Changes: Elmo Saves Christmas (special)

Revision as of 18:59, 13 December 2014

1996-scarf-elmo-saves-xmas — Kermit's News Flash report on the Christmas shopping craze.

Elmo Saves Christmas is a Sesame Street Christmas special which originally aired on PBS in 1996, and was released to VHS that same year. It was released on DVD in 1997.

Plot

Everyone on Sesame Street is preparing for the holidays on Christmas Eve. Elmo plans to stay up all night on Christmas Eve to see Santa Claus descend from the chimney. He falls asleep, but is awakened when Santa is stuck. Elmo nobly pulls Santa out, where they discern the cause of the extra mass -- a stowaway reindeer-in-training named Lightning. In gratitude, Santa offers Elmo a gift: a pink bear, or a magical snowglobe. He wants the pink bear at first, but then chooses the latter when Santa mentions the snowglobe will grant him three wishes, and Lightning recommends it. To test it, Elmo uses his first wish to obtain a glass of water. Santa tells him he could wish for anything, but to not waste the other wishes.

On Christmas Day, the excitement, joy, and happiness everyone experiences inspires Elmo, and he wishes that it could be Christmas every day. At first, everyone is thrilled about it being Christmas again, thanks to a news report given by Kermit the Frog. Elmo thinks it's a wonderful wish, but Santa thinks otherwise and returns to convince Elmo otherwise, he gives Lightning to him and instructs them to visit the future and see how Christmas every day is not a great idea. Elmo sees Big Bird mope over the fact that Snuffy is in Cincinnati, spending Christmas with his grandmother for a whole year, Maria and Luis get crabby over the Fix-It Shop being closed all year, everyone gets annoyed at It's a Wonderful Life always playing on television, and general unhappiness is evident. The elves, too, are annoyed at their continued work shift, and slack off on the job, producing a cow-bunny combination called the "Moo-Bunny". Other holidays, like Easter and Independence Day aren't as fun anymore either. Also, obviously, the only Sesame Street resident who isn't getting tired of Christmas every day is Oscar the Grouch. He loves to see all the broken toasters piled up by the Fix-It Shop, a whole lot of trash piled up by his trash can and that there's nothing on television but It's a Wonderful Life. He says it's a "bah, humbug" Christmas every day.

A year after that first fateful Christmas, the Fix-It Shop has gone out of business, Bob and the other singers have lost their voices from singing so much, Christmas trees are an endangered species, Big Bird is crying over missing Snuffy for a whole year, and even Santa is about to retire from his job. That's when Elmo realizes "if everyday was Christmas, there wouldn't be Christmas at all",

Guilty and realizing the wish was all his fault, he decides to use his third wish to undo his second [though it was originally for rollerblades], but he shakes the snowglobe so much that it flies from his hands and smashes into dust among hitting the ground before he can make the wish. All looks lost, and everyone else sadly leaves, until Elmo suggests that Lightning could fly him back in time to the Christmas Eve when it all started. He does and Elmo decides to pass on the snowglobe and take the pink bear, that is until Santa offers him the Moo-Bunny instead. Also proud of Lighting's part in helping Elmo, Santa offers to promote him so he may pull the sleigh with the other reindeer. The next morning, Big Bird is standing near the Fix-it-Shop alone and sad but is brightened up when he sees Snuffy, who tells him that instead of him going to Cincinnati to spend Christmas with his grandmother, she came to Sesame Street. They join the others in the arbor around the big Christmas tree to sing "Keep Christmas With You All Through the Year".

Songs

Video releases

International releases

Characters

Muppets:

Elmo, Lightning, Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Telly Monster, Baby Bear, Zoe, Grover, Mr. Johnson, Count von Count, Cookie Monster, Kermit the Frog, Elves, Rosita, Humphrey, Baby Natasha, Benny Rabbit.

Background Muppets:

Ernie, Bert, Grundgetta, Herry Monster, Prairie Dawn, Forgetful Jones, Ingrid, Penguins, Sherry Netherland, Honker, Anything Muppets.

