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You Aren't A Part Of Black Twitter Unless You Can Answer These Questions

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Black Twitter now has a verification process.


OK, not really. But one woman created a hashtag for users to hilariously imagine questions only true members of Black Twitter would be able to confirm: #BlackTwitterVerificationQuestions


@iHateDanae told The Huffington Post that she created the hashtag after seeing a racist story on The Daily Stormer titled “How To Be A N****r On Twitter” in which the author issued a call to infiltrate and “bring down #blacktwitter” on Tuesday.


“I saw it as a humorous way of taking ownership of the Twitter experience we have created,” she said.


The hashtag trended for hours. @iHateDanae said she didn’t expect it to go viral but she finds it “really rewarding to bring everyone together in a humorous way considering how tough this year has been on most of us.”


Users created questions using some of the most hilarious moments that have happened in Black Twitter, including $200 dates, dabs of ranch and Temecula. Some folks got really creative by using Twitter’s poll feature for multiple choice answers.


Take a look at some of the highlights from @iHateDanae’s hashtag below. How many can you answer correctly?

































































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Allow Aparna Nancherla To Break Down Why Mocking Donald Trump Is So Dangerous

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In a sharp column for New York’s Village Voice, comedian Aparna Nancherla explained the dangers of taking President-elect Donald Trump’s absurdities too lightly.


Figuring out how to joke about the former reality TV star once he was elected to the top U.S. office has been an ongoing discussion in the comedy world. While it seemed fair game for comedians to comment on his hairstyle or Twitter rants when a Trump presidency seemed like a distant, dystopian reality, many are now struggling with how to approach their commentary.


“Can comedians — can I — resist the temptation to treat Trump like just another politician we’re obliged to skewer? Comedy is about finding the absurdity in everything, and here we have a tantalizing target who is nothing but absurd,” Nancherla wrote in the article, which was subtitled “Forget Your Stupid Toupee Jokes.”


The comedian later added, “These sorts of jokes about him fail to even begin countering the disastrous impact he’ll have upon the world. Because the problem isn’t that he’s unmockable; it’s that he’s too dangerous to simply mock.” The danger, Nancherla explains, lies in “his rhetoric ... grounded in hate,” the alarming way he’s been supported by the “alt-right,” and how he’s shown thus far to be someone who “supports free speech only so long as he isn’t the butt of it.”   


Nancherla’s article raises an important question about the craft of comedy: Is it a comedian’s mission to simply follow what’s funny and make people laugh in the name of ignoring more complex and difficult truths? Should anyone with a platform in 2016 use it to speak up for what he or she feels is an important message to spread?


In her estimation, the answer to the latter is yes. 





Nancherla also invoked fellow comedian Samantha Bee’s words, delivered the day after the election. On her TBS show, Bee reminded all watching that a Trump win was not, contrary to popular thought, a “lucky break” for comedians and that jokes could, as the saying goes, write themselves. “No, no, no,” Bee said about that notion. “Jokes don’t write themselves, Jews write jokes, and they are scared shitless.”


Instead of working off well-tread jabs about tiny hands or orange skin, comedians would do better to use their platforms for good, Nancherla concluded. “This work, my work, feels more active now, more important. I feel driven to express my strong opinions and to challenge people’s thinking, even when it’s scary or inconvenient,” she said.


Read the full column over at The Village Voice.

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John Legend Thinks Kanye West's Meeting With Trump Was A Total 'Publicity Stunt'

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John Legend and Kanye West may be friends, but that doesn’t mean they always see eye to eye, especially when it comes to politics. 


In case you missed it, West was at Trump Tower in New York City on Tuesday where he met with President-elect Donald Trump. He claimed the meeting was set up so they could discuss “multicultural issues,” such as “bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago.” 


The rapper also tweeted: 






Legend, however, thinks the “Famous” rapper had a different agenda. 


In an interview with Clique.tv, which was published online Wednesday, Legend was asked if talking with Trump about important issues was an option for him. 


“I don’t think it’s impossible to talk to him about issues,” Legend said of the prospect of speaking with the reality-star-turned-politician. “But I won’t be used as a publicity stunt and I think Kanye was a publicity stunt.” 


“I’m pretty disappointed with Kanye, that he says he would have voted for Trump,” Legend continued. “I think Trump has been corrosive ― his message has been corrosive to the country ― and the things he’s promised to do have been very concerning for a lot of people. And for Kanye to support that message is very disappointing.” 


Throughout the election, Legend and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, were very vocal about their political views. Both were proud Hillary Clinton supporters and were never afraid to take Trump to task on Twitter. 


In an interview with The Daily Beast in August, Legend spoke out against Trump, saying he’s “been a public personality forever and that’s fine if you want him to be a reality TV host, but if you want him to be president there’s a different standard. And remember, his entry into being a Republican was questioning the citizenship of the first black president.”

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‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ Almost Never Made It To Television

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In 1965, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” debuted on CBS, with over 15 million people tuning in for the first showing. Over the next five decades, millions more watched the story of a few, still mostly hairless, kids who go on a quest to find the true meaning of celebrating Christmas.


Although the multigenerational resonance of this television special now seems fated, the fact that “A Charlie Brown Christmas” even made it on TV was actually so serendipitous that it’s almost easy to believe some divine, jolly red-suited figure intervened to guide its path.


The Huffington Post spoke on the phone with producer Lee Mendelson about how CBS execs, animator Bill Melendez, and Mendelson himself thought the final product was a disaster before it aired.


“When it was all finished, we thought we’d ruined Charlie Brown,” said Mendelson, who now ― comfortably sitting atop half a century of “Charlie Brown” success, acclaim and syndication money ― can talk openly about the time he thought he’d irrevocably tank cartoonist Charles Schulz’s franchise.



This special was the very first time Schulz had allowed an animator — in this case, Melendez — and producer to try to turn the Charlie Brown–centered “Peanuts” comic strip into a video feature. The stakes were high to not destroy Schulz’s successfully syndicated comic about a kid who couldn’t kick a football or learn to switch up his wardrobe from a yellow and black shirt.


