Release Date | 1999 (VHS) 2001 (DVD) |
Produced by | Sony Wonder |
Region | 1 |
Kids' Favorite Songs is a 1999 Sesame Street direct-to-video special.
Elmo is trying to make a Top Ten Countdown list for the radio station, but everyone keeps trying to share their favorite song with him. Meanwhile, Telly can't decide on his favorite song -- is it "The Alphabet Song," "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," or "Baa Baa Black Sheep"?
Segments
Image | Segment | Description |
---|---|---|
FRAME 1 | In the yard, Gordon, Miles, and a Honker fix up a bicycle while listening to the radio, which plays "Old MacDonald" (in the style of Bob Dylan). Train conductor Zoe sings along to the next song "I've Been Working on the Railroad" and is joined by Gordon and Miles. DJ Jackman Wolf teases "Elmo's Top 10 Countdown" to come later. Gordon explains to Zoe what a "top 10 countdown" means, deducing that Elmo will pick his ten favorite songs and count them down from 10 to 1. | |
Animation | Ten masked dancers are counted. Artist: Karen Aqua (First: Episode 3079) (ending cuts off before zero) "Beginning edited." | |
FRAME 2 | Elmo practices counting backward for his countdown but is stopped by The Count, who offers a special song that he hopes will be picked to play on the radio. Aided by four bats, the Count and Elmo sing "This Old Bat." The Count wants to keep singing, but Elmo declines so he can continue practicing. | |
FRAME 2 cont'd | Elmo passes by Telly Monster, who's having trouble deciding which of his favorite songs he should choose for the radio countdown. He first sings "The Alphabet Song," backed by a letter A and Z. | |
FRAME 2 cont'd | As Elmo continues to practice counting backward, Snuffy comes by (wearing a sailor's outfit) to present his favorite song "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." Elmo sings along with Snuffy and climbs on Snuffy's back for a pretend boat ride. | |
Animation | Ocean countdown 10-1 (First: Episode 2848) (ending cuts off before zero) | |
FRAME 3 | Telly, still indecisive about his favorite song, sings "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" over a nighttime backdrop (resembling Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night" painting) and is accompanied by a sparkling Muppet star. | |
FRAME 3 cont'd | Elmo wants to practice counting in peace, so he finds a quiet place behind some crates. However, his counting is soon interrupted by Prairie Dawn, leading a parade of kids in singing "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt." Elmo joins in, even though he initially has trouble saying the name. Elmo then sings the song again with different lyrics to help him count backward. | |
FRAME 3 cont'd | Telly sings "Baa Baa Black Sheep" with a group of lambs but is still unsure which song is his favorite. | |
FRAME 3 cont'd | Elmo is invited to Big Bird's nest to practice counting, not knowing that Big Bird and the Birdketeers also have a favorite song they want him to play for the countdown. They proceed to sing "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" for Elmo. | |
FRAME 3 cont'd | Elmo is exhausted from singing and decides to briefly take a nap. The Oinker Sisters appear in Elmo's dream, performing "This Little Piggy." | |
FRAME 3 cont'd | Gordon and Miles wake Elmo up for his countdown and ask which songs he'll be playing on the radio. Elmo reveals that his countdown will only be him counting from 10 to 1, which is why he needed to practice. Elmo leaves just before Telly arrives, announcing that he's finally chosen his favorite song. | |
Cartoon | Number factory 1-10 (First: Episode 2541) (ending cuts off before zero) | |
FRAME 4 | Everyone is gathered in the yard, and Telly performs his favorite song: "The Alpha Baa Baa Twinkle Song" which combines all three songs. The others enjoy Telly's song and sing a reprise. Then, they all tune in to "Elmo's Top 10 Countdown" on the radio. Elmo carefully counts down from 10 to 1 and receives applause from his friends. Jackman Wolf calls Elmo's counting "phenomenal," even "so cool." |
DVD chapters
- Previews
- "I've Been Working on the Railroad"
- "This Old Bat"
- "The Alphabet Song"
- "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"
- "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
- "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt"
- "Baa Baa Black Sheep"
- "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain"
- "This Little Piggy"
- "The Alpha Baa Baa Twinkle Song" ("The Alphabet Song"/"Baa Baa Black Sheep"/"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star")
- End Credits
Releases
International releases
Notes
- While the video was released in 1999, Hooper's Store and the yard retain their original facades and the Around the Corner sets can even be glimpsed behind Big Bird's nest, indicating that the video was filmed prior to season 30. However, the Telly puppet introduced in season 30 is used in this video.
- Scenes from this video, including Telly's songs and "This Old Bat," have appeared as stand-alone Muppet segments in international co-productions, including Sesamstrasse.
- Sbarro released toys as promotion for the video's release.
Cast
- Starring Jim Henson's Sesame Street Muppets:
- Kevin Clash as Elmo
- Martin P. Robinson as Telly [sic]
(uncredited: Mr. Snuffleupagus) - and Caroll Spinney as Big Bird and Oscar [sic]
- with Muppet Performers: Jerry Nelson, Fran Brill, Pam Arciero, Bryant Young, John Tartaglia, John Kennedy, Eric Jacobson
- also starring: Roscoe Orman, Imani Patterson
- Child Talent: Patrick Duffy, Eliana Martinez, Shaunice Mudahy, Presley Rodriguez, Marquis Scott, Shanee Sennon, Annie Lee Shiel, Amy Tai, Billy Tharp, Brenden Winkfield
Credits
- Executive Producer: Nancy Kanter
- Producer: Ginger Brown
- Written by Nancy Sans
- Directed by Ken Diego
- Music & Vocals Directed by Alan Silverman
- Songs Arranged by Charlie Brissette, Jordan Kaplan, Norman Henry Mamey, Ed Mitchell, Liz Queller, Steve Skinner
- Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop: Mark Zeszotek, Lara MacLean
- Production Designer: Bob Phillips
- Costume Designer: Bill Kellard
- Associate Director: Tim Carter
- Audio: Blake Norton
- Control Room P.A.: Carol-Lynn Parente
- Graphic Artist: Pete Ortiz
- Special Thanks to Amy Baroch, Elizabeth Brescia, Benedetta Campisi, Ellen Goldfader, Ted Green, Nan Halperin, Cheryl Henson, Wendy Moss, Jodi Nussbaum, John Phillips, Katrin van Dam
- Taped at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York
See also
- Kids' Favorite Songs, album
- Kids' Favorite Songs, toys
- Kids' Favorite Songs 2, sequel
- Kids' Favorite Country Songs, video