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The TV series Friends undermined family values; Sesame Street taught ethnic minorities about civil disobedience; Happy Days had a subtle anti-Vietnam subtext; and the 1980s cop show MacGyver tried to persuade pistol-packing Americans that guns are bad. That, at least, is the considered opinion of Ben Shapiro, an investigative author and right-wing columnist who will publish a detailed exposé tomorrow telling how Hollywood producers, writers and actors have been secretly using TV to promote what he calls a "radical" left-leaning political agenda. Shapiro's book, Primetime Propaganda runs to 416 pages and revolves around comments by 70-odd industry heavyweights who he...

It’s a good thing we’re flush with money, highly influential and well respected around the world. Otherwise, this plan might not seem like such a spectacularly fabulous idea. The United States is funding a Pakistani remake of the popular TV children’s show Sesame Street. In a new effort to win hearts and minds in Pakistan, USAID – the development arm of the US government – is donating $20m (£12m) to the country to create a local Urdu version of the show… The remake will star a puppet called Rani, the six-year-old daughter of a peasant farmer, with pigtails and a...

In a new effort to win hearts and minds in Pakistan, USAID - the development arm of the US government - is donating $20m (£12m) to the country to create a local Urdu version of the show. The project aims to boost education in Pakistan, where many children have no access to regular schooling. The show is to be filmed in Lahore and aired later in the year. "The programme is part of a series of ventures that is aimed at developing the educational infrastructure in the country," Virginia Morgan, a spokesperson for USAID, told the BBC. "Education is one...

As we all know, the Republican Party is the single most evil organization in human history. Republicans hate the poor, hate the environment, hate teachers, hate foreigners, and generally hate joy and happiness in all its forms. And now the Daily Beast’s Samuel Jacobs says the GOP is poised to undertake their most heartless act yet: “kill Big Bird.” Jacobs is citing a report in the New York Times which describes House Republicans’ latest batch of proposed budget cuts, meant to reduce federal spending by $100 billion. “Dozens of programs” are on the chopping block, including the Corporation for Public...

(edit)  But Bert has now ignited fresh debate about his sexuality after using a slang word for gay to describe himself. In a message posted on Twitter about the premiere of the recent A-Team film remake, the mono-browed Muppet said on his official page: "Ever notice how similar my hair is to Mr. T's? "The only difference is mine is a little more 'mo,' a little less 'hawk.'" The remark meant nothing to most readers, but sparked intrigue in certain gay circles, where "mo" is shorthand for "homosexual". Writing on the gay blog AfterElton.com, Ed Kennedy noted that the tweet...

Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog have some new friends, but they're a long way from "Sesame Street." One of America's best-loved children's shows, which began life on a fictional New York street over 40 years ago, is about to land in Nigeria under the title of "Sesame Square" -- bringing with it some distinctly West African twists. The show stars Kami, a girl Muppet who is HIV-positive, has golden hair and a zest for adventure; and Kobi, an energetic, furry, blue Muppet whose troublesome escapades help others learn from his mistakes.

"Sesame Street" started previewing its 41st season on the Web this week, releasing teaser clips featuring stars like Jude Law, Will.i.am, Colin Farrell, and Run-DMC's Reverend Run. One of the shorts, however, got a lot more attention than the rest: a two-and-a-half minute video of pop star Katy Perry singing a reworked version of her 2008 hit "Hot N Cold" with Elmo. The issue: the perception that Perry's outfit wasn't appropriate for a show geared toward children ages one to six.

This is an unaired clip from Sesame Street. According to the DailyCaller blog, the show's producer have already announced they are editing it out. Not terrible but not appropriate either.

Producers of the hit children's TV show Sesame Street have canceled an appearance by pop singer Katy Perry following feedback from parents. Perry, who rose to stardom in 2008 with the No. 1 single, "I Kissed A Girl, was set to appear on the premiere of the show's 41st season on Sept 27. But after a segment of the show appeared online on Monday Sesame Workshop, which produces the show, decided not to air it. "In light of the feedback we've received on the Katy Perry music video which was released on YouTube only, we have decided we will not...

If you can’t fool Big Bird, who can you?

