The Sesame Street Muppets Celebrate America in "A Capitol Fourth"

The Muppets of Sesame Street will help America celebrate its 233rd birthday this summer with a musical appearance in A Capitol Fourth, a national Independence Day concert celebration. The annual concert event is broadcast live on PBS and NPR; it is viewed and heard by millions across the country and around the world, as well as attended by more than half a million people who gather at the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

This year's concent will be hosted by actor Jimmy Smits and feature performances by Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, the Muppets of Sesame Street, Michael Feinstein, the cast of Jersey Boys, Andrew von Oeyen, the Choral Arts Society of Washington, the National Symphony Orchestra, and others. This performers will light up the stage on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol for the 29th annual A Capitol Fourth celebration, followed by one of the most spectacular fireworks display anywhere in the nation.

Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, and others Muppets from the cast of Sesame Street will be on hand to celebrate the special occasion. The Muppets will perform a musical medley of patriotic favorites as well as classic songs from their iconic children's television series.

A Capitol Fourth will be broadcast live on PBS on Saturday, July 4, 2009 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET (check your local listings for details), as well as on National Public Radio and to American troops around the world on the American Forces Radio and Television Network. So be sure to check out this patriotic appearance by the Sesame Street gang this 4th of July and celebrate America with the Muppets.

Muppets' Halloween Special Coming this Fall

Earlier this year it was reported that Disney's Muppets Studio was looking at the possibility of producing a Halloween special starring the Muppets. I have received word that Disney is developing the idea and a Muppet Halloween special is planned for this fall. The details of the special are being kept tightly under wraps, however the word is that the Muppet crew will begin filming in the next month!

The all-new haunting television special is planned to debut this fall on an undisclosed network. I will be sure to keep you updated as soon as details are confirmed and more information becomes available. However fans should be prepared to enjoy a spooky Halloween adventure with Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo, Miss Piggy and the gang on television this fall.

Oscar the Grouch Teaches Money Management in ABC Special

Oscar the Grouch, Sesame Street's green and grourchy Muppet, will appear in an all-new television special this Friday on ABC to teach viewers about finance. The television special, entitled UN-BROKE: What You Need to Know About Money, aims to explain the basics of finance and managing your money. The special gives an unconventional look at the fundamentals of everyday finance with facts about credit cards, mortgages, stocks and bonds, investing and 401(k)'s, in a fresh new format combining information and humor. The one-hour television special is scheduled to air on Friday, May 29, 2009 (9:00 - 10:00 pm, ET) on the ABC (check your local listings for details).

Hosted by Good Morning America contributor Mellody Hobson, the special will also feature appearances by Will Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, the Jonas Brothers, Christian Slater, Cedric the Entertainer, Seth Green, Rosario Dawson, the E*Trade Babies, and many others.

So be sure to tune in to ABC this Friday for an educational look at managing money, and a fun financial-focused appearance by Oscar the Grouch. For more information on the special, visit ABC.com

Muppet Comics Roll on with The Muppet Show, Robin Hood, and Peter Pan

BOOM! Studios plans to continue their series of Muppet comic books with more mini-series. The company currently has two 4-part Muppet Show comic book series underway, plus two 4-part fairy tale adaptations coming soon.

The first Muppet mini-series, "The Muppet Show Comic Book" by Roger Langridge, launched in March with monthly installments following thereafter. The third issue will be released soon, and the 4-part story arc is set to conclude in June. The series became an instant top-seller, with the first two issues already entering second printings. However Roger Langridge's adaptation of The Muppet Show won't end after issue #4, as the series will be followed by another four-part arc by Langridge entitled "The Treasure Of Peg Leg Wilson". The second Muppet Show comic arc will kick off in July and follow with monthly installments into the fall.

BOOM! is also readying a series of Muppet fairy tale books with twisted retellings of classic tales staring the Muppets. The first comic, "Muppet Robin Hood", will run throughout the summer with a four-part story featuring Kermit the Frog in the titular role of Robin Hood and Miss Piggy as Maid Marion. While originally planned to launch last month, the series' release was somewhat delayed; however the first issue was sent to print last week and issue #1 is planned to hit comic book stores on Wednesday (May 27th). In the comic, Robin Hood and the Merry Men take on the stuffy Sheriff of Muppetham (Sam the Eagle) and the wicked Gonzo of Gisbourne. The mini-series is being written by Tim Beedle, with artwork by Armand Villavert Jr.

The fourth Muppet comic arc, also retelling of a classic story, will be "Muppet Peter Pan". The 4-part arc is planned to hit comic book stores and newsstands around August. The timid Kermie Pan resides in the magical realm of Neverswamp, where the pushy fairy Piggytink tries to toughen him up! One night, while searching for his shadow, Kermie Pan and Piggytink encounter the Darling children, who run away to Neverswamp and encourage Kermie Pan to battle Captain Gonzo! Written by Grace Randolph with artwork by Amy Mebberson, the issues in the 4-part comic will also feature special covers by David Petersen.

I will be sure to keep you updated with more information on all the upcoming Muppet comic books as more details and titles become available.

Elmo & Gordon Teach Ways to Stay Healthy

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have joined forces with Sesame Street to produce a national PSA campaign designed to encourage families and children to take steps to protect themselves from the H1N1 influenza virus. The campaign is sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Ad Council and Sesame Workshop. So be on the lookout for the new public service announments and other material designed to teach ways to stay happy and healthy. For more information on the campaign, visit sesamestreet.org.

