The latest “Sesame Street” Muppets to be featured on Google.com this week are the famous duo, Bert and Ernie.

Ernie and Bert

Search engine Google is honoring “Sesame Street’s” 40^th anniversary with a series of special doodles on its logo.  Big Bird was featured on Wednesday, and Cookie Monster was featured on Thursday.

“Sesame Street” will celebrate its big anniversary on November 10, 2009.  To see highlights of the upcoming 40^th season, click here.

The “Sesame Street” Muppets have also made several TV appearances this week, including “Today” on NBC Friday morning.

With a few more days to go before the anniversary celebration, Google will likely honor a few more “Sesame Street” Muppets on its page. Which Muppets would you like to see? Share your comments below.

Cookie Monster turns Veggie Monster? Sounds like a Monster Mix-up. Cookie Monster and Veggie Monster are the center of a viral internet search today as Cookie Monster recently celebrated his 40^th birthday.

Nutrition has changed since Cookie Monster graced American TV screens some 40 years ago.  Now, parents try to keep their children away from refined sugars and starches made popular in part by cartoon-like characters such as Cookie Monster.

Still yet, a Cookie Monster as Veggie Monster sounds more like a bad Halloween costume than a smart well-thought out switch.  There were some rumors that the producers of Sesame Street were going to turn the crumb-gobbling monster into a veggie-gobbling monster to promote healthy living.

I am sorry, but a blue monster gobbling up bits of carrots churns my stomach.  Crumbling cookies are funny. Shredded carrots and bits of corn are not.

Luckily, as Gather.com points out the rumors about Cookie Monster turning in to Veggie Monster are FALSE.  American children will be able to watch their favorite blue monster gobble up chocolate chip cookies for many years to come.

The Cookie Monster/Veggie Monster discussion leads me to wonder if Cookie Monster really does play a role in the way children see nutrition.  If you think about it, Cookie Monster isn’t really eating the cookies – he’s crumbling them up and getting them everywhere. This action is more for laughs than to program children to eat massive amounts of chocolate chip cookies.

Parents must play a crucial role in the development of healthy living habits for their children.  Children for the most part learn by example.  Therefore, healthy parents can for the most part raise healthy children.  If you are a parent that sits on the couch eating Chips-A-Hoy Cookies straight from the box, and are worried about your child as they are constantly eating cookies too – they are probably learning their habit from you and not the furry monster they watch on TV.

Cookie Monster is also a great way to teach your child about entertainment.  Sometimes people – or characters – do things to entertain us.  Cookie Monster isn’t eating cookies because it’s super healthy and what you should do – he’s eating, or rather, crumbling them to make kids laugh.

Cookie Monster is my hands-down favorite Sesame Street character. Although Sesame Street toned down the cookie-gobbling and added songs such as “A Cookie is Sometimes a Food” he plays a big role on Sesame Street. Veggie Monster just wouldn’t cut it.

The Sesame Street anniversary is amazing.  The Sesame Street anniversary is the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street characters such as Big Bird, Oscar, Snuffy, and Elmo. 

For 4 decades, Sesame Street has been entertaining and educating children in the US.  Sesame Street is the favorite of many, including First Lady Michelle Obama.  In fact, Michelle Obama even informed those present at her UN address that she was still on a “high” from visiting Sesame Street.

Google is also partaking in the monumental Sesame Street anniversary.  It can even be argued that Google has amped up the publicity of the Sesame Street Anniversary by featuring Big Bird in today’s Google Doodle.

Parents of children should watch Sesame Street today with their kids.  Get some of the Sesame Street episodes that were aired when you were young so your child can get a glimpse of how things have changed over the years. You can also go online and search for free printable Sesame Street coloring pages and activities.  Use these to make Big Bird a birthday card.

Hopefully Sesame Street will continue for many years.  The Sesame Street anniversary is a reminder that quality TV programming is rewarded through long tenures.  Sesame Street has been aired on PBS channels across the country for many, many years.

In this week’s “Dancing with the Stars” results show on Tuesday night, two more stars left the competition following a dance-off.

Dancing with the Stars

First, Michael Irvin and his partner, Anna Demidova, were the couple sent home without the chance to participate in the dance-off. 

