toddler slobber. Feeling relieved that Jenn would step up for the family, I called her.
ME: So, are you getting TMX today?
Jenn: Am I getting what?
ME: TMX. It's the tenth anniversary edition of Tickle Me Elmo.
Jenn: Oh, is that what that is? I saw ads for it for the past few weeks but I had no idea what they were talking about.
ME: Well, are you going to get one for the kids?
Jenn: I wasn't planning on it. Should I? What does it do?
ME: It laughs. It falls down. IT's like the old Tickle Me Elmo, but it does more. And according to the advertisements, you NEED this toy. I can't guarantee that your children will get into the college of their choice without a Tickle Me Elmo.
Jenn: How much does it cost?
ME: $40.
Jenn: WHAT? There's no way in H-E-L-L I'm spending $40 on an Elmo.
ME: Well, there's a Tickle Me Elmo Barbie Doll. She's dressed in Elmo gear. It's only $20.
Jenn: We don't need that either.
ME: Believe the hype! Get Elmo while it's here, or you'll wind up in a back alley at three in the morning on a cold day in November haggling with a pimp named Squiggy who has what he claims to be the last TMX in all of New Jersey, and also thirty grams of cocaine and access to old Soviet missile launch codes!
Jenn: I have to go. (click)
Maybe Elmo and I were just not meant to be together. Or maybe I went to the wrong source. Excuse me. I need to call Mom.
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10 comments:
I have to admit that I am crazy about Elmo. Though I was 16 when the First Tickle Me Elmo version came out, my mom bought me one. How can you not love him? He's so cute!
I have no intention of buying the latest version, but the video of him laughing did make me giggle.
And then you had to go and point out the whole "Heil Hitler" pose and ruined it for me. I'll never look at Elmo the same way again. Thanks a lot. : )
Here from Michele.
Michele sent me, Carli, and you've already commented on my blog. I'm being very slow here.
When I grew up I was in a rural area that didn't have PBS so I never saw Sesame Street and thus avoided all that marketing--and there weren't any stores around anyway.
I thin I'd be more like Jen and avoid the marketing efforts of the toy companies but then again, it's easy to say that when you don't have kids.
As for the "Heil Hitler" thing, Carli--I don't see it. But my interpretation might be worse. When his arm is jiggling down below it looks like he's... well, you know! And then the falling down thing looks like an epileptic fit, no doubt brought about by the end result of the arm jiggling. Maybe it's a subliminal effort to stop masturbation, Carli?
I think he's cute. I was tempted when the toy came out. It's the giggle that does it. He's like the Winnie the Pooh of Sesame Street..
Michele sent me.
OMG! I ordered one on Amazon.com this morning! I LOVE IT! I had it sent to my grand baby who is going to be one this weekend. I even pitched in for the extra $20 so she will get it the day I arrive (Thursday). My grandbaby MUST have everything that is cool. TMX is the coolest, although I'm still gaga over Hokey Pokey Elmo. My nieces love to dance with Hokey Pokey Elmo. And have you guys seen Pablo, the singing Backyardigan toy? A real riot! I guess I'm a sucker for Sesame.
oh HELL NO!
I like Elmo. YOu can't help but smile when you see him.
Michele says hi.
really? MOM
I refuse to buy it on principle. My daughter would probably go ape-shit over it. That psycho-giggle-falling-over stuff is right up her alley. It's not the money - it's the hype. It's simply a resurrected toy with a HUGE marketing budget behind it and I won't buy into that.
Well, since said niece freaks out every time she sees the countdown clock (she has no clue what it is, but she thinks it is going to come and get her) I don't think I am likely to get her anything that comes in a box looking like the clock. And I went and watched the video - for $40, shouldn't BOTH arms move? Besides, somewhere around here we have a bouncing tigger and a hokey pokey elmo, as well as a cookie monster that does the chicken dance, and I think that is enough for now...Oh, and did I mention we have a talking and humming Elmo with a binky???? But, alas, there will be no $40 TMX...
This is what happens when formerly-cute muppets get hooked on drugs and go off the deep end.
I still can't get the original TME soundtrack out of my head. It's as if he's burrowed his way into m psyche and refuses to leave.
Still, I'd get one if my wife would let me :)
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