Humans:

Bob, Maria, Luis, Gina, Gabi, Gordon, Mr. Handford, Carlo

Cast

Muppet Performers

Kevin Clash as Elmo
Caroll Spinney as Big Bird and Oscar

Also Starring

Sonia Manzano as Maria
Emilio Delgado as Luis
Bob McGrath as Bob
Alison Bartlett-O'Reilly as Gina
Roscoe Orman as Gordon
David Smyrl as Mr. Handford
Carlo Alban as Carlo

With Special Guest Stars

Child Talent

Desiree Casado (Gabi)
Mara Feinstein
Noemi Hernandez
Andrew Mackasek
Theresa Sophia Rivera

Credits

Executive Producer: Nancy Kanter
Written by: Christine Ferraro and Tony Geiss
Directed by: Emily Squires
Produced by: Karin Young Shiel
Puppet Captain: Kevin Clash
Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop: Ed Christie, Mark Zeszotek, Lara MacLean, Stephen Rotondaro, Carlo Yannuzzi
Production Designer/Second Unit Director: Victor DiNapoli
Costume Designers: Bill Kellard, Terry Roberson
Associate Director: Ken Diego
Music Director: Dick Lieb
Associate Music Director: Dave Conner
Music Coordinator: Danny Epstein
Talent Coordinator: Danette DeSena
Animation: Paladino Design
Art Director: Bob Phillips
Set Decorator: Nat Mongioi
Graphic Designers: Mike Pantuso, Pete Ortiz
Control Room PA: Carol-Lynn Parente
Camera: Frank Biondo, Mark Whitman, Patrick Minietta
Audio: Blake Norton, Carla Bandini-Lory
Music and Lyrics by: Tony Geiss
Executive In Charge Of Production For Sony Wonder: Becky Mancuso-Winding
Taped at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Title.elmosavesxmas.jpg|frame]]
+[[File:ESCKeep.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 [[File:Character.lightning.jpg|thumb|300px|Lightning.]]
+[[File:1996-scarf-elmo-saves-xmas.png|thumb|300px|Kermit's News Flash report on the Christmas shopping craze.]]
-'''''Elmo Saves Christmas''''' originally aired on [[PBS]] in [[1996]], and was released to VHS that same year. It was released on DVD in 1997.
+'''''Elmo Saves Christmas''''' is a ''[[Sesame Street]]'' Christmas special which originally aired on [[PBS]] in [[1996]], and was released to VHS that same year. It was released on DVD in 1997.
 ==Plot==
-Elmo tries to wait up on Christmas to see [[Santa Claus]] descend from the chimney. He falls asleep, but is awakened when Santa is stuck. Elmo nobly pulls Santa out, where they discern the cause of the extra weight -- a stowaway reindeer named [[Lightning]]. In gratitude, Santa offers Elmo a gift: a pink bear, or a magical snowglobe that will grant three wishes. He wants the pink bear, but then chooses the latter when Lightning recommends it, and uses his first wish to obtain a glass of water. Santa tells him he could've wished for anything, and to not waste the other wishes.
+Everyone on [[Sesame Street (location)|Sesame Street]] is preparing for the holidays on Christmas Eve. Elmo plans to stay up all night on Christmas Eve to see [[Santa Claus]] descend from the chimney. He falls asleep, but is awakened when Santa is stuck. Elmo nobly pulls Santa out, where they discern the cause of the extra mass -- a stowaway reindeer-in-training named [[Lightning]]. In gratitude, Santa offers Elmo a gift: a pink bear, or a magical snowglobe. He wants the pink bear at first, but then chooses the latter when Santa mentions the snowglobe will grant him three wishes, and Lightning recommends it. To test it, Elmo uses his first wish to obtain a glass of water. Santa tells him he could wish for anything, but to not waste the other wishes.
