"malfunctioning?"
an old clock with cogs that won't turn, or a vacuum that won't pick up debris: those are malfunctions. But when a toy makes death threats to a toddler -- that's a SkyNet degree fuck-up, not some glitch.
I like that the local news is so much more upset about this than the mother is. I also like how often they show Elmo saying the offending phrase with James in the room.
Is it saying "Kill James"? if so, I see this as a diabolical plot by Fisher-Price to activate its army of animatronic Elmos to murder the first-born of every household.
Wait, did they say something about hooking the doll up to the computer? Is there an Elmo doll that lets you make it's phrases with software? If so....I am so getting one.