In the alternate timeline where “A Charlie Brown Christmas” actually was a flop, the Halloween and Thanksgiving specials certainly would’ve never been made.


“If you go back and look over the years, very, very few comic strips ever went beyond one network special,” said Mendelson, explaining the concern this apparent disaster of a special could cause for the brand. “They’d get one shot and be gone.”


Adding to Mendelson’s guilt at the time was that he was the one who roped Schulz into the deal with advertising group McCann Erickson to create this special, which Coca-Cola would sponsor.


(As an aside, Schulz, Melendez and Mendelson were fully aware that it was strange their movie was championing anti-commercialism, while a corporate giant made that movie possible. “The whole thing was a paradox,” said Mendelson. “It was all kind of mixed together and we all went marching forward realizing the paradox involved, as did Coca-Cola.”)



Mendelson had first become friends with Schulz after he cold-called the cartoonist to pitch making a documentary about him. Both of them happened to live in the San Francisco area, and the producer simply found Schulz’s number listed in the phone book. The two bonded over a love for baseball, in particular San Francisco Giants star Willie Mays, who was the subject of another of Mendelson’s documentaries.


Nobody ended up buying the film Mendelson made about Schulz, but their known relationship caused McCann to give Mendelson a call to see whether Schulz had any interest in making a Christmas special.


“I frankly just lied and said, ‘Oh, yes, we’ve talked about it quite a bit,’” said Mendelson. McCann wanted an outline for Coca-Cola by the next week, which Mendelson promised he could give them ― based on nothing.


“I hung up the phone, stared at the phone for a few minutes, then I picked it up and called Mr. Schulz and I said, ‘I think I just sold “A Charlie Brown Christmas,”’” explained Mendelson. “And he said, ‘What in the world is that?’ And I said, ‘It’s something you’re going to write tomorrow.’ And again, there was another 10-second pause and he said, ‘OK, come on up, we can do it.’”


They called up Melendez and the three made the outline for the special in just one day. “The final show that came out was just about the same show we outlined that first day, never really changed it at all,” said Mendelson.


The final major component of the movie was filled in an equally happenstance way, as Mendelson heard a song by San Francisco musician Vince Guaraldi in a cab. He hired the local for the project. 


“It was just one of those surreal things that comes together,” said Mendelson. “Like Vince Guaraldi ― where does he live? ― he lives in San Francisco. What’re the odds of that happening? I don’t know if you call that fate or serendipity or what, but why we all ended up in San Francisco, I will never know.”


But if, in retrospect, the combination of these people seems like destiny, at the time it certainly felt like a mess.



Mendelson and Melendez both thought that the special was too slow and that the inclusion of religion would not go over well.


“When [Schulz] said, ‘You know, we’re going to have Linus read from the Bible,’ Bill and I looked at each other and said, ‘Uh oh, that doesn’t sound very good,’” said Mendelson. “But then Schulz said, ‘Look, if we’re going to do this, we should talk about what Christmas is all about, not just do a cartoon with no particular point of view.’”


Schulz also vehemently opposed Mendelson’s suggestion that there be a laugh track, given this was a cartoon.


The execs at CBS ended up having the same thoughts as Mendelson and Melendez, while also believing the music was a bad fit. But Schulz’s team turned in the finished work just a bit over a week before the scheduled airdate, and so changes weren’t an option.


“[The CBS execs] thought the kids were using big words,” said Mendelson. “They didn’t get the jazz music, and so they said, ‘Well, we’ll put it on the air, not much we can do about it. It’s in TV Guide, we’ll put it on, it’s not going to hurt anything.’”


It may seem strange that Schulz agreed to risk the longevity of his career to make such a unique special that went against the conventional wisdom of the time, but Mendelson explained it was a move in line with Schulz’s nature.


“He was very competitive always ― in sports, or being the best comic strip or whatever,” said Mendelson. “So looking back, I can see where he would say, ‘Come on, we can do it.’ He was very confident in it, but he took an enormous risk.”


Just like Charlie Brown fought for his authentic Christmas tree, or just like Schulz fought for his vision, sometimes you’ve got to believe you’re the one with the right idea in a room full of doubters.


“Charlie Brown endures bullying and keeps fighting back ― [this message] is so important today,” concluded Mendelson. “Over the past 50 years, I’ve heard from so many different minority groups that identify with Charlie Brown and his struggle. His struggle is like their struggle. If there’s any way that Charlie Brown’s success can wave the flag for the bullied, then I think that’s a good thing.”


As all the characters yell at the end of the special, “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown.”




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12 Things Black America Can Look Forward To In 2017

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2017 may already look bleak to some but do not fret, there’s plenty of good in store. 


From biopics on Nelson Mandela and Tupac to the return of shows like “Scandal” and “Being Mary Jane,” there are many excellent black projects set to release in 2017 that will undoubtedly bring us all a little bit of hope and excitement. 


Here are some things we can actually look forward to in 2017. 


1. James Baldwin’s Film Essay “I Am Not Your Negro”



I Am Not Your Negro” is a new film that tells the narrative of black America through the the lens of the late writer and activist James Baldwin. The film, which explores Baldwin’s relationships with civil rights icons like MLK and Malcolm X, intertwines one of the writer’s unfinished works with the plights of our past and present. It’s set to release in theaters on February 3. 


2. The Incredible Black Politicians Who Will Hold Office



Although Election Day represented a huge loss for people of color, there were some victories to take pride in. Senator-elect Kamala Harris, Stockton, CA Mayoral-elect Michael Tubbs and Minnesota Representative-elect Ilhan Omar are just some of the barrier-breaking black politicians we’ll be rooting for in 2017. 


