Muppets in Academia and Musicals

I feel like I've been writing about the Muppets a lot lately for some reason. But I saw this picture on Twitter today and had to share it. Since I don't have a PhD, yet teach as a adjunct lecturer, I suppose that I would fit somewhere on the spectrum between Rolf and Beaker? I wonder what would be a good Muppet to substitute for me and my place in academia. I feel like I'm a energetic and perhaps goofy (nerdy?) teacher, which maybe would make someone like Gonzo or Scooter appropriate. But, considering all of the discussion about adjunct unions on our campus over the past year, perhaps I need to pick someone more disgruntled to represent underpaid adjuncts, like Oscar the Grouch?

Speaking of Muppets, for a few weeks I have thought to type up an idea for a movie: a remake of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with the Muppets. I came up with this idea probably six or seven years ago, but my sister C recently reminded me of it. I still think it would be a cute idea, although I don't know how many fans of Joseph would also be Muppet fans. This is probably a very limited, specific audience which would prevent producers from picking up this idea! Nonetheless, this is who I would cast:

Narrator = A human soprano, probably Idina Menzel or Kristin Chenowyth
Joseph = Kermit
Reuben = Rolf ("One More Angel in Heaven")
Simeon = Dr. Teeth or perhaps The Swedish Chef ("Those Canaan Days")
Benjamin = Robin ("Benjamin Calypso")
"Hairy Bunch of Ishmaelites" = Animal and Sweetums
Potiphar: Sam the Eagle
Mrs. Potiphar: Miss Piggy (who else would try to seduce "Kermie"?)
Pharaoh: Fozzie
Baker and Butler: Dr. Honeydew and Beaker, or Gonzo and Rizzo

Cameo: Donny Osmond

Would you cast the Muppets differently in these roles? I'm still uncertain as to who I would want to have play the "French" brother Simeon, but Dr. Teeth or The Swedish Chef might be alright. I think Kermit's personality fits well with Joseph. In the Muppet movies, Kermit often gets discouraged about one thing or another (which fits well with "Close Every Door"), but then things work out all right for Kermit in the end ("Go Go Go Joseph!").

And finally, you should all know that when I was looking up images for this post, I typed in "kermit" and "coat" and was presented with images of Lady Gaga. This is, truly, an amazing technicolor dreamcoat:

"Cookie's Crumby Pictures" Clips

Over the past few days, Sam and I have been enjoying some clips from the Cookie's Crumby Pictures channel (hosted by Sesame Street) on YouTube. This channel has about ten clips, all starring Cookie Monster, that are spoofs from popular movies. The clips, though, also are geared toward teaching children tips on how to understand feelings, focus on completing tasks, remember directions, listen to others, and follow instructions. I feel like a lot of these tips are especially helpful for kindergarteners and first graders. Sam liked noting how several of these tips are also taught in his classroom, so I was glad that we could reinforce these concepts in a fun and creative way.

Our favorite clip is "Star S'Mores" (that I've embedded below). They are all cute, but my other favorites are "Cookie of Oz," "The Hungry Games - Catching Fur" and "Les Mousserables." Sam likes "The Biscotti Kid" (which J hasn't seen yet, but I'm sure he will like the "Karate Kid" references, since that was one of his favorite shows growing up). All of the clips have pretty clever impersonations and witty references to the films they parody.

Visual Thinking

It's not surprising that I am a visual learner, given my career and interest in art. Even when I write things down, I think I remember them better because I can visualize what my handwriting looks like. My mind first thinks of the handwriting's appearance, and then I process and recall the significance of what is written. On our recent trip to Utah, I remembered the apartment number for my grandma's new place because I could visualize what I had written in the address book that I left at home.

So, when I came across this Muppet clip on "Visual Thinking" just the other day, I was really charmed. I love jazz music (similar to Jim Henson), so this clip's combination of jazz, visual designs, and Muppets really was up my alley:

"The Beetles" and Muppet Show Beatles

Sam and I just discovered a compilation of clips in which Muppets sing Beatles songs. My favorites are the ones where "The Beetles" perform on Sesame Street, since I like the puns of "Letter B" ("Let it Be") and "Hey Food" ("Hey Jude"). I also like the "She Loves You" rendition performed by insects in a corn field:

paycheck!

Today I deposited the first paycheck I've received in about eighteen months. It is so nice to feel like I'm contributing to the family bank account again. I know that J is completely fine being the breadwinner and providing for the family, but sometimes I feel strange about it. It doesn't seem fair that Sam and I deplete the bank account during the day - while at the same time J is at work, trying to earn money and replenish our funds.

It's nice to feel like I'm helping out, and that I don't just consume, consume, consume.

Speaking of consumption, do you want to hear how I splurged my paycheck funds? Okay, I didn't really splurge, but Sam and I did go on a $30 shopping spree at Target. This is what we got:

- A giant coloring book
- New (washable!) crayons
- A nice three-ring binder (by nice I mean a $10 binder, not the cheap economy binders)
- Bobby pins
- Mascara
- A $5 Muppets in Space DVD

Pretty exciting for a first paycheck celebration, eh?