We are saddened to learn that Greg Hyman, toy inventor and co-creator of the original Tickle-Me-Elmo doll, has passed away.
According to the New York Times, Hyman got his start as a toy inventor with a talking Barney doll, followed by a giggling and shaking doll he called “Tickles the Chimp.” Thinking that Tickles might be well suited as a licensed toy, he approached Tyco with the idea to bring the idea to Sesame Street. During the negotiations, he considered making it based on the Looney Tunes character the Tasmanian Devil before the Elmo deal went through. Just think about how close we came to “Tickle-Me-Taz.”
As you may recall, the Tickle-Me-Elmo craze hit during the holiday season of 1996, with parents scrambling to secure the hottest toy of the year for their kids. It spawned several spin-offs with other Elmo toys and more Sesame Street characters, and ultimately helped to cement Elmo as the most popular character in kids media.
Tickle-Me-Elmo is partially responsible for Sesame Street’s popularity through the 1990s, and therefore Greg Hyman’s contribution was paramount. We’re grateful to him, as well as co-creator Ron Dubren, for all he brought to the Sesame Street universe.
Click here to help us remember Greg Hyman on the ToughPigs Discord!
by Joe Hennes – [email protected]
