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(Corrected date for "Almost Home")
 
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[[Image:Elmo-torkelsons2.jpg|thumb|300px|Elmo as a manifestation of fatigue on ''The Torkelsons]]''
'''''The Torkelsons''''' was an [[NBC]] family sitcom which initially ran from September 9 to June 13, [[1992]]. The series focused on a widowed mother creating a new life, and starred Connie Ray, Olivia Burnette (both alums of NBC's ''Quantum Leap''), Lee Norris, and [[William Schallert]].
 
   
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'''''The Torkelsons''''' was an [[NBC]] family sitcom which ran from September 9, 1991 to June 13, 1992. Developed by [[Michael Jacobs]] and using much of the same technical crew as ''[[Dinosaurs]]'', the series focused on Millicent Torkelson (Connie Ray), whose husband walked out on her leaving her to work and raise five children (notably oldest Dorothy Jane). To make ends meet, the Torkelsons take in boarder Wesley Hodges ([[William Schallert]]).
In the December 22 episode "Educating Millicent," [[Elmo]] (performed by [[Kevin Clash]]) made a guest appearance. The character appears in a fantasy sequence in which little Mary-Sue Torkelson's Elmo doll comes to life in order to give advice and have fun.
 
   
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The episode "Educating Millicent" (December 22, [[1991]]) featured a special guest appearance by [[Kevin Clash]] as [[Elmo]], in one of the puppet's earliest prime-time commercial guest spots. Youngest child Mary Sue Torkelson has a stuffed Elmo toy, whose head Millicent has to sew back on. The primary plot hinges on the discovery that Millicent dropped out of high school (pregnant with her oldest child). Mary Sue talks to Elmo about the issues of whether or not to go on from kindergarten to high school, and Elmo observes that talking to one's self (as opposed to a stuffed Muppet which springs to life in one's mind) "would be crazy."
In the spring of [[1993]], the series was retooled as ''Almost Home'', with different child actors and minus Schallert.
 
   
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Later, exhausted from studying to take the high school equivalency test, Millicent is unnerved when Elmo suddenly begins talking to her and urges her not to quit. She insists he is "a manifestation of my own fatigue," but the red monster retorts that "Elmo is Elmo." He joins in Millicent's manic laughter and echoes Mary Sue's exhortation to get her diploma. Mary Sue returns to retrieve her toy, and Elmo thanks Millicent for putting his head back on straight (earning a "Same to you" reply).
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For the second season in 1992, the series was retooled as ''Almost Home'', with Millicent moving to Seattle, losing the two middle children and the boarder in the interim, and becoming a nanny for a single dad with two children.
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<gallery orientation=landscape widths=250>
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Image:Torkelsons.jpg|Millicent repairs a beheaded Elmo toy on ''The Torkelsons''
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Image:Elmo-torkelsons1.jpg|Elmo hangs with Mary Sue
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</gallery>
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==Connections==
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*[[Ray Colcord]] composed the theme song
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*[[Suzie Plakson]] played Verna in "Poetry in Motion"
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*[[William Schallert]] played series regular Wesley Hodges
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{{wikipedia}}
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__NOWYSIWYG__
[[Category:Appearances|Torkelsons]]
 
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Torkelsons, The}}
 
[[Category:TV Appearances]]

Latest revision as of 04:50, 27 January 2020

Elmo-torkelsons2

Elmo as a manifestation of fatigue on The Torkelsons

The Torkelsons was an NBC family sitcom which ran from September 9, 1991 to June 13, 1992. Developed by Michael Jacobs and using much of the same technical crew as Dinosaurs, the series focused on Millicent Torkelson (Connie Ray), whose husband walked out on her leaving her to work and raise five children (notably oldest Dorothy Jane). To make ends meet, the Torkelsons take in boarder Wesley Hodges (William Schallert).

The episode "Educating Millicent" (December 22, 1991) featured a special guest appearance by Kevin Clash as Elmo, in one of the puppet's earliest prime-time commercial guest spots. Youngest child Mary Sue Torkelson has a stuffed Elmo toy, whose head Millicent has to sew back on. The primary plot hinges on the discovery that Millicent dropped out of high school (pregnant with her oldest child). Mary Sue talks to Elmo about the issues of whether or not to go on from kindergarten to high school, and Elmo observes that talking to one's self (as opposed to a stuffed Muppet which springs to life in one's mind) "would be crazy."

Later, exhausted from studying to take the high school equivalency test, Millicent is unnerved when Elmo suddenly begins talking to her and urges her not to quit. She insists he is "a manifestation of my own fatigue," but the red monster retorts that "Elmo is Elmo." He joins in Millicent's manic laughter and echoes Mary Sue's exhortation to get her diploma. Mary Sue returns to retrieve her toy, and Elmo thanks Millicent for putting his head back on straight (earning a "Same to you" reply).

For the second season in 1992, the series was retooled as Almost Home, with Millicent moving to Seattle, losing the two middle children and the boarder in the interim, and becoming a nanny for a single dad with two children.

Connections

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