Elmo performer transition (Season 44)

Kevin Clash

On November 20, 2012, during the 44th production season of Sesame Street, Kevin Clash resigned from Sesame Workshop, effectively ending his nearly three-decade association with the company and his tenure performing his best-known character, Elmo. Clash's last known public performance as Elmo occurred twenty days prior, for a radio interview with WNYC on October 30, 2012.

Clash had already filmed several Street scenes and segments for the then-upcoming season. Additionally, he recorded guide vocal tracks to accommodate filming of remaining episode storylines starring Elmo, who was operated in these instances by other puppeteers. Clash also prerecorded several Elmo appearances outside of the series, as well as voice clips for the Big Hugs Elmo toy which would be released the next holiday season.

Season 44

• Episode 4401
  • Street Story (filmed April 18, 2012)
  • The Word of the Day: Jealous
  • Elmo the Musical: Bird the Musical
• Episode 4403
  • Street Story (filmed October 19, 2012, voice only)
  • The Word of the Day: Fragrance
• Episode 4404
  • "Rhymes with Mando" (voice only)
• Episode 4405
  • Street Story (filmed October 17, 2012)
• Episode 4408
  • Street Story (filmed December 13, 2012, voice only)
• Episode 4410
  • Elmo the Musical: Repair Monster the Musical
• Episode 4411
  • Street Story (filmed December 14, 2012, voice only)
• Episode 4413
  • "The Sesame Street Alphabet"
• Episode 4415
  • Street Story (filmed October 15, 2012)
• Episode 4417
  • Street Story (filmed May 12, 2011)
  • The Word of the Day: Disappointed
• Episode 4418
  • Elmo the Musical: Mountain Climber the Musical
• Episode 4419
  • Street Story (filmed December 10, 2012, voice only)
• Episode 4420
  • Math segment with Tyler Perry
• Episode 4424
  • Street Story (filmed December 5, 2012, voice only)
• Episode 4425
  • Street Story (filmed October 18, 2012)

Appearances (2012-13)

• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (November 22, 2012, prerecorded vocals for "What I Am")
• Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce (December 10, 2012)
• Michael Bublé: Home for the Holidays (December 10, 2012, filmed October 5, 2012)
• Spaghetti Space Chase attraction (March 1, 2013)
• Big Hugs Elmo toy (Fall 2013)
• Bullying PSA with Chris Colfer, released as part of Little Children, Big Challenges (December 10, 2013)

Ryan Dillon

After an internal audition process, Ryan Dillon was tentatively cast as Elmo's new performer. Dillon's first public performance as the character was a live appearance at The White House Easter Egg Roll on April 1, 2013. One month earlier, Peter Linz voiced the character in audio commissioned for the grand opening ceremony of the Spaghetti Space Chase dark ride at Universal Studios Singapore, synced by an Elmo walk-around. Linz clarified in a Facebook post that the recording was a one-time performance.

During 2013, Dillon performed Elmo in a number of ancillary appearances, and for the remainder of material shot for season 44, including most of the Word of the Day segments.

Season 44

• Episode 4402
  • The Word of the Day: Respect
• Episode 4407
  • "The ABCs of Moving You"
• Episode 4408
  • "Quiero Ser Tu Amigo"
• Episode 4409
  • The Word of the Day: Furious
  • Feelings segment with J.R. Martinez
• Episode 4411
  • The Word of the Day: Imposter
• Episode 4414
  • The Word of the Day: Strategy
• Episode 4415
  • The Word of the Day: Translate
• Episode 4420
  • The Word of the Day: Cheer
• Episode 4421
  • The Word of the Day: Confidence
• Episode 4424
  • The Word of the Day: Plan
• Episode 4426
  • The Word of the Day: Absorb

Appearances (2013)

• The White House Easter Egg Roll (April 1, 2013)
• Elmo the Musical DVD release party (May 3, 2013) (YouTube)
• 11th Annual Sesame Workshop Benefit Gala (May 29, 2013)
• Sesame Street Explores National Parks web videos (June 4, 2013)
• ¡Despierta América! (July 12, 2013)
• Spaghetti Space Chase (mid-2013, re-shot footage for in-seat video screens)
• Make a New Friend stage show (August 29, 2013)
• Walmart promos for Big Hugs Elmo (Fall 2013, singing the song "Give a Hug")
• C is for Cooking DVD (September 10, 2013, title card voiceover)
• Good Morning America (September 13, 2013)
• Little Discoverers: Big Fun With Science, Math and More web videos (September 23, 2013)
• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (September 25, 2013)
• Sunrise (October 15, 2013)
• White House appearance (October 30, 2013)
• Vine Halloween video (October 31, 2013)
• Fairytale Fun DVD (November 5, 2013, title card voiceover)
• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (November 28, 2013)
• Vine Thanksgiving video (November 28, 2013)
• Sesame Street Saves Christmas stage show (December 2013)
• Team USA web video (December 5, 2013) (YouTube)
• Little Children, Big Challenges (December 10, 2013)

See also

• Proto-Elmo