Elmo Saves Christmas (special)



Elmo Saves Christmas originally aired on PBS in 1996, and was released to VHS that same year. It was released to 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. Elmo wants the pink bear, but then chooses the latter, and uses his first wish to obtain a glass of water. Santa tells him he could've wished for anything, and to not use the other wishes.

On Christmas Day, Elmo wishes that it could be Christmas every day. Santa tries to talk him out of this, but Elmo refuses. 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, until Santa gives Lightning to Elmo 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 Mr. Snuffleupagus is in Cincinnati, spending Christmas with his grandmother for a whole year, Maria and Luis get crabby over being closed all year, everyone get annoyed at It's a Wonderful Life playing constantly 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 conglomerate called the "Moo-Bunny". Easter and the Fourth of July aren't as fun anymore, either.

A year after that first fateful Christmas, the Fix-It Shop has gone out of business, and even Santa is about to retire from his job. Elmo decides to use his third wish to undo his second, but the snowglobe flies from his hands in a freak accident and smashes to the ground before he can make the wish. All looks lost, until Lightning flies Elmo back in time to the chimney, where Elmo decides to pass on the snowglobe, and winds up with the Moo-Bunny (a cross between a stuffed bunny and a stuffed cow).

Credits
Writers: Christine Ferraro and Tony Geiss

Guest Stars: Maya Angelou, Charles Durning and Harvey Fierstein

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

Background Muppets: Grungetta, Herry Monster, Forgetful Jones, Ingrid, Penguins, and Anything Muppets.

Humans: Bob, Maria, Luis, Gabi, Gordon, Susan, Mr. Handford, and Carlo.

Muppet Performers: Kevin Clash, Caroll Spinney, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Fran Brill, Martin Robinson, Joey Mazzarino, David Rudman, and Steve Whitmire.