The stars who did compete in the dance-off were Aaron Carter and his partner Karina Smirnoff, and Mark Dacascos and his partner, Lacey Schwimmer (who was out sick for Monday’s performance; Anna Trebunskaya had filled in).   The judges voted Carter as the winner of the dance-off, and Dacascos was sent home.

The musical performances of the evening included Rod Stewart, Colbie Caillat, and The Ballas Hough Band.  The Ballas Hough Band includes professional dancers Mark Ballas and Derek Hough, who sang their new single, “Move.”

The stars who still remain in the competition include Carter, Donny Osmond, Kelly Osbourne, Joanna Krupa, and Mya.  For more details on the cast, show, and voting, click here.

Former child star Jodie Sweetin, 27, was interviewed by Matt Lauer on ‘Today’ on NBC on Monday morning to talk about her past drug use and new memoir, unSweetined.

Jodie Sweetin Memoir

Sweetin, who played Stephanie Tanner on the 1980s/1990s sitcom “Full House,” said she tried hard to be the opposite of the “squeaky clean” image she played on TV.  She said she had her first alcoholic drink at age 14 at a wedding, and that was her turning point. 

The actress said she started using heavy drugs such as meth and cocaine when she was in her early 20s.  Meanwhile, she was married and continued acting.

 “I was leading two completely different lives,” said Sweetin.

When it was announced that Sweetin was in rehab for drug use, she said she reluctantly went on a recovery tour.  She said she gave speeches about her drug use to kids at universities, but was still using at the time.  Sweetin now says she wishes she could go back and change what she did.

Sweetin said she has been clean and sober for almost a year. She hopes her 18-month-old daughter, Zoie, doesn’t have to ever see her mother using drugs.

For more about Sweetin’s book, click here.

Elvira pictures are sexy. Elvira pictures are a Halloween favorite, as Elvira pictures help those dressing as Elvira tonight for many Halloween parties put together the perfect Halloween costume.

Elvira is the “hostess with the mostess” that hosted the 1980s TV show Movie Macabre.  In this TV show, Elvira mocked bad horror films and even made many comments about her big chest.

Elvira is the alter-ego of actress Cassandra Peterson. Her Elvira character was very successful, and while many tried to mimic Movie Macabre, none had the same success.  Movie Macabre became syndicated and Elvira became a popular household name.

I don’t know what’s more alluring about Elvira pictures – her cleavage or her big hair.  Perhaps it’s her gothic makeup, but then again it could be her long, black nails or her long dress with a slit up the side.

Elvira pictures graced the big screen in movies such as the 1988 hit Elvira, Mistress of the Dark and 2001’s Elvira’s Haunted Hills.

Elvira is also successful. She was the first spokeswoman for a beer company, the first person to create a 3-D music video, and is the #1 B-Movie queen.

During Halloween each and every year, people like to look at Elvira pictures.  The Elvira pictures show us a very unique Halloween character that has been very popular for the last 3 decades.

Want to see some Elvira Pictures? Here are some links:

Today Show Halloween costumes 2009 were anticipated. The Today Show Halloween costumes 2009 did not disappoint viewers.  The Halloween costumes worn by the Today Show staff were simply amazing.

The Today Show staff dressed up as Star Wars characters.  The Today Show cast had a let up on all the other Star Wars fans that desired Chewbacca and Yoda costumes this year.  The Today Show Halloween costumes 2009 were provided by George Lucas himself.

 My personal favorite Today Show Halloween costume for 2009 was Yoda.  I always loved Yoda, as he is my favorite Star Wars character.

 Although the Today Show cast wore their Star Wars Halloween costumes a day early, they didn’t disappoint.  Of course, for the most part the most amazing thing about the Halloween costumes were that they were very authentic.

 This year’s “Halloween on the Plaza” was a huge success.  Kathy Lee Gifford marched through the plaza dressed as C-3PO.  Meredith Vieira was dressed as the infamous Princess Leah.  Who was Luke Skywalker? Matt Lauer.

