How Muppeteers “Muppet”

One of my daily routines is watching videos on Uncrate while I eat lunch at my desk. (Exciting life, I know)

Yesterday I stumbled on a great video from Wired: Sesame Street Puppeteers Explain How They Control Their Puppets

It’s a pretty fun little video – about 7 1/2 minutes worth – that has some great behind-the-scenes info PLUS a look at the performers themselves embodying their characters (voices, mannerisms) without actually having their persons inside of them.

Better to watch than to have me explain, but it’s basically people pantomiming – which goes to why the characters are so memorable – the performers are great without the help of felt & wires!

Anyhow, just a little something for your Wednesday pleasure.

Straight Outta Memes

Since we’ve all seen (or made) those “Straight Outta Somewhere” meme images promoting the new movie about NWA, Straight Outta Compton, I thought I’d bring your attention to something else.

If you’re in the middle of the Venn Diagram of NWA fans & comic book fans, please enjoy Straight Outta Gotham. A former coworker of Jennifer’s is the creative force behind the whole thing & it’s been amazing to see the response online & on his Facebook feed.

I’m embedding the clean version but if you don’t have kids around (or if you’re in a more relaxed office), here’s the explicit version.

If superhero mashups aren’t your thing, you could always check out The Muppets singing NWA’s “Express Yourself”.

For other Muppet/NWA goodness, check out some other posts:

Happy Thursday!

Tame Impala: Currents

I hadn’t pulled the trigger to buy Tame Impala’s latest album, Currents, until a couple of videos crossed my path this morning.

First, I watched the haunting & emotional video for the single “Let It Happen”. It might be a little heavy for a Tuesday, but there’s no denying that it left an impression.

Then I did a little clicking around to accompany my morning coffee and heard Haim’s cover of “‘Cause I’m A Man”. Billboard has a great little post about the versions of the song & video that are floating around the internet.

For my part, I’d only heard either single on SiriusXM, but hadn’t bought the album figuring it might go on sale soon. I did the same thing with Tame Impala’s previous album, Lonerism, which I love.

If you’re in to atmospheric pop music or psychedelic rock (something like a more melodic, less melancholy Pink Floyd) check them out.

The album artwork also reminds me of the cover to Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures, which is always a good cultural, musical touchpoint.

You can listen to the album in its entirety on YouTube too.

Happy Tuesday!

On workplace culture

I really, really love my job.

I love it enough to poke a little goodnatured fun at both my TCM and TNT colleagues.

So here’s a little additive decoration I graced upon the new coffee station in on our break room.

Coffee is for closers!
Coffee is for closers!

I was inspired by Alec Baldwin’s iconic performance in Glengarry Glen Ross:

I’ve been thinking about the whole “Coffee is for closers, only” line since the last time the movie ran on HD Net. I have it on the TiVo downstairs cued up to this exact scene right now.

Earlier this year when TCM put out the call for folks to participate in an employee hosting event by submitting our favorite films, this movie was at the top of my list.

And while I wasn’t accepted, I like to think that I just made my coworkers a little bit happier by paying tribute to a great actor & performance (Alec is also co-host of The Essentials with Robert Osborne) and a great actress (Emmy winner Kyra Sedgwick), all while they get their morning caffeine fix. You’re welcome.

I hope you enjoyed your Monday morning as much as I enjoyed mine.