Sid and Sesame Sweep Daytime Emmy Nominations

Earlier today the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the nominees for the 36th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards. The awards recognize outstanding achievement in all fields of daytime television; the Jim Henson Company's newest television series Sid the Science Kid received two nominations, and Sesame Street earned a remarkable 15 nominations – including the nominations of Leslie Carrara, Kevin Clash, Chris Knowings and Marty P. Robinson in the outstanding performer in a children's series category.

Additionally, this year's Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Sesame Street for its 40 years of education and entertainment. The 36th Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on the CW Television Network on Sunday, August 30th, 2009 (check your local listings for details).

Sesame Street's 2009 Daytime Emmy Nominations:
• Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Abby Cadabby
• Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: Kevin Clash as Elmo
• Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: Chris Knowings as Chris Robinson
• Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: Martin P. Robinson as Telly Monster
• Outstanding Pre-School Children's Series
• Outstanding Original Song - Childrens and Animation: "The Addition Expedition"
• Outstanding Original Song - Childrens and Animation: "Elmo's Ducks"
• Outstanding Original Song - Childrens and Animation: "I Don't Wanna Be a Prince"
• Outstanding Directing in a Children's Series
• Outstanding Achievement in Costume Desing / Styling
• Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction
• Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition
• Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction / Electronic Camera / Video
• Outstanding Writing in a Children's Series
• New Approaches - Daytime Children's Entertainment

Sid the Science Kid's 2009 Daytime Emmy Nominations:
• Outstanding Children's Animated Program
• Outstanding Achievement in Main Title & Graphic Design

For the complete list of nominees, be sure to check out the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' official website at emmyonline.org; and don't forget to catch the 36th Annual Daytime Emmys to see how many awards Sid the Science Kid and Sesame Street take home this year. We congratulate the casts and crews of Sid the Science Kid and Sesame Street on their remarkable achievements and wish them the best of luck at the Emmy ceremony in August.

"Sesame Street: Silly Songs" Returns to CD Stores

Sesame Workshop and KOCH Records have announced plans to re-releases the classic Sesame Street album "Sesame Street: Silly Songs" on CD later this month. The currently out-of-print album feature great Sesame Street music including such favorites as "Monster in the Mirror", "Captain Vegetable" and "The Honker-Duckie-Dinger Jamboree". The re-released album is set to hit store shelves on May 19, 2009. The newly remastered CD features all-new artwork that matches Sesame Workshop's current design style for consumer products; additionally the new CD includes a color booklet contain the lyrics to all the songs!

So be sure to pick this album up when it hits stores next week (and with a suggested retail price under $10, how can you say no?). Below is a copy of the official track listing for the title; and I will be sure to keep you updated as information on future Sesame Street audio releases become available.

Track listing:
1. The Honker-Duckie-Dinger Jamboree
2. Batty Bat
3. I'm Proud to Be a Cow
4. Everything in the Wrong Place Ball
5. This Song Is for the Birds
6. There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea!
7. Captain Vegetable
8. Keep in the Park Clean for the Pigeons
9. Love in the Junkyard
10. The Transylvania Polka
11. Oh, Look What Our Baby Can Do
12. Big Round Nose
13. Elephant Elevator Operator
14. Boogie Woogie Piggies
15. Monster in the Mirror

Watch Michelle Obama & Elmo Promote Healthy Habits

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Labyrinth Comes to Blu-Ray

Jim Henson's 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth is getting the HD treatment this fall, with its first ever Blu-Ray release. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment announced today that Labyrinth is planned for release on Blu-Ray on September 1, 2009. The disc specifications for the title have not been announced, and I will be sure to keep you updated with information on bonus features and other specifications as soon as such details are announced. I have also been told that The Dark Crystal is slated for a Blu-Ray release this year as well, however a specific date has not been set. I'll keep you updated on all these exciting Hi-Def Jim Henson releases.

Kermit the Frog Supports The Prince's Rainforests Project

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Michelle Obama Visits Sesame Street

While addressing a crowd at the United Nations in New York yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama announced that she had just visited Sesame Street, and she was absolutely giddy from the experience. "I'm thrilled to be here, but I was just at 'Sesame Street' — I'm sorry," Mrs. Obama said. "And I never thought I'd be on 'Sesame Street' with Elmo and Big Bird and I was thrilled. I'm still thrilled. I'm on a high!"

The First Lady visted the set of Sesame Street to record a public service announcements for Sesame Workshop’s Healthy Habits For Life Initiative. In the PSAs, Michelle Obama and longtime Sesame Street resident Elmo chat about the importance of eating right, exercising regularly, and being a healthy and positive role model.

"I think it's probably the best thing I've done so far in the White House. But we were there talking about nutrition and healthy eating, and it's just been a thrill."

Look for the PSA to begin airing soon. I will be sure to keep you updated with more information on these PSAs and Mrs. Obama's visit to Sesame Street as more information becomes available.

Beaker Wins!

Winners were announced today for the 13th annual Webby Awards and Beaker clinched the win of the People's Voice Award! Beaker's Webby-nominated "Ode to Joy" music video was voted the People Voice Award in the Music sub-category of Online Film & Video. A big thanks to everyone who voted and supported Beaker in the polls; and congratulations Beaker, Muppet Studios, Soapbox Films and everyone else involved in bringing this video to the web.