3. The Return Of Our Favorite Black-Led TV Shows



Are you ready?! @ScandalABC is back January 19, 2017! #Scandal

A photo posted by Kerry Washington (@kerrywashington) on




The TV gods were clearly watching over black America this year. While season two premiere dates haven’t yet been established for 2016 breakout hits “Insecure”, “Atlanta” and “Queen Sugar,” some of our other faves like “Scandal”, “How To Get Away With Murder”, “Being Mary Jane” and “Power” are returning in 2017 and we can’t wait.


4. Tupac’s “All Eyez On Me” Biopic



The life of late rap legend Tupac Shakur has fascinated the masses for decades. This explains the excitement that ensued when trailers for the rapper’s biopic “All Eyez On Me” were released this summer. The film is set to premiere on June 16, 2017, which also happens to be the 46th birthday of the iconic music artist. 


5. Moovn’s Ride-Share App 



If you’re looking to put your money where the melanin is, look to Moovn ― a black-owned ride-sharing app based in Seattle. In March 2017, the company plans to become available in 20 U.S. cities.


6. Another Chance To Check Out The National Museum Of African American History and Culture



The National Museum Of African American History and Culture garnered so much excitement around its September opening that tickets are already sold out through March 2017. But once April arrives, prepare for the opportunity to soak up some historical black opulence by paying a visit to the museum.  


7. The “Brown Girls” Web Series



“Brown Girls” is a new web show that follows the lives of queer friends exploring their sexuality, adulting and working through life’s hurdles. With the lack of media representation for LGBT folks of color, we couldn’t be any more ecstatic for its premiere in 2017. The show is set to premiere in March 2017.


8. BET’s “Madiba” Series



BET will be premiering “Madiba,” a miniseries that is dedicated to the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela. The series, which will air on three consecutive Sundays beginning February 1, chronicles the life of the former South African president based on his autobiographies “Conversations with Myself” and “Nelson Mandela By Himself.”


9. New Edition Miniseries



Any story involving Bobby Brown is interesting and we expect the same from the January 24 premiere of “The New Edition Story.” The biopic stars “Empire”’s Bryshere R. Gray and offers an inside look behind the R&B group’s break-ups, make-ups and more. 


10. Mary J.  Blige’s Post-Divorce Album 



Mary J. Blige has been feeding souls with her vocals for over two decades. While we’re not happy that heartbreak may have inspired the R&B songstress’ upcoming album “The Strength Of A Woman, our spirits could certainly benefit from some new Mary music. 


11. Oprah Winfrey Starring In “The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks”



Oprah Winfrey has been behind-the-scenes of some pretty major motion pictures this year like “Greenleaf” and “Queen Sugar,” but next year, she’s switching it up. Winfrey is set to star in “The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks,” a new film where she’ll be playing the daughter of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were used by doctors― without consent ― to create the first line of immortal cells. A premiere date for the film has yet to be announced.


12. Any And Everything To Come From Black Twitter



From one-of-a-kind hashtags to hilarious memes, Black Twitter stays lit. And given the looks of 2017, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year! 

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9 Wonderfully Weird Ornaments For People Who Don't Do Tradition

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Classic Christmas trees are gorgeous and all, but sometimes you’ve gotta add a little humor to the holidays.


Take these quirky, oddly inspired ornaments, for example. They’re the perfect decorations for keeping your mood merry and bright or giving to that singular friend who loves to buck tradition. 


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'Brexit' Becomes An Official Word In Oxford English Dictionary

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The term “Brexit” has been around for less than five years. But after the 2016 vote for Britain to exit the European Union, the Oxford English Dictionary decided the word earned an official place in its tome. 


The “definitive record of the English language” published a December update on Thursday, announcing the inclusion of “Brexit,” along with its Greek equivalent “Grexit”, “glam-ma,” “verklempt” and more. 


“Brexit’s inclusion in the OED December update within five years of being coined is highly unusual,” wrote OED senior editor Craig Leyland. “The speed with which it became widely used and recognized was impressive, fuelled by the fact it filled an empty space in our language, and the growing importance of the phenomenon it described.”


The word went global in 2016, as newspapers around the world used the term to describe the referendum, knowing readers would understand its meaning regardless of their speaking languages, Leyland added.


The dictionary’s official definition of the noun is, “the (proposed) withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, and the political process associated with it.” 


The December update also included Grexit, defined as “a term for the potential withdrawal of Greece from the eurozone monetary union.”


Other new favorites include glam-ma ― a glamorous grandma ― and verklempt, the Yiddish word defined as “overwhelmed by emotion.”


Head over to OED’s website to see the full list of new words.

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The 26 Music Videos That Got Us Through 2016

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Most can agree that 2016 sucked in nearly every respect, but the music videos this unholy year hath wrought were actually pretty damn great.


From Beyonce’s staggering “Lemonade” videos to David Bowie’s final goodbye “Lazarus,” many of our favorites from this year are, perhaps, some of the best ever made. And thank goodness, because we needed them. 


HuffPost’s Arts & Culture and Entertainment writers teamed up to pay tribute to the best music videos of the year, from the unexpected slow jams that bring tears to your eyes to the club hits that make you immediately get in front of a mirror and watch your butt bounce. We’ve compiled the lot below, in no particular order, along with some very unofficial superlatives.


Put on your headphones and hit replay until this most trying 2016 has come to an end. 


1. Mitski, “Your Best American Girl”


Best makeout session with a hand. 





2. Anohni, “Drone Bomb Me” 


Best devastating political commentary delivered by a supermodel icon. 





3. Carly Rae Jepsen, “Boy Problems”


Best stylish sleepover party. 





4. Sigma, “Find Me ft. Birdy”


Best surprise return of Eleven, sans Eggos. 






5. Frank Ocean, “Nikes” 


Best surprise appearance by a talking chihuahua. 





6. Bat for Lashes, “Sunday Love” 


Best bride in the headlights. 





7. The Rolling Stones, “Ride ‘Em On Down”


Best Kristen Stewart being a bad bitch. 





8. Big Baby D.R.A.M. featuring Lil Yachty, “Broccoli”


Best magic piano performance since Vanessa Carlton





9. DJ Shadow featuring Run The Jewels, “Nobody Speak”


Best instance in which a crusty politician declares someone a “bag of dicks.” 





