It's not surprising that a colorful and lively show like Sesame Street, one devised by the genius that was Muppets creator Jim Henson, was at heart a comedy. What is surprising is that so many adults who grew up with the show still find it so damn funny (or maybe that has more to do with the rise of marijuana use, but beggars can't be users, er, choosers).
In fact, a recent box set of the show's earliest episodes came with a disclaimer that the episodes contained within it were "not for kids." That's also because it contained the rare lost episode from the early 1970s when Grover and Prairie Dawn accidentally wandered into the Plato's Retreat swingers club where they learned the difference between "top" and "bottom".
The point is adults can find just as much to laugh at as their kids do and here are the biggest chortle-makers.
Sesame Street did a Mad Men spoof recently, and now they're spoofing another contemporary pop culture icon: the iPod.
In this clip, the Muppets are seen wearing headphones and dancing in silhouette a la various commercials for Apple's iPod. Steve Jobs called and is going to sue PBS. Just kidding!
[via Mashable]
If the very thought of the fledgling economy makes you just a little bit sad, get some Kleenex and a shoulder to cry on because you're about to bawl your eyes out.
If you are the kind of heartless bastard who won't cry at the discovery of this news, you should. Get a fork, poke yourself in the eyes, and let nature take its course.
The Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization that created the world's greatest kids show in the history of whatever, is laying off a huge chunk of its staff.
(S08E05) After four episodes that have ranged from the pretty-decent to the almost-classic, we start this week's double-shot of Scrubs with the season's first real clunker. Which is odd, because you'd think the presence of everyone's Sesame Street favorites in J.D.'s fantasies would have made for a funnier show. But I'm starting to wonder if it's becoming less funny because it's nothing we haven't seen from this show many times before.
The new season of Sesame Street is right around the corner and, while I normally wouldn't give it a second thought, I am unusually excited right now. No, this isn't a snarky rant about how I've been driven to children's TV because of the sorry state of grown-up programming. Sesame Street's 39th season, starting August 11th, looks like it has a lot of fun lined up not only for the pre-schoolers but parents as well. I already posted Feist's upcoming special take on "1 2 3 4", but I had no idea how many amazing guest appearances were coming. Just check out this star-filled highlight reel after the jump.
"Baracknophobia": The irrational fear of hope is spreading, even among Barack Obama's own people. Obama campaign staffers sent away two women with head scarves because they didn't want to remind people at the photo op about the rumors of Obama being Muslim. Not as bad as the baby-punching, I must say, and at least he apologized.
"Guantanamo Baywatch": The Supreme Court ruled that prisoners in Guantanamo Bay can contest their detention before a judge. Some folks aren't too happy about this, what with their poor Mexican topiary managers having fewer rights and all. The managers are Mexican, by the way, not the topiaries. Senior Imprisoned Correspondent, Gitmo, stopped by to share his thoughts. Man, Jon Stewart is really no good with puppets. Every voice he does sounds like South Park's Jennifer "Taco-Flavored Kisses" Lopez.
"Guantanamo Baywatch": Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other plotters of 9/11 have appeared at a military tribunal, at which Khalid Sheikh Mohammed represented himself. Somehow, the Daily Show writers managed to work in an entire "Elmo with a beard equals 'Gitmo'" joke that ran way too long. I'll admit that's the first time that I've ever laughed out loud at someone getting waterboarded, though. The best part was when Jon Stewart used Gitmo to wipe up the waterboard mess right before the commercial break.
That's right, the long-running PBS children's show has made a mega-deal with the shoe company to create a line of sneakers for infants and grade school kids. The infant sneakers will cost $43 (cough) and the grade school sneakers will be $65. The shoes will be available in major chain retail stores and the shoes will also be pushed during episodes of Sesame Street.
I'd like to say I'm surprised by this, but I'm not. ABC has canceled Men in Trees. Despite being one of the genuinely sweet and funny comedy/dramas on the network -- one that's more rooted in reality than flights of whimsy and pretentiousness -- Men in Trees has struggled to find a home on ABC. It's been shuttled about from day to day, time slot to time slot, in and out of the line up so that it became a gypsy. How were you as a viewer to invest in the romantic adventure that Marin Frist was on in the wilds of Alaska when you weren't sure when the dang show was going to air? A failed attempt to put the show on Lifetime back in March spelled doom for the show.
Sesame Street would like to be there for you parents when there is a learning opportunity out in the real world. Let's say your child is at the playground and isn't sharing. Or, she's having a fit while you're waiting in line at the grocery store. The Street wants you to whip out your video iPod (or other portable media device) and have Elmo give your child a lesson on all sorts of things. Or, at least distract her.
Each week, Sesame Street will turn out a five-minute podcast that includes clips from old and new episodes. The episodes will each have a theme and will extend Sesame Street's focus this season on vocabulary and literacy.
You can subscribe to the weekly video podcasts here or in iTunes.
Ex-Practice star Kelli Williams will have an arc on Men in Trees this season. She'll play a love interest for Jack (James Tupper). The story is that Jack goes out of town for a spell to do some work and finds himself falling for a married woman, played by Williams. She'll appear in 5-6 episodes, starting with episode 7 this next season.
Sounds a little bit like art is imitating real life here, with Tupper hooking up with his married co-star Anne Heche last year.