 The Today Show rendition of Star Wars was almost as star-studded as the original cast.  The cast had as much fun creating the special as we have had watching them afterwards.  The Today Show Halloween Costumes 2009 are not to be missed, and can be seen on the official Today Show Web site.

“Live with Regis and Kelly” aired their annual Halloween episode on Friday, with the theme Reality Bites, highlighting famous moments of reality television.

Live with Regis and Kelly

Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa first came out dressed as Jon and Kate Gosselin from the reality show “Jon and Kate Plus Eight,” while executive producer Michael Gelman dressed up as “Balloon Boy” from a recent news story.  Other costumes and segments included Regis as Jeff Probst from “Survivor,” Kelly on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” and “The Rachel Zoe Project,” and the hosts recreating a famous scene from “The Bachelor” as Melissa Rycroft and Jason Mesnick.

Guests on the show included Donald Trump, who spoke about the upcoming season of “The Celebrity Apprentice” and its cast, including rocker and reality star Bret Michaels, whom Gelman came out dressed as.  And Carrie Ann Inaba from “Dancing with the Stars,” who sat alongside Regis and Kelly who were in costume as her fellow TV judges, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman.

Actor Mario Lopez made an appearance in a segment about “The Biggest Loser” with Regis and Kelly as trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels.

Another highlight of the show was Kelly performing the “Thriller” dance.

To watch clips from this year’s Halloween show and shows of Halloween past, click here.

Did you watch the Halloween episode? If so, what was your favorite costume?

Dennis Hopper cancer headlines deal with Dennis Hopper’s prostate cancer. After Dennis Hopper discovered he had prostate cancer, he cancelled all trips and entered a “special program” at the USC Medical Center, according to LA Late.

 Dennis Hopper just completed filming season two of “Crash.”  In addition, Dennis Hopper was set to appear in Australia at an art exhibit entitled “Dennis Hopper and the New Hollywood.”  The exhibit was to display art and photographs by Dennis Hopper.

 Dennis Hopper cancer headlines have made many people sad.  When actors such as Dennis Hopper have issues such as cancer, it touches the hearts of their fans.  Of course many people will be bummed that Dennis Hopper will miss some events, but Dennis Hopper’s cancer battle is far more important.

 According to the American Cancer Society, in 2009 approximately 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer (the cancer Dennis Hopper has) will be diagnosed, and 27,360 men will die as a result. However, more than 2 million men diagnosed with prostate cancer are still alive.

 Although prostate cancer is the 2^nd leading cause of cancer deaths in men, Dennis Hopper has a good chance of beating his cancer.  Dennis Hopper’s cancer is serious, but with the right treatment he should experience a recovery. The 5 year survival rate is nearly 100% and the 10 year survival rate is 91%.  The 15 year prostate cancer survival rate is 76%.  Modern advances are expected to increase these rates.

 Dennis Hopper cancer headlines are undoubtedly sad.  Many fans feel bad after finding out about Dennis Hopper’s cancer.  However, Dennis Hopper’s cancer is treatable, and hopefully Dennis Hopper will experience a full recovery.

Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Ballas

This week’s Dancing with the Stars episode contained a double elimination, and two couples were voted off.  The first couple that received the lowest amount of votes and was voted off was Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Ballas. 

Country star Taylor Swift kicked off the show with her new single Jump and Fall.

Then the next two couples that received the lowest scores were invited to dance in a face off to stay on the show.  The judges picked their favorite couple and then the one with the least votes would be eliminated.  The two couples with the lowest votes that faced off in the dance off were:

Michael Irvin and Anna danced the Samba
Judges said: Len said Michael has really come alive the last few weeks

Bruno said it was a crowd pleaser

Carrie Ann said he did well on the personality part but just ok with technique

Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower danced the Jive

Chelsie Hightower and Louie Vito

Judges said: Bruno was impressed by everything they fit into a very short number. Carrie Ann was a little disappointed with both numbers, and again reminded everyone that this was week six and they should be more advanced at this point. Len thought it was sharp, fast and clean but that there were some mistakes.

Bruno chose to keep: Louie and Chelsie
Len voted to keep: Michael and Anna
Carrie Ann voted to keep: Michael and Anna

Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower were the second couple voted off  this week on Dancing with the Stars