# Elmopalooza

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{{Short description|Sesame Street special}}
{{more citations|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image       = 
| caption     = 
| director    = Tom Trbovich
| writer      = Tom J. Astle<br>[Joey Mazzarino](/source/Joey_Mazzarino)
| producer    = Karin Young Shiel
| starring    = [Jon Stewart](/source/Jon_Stewart)<br>[David Alan Grier](/source/David_Alan_Grier)<br>[Rosie O'Donnell](/source/Rosie_O'Donnell)<br>[Kevin Clash](/source/Kevin_Clash)
| music       = [John Boylan](/source/John_Boylan_(record_producer))
| editor      = Todd Darling
| company     = [Children's Television Workshop](/source/Children's_Television_Workshop)
| network     = [ABC](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company)
| released    = {{Start date|1998|2|20}}
| runtime     = 45 minutes
| country     = United States
| language    = English
}}
'''''Elmopalooza!''''' is a ''[Sesame Street](/source/Sesame_Street)'' 30th anniversary special that aired on [ABC](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company) on February 20, 1998. It was taped during the 29th season of ''Sesame Street'', and features music video remakes of several classic songs from the show performed by celebrity guests.

==About the show==
The show is a musical that takes place at [New York City](/source/New_York_City)'s [Radio City Music Hall](/source/Radio_City_Music_Hall), featuring performances from guests [Jon Stewart](/source/Jon_Stewart), [David Alan Grier](/source/David_Alan_Grier), [Rosie O'Donnell](/source/Rosie_O'Donnell), [Gloria Estefan](/source/Gloria_Estefan), [En Vogue](/source/En_Vogue), the [Fugees](/source/Fugees), [Kenny Loggins](/source/Kenny_Loggins), [Shawn Colvin](/source/Shawn_Colvin), [Jimmy Buffett](/source/Jimmy_Buffett) and [the Mighty Mighty Bosstones](/source/the_Mighty_Mighty_Bosstones) to celebrate ''Sesame Street''{{'}}s 30th anniversary.

At the beginning of the show, [Elmo](/source/Elmo) accidentally traps Jon Stewart, the producer Prairie Dawn, and the crew for the show in a dressing room when he closes the broken door, locking them inside. David Alan Grier doesn't take this well and constantly yet harshly rebukes Elmo for this mistake, and does the same to [Telly](/source/Telly_Monster) for his neurotic behavior. [The Muppets](/source/List_of_Sesame_Street_Muppets) decide to produce the show themselves, with Elmo hosting.

Meanwhile, [Grover](/source/Grover), Susan, Gordon, Gina, Bob, and Mr. Handford get lost on the way to Radio City Music Hall, and they end up in [Roswell, New Mexico](/source/Roswell%2C_New_Mexico), having picked up chickens, penguins and the [Yip-Yip Martians](/source/Yip_Yips) as hitchhikers.

Despite a few malfunctions, the show goes on successfully as planned, until, during a duet with Elmo and Rosie O'Donnell, Elmo is accidentally sent flying towards backstage and straight onto Telly, [Zoe](/source/Zoe_(Sesame_Street)), and [Rosita](/source/Rosita_(Sesame_Street)), causing them to accidentally ruin the stage setting and shaming Elmo into running away and hiding, feeling he has failed to make the show better. After the Muppets rescue the crew and Jon Stewart finally breaks out of the dressing room, they show a video of Kenny Loggins and [Big Bird](/source/Big_Bird) performing "One Small Voice" talent show to motivate Elmo to come out of hiding. Elmo heads back on stage, feeling a lot better. Elmo, Grover, Susan, Gordon, Gina, Bob, Mr. Handford, and the cast sing a medley of ''Sesame Street'' songs at the end. Then, as the credits roll, the cast and celebrity guests perform "[Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?](/source/Can_You_Tell_Me_How_to_Get_to_Sesame_Street%3F)".

==Songs==
* "Just Happy to Be Me" - [The Fugees](/source/The_Fugees)
* "Mambo I, I, I" - [Gloria Estefan](/source/Gloria_Estefan)
* "The Zig Zag Dance" - [The Mighty Mighty Bosstones](/source/The_Mighty_Mighty_Bosstones)
* "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" - [Shawn Colvin](/source/Shawn_Colvin) and [Ernie](/source/Ernie_(Sesame_Street))
* "I Want a Monster to Be My Friend" - [En Vogue](/source/En_Vogue)
* "Nearly Missed" - [Rosie O'Donnell](/source/Rosie_O'Donnell) and [Elmo](/source/Elmo)
* "Caribbean Amphibian" - [Jimmy Buffett](/source/Jimmy_Buffett) and [Kermit the Frog](/source/Kermit_the_Frog)
* "One Small Voice" - [Kenny Loggins](/source/Kenny_Loggins) and [Big Bird](/source/Big_Bird)
* Songs (medley) - [Jon Stewart](/source/Jon_Stewart), [David Alan Grier](/source/David_Alan_Grier), [Elmo](/source/Elmo) and the cast
**"[Rubber Duckie](/source/Rubber_Duckie)" - [Ernie](/source/Ernie_(Sesame_Street))
**"[ABC-DEF-GHI](/source/List_of_songs_from_Sesame_Street)" - [Big Bird](/source/Big_Bird)
**"[I Love Trash](/source/I_Love_Trash)" - [Oscar the Grouch](/source/Oscar_the_Grouch)
**"[C Is For Cookie](/source/C_Is_For_Cookie)" - [Cookie Monster](/source/Cookie_Monster)
**"The People in Your Neighborhood" - Bob, Gina, Gordon, Mr. Handford, Susan
* "[Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?](/source/Can_You_Tell_Me_How_to_Get_to_Sesame_Street%3F)" (during end credits) - all performers and Muppets

