CETconnect.org

A couple days ago, a friend who knows about my love of the Muppets sent me a link to this YouTube video. It’s a segment from an A&E Biography on Sesame Street. This video gives a behind-the-scenes, or an under-the-Muppet, look at the work that goes into creating a sketch. Featured in this video is Steve Whitmire who took over performing Ernie following the death of Jim Henson. There’s also some footage from the original Bert performer, Frank Oz.

It’s interesting to witness the sort of craftsmanship and choreography that goes into the art of puppetry. Most folks seem to think that you just put a sock on your hands and open & close your fingers indiscriminantly. It’s not that at all. Puppetry is much like acting: you’re pretending, speaking lines, reacting, all with a piece of felt. The felt is the extension of the actor and that character are only believable through that process.

Since childhood, I’ve been a budding puppeteer. I can’t pass up a puppet without wanting to bring it to life. I’ve done it for my daughters, my nieces & nephews, friends and even some of my co-workers here at CET. It was Sesame Street and the other works of Jim Henson that inspired this love for the artform. And while I may not be a professional puppeteer, I, at least, get to watch Sesame Street every morning here on CET,  as well as other shows that have been inspired by Henson’s legacy.

-Brian

Yesterday, we learned of the death of William F. Buckley, Jr. As founder of The National Review magazine, Buckley inspired modern American conservatism. And he was the host of Firing Line, the long-running public affairs program. For 28 of the program’s 33 year-run, Firing Line’s home was right here on CET.

Whether you agreed with his politics or not, you have to agree that he was the consummate intellectual, filling the airwaves with eloquent and stimulating debates rather than the megaphone shouting matches that passes for contemporary public discourse.

In July, 2004, Buckley stepped down from his position as editor of TNR. At the time, he spoke with NewsHour correspondent Terrence Smith — an interview that you can read and view here.

- Brian

We’ve received a lot of comments over our decision to move The McLaughlin Group to a later time. Most folks are disappointed. While we’re not in the business to disappoint our viewers,  sometimes changes have to be made.

As more and more TV stations cut back on the amount of local programs they broadcast, CET works hard to increase the number of local programs and fulfill our mission to maintain a strong connection with our community. We are Greater Cincinnati’s public broadcaster and much more, and this is why we’re committed to bringing high quality local programming to our viewers – Amy’s Table, Focus, and now, Fifth Third Business Beat.

In order to include Fifth Third Business Beat, a change had to be made to our lineup with The McLaughlin Group moving to 11pm. The 7:30 time slot, following The Nightly Business Report, was the most logical place for this local business program.

We know The McLaughlin Group has a very dedicated following. It’s a very popular program. That’s why we chose to keep it on our air. We understand viewer’s disappointment with this schedule change but we hope our commitment to local television will be appreciated.

In addition to being seen Friday nights at 11PM on CET, The McLaughlin Group can also be seen on the CET PBS World channel: Sunday evenings at 8:30PM; Monday mornings at 12:30AM and 4:30AM; and Wednesday mornings at 7:30AM.

CET PBS World is available over the air on digital channel 34.2, on Time Warner Cable channel 950 and Insight of Northern Kentucky channel 219.

The McLaughlin Group’s move to 11PM doesn’t diminish the significance of this program which is why we kept it as part of our Friday evening public affairs programming block. While The McLaughlin Group seems like a casualty, I should stress that it will still be available on CET and on CET PBS World. It’s not disappearing from CET’s schedule completely.

-Brian

I am insane.

 It’s Christmas Eve and I’m in an empty building (except for our wonderful engineering staff) working. Call it a Puritan work ethic, call it catching up on projects but, alas, I’m here.

 However, I don’t feel I should suffer alone. With some help from the Internet, I dug up an old Christmas treat that was a special part of my childhood: Christmas Eve on Sesame Street! The first time I saw this was in 1978 right here on CET (we called it WCET back then… I often wonder whatever became of that old W…) and it was probably the coolest thing I’d ever seen. For one thing, right off the top you see Bert, Ernie, the Count, Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster ICE SKATING!

Yes, real live Muppet ice skating. No strings. Full size. Incredible! Sure these are just folks in Sesame Street characters costumes but it made me hop for joy when I first saw it. Yes, I was a geek even back then.

Another reason it’s cool is because we get to see some forgotten friends. Yah, the old gang is there: Big Bird, Gordon, Susan, Bob and the rest. But we also see forgotten friends Will Lee as Mr. Hooper and Northern Calloway as David.

Thirdly, Kermit the Frog pops up. It’s easy to forget what with the program’s 38 year history but Kermit was quite a fixture on the street.

