Elmo Live!

He's cute, he talks, he sings and dances. Elmo Live! is probably the hottest Sesame Street toy since Tickle Me Elmo, and if you want one for the cutest person on your Christmas gift list, you'd better buy him before Black Friday, because chances are very good he will be this year's hottest and most sold-out toy.

Elmo's latest incarnation is about a foot tall, seated, and maybe 20 inches tall when standing. He sings, he dances, he blows kisses, he tells stories - and you'll find an amazing level of interactivity for the price. Test him in a crowded store, and watch the kids flock over to watch as he blows kisses at them.

He is also a bit heavy - 3 pounds or so - and made of a hard plastic, so rough-playing babies may not be the best recipients.

How Hot Is Elmo Live!?

We purchased our Elmo Live! at the end of October, primarily because I was afraid they would sell out this season. Boy, was I ever right. I shop mostly military stores - one of the perks of being a military spouse - and though there are four different large military outlets within 20 miles of me, they were already sold out or close to it two weeks before Black Friday. Going online, they're sold out already at K-Mart Online, but as of this writing still on sale at Wal-mart Online.

A good gauge of how hot a toy is, is a quick check on eBay for who is gouging the public. No disappointment there; one person has a long-term auction for Elmo and a Buy It Now price of $1000. Most prices currently are right at the average retail level for Elmo: $59 and change. I will guarantee you, though, with high Buy It Now prices already, you'll not be able to find Elmo Live! for any price when Christmas is a little closer.

My advice: buy it NOW, but call around to see who in your area still has it at a good price. There's no difference between a Toys R Us version and a Wal-mart version, so go with whoever is cheapest. If you wait until Black Friday to get Elmo Live! at a bargain price, you may be disappointed.

Problems with Elmo Live!

Most early shoppers seem very happy with Elmo Live!, but a few people are reporting problems, primarily that the software isn't quite as robust as they would like. Once you have your Elmo, take him out of the box and test him thoroughly, especially running him through a storytelling session. If you have any problems, replacing the 6 AA batteries with high-performance electronics-grade alkalines may alleviate them; with serious problems, take Elmo back to the store (another reason to buy early!) Issues are not widespread, but the longer you wait, the more likely you'll get a faulty Elmo that store employees just put back on the shelf.

Elmo Live! is not a soft, cuddly toy; instead, he feels like a hard little plastic robot that has had long-hair plush glued to it. If you have a child who is a "peeler," test how firmly attached the cloth is to the robot before giving him as a gift. Check out an Elmo Live! in person before ordering online to avoid any disappointments due to misperceptions. Otherwise, if your child is old enough to watch and enjoy Elmo on TV, he's almost certainly old enough to enjoy Elmo Live!

Finally, for goodness' sake, test Elmo far, far from children! He is a loud little robot. An overheard testing session could result in you having to find another Christmas gift centerpiece.

Good luck, and Merry Christmas!