10. Pussy Riot, “Straight Outta Vagina” 


Best ode to ladyparts. 





11. Jenny Hval, “Conceptual Romance”


Best nude body painting experience that is actually cool. 





12. Solange, “Cranes in the Sky”


 Best heaven-sent color palette. 





13. Angel Olsen, “Shut Up Kiss Me”


Best excuse to crash a 12-year-old’s roller skating party. 





14. Japanese Breakfast, “Everybody Wants To Love You”


Best geisha tearing up the town. 





15. Neon Indian, “Annie”


Best ‘80s throwback.





16. David Bowie, “Lazarus”


Best Bowie being his genius self for us mere, unworthy mortals. 





17. Chance The Rapper featuring Saba, “Angels”


Best use of a flying rapper. 






18. Blood Orange, “I Know”


Best Dev Hynes being a stunning modern dancer. 





19. Rihanna featuring Drake, “Work”


Best chemistry that will leave you thinking, BUT ARE THEY IN LOVE? 





20. Chris Stapleton, “Fire Away”


Best way to cry your eyes out in under five minutes. 





21. Hurray For the Riff Raff, “Rican Beach”


 Best Jenny Holzer tribute. 





22. Kanye West, “Fade”


Best Teyana Taylor/cat woman mashup. 





23. Bruno Mars, “24K Magic”


Best way to have unrealistic expectations about your upcoming Vegas trip. 





24. Beyonce, “Hold Up” 


Best tribute to Pipilotti Rist.





25. Land of Talk, “It’s Okay”


Best portrait of a life in a moving vehicle. 





26. Grimes, “Kill vs. Maim” 


Best vampire club night. 




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These Are The Hottest Baby Names Of 2016

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As 2016 draws to a close, baby naming experts are reflecting on the year’s data. Nameberry released its annual list of most popular names, based on the number of visitors to individual name pages on the website.


It seems Olivia bumped Charlotte to become number one among Nameberry’s popular baby names for girls in 2016. A Shakespearean name meaning “olive tree,” Olivia is number two on the official popularity lists for both the U.S. and England. While it’s unfailingly on the Nameberry top 10 names roundup, this is Olivia’s first appearance at the head of the list.


Ezra continues its reign as the number one boys’ name, a position the Biblical name meaning “help” first claimed last year. Ezra barely squeaked onto the official U.S. top 100 in 2015, but we predict it may take over for Noah at the top of the list within the decade.


Hottest New Names for Girls


The four top names for girls ― Olivia, Amelia, Charlotte, and Ava ― also held the top four places on the list in 2015, but five of the other six top 10 names for girls are new: Isabella, Arabella, Aurora, Mia, and Adeline. Isla remains in the top 10.


While Isabella and Mia are longtime top 10 names on the official U.S. lists, Arabella, Aurora, and Adeline are three feminine vintage girls’ names we see heading straight up over the coming years.


‘A’ is also the first initial of two other stylish girls’ making their first appearance on Nameberry’s top 100 list, Amara and Annabelle. Other names worth watching that are new to the girls’ Top 100: Cecilia, Freya, Jade, Ophelia, and Willow.


The hottest names on the girls’ popularity list, with the number of places they’re up this year, are: 


Sadie, +47


Elise, +47


Isabella, +39


Emilia, +35


Julia, +34


Astrid, +34


Thea, +27


Lydia, +27


Eloise, +27


Josephine, +23


Hottest New Names for Boys


The seven top-ranking names for boys stay the same with some slight shifts in order. They are: Ezra, Asher, Declan, Atticus, Oliver, Milo, Silas. Numbers 8, 9, and 10 on the Top 10 are all new, with Jack, Levi, and Wyatt replacing Jude, Henry, and Jasper.


The boys’ names that have risen the furthest on the top 100 include both masculine stalwarts and newcomers. With the number of places they’ve risen, the hottest boys’ names are:


Thomas, +67


Matthew, +58


John, +54


Xavier, +54


Aryan, +49


Maxwell, +45


Connor, +39


Elijah, +39


Julian, +35


Tobias, +34


There are some very interesting boys’ names new to the Nameberry top 100 list this year, notably Abel, Alistair, Bennett, Cassius, Harvey, Hugo, Killian, Knox, Landon, and Lucian. 


As noted, Nameberry’s “Popular Baby Names list measures which of the website’s individual name pages received the most of the nearly 300 million page views in 2016. These names that attract the most interest from visitors can reflect name trends and popularity in the years ahead. The full top 100 lists for boys and girls are below and the top 1000 can be found on the Popular Baby Names page. 


