Comments on: Being Elmo: documentary on Elmo's human http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:53:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: twency http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1230959 twency Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1230959 I dislike Elmo as a character, but I want to see this movie.  Seems like his creator/puppeteer is an awesome guy. Elmo to me represents an infantilization of Sesame Street which I find unpleasant.  I rewatch old clips from when I was a kid in the early 80s, and they seem so much richer than what the show would become.  But that's not Kevin's fault, he's just a guy who loves to perform and make kids happy;  he does it well, and I can't fault him for that. I dislike Elmo as a character, but I want to see this movie.  Seems like his creator/puppeteer is an awesome guy.

Elmo to me represents an infantilization of Sesame Street which I find unpleasant.  I rewatch old clips from when I was a kid in the early 80s, and they seem so much richer than what the show would become.  But that’s not Kevin’s fault, he’s just a guy who loves to perform and make kids happy;  he does it well, and I can’t fault him for that.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1230606 Brainspore Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1230606 <blockquote>…Elmo was always my least favorite muppet.  More of a Grover fan, I guess.</blockquote>I grew up with Grover too, but something about the combination of the red fur and the enthusiastic high-pitched voice is like crack for babies (friendly, educational crack that is). I have toddler twins and even though neither can say the other's name yet both can now say "Elmo!"

…Elmo was always my least favorite muppet.  More of a Grover fan, I guess.

I grew up with Grover too, but something about the combination of the red fur and the enthusiastic high-pitched voice is like crack for babies (friendly, educational crack that is). I have toddler twins and even though neither can say the other’s name yet both can now say “Elmo!”

]]> By: Thad Boyd http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1230387 Thad Boyd Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1230387 He was also Splinter in the first two Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies. (Makes sense given that Grover is Yoda, I suppose.) Saw a poster for this the other day; really looking forward to it.  I read Caroll Spinney's The Wisdom of Big Bird and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch a few years back and loved it; just a great bunch of people at every level on that show.  You know how sometimes you learn more about your childhood heroes and you're disappointed?  Sesame Street isn't like that; every single person is just as wonderful as they seem. He was also Splinter in the first two Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies.

(Makes sense given that Grover is Yoda, I suppose.)

Saw a poster for this the other day; really looking forward to it.  I read Caroll Spinney’s The Wisdom of Big Bird and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch a few years back and loved it; just a great bunch of people at every level on that show.  You know how sometimes you learn more about your childhood heroes and you’re disappointed?  Sesame Street isn’t like that; every single person is just as wonderful as they seem.

]]> By: relawson http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1230301 relawson Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1230301 A few years ago I saw something with Kevin Clash and that he was the voice of Elmo, for some reason it was hard for me to believe until I heard him talk in character. I can imitate a few voices myself so I don't know why it struck me as such. I too love surprises like that! A few years ago I saw something with Kevin Clash and that he was the voice of Elmo, for some reason it was hard for me to believe until I heard him talk in character. I can imitate a few voices myself so I don’t know why it struck me as such.

I too love surprises like that!

]]> By: unit_1421 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1230075 unit_1421 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1230075 I was an extra on Elmo in Grouch Land and Muppets from Space. Easiest money I've ever made and best time I ever had when I worked in film. I hung out with the guy who does Rizzo, he rules and is very cute. One night after we finished a shot on Muppets from Space the handler for Fozzy didn't notice when his hat fell off while taking Fozzy to holding. No one else had noticed, so I could have scored a major trophy, but I ran down the handler and gave her the hat, because there are some things you just don't do... I was an extra on Elmo in Grouch Land and Muppets from Space. Easiest money I’ve ever made and best time I ever had when I worked in film. I hung out with the guy who does Rizzo, he rules and is very cute. One night after we finished a shot on Muppets from Space the handler for Fozzy didn’t notice when his hat fell off while taking Fozzy to holding. No one else had noticed, so I could have scored a major trophy, but I ran down the handler and gave her the hat, because there are some things you just don’t do…

]]> By: narddogz http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1230065 narddogz Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1230065 Wow. Elmo is really a big black dude! Didn't see that one coming.   I love surprises like that! Wow.

