Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie Are Not Gay

Sesame Street officials have responded to this week's petition to allow Bert and Ernie to marry on the show.

"Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves. "Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics, they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation," Sesame Workshop said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Yesterday's statement echoes those issued in previous years.

World Record Lucy

Over 900 women and men dressed as Lucille Ball gathered in the star's birthplace of Jamestown, New York this weekend, setting a new Guinness record.

Today Is Lucille Ball's 100th Birthday

And Google is paying tribute on their home page.

Evil Homosexuals Are Winning Over America Through Television

Yesterday GLAAD released their annual assessment of LGBT portrayals on network television, declaring that ABC Family was the best place to find positive gay characters and plots. Right on cue, the Southern Baptist Convention is expressing its disgust.

Dwayne Hastings, a vice president at the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, agreed that TV has shaped the culture, but not for the better. Hastings said parents should instill strong morals and stand on biblical truth, which condemns homosexuality. "For families who seek to follow Christ and earnestly live out their faith, there is nothing happy in this report," Hastings said. "Those who push for so-called homosexual rights and lobby for same-sex interests ... have a powerful ally with deep pockets in the entertainment industry who are more than willing to use their media to recast the homosexual lifestyle as normative."

He added, "Unfortunately, many Americans are willing to allow Hollywood to manipulate their perspective on the world." Said Hastings, "The reality is that if we were to publish the same kind of report that GLAAD has produced but instead focus on the presence of evangelical Christians on television, it would be a very short report. But few are concerned about the lack of accurate, portrayal of Bible-believing characters on television or in the movies. "Whether we want to admit it or not, there is a well-financed and detailed plan at work to change Americans' opinions on those who practice homosexual and lesbian lifestyles. Given reports like this one, we can tell it is a very effective plan."

There's a lack of "Bible-believing characters" on television? I coulda sworn my cable system vomits out about about two dozen ALL-Christian channels. In multiple languages.

ABC Family Tops GLAAD's Study

According to GLAAD, the best place to find quality LGBT-oriented television programming in the last year was on ABC Family.

ABC Family became the second network in the NRI's history to earn an "Excellent" rating from GLAAD. Of its 103 hours of original primetime programming, 55% included LGBT-inclusive images which also reflected the ethnic and racial diversity of the LGBT community. It is notable that both ABC Family and MTV, which in 2010 received the first-ever "Excellent" rating from GLAAD, are both youth-oriented networks. "As television audiences get to know our community and the common ground that we all share on the screen and in their own lives, acceptance is growing," said Mike Thompson, Acting President of GLAAD. "Inclusive programming is a hit with critics and audiences alike who cheered for Kurt and Blaine's romance on Glee or watched the wedding of Callie and Arizona on Grey's Anatomy."

Hit the link for a breakdown of other networks.

Al Jazeera: Now On The Air In NYC

Beginning today, Al Jazeera will broadcast (in English) on NYC's Time-Warner Cable channel 92. Gothamist reports that this is the network's "first distribution on any major cable or satellite system in the United States." (The NYT points out that the network is also currently subleasing space on a DC cable system.)

MTV Turns 30

And Boy Culture points us to this magazine spread featuring the original VJs. (Nina Blackwood is almost 70!) I remember sitting on the edge of the sofa with my roommate, anxiously waiting for our cable signal to go from snow to MTV on the first day our local system began carrying it. I also remember how disappointed we were when it was Fleetwood Mac that first appeared on the screen. Embiggen the above image for details on what happened to the first MTV cast.

Open Thread Thursday

What's your favorite TV theme song, old and recent? Mine would be the 1976 disco version of Theme From S.W.A.T by Rhythm Heritage. And then Jonny Quest.

New Reality Show For Bristol Palin

Snowbilly pass-out party bottom, teen mom, and abstinence advocate Bristol Palin has been handed yet another reality series. Bristol: "The next show that I’m going to be doing will be with Chris and Kyle Massey and we’re going to be doing a reality show and it’s charity-based and it’s going to be out of California." Mediaite notes:

The internet helpfully informs us that Kyle Massey is a Disney Channel star that you might recognize from such shows as Cory in the House and That’s So Raven. His older brother, Chris Massey, has acted on Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101, once home to another famous young mom, Jamie Lynn Spears. An attempt to appeal to a younger demographic, perhaps? Bristol shares that her son, Tripp, will also be featured on the new show and that the experience will teach him “to give back.” It’s due to air this November on Biography.

Jane Fonda: Teabaggers Forced QVC To Cancel My Appearance

According to a post on Jane Fonda's personal blog, wingnuts forced QVC to cancel a planned appearance to hawk her new book, Prime Time.

Bottom line, this has gone on far too long, this spreading of lies about me! None of it is true. NONE OF IT! I love my country. I have never done anything to hurt my country or the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for us. I do not understand what the far right stands to gain by continuing with these myths. In this case, they denied a lot of people the chance to hear about a book that can help make life better, easier and more fulfilling. I am deeply grateful for all of the support I have been getting since this happened, including from my Vietnam Veterans friends.

The Most Obnoxious Homo In TV History

Further cements his repulsive reputation.