Top 100 Names for Girls 2016



  1. Olivia

  2. Amelia

  3. Charlotte

  4. Ava

  5. Isla

  6. Isabella

  7. Arabella

  8. Aurora

  9. Mia

  10. Adeline

  11. Penelope

  12. Eleanor

  13. Cora

  14. Rose

  15. Aria

  16. Hazel

  17. Violet

  18. Luna

  19. Claire

  20. Emma

  21. Alice

  22. Thea

  23. Maeve

  24. Lucy

  25. Imogen

  26. Nora

  27. Scarlett

  28. Genevieve

  29. Elizabeth

  30. Audrey

  31. Ophelia

  32. Mila

  33. Ella

  34. Chloe

  35. Esme

  36. Sadie

  37. Evangeline

  38. Ivy

  39. Astrid

  40. Grace

  41. Khaleesi

  42. Eloise

  43. Caroline

  44. Aurelia

  45. Lydia

  46. Stella

  47. Emily

  48. Maya

  49. Jane

  50. Elise

  51. Lila

  52. Adelaide

  53. Emilia

  54. Maisie

  55. Iris

  56. Amara

  57. Ellie

  58. Clara

  59. Beatrice

  60. Sophia

  61. Anna

  62. Julia

  63. Elodie

  64. Mae

  65. Harlow

  66. Eliza

  67. Isabel

  68. Evelyn

  69. Josephine

  70. Zara

  71. Seraphina

  72. Jade

  73. Willow

  74. Zoe

  75. Matilda

  76. Sienna

  77. Hannah

  78. Madeline

  79. Poppy

  80. Abigail

  81. Elsie

  82. Ada

  83. Phoebe

  84. Willa

  85. Mabel

  86. Molly

  87. Margaret

  88. Eliana

  89. Evie

  90. Juliet

  91. Freya

  92. Naomi

  93. Cecilia

  94. Annabelle

  95. Leah

  96. Eva

  97. Lily

  98. Gemma

  99. Daisy

  100. Rebecca


Top 100 Names for Boys 2016



  1. Ezra

  2. Asher

  3. Declan

  4. Atticus

  5. Oliver

  6. Milo

  7. Silas

  8. Jack

  9. Levi

  10. Wyatt

  11. Henry

  12. Jasper

  13. Leo

  14. Elijah

  15. Sebastian

  16. Theodore

  17. Caleb

  18. Ethan

  19. Matthew

  20. Benjamin

  21. Oscar

  22. Bodhi

  23. Eli

  24. Xavier

  25. Liam

  26. Felix

  27. Zachary

  28. Miles

  29. Jacob

  30. William

  31. Thomas

  32. Austin

  33. Alexander

  34. Axel

  35. Luke

  36. Andrew

  37. Julian

  38. John

  39. Nathaniel

  40. Isaac

  41. Aryan

  42. Callum

  43. Finn

  44. Samuel

  45. Soren

  46. Roman

  47. Luca

  48. Maxwell

  49. James

  50. Daniel

  51. Josiah

  52. Isaiah

  53. Tobias

  54. Gabriel

  55. Ronan

  56. Charles

  57. Nolan

  58. Lincoln

  59. Gideon

  60. Harrison

  61. Connor

  62. Arthur

  63. Beckett

  64. Lachlan

  65. Jonah

  66. Harry

  67. Wesley

  68. Archer

  69. Lucian

  70. Grayson

  71. Graham

  72. Joseph

  73. Hugo

  74. Jude

  75. Ryker

  76. Owen

  77. Nathan

  78. Christian

  79. Jackson

  80. Simon

  81. Landon

  82. Kai

  83. David

  84. Griffin

  85. Maddox

  86. Alistair

  87. Abel

  88. Cassius

  89. Lewis

  90. Nicholas

  91. Zane

  92. Bennett

  93. George

  94. Theo

  95. Louis

  96. Vincent

  97. Ryder

  98. Knox

  99. Killian

  100. Harvey


Nameberry is the baby names website created by Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz, the authors of ten groundbreaking books on names including Cool Names for Babies and The Baby Name Bible. For more information, email pam@nameberry.com.

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The 31 Best Non-Book Gifts For Book Lovers

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The holidays are the perfect time to show everyone you love that you notice the special quirks that make them tick: the gardener, the chef, the bookworm. A well-selected book always makes for a welcome present to a reader ― and if you’d like to gift books this holiday season, we have a few humble suggestions ― but maybe you’re worried you won’t know the right genre or just want to mix things up. 


Not to worry! A cozy throw to snuggle under while enjoying a long novel, a clever mug to hold steaming tea, upcycled book art; there’s no shortage of wonderful odds and ends that will make your favorite bookworm’s life better. To aid your search, here are 31 of our favorite non-book gifts for book lovers:


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Intimate Photos Take You Inside The Bedrooms Of NYC’s Ballerinas

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Onstage, ballerinas are focused and poised, translating an explosive amount of energy and emotion into perfectly crafted characters and movements. At home, in their bedrooms, things are a little different.


For the better part of six months, HuffPost Arts & Culture accompanied photographer Damon Dahlen on a tour of ballerina’s apartments in New York City. We trekked across boroughs, visiting the spaces that women like Cassandra Trenary, Zhongjing Fang and Ebony Williams call home. The dancers ― who perform for the American Ballet Theater and the Dance Theatre of Harlem, as well as less traditional dance companies ― invited us into their bedrooms for an intimate series of photographs that show a different side of ballet. Without their costumes and tights, these women opened up about what makes a personal sanctuary and what helps them unwind after a big performance.


Check out the series ― and a few clips of audio from our interviews ― below.



Untitled


ELINA MIETTINEN, Corps de Ballet member at American Ballet Theater


Elina Miettinen was born in Russia, lived most her life in Finland, and now resides with her husband and a yorkiepoo in a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. She describes her space as “sophisticated,” “modern,” and “romantic.”


“In rehearsal, I am obviously very focused on what I am doing and I don’t really like to talk to people much at work or during rehearsal,” she told HuffPost. “But outside of work I am completely different. I like to go out and socialize. And then in the bedroom, I am just obviously really relaxed and I just feel like myself. I feel like I can finally be like, OK, this day is over. I can take it easy and go to sleep and be with my husband and my dog. It’s two completely separate things.”




INGRID SILVA, Dancer at Dance Theatre of Harlem


Born in Brazil, Ingrid Silva lives in a one-bedroom apartment with her French bulldog, Frida Kahlo. She described her room as the place where she thinks, relaxes, sleeps ― and sometimes eats and works, too.


“I usually get back from work around six or seven,” she told HuffPost of her nightly routine. “Then I take Frida for a walk. Usually, I cook dinner and prepare food for the next day so I can take it to work or rehearsal. And then I watch TV shows and relax.”




CASSANDRA TRENARY, Soloist at American Ballet Theater


Born in Georgia, Cassandra Trenary lives in a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan with her husband, fellow ABT dancer Gray Davis. She describes her bedroom as “cozy,” “simple,” and “country-ish.”


“I feel like when I’m on stage I really kind of attack whatever it is I’m given to do,” she told HuffPost. “I feel like I’m the most confident onstage. I’m just serious most of the time, unless the role requires it to be otherwise. I take it so seriously; it’s my passion, it’s my art. When I’m at home, you’re just so relaxed and you just want to not put on a face and not be somebody else. Because our job is to be other people, which is super fun. But when you come home, it’s the best because you can just above all be exactly who you are. Just relax.”




