Mae

Mae is Elmo's mother and Louie's wife. She first appeared in the 2006 Talk, Listen, Connect resource videos, helping Elmo to cope with the absence of his father while he was deployed with the military. Her name was first made known in the 2009 special Families Stand Together.
In the first installment of Talk, Listen, Connect, focusing on deployments, Louie has to leave for "lots and lots of days" to do grown-up work, Elmo and his mom keep busy passing the time until his return by keeping a daily routine. When it's finally time for her husband to come home, Elmo's mom bakes a cake and helps Elmo and his friends decorate for the homecoming.
A National Public Radio story on the video included a behind-the-scenes audio clip, recorded during a take for the scene in which Elmo's mom is reunited with her husband. The script called for an embrace between the couple, and a kiss. This soundbite illustrates the care taken between Fran Brill and Bill Barretta in determining just how long is too long for a kiss when dealing with scenes meant for innocent eyes. For this particular outtake, the performers took some liberties when the kiss had seemingly gone on too long."Elmo's Dad Ships Out for Duty", Robert Smith, All Things Considered, May 4, 2006.
For the 2010 video, When Families Grieve, Mae was rebuilt with a new head, nose, and a wispier yet fuller hairdo. She also went from being a live-hand puppet to a rod-handed one. The puppet would be modified again with live hands in 2022.
Although Mae had not made many major appearances beyond the resource videos (unlike her husband), she was eventually given a starring role as the host of Mae's Minute, a web video series where she shares parenting tips. She also appears as the "grown-up" correspondent of the Elmo's World News videos.
==Performer history==
Before Elmo's mom became a recurring character, she made a few brief voice-only appearances on Sesame Street. Her performers varied, being voiced by Stephanie D'Abruzzo in Episodes 4063 and 4070, and Leslie Carrara-Rudolph in Episode 4123. Elmo's mom also appeared in some animated online storybooks published to Sesameworkshop.org in 2005. Her design here is similar to her later Muppet appearances. In "Elmo's Special Cupcakes" and "Elmo's First Day of School," which feature spoken dialogue, Elmo's mom is voiced by Jennifer Barnhart. 
Elmo's mom made her first onscreen appearance as a puppet in the Talk, Listen, Connect video series. Performer Fran Brill named the character and modeled her light Southern accent after her mother-in-law, Mae.The Barretta Brothers: Two of Us Show #33 (01:01:04) During Brill's tenure as the character, Mae made one appearance on the series proper; a vocal cameo in Episode 4513 telling Elmo that his lunch is ready. Stephanie D'Abruzzo took over performing Mae starting with Episode 4920.
==Elmo's World==
A version of Elmo's mom was seen in the "Birthdays" episode of Elmo's World. In Dorothy's imagination, she appears the same way everyone does in Tickle Me Land: as a variation of Elmo. In this dream sequence, she is called "Gladys" in homage to performer Kevin Clash's mother.
Image:Elmosredmom.jpg|When Is My Birthday? is an example of early Elmo's mom, with red fur.
Image:Character.elmo's-imaginary-.jpg|What Elmo's parents look like in the brain of a goldfish.
Image:Character.elmosmom.jpg|Prior to 2006, all that had been seen of a puppet version of Elmo's mom, was her arms in an Elmo's World board book.
Image:elmomommy.jpg|Her appearance in Smile for Elmo is indicative of the style that would be adopted for her permanent look.
==Appearances==
* Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments (2006)
* Talk, Listen, Connect: Homecomings (2008)
* When Parents Are Deployed (footage from the Talk, Listen, Connect series)
* Today (September 8, 2009)
* Families Stand Together (2009)
* When Families Grieve (2010)
* I Heart Elmo (2018)
* Elmo's Playdate (2020)
* The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo (2020)
* Mae's Minute (2020)
==Book appearances==
Illustrated versions have varied from red to orange fur, and various hairstyles. Elmo's mom had been seen in a number of books, and like Grover's Mommy, her appearance varied widely according to the artist. In such titles as Elmo Gets Homesick and When Is My Birthday?, Elmo's mom resembles an adult (female) version of Elmo. However, in the later illustrations and books, the character holds true to the current version of Elmo's mom as seen in Talk, Listen, Connect, which developed into Mae.