Lastly, this special was the first time I heard José Feliciano’s Feliz Navidad. I hear that song and, to this day, the first thing that pops in my mind is Big Bird on ice skates.

 Through the magic of YouTube, I’m able to share this little nugget of my childhood Christmas:

 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

Merry Christmas!

-Brian

Well, it the time for the holidays. I know, I know, the holidays really started probably mid-October but, for me, the holidays don’t really start until December. Actually, I take that back. The holidays don’t start until I hear Paul McCartney & Wings’ Wonderful Christmas Time. Say what you will about Sir Macca but the man can compose a jolly tune.

 Here at CET, it’s not the holidays until we unleash our holiday programming. I invite you to check out what we’re offering this season for your wintery nights. We have favorites like Arthur’s Perfect Christmas and Christmas at Belmont, plus new favorites like The Holiday Train Show with David Hartman and Holiday Homecoming with Angela Brown.

Let’s not forget New Year’s. Celebrate the Eve with Joshua Bell in Live From Lincoln Center - New York Philharmonic New Year’s Eve. Then it’s a Great Performances tribute to Ella Fitzgerald in We Love Ella - A Tribute to the First Lady of Song. And New Year’s Day wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Vienna with Walter Cronkite hosts Great Performances - From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2008.

So this holiday season, cozy up with a nice cup of hot chocolate or hot cider and enjoy CET’s holiday programming.

- Brian

PS If you’re looking for something a bit out of the ordinary for this holiday season, don’t forget to tune in December 22nd at 6pm to see A Holly Jolly Pops Holiday with Barenaked Ladies. Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra welcome those quirkmeisters from the North, BNL, for an irreverant, upbeat twist to some seasonal tunes.

Congratulations to Lilias Folan!  Cincinnati Magazine has chosen Lilias as one of the 40 who shaped the city……

Lilias Folan, a household name since 1972 when her original series Lilias, Yoga & You premiered on CET,  has been regarded as one of America’s most knowledgeable and respected Master Yoga teachers.   A renowned guru who helped introduce yoga to Americans across the country.  Forty years after discovering her love of yoga, Lilias continues to inspire audiences around the world with workshops and seminars spiced with her knowledge, vibrancy and enthusiasm.    

CET is proud to be associated with Lilias and pleased that Cincinnati Magazine has honored Lilias in this way. 

LILIAS! series airs on CETCREATE (Time Warner Cable Channel 949) at 6:30 a.m. and  6:30 p.m. - Grace

Tonight begins Ken Burns’ new documentary, The War. Tune into CET this evening beginning at 8pm. 

 Post your comments here and let us know what you thought about tonight’s episode.

 -Brian

Just wanted to let you know that Julia and Steven will be bringing back an Emmy for A Lion in The House! They tied for Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Film making along with with Spike Lee’s When The Levee’s Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts. You can read more about the win here, from the Cincinnati Enquirer.And don’t forget to tune in this Friday at 10:30 p.m. to see the second hour of the four-part series on CET.

Check out your old friends, and meet some new ones, as we roll out five new kids’ shows this month:Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies introduces an elephant named Mama (Vanessa Williams) and features stunning wildlife films from National Geographic.

Raggs! presents five colorful canine characters and their wisecracking pet cat, Dumpster, who hang together in their own cool clubhouse.  Raggs and his friends are not your average canines – they’re also talented musicians and together make great rock ‘n’ roll music as the Raggs Band.Super Why! the adventures of the “Super Readers,” four fairytale friends who transform into reading-powered superheroes.

Word World an animated adventure with a cast of animal friends created from the letters that spell their names.   Wordgirl a mild-mannered fifth grader who, at the call of duty, transforms into WordGirl – caped crusader and definition dynamo!

Arthur returns with new episodes focusing on media literacy.  Matt Damon stops by Elwood City to encourage kids to make their own videos as part of “Postcards from You” contest.Curious George swings back into action with all-new episodes, as well.Go to CETConnect.org for a “Kids’ Grid” to find out when your favorites air. -Grace

Wednesday marks the debut of a new channel: CET World.

CET World will feature documentary, public affairs, and news programming such as American Experience, Frontline, Nova, Nature and many others. CET is the only local PBS station to bring the World channel to Cincinnati.

This channel will be available over-the-air on our digital channel 48.2, as well as Time Warner Cable channel 950 and Insight Cable channel 219. Unfortunately, this means our CET Create channel has to move. CET Create will be available only on Time Warner channel 949.

We think you’ll agree that CET World presents the best of the best programming that PBS has to offer.

Tune in tomorrow to 48.2 (and TWC 950 or Insight 219) beginning at 6am… and then leave a comment here to let us know what you think.

–Brian