The few times I'm sorry for Elmo
Boober Gorg said:
The only SS I can think of that I really didn't like, was the episode where Zoe and Elmo played with her pet rock, "Rocko". It was totally stupid, and she kept getting on Elmo's (and my) nerves 'cause she mostly payed attention to "Rocko". I literally cheered when Elmo angrily stood up for himself towards the end.
Zoe's actually done that in two episodes, one of which aired in a recent season (whether it was 35 or 36, I'm not sure). I saw that and immediately recalled the first episode; when a rehashed plot comes up, I'm sorely tempted to yell at the characters: "Zoe, darn it, you did the
same thing a few years ago and ticked Elmo off...when the heck are you gonna
learn from your mistakes?!?" Even though I normally wouldn't side with Elmo in a Muppet-centered plot, I know that Zoe's friendships are going to be sorely tested whenever she mentions the R-word. She's upset Elmo that way, she's upset Gordon that way, and I'm pretty sure that she's upset at least one other human on the street that way. Just once, I'd love to see an episode where Rocco literally gets smashed to bits (maybe by Biff and Sully's tools).
P.S. Not to nitpick over your spelling, but official closed captions on Sesame Street have spelled "Rocco" with two C's in at least two episodes.