Elmo loves you, Michelle!
Michelle Obama was crying with laughter, punching the air and flexing her muscles as she and Sesame Street characters Elmo and Rosita announced a cunning plan last Thursday to get children ‘begging’ for fruits and vegetables in the grocery store.
At a press conference at the White House, the First Lady revealed that the non-profit behind the beloved children’s educational TV programme will let the fresh produce industry use Elmo, Big Bird and Sesame Street’s other furry characters free of charge to market fruits and veggies to kids.
“Just imagine what will happen when we take our kids to the grocery store, and they see Elmo and Rosita and the other Sesame Street Muppets they love up and down the produce aisle,” Mrs Obama said. “Imagine what it will be like to have our kids begging us to buy them fruits and vegetables instead of cookies, candy and chips. It can be done!”
Under the arrangement, Sesame Workshop is waiving the licensing fee for its Muppet characters for two years. The goal is to get children who often turn up their noses at the sight of produce to eat more of it.
As soon as next spring, shoppers and children accompanying them can expect to see their favourite Sesame Street characters on stand-alone signs and on stickers and labels on all types of produce, regardless of whether it comes in a bag, a carton or just its skin.
— Daily Mail
Today Show’s Halloween spectacular
Matt Lauer stole the show dressed as Baywatch’s Pamela Anderson last Thursday morning – ensuring that the Today show came out on top as the networks battled for the best Halloween costumes.
His hilarious costume — complete with Anderson’s iconic red swimsuit and flowing blonde mane — came in stark contrast to George Stephanopoulos’ full astronaut gear from Gravity on Good Morning America.
While GMA opted for an awards-style show with the hosts dressed as celebrities, Today chose TV characters from classic television shows, including The Flinstones and The A-Team. The energetic performances come as the Today show struggles to knock GMA off the top ratings spot – but last Thursday morning’s efforts proved they were the real winners, ratings or not.
Among the hilarious incarnations on Today were Willie Geist as a hairy-chested David Hasselhoff, Al Roker as Mr T, and Savannah Guthrie and Natalie Morales as Laverne & Shirley. But most eye-catching was Matt Lauer, who appeared as the voluptuous Baywatch character with a face full of make-up, the skimpy swimsuit and an attempt at recreating the TV star’s famous curves.
–Daily Mail