Fisher-Price Tickle Me Elmo - 15 Fun Facts About the Elmo Phenom

The latest incarnation of the Tickle Me Elmo line of plush dolls is the Fisher-Price Elmo Live! plush doll. Elmo Live! tops a proud line of very successful mechanical dolls. Here are 15 fun facts about the sales sensation that has rocked the toy world for several amazing years.

1. Tyco was the toy company who created the first Elmo doll in this line of plush toys. It was called Tickle Me Elmo and introduced to United States markets in 1996. It was an immediate hit.

2. Unexpected demand created massive supply shortages. Parents in North America actually fought each other in stores over who would get to purchase the prized doll.

3. There was a report of injuries to a clerk at a Wal-Mart in Fredericton, New Brunswick on December 14, 1996. He was injured by a stampeding crowd when they spotted him with one of the last remaining toys in stock.

4. Some of the Tickle Me Elmo dolls sold for prices much higher than the suggested retail price. Classified ad in some newspapers sold the toy for hundreds of dollars. One report claims that the $28.99 toy sold for as much as $1500.

5. The vibrating feature of Elmo uses a vibration motor similar to those found in cell phones and game controllers. The doll's motor is just a larger version.

6. In 1997 three new Tickle Me dolls were released: Tickle Me Ernie, Tickle Me Big Bird, and Tickle Me Cookie Monster. None of them have matched the mysterious success of Elmo.

7. A complex contest came out in the Fall of 2001 with the "Surprise Edition" of Tickle Me Elmo. Five specially made Elmos ceased their laughter on January 9, 2002 and announced to their owners that they had won a prize. The grand prize was an unthinkable $200,000.

8. The Tickle Me Extreme or Tickle Me Ten (TMX, where X can mean the Roman numeral 10) Elmo was announced in 2006. It expanded Elmo's laughing behaviors to include rolling around on the floor and smashing his fist on the ground.

9. In a well-executed marketing promotion, the manufacturer built excitement by shrouding TMX Elmo in secrecy prior to its release. People who reviewed the product prior to its release were required to sign confidentiality agreements that prevented them from disclosing details about the doll early. The full look of the TMX doll was finally revealed on ABC's Good Morning America.

10. The TMX Elmo marketing promotion included pre-release sales of the doll. Amazon took more presale orders than it could fulfill.

11. The box for TMX Elmo hid the doll from view until it was purchased. A "preview flap" on the box only let you see Elmo's eyes, and he said, "Ah, ah, ah, ah! No peeking!"

12. People's reactions to short supplies of TMX Elmo were so notable, they prompted the comedy show Saturday Night Live to feature a skit about problems people had while purchasing the doll.

13. The 2007 version of the doll featured hidden messages that Elmo would only say if you did just the right things to the doll. Rhyming clues on the manufacturer's web site helped consumers figure out how to trigger the special messages.

14. The 2008 version of the doll is called Elmo Live! He features a whole new set of actions and sounds, making him the most advanced version of the popular Elmo dolls. Sales of Elmo Live! are expected to be brisk for the 2008 Christmas season. With the economic difficulties it will be interesting to see how well Elmo Live! sells.

15. Tickle Me Elmo has become an American icon, inspiring a slew of related themes in TV and movies.

Rob Favero has created a web site all about Elmo Live! by Fisher Price including links where you can purchase the doll. Sales are expected to be brisk, so don't miss out. You can also find information about other popular toys at Popular Gifts for Christmas.

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