Elmo is really a big black dude!

Didn’t see that one coming.  

I love surprises like that!

]]> By: Mister44 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1230063 Mister44 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1230063 That's cool. I remember when Elmo and Telly were both bit players. I do miss the Twiddle Bug (which are now CGI) and the "YEPYEPYEP" aliens. That’s cool. I remember when Elmo and Telly were both bit players. I do miss the Twiddle Bug (which are now CGI) and the “YEPYEPYEP” aliens.

]]> By: Kevin_Carson http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1230000 Kevin_Carson Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1230000 I always thought Tickle Me Elmo would make a great doll for a child psychologist.  "Show me on this doll where Grandpa touched you, Timmy." I always thought Tickle Me Elmo would make a great doll for a child psychologist.  “Show me on this doll where Grandpa touched you, Timmy.”

]]> By: Robbo http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1229993 Robbo Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1229993 Kevin's amazing.  I've known him for years and worked with him on several occasions.  He is definitely SO much more than Elmo - but his dedication to the character and to the totality of his work with Sesame Street are to be applauded.  The attention and accolades for his talent are long overdue. Kevin’s amazing.  I’ve known him for years and worked with him on several occasions.  He is definitely SO much more than Elmo – but his dedication to the character and to the totality of his work with Sesame Street are to be applauded.  The attention and accolades for his talent are long overdue.

]]> By: Mockiovelli http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1229989 Mockiovelli Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1229989 Just for reference, Kevin Clash isn't a one trick pony either.  If you've ever seen Clifford from Muppets Tonight, that's Kevin too.  You can watch him with Jim and Kermit on Arsenio here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1-PwZltH8E Just for reference, Kevin Clash isn’t a one trick pony either.  If you’ve ever seen Clifford from Muppets Tonight, that’s Kevin too.  You can watch him with Jim and Kermit on Arsenio here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1-PwZltH8E

]]> By: Mockiovelli http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1229987 Mockiovelli Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1229987 Well, I don't tear up quite as much as watching Henson's memorial service, but I'm glad to be reminded that someone kept that banner flying and I look forward to seeing this. Well, I don’t tear up quite as much as watching Henson’s memorial service, but I’m glad to be reminded that someone kept that banner flying and I look forward to seeing this.

]]> By: flosofl http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1229983 flosofl Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1229983 I've never been a huge fan of Elmo, but then he was waaay after my time (Grover FTW). However, just the brief scenes where he's interacting with kids and how they simply light up... Let's just say I will be watching this movie. Alone. With lots of Kleenex brand tissues (I'm affected pretty deeply by the sappy and sentimental) I’ve never been a huge fan of Elmo, but then he was waaay after my time (Grover FTW). However, just the brief scenes where he’s interacting with kids and how they simply light up…

Let’s just say I will be watching this movie. Alone. With lots of Kleenex brand tissues (I’m affected pretty deeply by the sappy and sentimental)

]]> By: David B http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1229923 David B Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1229923 Nothing but respect for this guy, but Elmo was always my least favorite muppet.  More of a Grover fan, I guess.  Nothing but respect for this guy, but Elmo was always my least favorite muppet.  More of a Grover fan, I guess. 

]]> By: InsertFingerHere http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1229912 InsertFingerHere Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1229912 I have new respect for Elmo. I have new respect for Elmo.

]]> By: Jennifer Kanis http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1229877 Jennifer Kanis Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1229877 This is so magical.  I can't wait to see it.  I love the footage of him using the sewing machine making puppets. Amazing.  This is so magical.  I can’t wait to see it.  I love the footage of him using the sewing machine making puppets. Amazing. 

]]> By: tightlines http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/being-elmo-documentary-on-elmos-human.html#comment-1229843 tightlines Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=120865#comment-1229843 I've met Kevin a couple of times. Not only is he great at his job, he's a super nice guy as well. I'm very happy for him. I’ve met Kevin a couple of times. Not only is he great at his job, he’s a super nice guy as well. I’m very happy for him.

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