Tickle Your Viewing With ‘Elmopalooza’
Music and Muppets combine in ABC’s “Elmopalooza!” at 8, a fun family special that celebrates 30 years of PBS’ “Sesame Street.”
Jon Stewart heads a giggly gang of celebrities who join Elmo, other Jim Henson Muppets and musical guests Jimmy Buffett, Shawn Colvin, En Vogue, Gloria Estefan, The Fugees, Kenny Loggins and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
The fast-paced hour is filled with gags that begin when Stewart is accidentally locked in his dressing room. (Note I didn’t say the special was totally original.)
The show must go on. Elmo takes charge with help from his stage manager (David Alan Grier). Big Bird and the Two-Headed Monster take over camera duty, Cookie Monster runs sound, and Bert and Ernie direct.
Chris Rock, Richard Belzer, Rosie O’Donnell, Cindy Crawford, Tyra Banks and Conan O’Brien take part in the special that is nicely punctuated by music videos by the artists and Muppet co-stars.
My favorite is the wild number featuring the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. (The songs, plus a few that didn’t make the special, are being released this month on a Sony Wonder CD.)
The kids will love this hour, and young adults and parents (many of whom are “Sesame Street” fans to begin with) will enjoy seeing their favorite music stars having a grand time with the Muppets.
Parents: Tape this one for future replay. Your kids will thank you.
Parents’ Pick
“Walk This Way,” USA at 7: How does prejudice harm children? Find out from kids who talk about coping with intolerance resulting from race and other differences.
Susan Sarandon narrates the hour special that’s good viewing for parents and their children.
Highlights
“Olympics,” CBS at 8: Perhaps the most anticipated event of the Nagano games, tape-delayed coverage of the ladies’ free program highlights the night’s broadcast. Also on tap: alpine skiing (women’s giant slalom); bobsled (four-man); hockey (men’s report) and cross-country skiing (women’s 30km freestyle). The 1:05 a.m. telecast features live coverage of the men’s hockey bronze medal game.
“Dateline,” NBC at 8: Included is a report on the death of mystery writer Eugene Izzi, whose demise has more twists and turns than any of his novels. Some speculate he staged his suicide to appear to have been a homicide.
“Speed” (1994), FOX at 8: Back for another FOX airing is the heart-pounding thriller starring Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock and Dennis Hopper. Crisp direction by Jan De Bont and nonstop stunts keep you on the edge of your seat.
“Maverick” (1994), NBC at 8:30: The film based on the TV Western is mostly a star vehicle for Mel Gibson as gambler Bret Maverick and Jodie Foster as his con artist foil. Original Maverick James Garner plays a sheriff. It’s entertaining, though slow-moving and overlong.
“20/20,” ABC at 10: A report looks at how people overeat to compensate for a variety of emotional problems.
Cable Calls
“Mother” (1996), MAX at 8: Writer-director Albert Brooks’ comedies are always a mixed bag. They take a critical look at the human condition with wit and wisdom but rarely do well at the box office.
In this one, Brooks plays a science-fiction writer who, after two divorces, moves back home to live with his mother (Debbie Reynolds) in order to sort out his problems with women. Obviously, it all goes back to mom, who has little sympathy and pulls no punches when it comes to offering her advice.
Reynolds earned a Golden Globe nomination for her spunky performance.
“Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ‘98,” TNT at 8: Dateless and desperate guys, take heart. Here’s the annual “making of” documentary on the sports mag’s famed swimsuit issue.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actress Halle Berry, actor Jerry O’Connell and comedian Mary Ellen Hooper.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 12:05: U.S. men’s freestyle skiing moguls gold medalist Jonny Moseley.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Kim Coles, Katrina Vanden Huevel, Sen. Alan Simpson and Ron Silver.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actor Alan Covert.