New Years is a great time to think about the things that make our lives worth living.  For me, one of those things is Muppets (which should come as no surprise to a regular reader of this blog, see HERE, HERE and HERE).

If you don’t believe me that Muppets can make it worth it to wake up each day, watch the video below (and try not to smile) - which is not only appropriate for the holiday at hand, but also features one of my favorite Muppets.

And now that you feel better about life,  takepart with the Jim Henson foundation!

So this is the time of the year when people start to get sick due to cold and crazy weather and also when people eat a lot of junk food.

I can’t think of a more fun reminder of how we can combat sickness and make sure we don’t rot our teeth or gain a ton of weight than the video below:

takepart to support Sesame Street and then make sure to abide by the commandments of health

Perhaps I was a little harsh on Rage Against the Machine the other day.  As it turns out, they, along with David Gray, Massive Attack and other musicians, are still raging, this time against the use of music as torture.  The Zero dB campaign seeks to put an end to prisons using music as psychological torture in the “war on terror” by encouraging widespread condemnation of the practice and calling on governments and the U.N. to enforce the Convention Against Torture. The Guardian reports:

The list of bands whose music is used to torture prisoners in Guantanamo Bay reads like a grim roll call of American pop culture. Metallica, Britney Spears and even the Sesame Street theme tune have all been blasted into cells at Camp X-Ray, with the intention of traumatising and destabalising its inhabitants. But a new anti-torture initiative called Zero dB is hoping to bring an end to the technique by gathering the support of musicians whose songs are used in controversial interrogation techniques by US forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.

The growing list of supporters include many other musicians and artists and is organized by the human rights organization Reprieve and the Musician’s Union.

takepart by signing the Zero dB petition to stop the use of music as torture, and visit the Take Action section for Standard Operating Procedure.

And check out this video

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Earlier this week a friend told me the sad news that the remarkable actor Paul Benedict passed away on Monday at age 70.  Perhaps best known for playing The Jefferson’s quirky neighbor Harry Bentley, and more recently for a case of mistaken identity in Waiting For Guffman, Paul was a talented actor, a kind-hearted individual and will be missed by many.  I had the incredible fortune to perform with Paul this summer in a staged reading on Martha’s Vineyard, where he lived, and found him to be the warm and gregarious gentleman you might expect from some of his roles.  When it was rumored that Paul was coming to see one of my performances on the Vineyard, my fellow actors and I, giggling, would peer from backstage to see if “Guffman” had arrived to whisk us away to Broadway.  And while we will continue to wait, I know that Paul has moved on up to a better place.

Paul made countless appearances on stage and screen over the years, but I had trouble finding more clips to share than these below, so be sure to check out some of his other films.

And takepart by supporting the Actor’s Fund, which helps performers find housing and healthcare in times of need and crisis.  Right now the Fund is helping to build the Schermerhorn House, which will provide green affordable housing for low-income workers, people transitioning out of homelessness, and those living with AIDS/HIV.

Here Paul explains Richard III to Richard Dreyfuss in The Goodbye Girl:

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There are some days when I wish I had more disposable income.  I’m having on of those days right now because I just learned that for 130 dollars you can go to the famous toy store FAO Schwarz and make your very own Muppet Whatnot.

What’s a Whatnot you ask? Well a Whatnot is any muppet that isn’t famous (ie you don’t know their name and they don’t appear over and over again) and is usually a minor player in a skit or is a background muppet.  For example in the Sesame Street skit below, the two young muppets that are not Caption Vegetable are Whatnots!

Of course that video is pretty old school (although eating vegetables certainly isn’t - takepart to learn more about eating vegetables at Growing Chefs ) and Whatnots now are a lot cooler looking - or brighter at least. There are some neat pictures after the jump that are making me all the more sad that I don’t have more disposable income… sigh.  How I love muppets.

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It’s rainy and dreary here in New York City, and it’s making me a little sad.  One thing that always (and I mean always) cheers me up is Sesame Street (I’ve probably posted this video before). So, for all the folks out there having a rough go at it (I’m sure you’re out there) - just remember that you’re awesome as you are.  Just ask Kermit:

And because it is easy to be green (environmentally at least) takepart with We Can Solve It!

Sheryl Crow is going the extra mile to get people registered to vote - she’s giving away free music!

Her plan?

To give away a digital copy of her album “Detours” to the first 50,000 people who register three friends to vote. The promotion is connected with Rock the Vote and also includes a smaller giveaway of her song “Gasoline” to anyone on the Rock the Vote mailing list or anyone that logs on to Rock the Vote Web site.

takepart to register and get some free Sheryl Crow. After the jump are some classic Crow videos (including an awesome Sesame Street performance and her Darfur Now PSA)

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It seems to be a slow news day thus far..

I mean, People’s lead story at the moment is that Leonardo DiCaprio’s grandmother passed away.

I therefore don’t feel bad about posting the video below. After all, nostalgia never goes out of style. Plus, if there ever was a show that deserved more promotion it’s Sesame Street, especially of the classic variety.

takepart to learn more about the Orange Farmers Market and go after the jump for some more classic Sesame Street vids.

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1) Feist on Sesame Street - 1 2 3 4

For the Cinema YouTube Video of the Day, Click here>>

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Sesame Street fans have a reason to be sad, Kermit Love, the man who helped create Big Bird and Snuffleupagus (Bird and Snuffy for those in the know) died this past weekend. He actually built the now famous bird costume, making the big orange feet and applying the feathers. And did you know that there is actually a television monitor inside the costume so that Caroll Spinney can see the set. Love was 91 years old and was living in Poughkeepsie at the time of his death.

So takepart and support Sesame Street today - I know I wouldn’t be who I am without the show and I’m guessing many feel the same way. And while I am sad about Kermit Love, I have to admit that I’m happy that I have an excuse to post Sesame Street videos on the blog - enjoy!

This one is good for you folks stuck at work today…. All you have to do is imagine!

More videos after the jump!

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