===Soundtrack===
{{main|Elmopalooza! (soundtrack)}}

==Cast==

===Humans===
* Alison Bartlett-O'Reilly as Gina
* [Ruth Buzzi](/source/Ruth_Buzzi) as Ruthie
* [Emilio Delgado](/source/Emilio_Delgado) as Luis
* [Loretta Long](/source/Loretta_Long) as Susan
* [Sonia Manzano](/source/Sonia_Manzano) as Maria
* [Bob McGrath](/source/Bob_McGrath) as Bob
* [Roscoe Orman](/source/Roscoe_Orman) as Gordon
* [David Smyrl](/source/David_Smyrl) as Mr. Handford

===Special guest appearances===
* [Tyra Banks](/source/Tyra_Banks)
* [Richard Belzer](/source/Richard_Belzer)
* [Tony Bennett](/source/Tony_Bennett) (archive footage)
* [The Mighty Mighty Bosstones](/source/The_Mighty_Mighty_Bosstones)
* [Jimmy Buffett](/source/Jimmy_Buffett)
* [Shawn Colvin](/source/Shawn_Colvin)
* [Cindy Crawford](/source/Cindy_Crawford)
* [Gloria Estefan](/source/Gloria_Estefan) 
* [The Fugees](/source/The_Fugees)
* [David Alan Grier](/source/David_Alan_Grier)
* [Kenny Loggins](/source/Kenny_Loggins) 
* [Madonna](/source/Madonna) (archive footage)
* [Conan O'Brien](/source/Conan_O'Brien)
* [Rosie O'Donnell](/source/Rosie_O'Donnell)
* [Jada Pinkett Smith](/source/Jada_Pinkett_Smith) (archive footage)
* [Andy Richter](/source/Andy_Richter)
* [Chris Rock](/source/Chris_Rock)
* [Will Smith](/source/Will_Smith) (archive footage)
* [Jon Stewart](/source/Jon_Stewart)
* [En Vogue](/source/En_Vogue)

===Muppet Performers===
* [Kevin Clash](/source/Kevin_Clash) as [Elmo](/source/Elmo)
* [Caroll Spinney](/source/Caroll_Spinney) as [Big Bird](/source/Big_Bird) and [Oscar the Grouch](/source/Oscar_the_Grouch)
* [Steve Whitmire](/source/Steve_Whitmire) as [Kermit the Frog](/source/Kermit_the_Frog) and [Ernie](/source/Ernie_(Sesame_Street))
* [Frank Oz](/source/Frank_Oz) as [Bert](/source/Bert_(Sesame_Street)), [Grover](/source/Grover) and [Cookie Monster](/source/Cookie_Monster)
* [Jerry Nelson](/source/Jerry_Nelson) as [Count von Count](/source/Count_von_Count), [Biff](/source/List_of_Sesame_Street_Muppets), [Two-Headed Monster](/source/Two-Headed_Monster) (Left Head) and Announcer
* [David Rudman](/source/David_Rudman) as [Baby Bear](/source/The_Bear_family), Sparky the Stuntman and [Two-Headed Monster](/source/Two-Headed_Monster) (Right Head)
* [Fran Brill](/source/Fran_Brill) as [Zoe](/source/Zoe_(Sesame_Street)) and Prairie Dawn
* [Joey Mazzarino](/source/Joey_Mazzarino) as Horatio the Elephant
* [Carmen Osbahr](/source/Carmen_Osbahr) as [Rosita](/source/Rosita_(Sesame_Street))
* [Martin P. Robinson](/source/Martin_P._Robinson) as [Mr. Snuffleupagus](/source/Mr._Snuffleupagus), Slimey the Worm and [Telly Monster](/source/Telly_Monster)

Additional Muppets performed by Brad Abrell, [Pam Arciero](/source/Pam_Arciero), [Julianne Buescher](/source/Julianne_Buescher), [Lisa Buckley](/source/Lisa_Buckley), [Kevin Carlson](/source/Kevin_Carlson), [Stephanie D'Abruzzo](/source/Stephanie_D'Abruzzo) (Jill the Frog), [Eric Jacobson](/source/Eric_Jacobson), [John Kennedy](/source/John_Kennedy_(puppeteer)), [Peter Linz](/source/Peter_Linz), [Rick Lyon](/source/Rick_Lyon), [Noel MacNeal](/source/Noel_MacNeal) (frog drummer), [Jim Martin](/source/Jim_Martin_(puppeteer)), [Drew Massey](/source/Drew_Massey), Don Reardon, Joe Selph, [John Tartaglia](/source/John_Tartaglia) and [Matt Vogel](/source/Matt_Vogel_(puppeteer)).

==Merchandise==
The CD and cassette was released on March 3, 1998. This special was released on VHS and DVD on April 14, 1998.

==Accolades==
''Elmopalooza'' was included on the [ALA Notable Children's Videos](/source/ALA_Notable_Children's_Videos) list in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |title=1999 Notable Children’s Videos Committee |website=ALAIR – American Library Association Institutional Repository |publisher=American Library Association |year=1999 |url=https://alair.ala.org/bitstreams/8b19ed92-f220-4de9-83ce-6b722553351b/download |format=PDF |access-date=3 September 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|id=0167922}}
{{muppets}}

{{Sesame Street}}
Category:Elmo
Category:Sesame Street features
Category:1990s American television specials
Category:1998 television specials
Category:1998 children's films

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Elmopalooza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmopalooza) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmopalooza?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.