Elmo so sad! Even happy, furry monsters can't escape economic downturn

Elmo, Sesame Street's most giggly spokesmonster, is going through some tough economic times. His mommy has lost her job.

Elmo's daddy is still working. (Note: A Sesame spokeswoman tells me their names are Louie and Mae. I and many Internet sources called them George and Gladys.) But because money is tight, the family will have to cut back -- eating meals at home instead of at restaurants. A trip to the pirate amusement park is out, and movie night has become game night. But the message of Families Stand Together: Feeling Secure in Tough Times, an excellent program airing next month on PBS, is that Elmo's situation is not unusual, especially with the jobless rate expected to top 10 percent before the end of the year.