Have you grabbed the new TMX “Extreme” Elmo? Don’t. Ten years ago, Elmo was like a cute little kid. Tickle, tickle, giggle, giggle. Today? He’s a desperate exhibitionist heading for a breakdown.

Alone in my apartment, I hug Elmo. It's a tentative embrace. We haven't known each other that long, after all. But Elmo is confident that a good time will be had by all. "Elmo loves giving you hugs," ...

As if the real world wasn’t enough, the Tickle Me Elmo craze has stormed the Net. Hundreds of Internet newsgroup missives launched by disgruntled shoppers unable to land the giggling, fuzzy red ...