Elmo's yule special will tickle you pink
December 20, 2007
BY DOUG ELFMAN Television Critic
I hate Elmo's high-pitched voice with the heat of a thousand suns. I think it's because my niece or nephew played one of those annoying Elmo-tickling dolls until my brain imploded. I'm telling you this so you know I'm a hard sell with Elmo.
But I enjoyed "Elmo's Christmas Countdown" as much as a non-parent could. Like the best Muppet movies, Sunday's hourlong "Countdown" does a very good job of crafting entertainment for both parents and children.
The story is a basic sort of Christmas crisis. An elf named Stiller (a Muppet with Ben Stiller's voice) picks Oscar the Grouch to do the official countdown to Christmas, but Oscar busts the "counter downer," a handheld item with 10 numbered blocks in it.
For the rest of "Countdown," Stiller and Elmo wait for Muppets to find each numbered block. If all 10 blocks aren't found, then Christmas won't come, of course.
Because of the magic of Christmas, or whatever, each numbered block unlocks a special musical performance or appearance by a contemporary celebrity.
So when block No. 10 is found, Jennifer Hudson emerges to sing "Carol of the Bells," surrounded by Muppets.
This is a star-stuffed "event." Alicia Keys sweetly performs "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (It's almost ruined by Elmo singing with her.) Other guests are Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, Kevin James (as Santa), Brad Paisley and Ty Pennington.
I can imagine half the women I've ever known watching just to swoon over Sheryl Crow and say, "I love her, look how good she still looks."
Little kids will probably love lines like, " 'Uh-oh' is a candy cane lodged in your left nostril."
My favorite adult dialogue is when Charlie Gibson, playing a reindeer anchor on TV, compares Stiller to the disastrous ex-FEMA director Michael Brown.
The showstopper scene stars "Sopranos" actors doing a live-action version of "Sesame Street." Tony Sirico plays Bert with a big unibrow stretched across his forehead. Steve Schirripa is Ernie and grunts, "Ay, again with the gingerbread man!"
I would have never watched "Christmas Countdown" if I weren't a critic. And I do have to try to shake Elmo's screaming, "It's a Christmas miracle!" every few minutes. But even Elmo can't ruin the holidays. They're bigger than him.
BY DOUG ELFMAN Television Critic
I hate Elmo's high-pitched voice with the heat of a thousand suns. I think it's because my niece or nephew played one of those annoying Elmo-tickling dolls until my brain imploded. I'm telling you this so you know I'm a hard sell with Elmo.
But I enjoyed "Elmo's Christmas Countdown" as much as a non-parent could. Like the best Muppet movies, Sunday's hourlong "Countdown" does a very good job of crafting entertainment for both parents and children.
The story is a basic sort of Christmas crisis. An elf named Stiller (a Muppet with Ben Stiller's voice) picks Oscar the Grouch to do the official countdown to Christmas, but Oscar busts the "counter downer," a handheld item with 10 numbered blocks in it.
For the rest of "Countdown," Stiller and Elmo wait for Muppets to find each numbered block. If all 10 blocks aren't found, then Christmas won't come, of course.
Because of the magic of Christmas, or whatever, each numbered block unlocks a special musical performance or appearance by a contemporary celebrity.
So when block No. 10 is found, Jennifer Hudson emerges to sing "Carol of the Bells," surrounded by Muppets.
This is a star-stuffed "event." Alicia Keys sweetly performs "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (It's almost ruined by Elmo singing with her.) Other guests are Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, Kevin James (as Santa), Brad Paisley and Ty Pennington.
I can imagine half the women I've ever known watching just to swoon over Sheryl Crow and say, "I love her, look how good she still looks."
Little kids will probably love lines like, " 'Uh-oh' is a candy cane lodged in your left nostril."
My favorite adult dialogue is when Charlie Gibson, playing a reindeer anchor on TV, compares Stiller to the disastrous ex-FEMA director Michael Brown.
The showstopper scene stars "Sopranos" actors doing a live-action version of "Sesame Street." Tony Sirico plays Bert with a big unibrow stretched across his forehead. Steve Schirripa is Ernie and grunts, "Ay, again with the gingerbread man!"
I would have never watched "Christmas Countdown" if I weren't a critic. And I do have to try to shake Elmo's screaming, "It's a Christmas miracle!" every few minutes. But even Elmo can't ruin the holidays. They're bigger than him.
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