-On Christmas Day, Elmo wishes that it could be Christmas every day. Santa tries to talk him out of this, but he refuses. At first, everyone is thrilled about it being Christmas again, thanks to a [[Sesame Street News Flash|news report]] given by [[Kermit the Frog]]. Elmo thinks it's a wonderful wish, until Santa gives Lightning to him and instructs them to [[Time travel|visit the future]] and see how Christmas every day is not a great idea. Elmo sees [[Big Bird]] mope over the fact that [[Mr. Snuffleupagus|Snuffy]] is in Cincinnati, spending Christmas with his grandmother for a whole year, Maria and Luis get crabby over [[The Fix-It Shop|the Fix-It Shop]] being closed all year, everyone get annoyed at ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' always playing on TV, and general unhappiness is evident. The elves, too, are annoyed at their continued work shift, and slack off on the job, producing a cow-bunny combination called the "[[Moo-Bunny]]". [[Easter]] and Independence Day aren't as fun anymore either. Also, obviously, the only [[Sesame Street (location)|Sesame Street]] resident who isn't getting tired of Christmas every day is [[Oscar the Grouch]]. He loves to see all the broken toasters piled up by the Fix-It Shop, a whole lot of trash piled up by [[Oscar's trash can|his trash can]] and that there's nothing on TV but It's a Wonderful Life. He says it's a "bah, humbug" Christmas every day.
+On Christmas Day, the excitement, joy, and happiness everyone experiences inspires Elmo, and he wishes that it could be Christmas every day. At first, everyone is thrilled about it being Christmas again, thanks to a [[Sesame Street News Flash|news report]] given by [[Kermit the Frog]]. Elmo thinks it's a wonderful wish, but Santa thinks otherwise and returns to convince Elmo otherwise, he gives Lightning to him and instructs them to [[Time travel|visit the future]] and see how Christmas every day is not a great idea. Elmo sees [[Big Bird]] mope over the fact that [[Mr. Snuffleupagus|Snuffy]] is in Cincinnati, spending Christmas with his grandmother for a whole year, Maria and Luis get crabby over [[The Fix-It Shop|the Fix-It Shop]] being closed all year, everyone gets annoyed at ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' always playing on television, and general unhappiness is evident. The elves, too, are annoyed at their continued work shift, and slack off on the job, producing a cow-bunny combination called the "[[Moo-Bunny]]". Other holidays, like [[Easter]] and Independence Day aren't as fun anymore either. Also, obviously, the only Sesame Street resident who isn't getting tired of Christmas every day is [[Oscar the Grouch]]. He loves to see all the broken toasters piled up by the Fix-It Shop, a whole lot of trash piled up by [[Oscar's trash can|his trash can]] and that there's nothing on television but ''It's a Wonderful Life''. He says it's a "bah, humbug" Christmas every day.
+A year after that first fateful Christmas, the Fix-It Shop has gone out of business, Bob and the other singers have lost their voices from singing so much, Christmas trees are an endangered species, Big Bird is crying over missing Snuffy for a whole year, and even Santa is about to retire from his job. That's when Elmo realizes "if everyday was Christmas, there wouldn't be Christmas at all",
-A year after that first fateful Christmas, the Fix-It Shop has gone out of business, Christmas trees are an endangered species, and even Santa is about to retire from his job. Elmo decides to use his third wish to undo his second, but he shakes the snowglobe so much that it flies from his hands and smashes to the ground before he can make the wish. All looks lost, until Elmo suggests that Lightning could fly him back in time to the Christmas Eve when it all started. He does and Elmo decides to pass on the snowglobe, and winds up with the Moo-Bunny. The next morning Big Bird is standing near the Fix-it-Shop alone and sad but is brightened up when he sees Snuffy who tells him that instead of him going to Cincinnati to spend Christmas with his granny she came to Sesame Street. They join the others in the arbor around the big Christmas Tree to sing "[[Keep Christmas With You (All Through the Year)|Keep Christmas With You All Through the Year]]".
