As Madeline mentioned in Friday's Morning News post, a new Elmo doll will arrive in stores on Tuesday. Called Elmo Live, the electronically-powered Muppet toy is touted as the most realistic Elmo yet, one that can flap his arms and wiggle around just like the Sesame Street character. But all that realism comes at a cost. Specifically, $60, the highest price tag ever for an Elmo doll. 
In case you missed it, let me repeat that: Mattel is releasing its most expensive Elmo doll ever during what is, perhaps, the worst economic crisis in American history. Forget Tickle Me Elmo. Try "Slip Me a Couple Bucks, Elmo, So I Can Afford to Buy Your Orange Ass for My Kid at Christmas."
To be fair, as the Wall Street Journal's Tech blog reports, Mattel put this product in development back in 2006, when the economic picture was far rosier. The fact that it's now ready to hit the marketplace makes for some seriously unfortunate timing for the company. Retailers are already bracing for what analysts say could be the slowest holiday season in recent years.
Of course, the power of child persuasion often works even during hard times. If enough impressionable kids see ads for Elmo Live and beg their parents for one, the doll could still wind up selling pretty well. You know, assuming their parents haven't lost their jobs or decided to bail on the holidays altogether.
As Mattel CEO Robert Eckert told the Journal: "If you look at it against other sophisticated robot toys, $60 is not a lot to ask." That may be true. The question is how many people, exactly, will be looking at sophisticated robot toys right now?
Think you'll buy Elmo Live for your kid this year if it wind up on his or her holiday wish list? Or are you hoping that, um, Santa can somehow foot the bill on this one?
