Jon Stewart, Elmo, Big Bird and David Alan Grier
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones with Elmo and The Count.
Shawn Colvin and Ernie
Elmopalooza is a one-hour TV special that aired on ABC on February 20, 1998.
Jon Stewart plans to host a music special at Radio City Music Hall to celebrate Sesame Street’s 30th anniversary. Jon and the show's crew, including producer Prairie Dawn, are in a dressing room getting ready for the show. Elmo visits them before the show starts and then leaves, shutting the door before Jon can tell him that the door is broken: it won't open once it's shut. Elmo decides to host the show, and the rest of the Sesame Street cast work behind-the-scenes, presenting music video remakes of classic Sesame Street songs.
Meanwhile, Grover drives Susan, Gordon, Gina, Bob, and Mr. Handford in a limo to the studio, but Grover gets lost and they end up in Roswell, New Mexico.
A soundtrack album was also released on cassette and CD, and the special was released on VHS two months after it aired, on April 14.[1] An activity book and Dairy Queen toys were released in conjuction with the special.
Songs[]
- "Just Happy to Be Me" with The Fugees
- "Mambo I, I, I" with Gloria Estefan
- "Zig Zag Dance" with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
- "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" with Shawn Colvin and Ernie
- "I Want a Monster to Be My Friend" with En Vogue
- "Nearly Missed" with Rosie O'Donnell and Elmo
- "Caribbean Amphibian" with Jimmy Buffett and Kermit the Frog
- "One Small Voice" with Kenny Loggins
- "Songs" with Jon Stewart, Elmo, and the cast
- (medley):
- "Sesame Street Theme" (over credits) with various celebrities and Muppets
Notes[]
- Kevin Clash makes an onscreen cameo as Big Bird runs through the hallways of Radio City Music Hall.
- In the original ABC airing of the special, the "Sesame Street Theme" performance during the credits is shortened. It omits the bridge and reprise of the first verse.
- The game console that Grover mistakes for a GPS is Tiger's Game.com.
Video releases[]
LVD 49441
Warner Home Video
Double feature with Elmo's World: Singing, Drawing & More!
ABC Video for Kids
ABC Video for Kids
Ventura Entertainment
cat. no 448004
Berjaya HVN
Oznoz
Spanish audio track
Characters[]
- Muppet Characters
- Elmo, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Zoe, Prairie Dawn, Bert, Ernie, Count von Count, Grover, Cookie Monster, Telly Monster, Slimey, Mr. Snuffleupagus, The Martians, Two-Headed Monster, Rosita, Biff, Kermit the Frog, Baby Bear, The Elephant, Sparky
- Background Muppets
- The Oinker Sisters, Forgetful Jones, Herry Monster, Frazzle, Roxie Marie, Sully, Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Granny Bird, The Squirrelles, green Anything Muppet lady, Gil, Jill, Frogs, Honkers, Chickens, Penguins, Sheep, Dinger, REM
Cast[]
- Starring Jim Henson's Sesame Street Muppets:
- Featuring Kevin Clash as Elmo
- and Caroll Spinney as Big Bird and Oscar
- with Jerry Nelson, Steve Whitmire, Martin P. Robinson, Fran Brill, David Rudman, Joey Mazzarino, Carmen Osbahr, Pam Arciero, Peter Linz, Noel MacNeal, Jim Martin, Alice Dinnean, Bryant Young, John Tartaglia, Matt Vogel, John Kennedy, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Eric Jacobson, Rick Lyon, Don Reardon, Julianne Buescher, Drew Massey, Kevin Carlson, Joe Selph, Brad Abrell, and Frank Oz
- Also Starring:
- Celebrity Guest Stars:
- Jon Stewart, David Alan Grier, Rosie O'Donnell, Gloria Estefan, En Vogue, The Fugees, Kenny Loggins, Shawn Colvin, Jimmy Buffett, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Richard Belzer, Chris Rock, Cindy Crawford, Tyra Banks, Conan O'Brien, Andy Richter (archive footage: Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tony Bennett, Madonna)
Credits[]
- Executive Producer: Nancy Kanter
- Co-Executive Producer: Kevin Clash
- Produced by Karin Young Shiel
- Written by Tom J. Astle and Joey Mazzarino
- Directed by Tom Trbovich
- Puppet Captain: Kevin Clash
- Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop: Mark Zeszotek, Stephen Rotondaro, Lara MacLean, Karena Wienands, Carol Binion, Peter MacKennan, Carlo Yannuzzi, Naomi Eisenstadt, Jane Gootnick, Scott Johnson, Marian Keating
- Lighting Director: Bill Berner
- Costume Designers: Bill Kellard, Terry Roberson
- Associate Director: Ted May
- Music Director: John Boylan
- Music Supervisor: Alan Silverman
- Additional Music: Gary Anderson, Steve Skinner
- Music Consultant: Chris Cerf
- Camera: Frank Biondo, Mark Whitman, Larry Solomon
- Audio: Blake Norton
- Music Coordinator: Ed Mitchell
- Locations courtesy of: Conan O'Brien, MTV Networks, Radio City Music Hall
- Taped at Sony Music Studios, NYC
- Special Thanks: Ben Campisi, Dana Coccara, Melissa Dino, Danny Epstein, Ted Gardner, Ellen Lewis Gideon, Ellen Goldfader, Ted Green, Eric Greenspan, Karen Ialacci, Nan Halperin, Andy Kadison, Majorie Kalins, Ann Kearns, Wendy Moss, Chuck Nankivell, Vicky Newman, Jodi Nussbaum, John Phillips, Renee Rachelle, Arlene Sherman, Deborah Strafella, Neil Sullivan, Daphne Walter, Alan Winnikoff
Music video credits[]
- "Just Happy to Be Me"
Kevin Bray and Benita Husband, Satellite Films - "Mambo, I, I, I"
Mustapha Kahn and Rob Alter, Washington Square Films - "Zig Zag Dance," "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" and "I Want a Monster to Be My Friend"
Lionel C. Martin and Rae Permann, Raven Knight Productions - "Caribbean Amphibian"
Sally Cruikshank and Victor DiNapoli - "One Small Voice"
Mark Rowen and Julie Donatt, Stardust Productions
See also[]
Ad for the release of Elmopalooza on home media
Sources[]
- ↑ The Amazon.com page lists the release date as April 14, 1998.