Also? Sounds like Justine Bateman must be leaving the show because the last time we saw Men in Trees (last February), Jack was dedicated to his relationship with Lynn.
Season 38 of Sesame Street will premiere on August 13th with a focus on literacy. All sorts of celebrity guests will participate in a new opening segment called "What's the Word on the Street?" Each episode, a celebrity such as Jon Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres or Brian Williams will answer the question by giving a word and its definition. The goal is to expand early literacy skills such as vocabulary and rhyming. Other celebrity guests next season include Tina Fey, Anderson Cooper, and the New York Jets (sorry, Joel).
Of course, Sesame Street also plans spoofs on popular television shows with skits such as A's Anatomy, The Amazing Alphabet Race and Meal or No Meal (I'm totally looking forward to that one).
So... what exactly happened between Anne Heche and James Tupper? Their new series, Men in Trees, has a strong showing in ratings on Thursdays following Grey's Anatomy. It's a cute, if somewhat unremarkable show. But earlier this year, the two stars made headlines when their on-screen romance carried on off-screen. Why do we care? Well, in truth, we shouldn't care- but it is interesting because both of them were married at the time.
James Tupper, who plays breathy Jack on Men in Trees, recently gave an interview to People magazine where he swears up and down that neither of them cheated on their spouses. He says their marriages were both over before they hooked up. It's like Brad and Angelina all over again - and we didn't believe them either, did we?
Of course, I hope that the love Heche and Tupper feel for each other is real, but I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't. In the interview, Tupper uses that line that all actors use when they fall for a co-star: "I've never met anyone like her." That's a red flag, if I've ever seen one. I think we hear that one from adults in relationships as often as we hear child actors say "I've worked for this all my life!"
If you have little kids in your home, either because they're your children or you just left a window open and some random kids crawled into your home and now refuse to leave, you might like to know that there are six free videos from the Learn Along with Sesame series available on iTunes. The segments include:
(S01E17) After feeling like we've been treading water over the last few episodes, this one really felt like the show started moving forward again. Jack and Lynn are getting married, Mai and Sylvia are planning a wedding, Sarah is moving on with her career, Annie and Patrick are meeting her parents, and Marin is having boy troubles of a different kind. I have to admit that I was getting a little tired of this show after last week but this episode was invigorating.
It's not surprising that a colorful and lively show like Sesame Street, one devised by the genius that was Muppets creator Jim Henson, was at heart a comedy. What is surprising is that so many adults who grew up with the show still find it so damn funny (or maybe that has more to do with the rise of marijuana use, but beggars can't be users, er, choosers). 
If the very thought of the fledgling economy makes you just a little bit sad, get some Kleenex and a shoulder to cry on because you're about to bawl your eyes out. 
(S08E05) After four episodes that have ranged from the pretty-decent to the almost-classic, we start this week's double-shot of Scrubs with the season's first real clunker. Which is odd, because you'd think the presence of everyone's Sesame Street favorites in J.D.'s fantasies would have made for a funnier show. But I'm starting to wonder if it's becoming less funny because it's nothing we haven't seen from this show many times before.
The new season of 
"Baracknophobia": The irrational fear of hope is spreading, even among Barack Obama's own people. Obama campaign staffers sent away 
"Guantanamo Baywatch": Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other plotters of 9/11 have appeared at a military tribunal, at which Khalid Sheikh Mohammed represented himself. Somehow, the Daily Show writers managed to work in an entire "Elmo with a beard equals 'Gitmo'" joke that ran way too long. I'll admit that's the first time that I've ever laughed out loud at someone getting waterboarded, though. The best part was when Jon Stewart used Gitmo to wipe up the waterboard mess right before the commercial break.
Can you tell me how to get, how to get a pair of the 
I'd like to say I'm surprised by this, but I'm not. 
Sesame Street would like to be there for you parents when there is a learning opportunity out in the real world. Let's say your child is at the playground and isn't sharing. Or, she's having a fit while you're waiting in line at the grocery store. The Street wants you to whip out your video iPod (or other portable media device) and have Elmo give your child a lesson on all sorts of things. Or, at least distract her.
Ex-Practice star Kelli Williams will have an arc on Men in Trees this season. She'll play a love interest for Jack (James Tupper). The story is that Jack goes out of town for a spell to do some work and finds himself falling for a married woman, played by Williams. She'll appear in 5-6 episodes, starting with episode 7 this next season.
Season 38 of Sesame Street will premiere on August 13th with a focus on literacy. All sorts of celebrity guests will participate in a new opening segment called "What's the Word on the Street?" Each episode, a celebrity such as Jon Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres or Brian Williams will answer the question by giving a word and its definition. The goal is to expand early literacy skills such as vocabulary and rhyming. Other celebrity guests next season include Tina Fey, Anderson Cooper, and the New York Jets (
So... what exactly happened between Anne Heche and James Tupper? Their new series, Men in Trees, has a strong showing in ratings on Thursdays following Grey's Anatomy. It's a cute, if somewhat unremarkable show. But earlier this year, the two stars 
If you have little kids in your home, either because they're your children or you just left a window open and some random kids crawled into your home and now refuse to leave, you might like to know that there are six free videos from the Learn Along with Sesame series 
Mike Henry and Daryl Hall on a Cleveland Show Thanksgiving
The TV Squad Podcast: The Prisoner, '80s TV, soap news and more
Let's talk about spoilers ...
