Cartoon
Elmo Saves Christmas
The story
Elmo Saves Christmas is a Sesame Street Christmas musical fantasy comedy drama television special which was released on PBS on December 2, 1996. It was released to VHS that same year. Inspired by the 1892 short story "Christmas Every Day" by William Dean Howells, Elmo wishes for Christmas to occur every day, only to be taken to the future to learn the adverse consequences of his wish. The program was filmed in Sesame Street's usual home, the Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York City. Footage from the film It's a Wonderful Life also appears in the program and after the credits.
Plot
Elmo stays up on Christmas Eve to meet Santa Claus. He falls asleep, but is awakened by Santa stuck in the chimney. Elmo pulls him out, and Santa thanks him by offering either a teddy bear or a magical snow globe as a gift. Elmo chooses the globe and is granted three wishes, wasting the first on a glass of water.
On Christmas Day, Elmo wishes for Christmas to be every day, but Santa warns him that Christmas would no longer be special. Lightning, a reindeer-in-training, takes Elmo to the future to see the effects of his wish. Big Bird is sad that Snuffy does not return from visiting his grandmother in Cincinnati, the businesses remain closed, It's a Wonderful Life plays continuously on every TV channel, Santa's overworked elves make flawed toys, and other holidays are overshadowed. Meanwhile, Oscar the Grouch enjoys the increasing misery.
By next year's Christmas, everybody is tired of celebrating, Christmas trees are endangered, all the businesses are bankrupt, and Santa is retiring to Florida. Elmo uses his last wish to make Christmas be once a year again, but breaks his snow globe before the wish is granted. Fortunately, Lightning takes him back to the Christmas Eve when he rescued Santa, and Elmo chooses a plush "Moo-Bunny" as his new gift. Snuffy returns, telling Big Bird that his grandmother came to Sesame Street instead. Elmo learns that, although Christmas does not occur every day, everyone can keep their Christmas spirit alive in their hearts all year.
Cast
Maya Angelou as Herself/Narrator
Charles Durning as Santa Claus
Harvey Fierstein as the Easter Bunny
14 Karat Soul as Themselves
Humans
Carlo Alban as Carlo
Alison Bartlett-O'Reilly as Gina
Emilio Delgado as Luis
Desiree Casado as Gabi
Sonia Manzano as Maria
Bob McGrath as Bob
Roscoe Orman as Gordon
David Smyrl as Mr. Handford
Characters from Sesame Street
Frank Oz as Cookie Monster and Grover
Jerry Nelson as Count von Count, Mr. Johnson and News Flash Announcer
Kevin Clash as Elmo, Father and Elf 3
Fran Brill as Zoe, Easter Egg customer and Elf 2
Joey Mazzarino as Lightning and Elf 1
Carmen Osbahr as Rosita
Caroll Spinney as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch
Martin P. Robinson as Mr. Snuffleupagus, Telly Monster and Elf 5
David Rudman as Baby Bear, Humphrey and Elf 4
Characters from The Muppet Show
Steve Whitmire as Kermit the Frog
Additional Muppets performed by Pam Arciero, Peter Linz, Noel MacNeal, Jim Martin, John Tartaglia, Alice Dinnean and Matt Vogel.
Songs
"It's Christmas Again"
"Every Day Can't Be Christmas"
"Give Your Friend an Easter Egg for Christmas"
"All I Want for Christmas is You"
"Every Day Can't Be Christmas" (reprise)
"Keep Christmas with You (All Through the Year)"