+Guilty and realizing the wish was all his fault, he decides to use his third wish to undo his second [though it was originally for rollerblades], but he shakes the snowglobe so much that it flies from his hands and smashes into dust among hitting the ground before he can make the wish. All looks lost, and everyone else sadly leaves, until Elmo suggests that Lightning could fly him back in time to the Christmas Eve when it all started. He does and Elmo decides to pass on the snowglobe and take the pink bear, that is until Santa offers him the Moo-Bunny instead. Also proud of Lighting's part in helping Elmo, Santa offers to promote him so he may pull the sleigh with the other reindeer. The next morning, Big Bird is standing near the Fix-it-Shop alone and sad but is brightened up when he sees Snuffy, who tells him that instead of him going to Cincinnati to spend Christmas with his grandmother, she came to Sesame Street. They join the others in the arbor around the big Christmas tree to sing "[[Keep Christmas With You (All Through the Year)|Keep Christmas With You All Through the Year]]".
 ==Songs==
-*''[[It's Christmas Again]]''
+*[[It's Christmas Again]]
-*''[[Every Day Can't Be Christmas]]''
+*[[Every Day Can't Be Christmas]]
-*''[[Give Your Friend An Easter Egg For Christmas]]''
+*[[Give Your Friend an Easter Egg for Christmas]]
-*''[[All I Want for Christmas Is You]]''
+*[[All I Want for Christmas Is You]]
-*''[[Keep Christmas with You (All Through the Year)]]''
+*[[Keep Christmas with You (All Through the Year)]]
 ==Video releases==
@@ Line 26: / Line 30: @@
 ==International releases==
+<gallery captionalign="left" widths="200" spacing="small" bordersize="none">
-<gallery>
-Image:Elmoredtkerst.jpg|{{GNH|Netherlands}}
+Image:Elmoredtkerst.jpg|{{GNH|[[Netherlands]]}}
+Image:Elmosaveschristmasasianvcd.jpg|{{GNH|Asia (VCD)}}cat. no 615493
-Image:Elmo_Saves_Christmas_DVD_Japan.jpg|{{GNH|Japan}}2008<br>[[Columbia Music Entertainment]]<br>COBC-4777
-Image:Elmosaveschristmas-disney.jpg|{{GNH|United Kingdom (VHS)}}1997<br>Walt Disney Home Video
+Image:Elmosaveschristmas-disney.jpg|{{GNH|[[United Kingdom]] (VHS)}}1997<br>Walt Disney Home Video
+Image:Asesamestreetchristmascarolelmosaveschristmas.jpg|{{GNH|United Kingdom (DVD)}}2008<br>Abbey Home Media<br>{{asin|B001BX3L9C}}
+Image:Barrio Sesamo Elmo Salva La Navidad-Caratula.jpg|{{GNH|[[Spain]] (DVD)}}2003<br>Planeta Junior
+Image:Barriosesamoelmosaveschristmasdvd.jpg|{{GNH|Spain (DVD)}}2008<br>Planeta Junior
+Image:Elmo_Saves_Christmas_DVD_Japan.jpg|{{GNH|[[Japan]]}}2008<br>[[Columbia Music Entertainment]]<br>COBC-4777
+Image:Elmosaveschristmasaustraliandvd.png|{{GNH|[[Australia]] (DVD)}}2008<br>Madman Entertainment<br>SES1026
+Image:Christmasonsesamestreetaustraliandvd.png|{{GNH|Australia (DVD)}}2009<br>Madman Entertainment<br>Part of the ''Christmas on Sesame Street'' DVD boxset, along with ''[[Christmas Eve on Sesame Street]]'' and ''[[Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!]]''.<br>SES103
+Image:Elmosaveschristmasvilasesamodoublefeaturedvd.jpg|{{GNH|[[Brazil]] (DVD)}}2010<br>ST2 Video<br>cat. no 21663719
+Image:Elmosaveschristmasvilasesamodvd.gif|{{GNH|Brazil (DVD)}}cat. no 114186
+Image:Sesamstraße-ElmoRettetWeihnachten-(DVD-2013).jpg|{{GNH|[[Germany]] (DVD)}}2013 (2012 dub)
 </gallery>
-==Credits==
+==Characters==
+'''Muppets:'''
-'''Producer:''' [[Karin Young Shiel]]
+:[[Elmo]], [[Lightning]], [[Oscar the Grouch]], [[Big Bird]], [[Mr. Snuffleupagus]], [[Telly Monster]], [[Baby Bear]], [[Zoe]], [[Grover]], [[Mr. Johnson]], [[Count von Count]], [[Cookie Monster]], [[Kermit the Frog]], [[Elves]], [[Rosita]], [[Humphrey]], [[Baby Natasha]], [[Benny Rabbit]].
+'''Background Muppets:'''
-'''Writers:''' [[Christine Ferraro]] and [[Tony Geiss]]