Untitled


EBONY WILLIAMS, Freelance dancer and choreographer


Ebony Williams welcomed us into her New Jersey apartment during a rare break from traveling with Beyoncé’s “Formation” tour. Since she often falls asleep on her comfortable couch, we photographed Williams in her living room, which she describes as “colorful,” “feminine,” and “dynamic.”


Discussing her nightly routine, she said, “I take a nice hot shower or bath. I play Sade, I’m so corny. I f**king love Sade. It gets you all the way relaxed. And I stretch. I roll a lot. Rolling is my friend. [...] I get myself right where I need to be. I have tea every night. Sometimes I put a little whiskey in it depending on how I feel. Or sometimes I have a nice glass of red wine. And then I go to sleep. A deep, nice long sleep.”




Untitled


ZHONGJING FANG, Corps de Ballet member at American Ballet Theater


Originally from Shanghai, China, Zhongjing Fang now lives in vintage furniture-filled studio in Manhattan. She described her space as “dreamy,” “comfortable,” and “relaxing.”


“I usually get back home and I like to make some food for myself,” she told HuffPost of her nightly routine. “I either cook some pasta or salad. I like eating Chinese food, too, because I’m from China. After eating, I will watch some movies on Netflix. That’s what I like to do ― it helps me. I also like to take a bath in my bathtub. That’s pretty much it. Just rest.”




DANIELLE SCHULZ, Dancer at the Metropolitan Opera and freelance artist


Danielle Schulz lives in a shared apartment in Brooklyn, which she describes as “bright,” “organized,” and dictated by feng shui.


Asked what her favorite part of her bedroom is, she said: “My closet. With dance, and especially freelance, I’m mostly at the Metropolitan Opera. But it’s not a full-time gig. So you kind of have to supplement it with other choreographers or print work or however it comes out. There are a lot of things that are out of your control. So with my bedroom and my house in general, it is pretty neat. I have a very organized closet. It’s nice, when you have all of these things that are out of your control, to come home to this at the end of the day.”




Untitled


SKYLAR BRANDT, Soloist at American Ballet Theater


Skylar Brandt invited us into her childhood bedroom in Manhattan, which she describes as “quiet, “clean,” and “beautiful.”


What is her nightly routine? “It depends on how exhausted I am,” she told HuffPost. “Typically I come home, shower, eat dinner, and then get into bed and watch some of my favorite shows ― ‘Family Guy’ or ‘Adventure Time.’ And then go to sleep, just to be able to wake up for the next day.”




KATHRYN BOREN, Corps de Ballet member at American Ballet Theater


Born in Dallas, Texas, Kathryn Boren lives in a studio in Manhattan. To describe her apartment, she used the words “clean,” “organized,” “purple,” and “bright.”


“On stage and in rehearsals, I’m very professional and composed. And I take it very seriously,” she told HuffPost of her persona at work. “When I’m at home, I just goof around and I like dancing in my underwear to pop music or whatever. I try to keep my home environment as stress-free as possible.”




Untitled


CAMILLE WORKMAN, Freelance dancer


Camille Workman lives in a unique one-bedroom in Manhattan that opens up to a sprawling roof terrace. She described her space as “beachy,” “trinket-y,” and “relaxing.”


On the difference between her personas onstage and off, she says: “Onstage I’m a maniac. I’m a ‘yes man.’ If a choreographer asks me if something is possible, the answer is always ‘yes.’ At home is my lazy, beachy kind of self.”




Untitled


DEVON TEUSCHER, Soloist at American Ballet Theater


Devon Teuscher describes her Brooklyn bedroom as “dark,” “quiet,” and “minimal,” adding,It’s very much my little oasis. Like, my place. I don’t really like many people coming in here.”


When asked if her persona on stage differs from her persona at home, she replied: “I feel like they’re actually quite similar because, for me, I’m completely free onstage. To me I’m not holding back anything. That’s where I am most comfortable. And again, like I said, this is also where I feel comfortable. [...] So I think they’re quite similar in that sense ― feeling the most content.”




CATHERINE HURLIN, Corps de Ballet member at American Ballet Theater


Catherine Hurlin, a New York City native, lives in a DIY-friendly two-bedroom in Manhattan, which she describes as “super girly.” Her favorite aspect of her home? Her bed.


“My bed was the first thing that I bought,” she explained to HuffPost, recounting the early moments of living on her own in NYC. “So I feel pretty proud of it because it was my first piece of furniture [...] It was the first big purchase that I made in my life.”




REBEKAH LETCH, Freelance dancer


Born in Singapore, Rebekah Letch now resides in a spacious one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn with her husband and dog. She described their space as “contemporary” and “warm.”


“I love my bed and I love my pillows and I love the color white,” she told HuffPost. “I travel a lot and hotel rooms are always white. I actually bought the mattress and the sheets and the pillows off a hotel website. Just because I really need to recover! Yeah, I take it a little far. [...] Also, my dog sleeps with me and she has arthritis and I want her to get a good sleep, too.”




ELISE KING, Performer with Jennifer Muller/The Works and Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company


Elise King grew up in South Bend, Indiana, and now resides in a shared apartment in Manhattan. She describes her space as “open,” “zen-y,” and “filled with character.”


When asked how her persona on stage compares to her persona at home, she noted a difference. “Especially, with Jennifer’s choreography, a lot of it is very fierce and dynamic and really intense, which I love. I love showing that type of passion on stage,” she told HuffPost. “But I’m really soft in person. I’m a nice, kind person and love talking to people. So sometimes I have this really fierce stage persona, whereas in person I’m really calm and gentle and chill.”




STEPHANIE RAE WILLIAMS, Dancer at Dance Theatre of Harlem


Born in Texas, Stephanie Rae Williams currently lives in Manhattan. She describes her bedroom as “colorful,” “cave-like,” and “good-smelling.”