For the 1994 book-and-tape set A Grouch's Christmas, Camille Bonora voiced Elmo's mom.
===Old design===
* When Is My Birthday? (1988)
* Elmo Gets Homesick (1990)
* Elmo Goes to Day Camp (1990)
* A Grouch's Christmas (1990)
* Wet Paint (1990)
* Halloween Party (1991)
* I Want to Be an Astronaut (1991)
* No Red Monsters Allowed! (1991)
* What's in Oscar's Trash Can? and Other Good-Night Stories (1991)
* Ernie and His Merry Monsters "Cookie Crumbs" (1992)
* Grover's Guide to Good Manners (1992)
* Elmo's Guessing Game (1993)
* From Trash to Treasure (1993)
* Sesame Street's Mother Goose Rhymes (1993)
* Elmo's Christmas (1993)
* Zip! Pop! Hop! (1996)
* Giddy-Up! (1998)
===New Design===
* Surprise, Mommy! (1999)
* Elmo's ABC Book (2000)
* Elmo's Apartment (2001)
* Elmo's First Babysitter (2001)
* Grover's Farm (2001)
* Sesame Street Train Station (2001)
* Look and Find Elmo (2002)
* Smile for Elmo (2002)
* Big Enough for a Bed (2002)
* It's Check-Up Time, Elmo! (2005)
* Red or Blue, I Like You! (2005)
* Elmo's Big Day (2005)
* Elmo's Breakfast Bingo (2005)
* Be a Friend (2006)
* Big Block Party! (2006)
* Elmo Good Night Stories (2006)
* Elmo's Easy As 123 (2006)
* Elmo's Easy As ABC (2006)
* Fly Away with Big Bird (2006)
* Elmo & Friends Picture Stories (2007)
* Elmo's Favorite Places (2007)
* Elmo 'n' Daddy (2007)
* Good Night, Tucked in Tight (2007)
* Elmo Goes to the Zoo (2007)
* Elmo Visits the Dentist (2007)
* Have Yourself a Furry Little Christmas (2007)
* Mommy Loves Elmo (2007)
* Rosita's Easter on Sesame Street (2007)
* What Makes You Giggle? (2007)
* I'm a Helper (2007)
* Let's Help the Earth (2008)
* What Makes Elmo Happy? (2008)
* What's the Word on the Street? (2008)
* Count to 10 (2009)
* Elmo Loves Hugs! (2009)
* Love, Elmo (2009)
* Murray's First Book of Words (2010)
* Busy Little Monster (2010)
* Elmo's Potty Book (2010)
* Together at Heart (2010)
* Elmo's Alphabet Soup (2011)
* Elmo's Christmas Picture Puzzles & Songs (2011)
* Imagine with Elmo (2011)
* Elmo's Mommy (2012)
* Elmo's Night Before Christmas (2012)
* Get Moving with Elmo! (2012)
* Elmo's 123 Lift-the-Flap (2015)
* I Love You Just Like This! (2015)
* Elmo's Merry Christmas - Oscar's Grouchy Christmas (2016)
* Elmo's Super-Duper Birthday (2016)
* Who's Afraid of Monsters? (2016)
* E is for Elmo (2017)
* Love from Sesame Street (2018)
* Elmo's Lucky Day (2020)
* Joy to the World (2021)
* Home for the Holidays (2021)
* Cookie's Favorite Things (2022)
* Elmo's Mommy Day (2023)
* All Aboard! The Sesame Street Subway (2023)
* Girl Power (2023)
* Elmo Asks Why (2023)
* Elmo's Bake Sale (2024)
* Trucks, Cars, and Things with Wings! (2024)
* Elmo Gives Thanks (2024)
* I Love to Watch You Grow! (2024)
==See also==
* Miss Mae Trump
* Aunt Mae, played by Marilyn Sokol in Big Bird goes to Camp Echo Rock
* Sesame Street monsters
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:Sesame Street Muppet Characters
Category:Sesame Street Characters
Category:Muppet Characters
Category:Sesame Street Monsters