+:[[Ernie]], [[Bert]], [[Grundgetta]], [[Herry Monster]], [[Prairie Dawn]], [[Forgetful Jones]], [[Ingrid]], [[Penguins]], [[Sherry Netherland]], [[Honkers|Honker]], [[Anything Muppets]].
-'''Director:''' [[Emily Squires]]
+'''Humans:'''
+:[[Bob]], [[Maria]], [[Luis]], [[Gina]], [[Gabi]], [[Gordon]], [[Mr. Handford]], [[Carlo]]
-'''Guest Stars:''' [[Maya Angelou]], [[Charles Durning]] and [[Harvey Fierstein]]
 ==Cast==
+'''[[:Category:Muppet Performers|Muppet Performers]]'''
-'''Muppets:''' [[Elmo]], [[Lightning]], [[Oscar the Grouch]], [[Big Bird]], [[Mr. Snuffleupagus]], [[Telly Monster]], [[Baby Bear]], [[Zoe]], [[Grover]], [[Mr. Johnson]], [[Count von Count]], [[Cookie Monster]], [[Kermit the Frog]], [[Elves]], [[Rosita]], [[Humphrey]], [[Baby Natasha]], and [[Benny Rabbit]].
+*[[Kevin Clash]] as Elmo
+*[[Caroll Spinney]] as Big Bird and Oscar
+{|width="100%"
-'''Background Muppets:''' [[Ernie]] [[Bert]], [[Grundgetta]], [[Herry Monster]], [[Prairie Dawn]], [[Forgetful Jones]], [[Ingrid]], [[Penguins]], and [[Anything Muppets]].
+|valign="top" width="33%"|
+*[[Frank Oz]]
+*[[Jerry Nelson]]
+*[[Martin P. Robinson]]
+*[[Fran Brill]]
+*[[David Rudman]]
+*[[Joey Mazzarino]]
+*[[Carmen Osbahr]]
+*[[Pam Arciero]]
+|valign="top" width="33%"|
-'''Humans:''' [[Bob]], [[Maria]], [[Luis]], [[Gina]], [[Gabi]], [[Gordon]], [[Mr. Handford]], [[Carlo]], and [[14 Karat Soul]].
+*[[Peter Linz]]
+*[[Noel MacNeal]]
+*[[Jim Martin]]
+*[[Alice Dinnean]]
+*[[Bryant Young]]
+*[[John Tartaglia]]
+*[[Matt Vogel]]
+*[[Steve Whitmire]]
+|}
+'''[[:category:Sesame Street Cast|Also Starring]]'''
-'''Muppet Performers:''' [[Kevin Clash]], [[Caroll Spinney]], [[Frank Oz]], [[Jerry Nelson]], [[Fran Brill]], [[Martin Robinson]], [[Joey Mazzarino]], [[David Rudman]], [[Steve Whitmire]], [[David Rudman]], [[Carmen Osbahr]], [[Pam Arciero]], [[Peter Linz]], [[Noel MacNeal]], [[Jim Martin]], [[Alice Dinnean]], [[Bryant Young]], [[John Tartaglia]], and [[Matt Vogel]].
+*[[Sonia Manzano]] as Maria
+*[[Emilio Delgado]] as Luis
+*[[Bob McGrath]] as Bob
+*[[Alison Bartlett|Alison Bartlett-O'Reilly]] as Gina
+*[[Roscoe Orman]] as Gordon
+*[[David Smyrl]] as Mr. Handford
+*[[Carlo Alban]] as Carlo
+'''With Special Guest Stars'''
+*[[Maya Angelou]]
+*[[Charles Durning]] ([[Santa Claus]])
+*[[Harvey Fierstein]] ([[Easter Bunny|The Easter Bunny]])
+*[[14 Karat Soul]]
+'''[[The Kids|Child Talent]]'''
+*[[Desiree Casado]] (Gabi)
+*Mara Feinstein
+*Noemi Hernandez
+*Andrew Mackasek
+*Theresa Sophia Rivera
+==Credits==
+*'''Executive Producer:''' [[Nancy Kanter]]
+*'''Written by:''' [[Christine Ferraro]] and [[Tony Geiss]]
+*'''Directed by:''' [[Emily Squires]]
+*'''Produced by:''' [[Karin Young Shiel]]
+*'''Puppet Captain:''' [[Kevin Clash]]
+*'''[[The Muppet Workshop|Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop]]:''' [[Ed Christie]], [[Mark Zeszotek]], [[Lara MacLean]], [[Stephen Rotondaro]], [[Carlo Yannuzzi]]
+*'''Production Designer/Second Unit Director:''' [[Victor DiNapoli]]
+*'''Costume Designers:''' [[Bill Kellard]], Terry Roberson
+*'''Associate Director:''' [[Ken Diego]]
+*'''Music Director:''' [[Dick Lieb]]
+*'''Associate Music Director:''' [[Dave Conner]]
+*'''Music Coordinator:''' [[Danny Epstein]]
+*'''Talent Coordinator:''' Danette DeSena
+*'''Animation:''' Paladino Design
+*'''Art Director:''' Bob Phillips
+*'''Set Decorator:''' [[Nat Mongioi]]
+*'''Graphic Designers:''' [[Mike Pantuso]], Pete Ortiz
+*'''Control Room PA:''' [[Carol-Lynn Parente]]
+*'''Camera:''' [[Frank Biondo]], Mark Whitman, Patrick Minietta
+*'''Audio:''' [[Blake Norton]], Carla Bandini-Lory
+*'''Music and Lyrics by:''' Tony Geiss
+*'''Executive In Charge Of Production For Sony Wonder:''' Becky Mancuso-Winding
+* Taped at [[Kaufman Astoria Studios]] in New York
 [[Category:Sesame Street Specials]]
 [[Category:Christmas Productions]]

Muppet Wiki