“I really enjoy a glass of wine,” she told HuffPost, recounting her nightly routine. “I like to cook dinner or get takeout. Take a shower. And I like to just sit on my couch for like half an hour and just decompress and relax. I’m still at that age when I get FOMO. So if I do get, like, I want to go out and see what’s happening, I might take a walk. But then I usually remember that I’m exhausted and I want to go to sleep.”




STEPHANIE LO, Royal Court Dancer in “The King and I” National Tour


When we visited Stephanie Lo, she was sharing a two-bedroom apartment with her roommate in Queens, which she had organized according to the KonMari method. She described her space as “minimal,” “chill,” and “transient.”


“I love being on stage. I can do so many things on stage that I couldn’t do in real life,” she told HuffPost, nursing a foot injury at the time. “In real life, my last name is Lo and everyone says, ‘YOLO! YOLO! Do people call you that?’ And I’m like, no, that’s not really me. I just want to live methodically [...] I like things to be really chill and really organized.”




SHANNON MAYNOR, Freelance dancer and artist with CelloPointe


Shannon Maynor has lived in her shared apartment in Manhattan for the past four years. She describes her bedroom as “peaceful,” “spacious,” “homey,” “artsy” and “fantastic.”


“My nightly routine involves elevating my legs for at least five minutes. I usually put them up against the wall and just let everything drain. Because by the end of the day, everything is just filled with fluid and stress. I teach as well. So sometimes I’ll rehearse all day and then go and teach until 10 o’clock at night. So that’s the first thing I do ― elevate.”




Want more? Check out some of the amazing outtakes from the shoot in the gallery below.

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'This Is Us' Writers To Take A Stab At Second 'How I Met Your Mother' Spinoff

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Hi ... have you met television’s unyielding desire for reboots?


Two years after the conclusion of CBS’ hit show “How I Met Your Mother” — and two years after the Greta Gerwig–led “How I Met Your Dad” spinoff failed to make it on CBS’ fall lineup — the powers that be want to give it another go.


As Deadline reported, the new project, somewhat unsurprisingly titled “How I Met Your Father,” would be an ensemble show like its inspiration. This time, however, the story would be told from a woman’s perspective. While no “HIMYM” characters will return, the spinoff is said to be based off the same storytelling devices as the original.


While trying to strike gold twice — again — seems like a bit of a gamble, the project has two promising writers attached: Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, co–executive producers on “This Is Us” (you know, the show that makes you ugly cry and drool over Milo Ventimiglia’s bod in subsequent turns).


“How I Met Your Mother” creators Craig Thomas and Carter Bays, who also penned “How I Met Your Dad,” are attached to the project as executive producers. According to Deadline, it’s unclear when, or if, the project will ever be shopped around. With any luck, it will be legen — wait for it — dary.




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Steve Burns Finally Confirms Why He Left 'Blue's Clues'

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It’s time we all finally got a clue.


After about seven years of hosting Nickelodeon’s “Blue’s Clues,” Steve Burns skidooed on out of there, and the preschool world was turned upside down.


Why, Steve? WHY?





Not much explanation was given for Steve’s departure in 2002, and life went on for everyone. Well, it went on for everyone except Steve.


According to the internet, Burns died. One of the first causes was supposedly a drug overdose, but people also said he was killed in a car crash or met some other unsavory fate. That would at least explain why he wasn’t on the show, anyway.


But, Burns himself is now denying those claims.


“I Googled the conditions of life, and I meet every single one of them, I can assure you,” Burns told The Huffington Post in an interview. “I am certainly alive. I know that for sure.” (Burns’ Twitter handle is @SteveBurnsAlive just in case anyone still doesn’t have a clue.)


In our own research on why Steve left “Blue’s Clues,” a predominant theme was that he exited to pursue a music career. The actor’s changing looks supposedly had something to do with it, too. (In a 10-year anniversary “Blue’s Clues” special, Burns said he didn’t want to go bald on a kids show.) But time and time again, music kept coming up as a main reason for his departure.


In fact, Burns is releasing a new kids album, “Foreverywhere,” along with his friend Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips (his fellow collaborator on a previous album, “Songs for Dustmites.”) They’ve even released a video for the first song, “The Unicorn And Princess Rainbow.”





So was a music career the real reason Steve left “Blue’s Clues”?


“That’s actually not true,” Burns told us. “No, no, no, no. People think I left the show to pursue a music career. That didn’t happen at all.”


Burns confirmed that getting older ― and, yes, losing his hair ― had a lot to do with his decision.


“I left the show because it was just simply time to go. I was pretty much playing a boyish, older-brotherish kind of character on the show. I was getting older; I was losing my hair; a lot of the original gangsters on the show, like the people who created it, were all moving on to other careers. It just felt like time. I just had a gut feeling like it was time to go,” said Burns.


He explained that the music came after his departure. 


“I certainly wasn’t leaving ‘Blue’s Clues’ to pursue a large music career because that never even happened. That was just a wonderful dream come true, [a] hobby thing that happened after ‘Blue’s Clues.’”



I was getting older; I was losing my hair; a lot of the original gangsters on the show, like the people who created it, were all moving on to other careers.
Steve Burns


It’s now been 20 years since “Blue’s Clues” debuted, and looking back on the show, Burns described the experience as “surreal.” He expressed his gratitude for being part of it, but admits, “From my perspective, it all feels very small.”


Burns said that acting in front of a green screen was like jumping to the “bottom of a swimming pool” every day. For him, it was very solitary.


“It felt like a dream to wake up and be like, ‘Wait, people watched that all over the world?’ For me, it’s a very different experience than it is for everyone else, but to know that people who watched ‘Blue’s Clues’ now have children that watch ‘Blue’s Clues’ is a real brain-burner, that’s for sure. But it’s all just really cool. Maybe I’m Grover to somebody. That’s awesome. That’s just completely awesome,” he said.