Palestinians rehearse a scene for the "Shara'a Simsim," the Palestinian "Sesame Street," in a studio in the West Bank city of Ramallah. From left are Shaden Saleem, with her puppet named Kareem, Rjaae Sandoka and Fahdi Alghoul, with his puppet named Haneen. (CNS/Debbie Hill) By Judith SudilovskyCatholic News Service EL BIREH, West Bank (CNS) -- Muppet Haneen and her friend, Kareem the rooster, are learning how to dress themselves and have fun with their letters. They are discovering how to overcome their fears and accept differences in others. They also learn to channel their anger and analyze situations. Taping...

Google strikes yet another blow for p.c.: celebrating the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street on its front page, while ignoring the 234th anniversary of the founding of the USMC.Priorities ...

While Fox News may be used to taking a never-ending beating from the liberal folks at CNN and MSNBC, you can bet they were not expecting a jab from venerable kids favorite, ‘Sesame Street.’ But that’s just what happened. Sesame Street, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary tomorrow with a visit from Michelle Obama, recently reaired an episode from a couple years ago - when the 2008 presidential election was in full swing - that has Oscar the Grouch launching his own television new channel called “GNN” - Grouchy News Network. After an atypical lighthearted broadcast, Grundgetta, a female Muppet...

Google has always been surprisingly random in the historical events it chooses to highlight by changing the logo on the front page. All last week they chose to highlight Sesame Street by promoting different characters from the show to celebrate the T.V. show's 40th Anniversary. If you follow these things, you'll know that Google celebrated the birthday of H.G. Wells, the USB code, Comic Con, and crop circles in the same way. On today's anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, however, Americans get another Sesame Street theme featuring the "Count."

In honor of Sesame Street celebrating 40 years... Sesame Street explains a Ponzi Scheme Ten Top Ways to Tell if Your Kid is Watching Too Much Sesame Street 10) Always pointing out that "one of these things is not like the others". 9) Knows everybody in the neighborhood, and what they do, and can sing a little song about it. 8) Whenever running or jumping, is trailed by six afterimages. 7) Checks under garbage cans for furry legs. 6) Eats an entire box of cookies (including the box) in less than a minute. 5) Insists that pigeons have fascinating personalities....

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2009 – To the envy of all the neighborhood kids, I was invited to New York yesterday to attend the taping of a special Sesame Workshop production aimed at helping military children. Elmo's dad, Louie, helps Elmo cope with the loss of his Uncle Jack during the filming of a Sesame Workshop video aimed at helping military children deal with the loss of a loved one. Elmo wears his uncle's hat in memory and celebration of his uncle's life. The video was filmed in Queens, New York, Oct. 14, 2009. Courtesy photo by Gil Vaknin  (Click photo...

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2009 – As filming for Sesame Workshop’s latest “Talk, Listen, Connect,” video got under way here yesterday, it became clear that while it’s not always sunny on Sesame Street, ultimately the clouds can be swept away. Deborah Mullen, wife of Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, poses with Elmo’s mom, Mae, on the New York set of Sesame Workshop’s third “Talk, Listen, Connect,” video Oct. 15, 2009. The new video in the TLC series addresses the loss of a loved one and offers parents and children alike tools to deal with...

Here is a brief video clip of Mike Huckabee showing a "Tonight Show" spoof of Sesame Street's "Big Bird" scolding First Lady Michelle Obama during a visit she made to the set. "The Tonight Show" changed some of the dialogue to have Big Bird hammering Michelle Obama for coming to push her husband's "socialist health care agenda." . . . (VIDEO)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – U.S. first lady Michelle Obama is to kick off the 40th anniversary season of the children's TV show "Sesame Street" with a segment encouraging kids to plant gardens and eat healthy food. Obama, who is planting a fruit and vegetable garden on the grounds of the White House, will appear in the November10 season debut of "Sesame Street" -- the educational show for kids that is broadcast in more than 120 countries around the world. Producers said on Tuesday that Obama will teach the furry "residents" of Sesame Street about the benefits of growing a garden...

Three agencies are teaming up with Sesame Street to prepare school children for the new threat of the H1N1 virus. The White House announced Tuesday morning that the Homeland Security, Education, and Health and Human Services departments are enlisting the help of Elmo and Gordon from the long-running educational show to teach children how to avoid H1N1, also know as the swine flu. President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet with the secretaries of those three agencies and other administration officials later Tuesday afternoon to discuss the threat. Elmo, Gordon, the Sesame Workshop and the federal agencies will try to...