Burns continued chatting on the phone with HuffPost about everything from his new kids album to why “Blue’s Clues” fans don’t believe he’s actually Steve. (He even gets in arguments about it.) Oh, and he did it all from the actual “Blue’s Clues” Thinking Chair, which we would soon find out.





If you weren’t pursuing a music career, what have you been up to?


I’ve been earnestly balding, which takes up a lot more time than people think, and also I’m a voice-over guy. I’ve been a voice-over guy even before and while I was on “Blue’s Clues.” That was kind of my main gig for a lot of it. If you hear a guy on TV that tries to sell you insurance and sounds like the guy from “Blue’s Clues,” that’s me.


Do people still recognize you?


Oh, my God, no. I have to convince people. No, I look much more like Moby if he had a real problem with pad Thai than I do like Steve from “Blue’s Clues.” I really do. I’ve gotten into arguments with people about it.


Seriously?


They just don’t believe that it’s me. I don’t believe that it’s me.


No way. You sound exactly the same.


But, first of all, I am much shorter than anyone expects me to be. I’m bald now. I was rail thin on that show, and I was a child, basically. I’m 43 years old now. I look nothing like that, which I think is kind of fun.



This winsome, simpering selfie is lying to you. #notphotoshopped #oldschoolsfx #deceit

A photo posted by Steve Burns (@steveburnsalive) on




What inspired the new album, “Foreverywhere”?


Nickelodeon, years ago, asked me to write a song about a groundhog, and I happened to be on the phone with Steven [Drozd] when I was reading the email, and I said, “Hey, dude. Is this something you’d want to work on with me? Because when I write songs they’re 40 percent good, and when you help me they’re a million times better.” And he’s like, “Yeah, that sounds really fun.” I went down to Oklahoma, and we wrote that song in no time and had a blast. I think while we were writing the song, we stopped at one point and looked at each other and said, “We have to do a kids record.” As we were writing that song, we were thinking, “Let’s do this in our spare time.” And we started to, and we did. It took forever. It’s kind of the “Chinese Democracy” for kids records.


You said you never pictured yourself hosting a kids show your whole life, so why make a kids album?


I hosted a children’s TV show for seven years and cared about it deeply, and developed a lot of opinions, a real point of view, and really began to develop an enormous admiration for children’s entertainment as something that’s incredibly fun and creative to do. By the time I left that show, I felt like I had a little more in the tank, and it was just kind of a natural thing. 


One of the songs on the album is “OK Toilet Bowl.” That might be the best title I’ve ever heard.


Wait till you hear the song, man. It’s a song about courage, I will tell you that much. I was just talking to a child development specialist that I know, and I said, “What’s the one thing, the main issue for children? What makes them tick? What are their fears? What are their hopes when they’re really young?” And they said it’s the toilet bowl. That is their No. 1 fear and concern and aspiration.


More than monsters under the bed?


I think it’s all kind of the same. I think it all goes back to that.


One of the first comments on the video was that you’re in front of a green screen again, and people questioned if you are real or just CGI.


[Laughs] Brilliant. Love it. Well, I directed and shot that in a day in Oklahoma City with my friends and their kids using all the outdated technology I learned while on “Blue’s Clues” in the mid-’90s. That really is just shot on a green screen. I’m probably more comfortable than most people are in that environment at this point, but it felt very natural to jump in front of a green screen again. That’s certainly true.





What is it like seeing all those death hoaxes?


I think the last one I saw was that I wrecked a Dodge Charger, which in a way was the cruelest one because I would never drive a Charger. No real serious offense to Charger drivers, but like, come on. Seriously?


It is great to finally confirm you’re alive. 


Yeah, sometimes I wonder [Laughs]. I read those things, and I’m like, “Oh, God, is this all some sort of surreal extradimensional existence that I’m in? Am I somehow undead?”


You once told the The Moth a crazy story about going out with a Playboy model. Was that all true? You got a lap dance in the Thinking Chair?


Things did not progress that far, but The Moth only wants true stories. They are a really great organization ... I compressed a little bit of time, but they want dinner party stories. They want it to be real.


In “Blue’s Clues,” Steve supposedly goes to college and joins the hopscotch team. Did you come up with that?


Oh, we all sat around and thought that would be hilarious.


Joe (Donovan Patton) replaced you on the show. Do you still keep in touch with your brother, Joe?


Not as much as I’d like to. He has a habit of moving to LA. He’s an awesome guy, and he’s so much fun. I loved the couple times we got to work together on “Blue’s Clues.” Those were some of my best memories of the show. I know him. I know his wife. We are definitely friends. I wish I saw him more, but he tends to be in LA a lot.





Before this, I was arguing with my roommates. Could you clear something up? Blue is a girl, right? Is Magenta a guy?


Blue is a girl. Magenta is a girl. In a lot of ways, I was the only male figure on that show. There weren’t many male figures. It was me and the salt shaker and, I think, the shovel [Laughs].


Was that part of the research — why the show included so many female role models?


In many ways, I consider “Blue’s Clues” to be an educational endeavor, first and foremost. I was really facilitating the incredible, brilliant curriculum that the researchers and creators came up with. Every bit of that show was researched and carefully considered to brilliant effect. As funny and wacky and weird as “Blue’s Clues” was, it was so educational, and I’m so proud to be a part of that. 





Do you still have one of the Handy Dandy Notebooks?


I’m looking at it right now.


No, you’re not.


I actually am. And I’m sitting in the Thinking Chair. I have the original one. They gave it to me on my 25th birthday, and it sits in my study.


And you’re sitting in it now ...


I’m not kidding you. It sits in my study. It’s a great chair. I still use it all the time.


Do you think in it?


I use it to read books. It’s where I read.


OK, you’re not solving mysteries or anything?


Not typically.


Unless they’re mystery novels.


Yeah, it’s where I read [laugh].





You tweeted that you’re less excited about getting the mail now.


I mean, you get mail, right? Is it ever super exciting? It’s usually stuff you didn’t feel like opening, or homework. It’s essentially people sending you homework. There’s almost no mail I receive in the adult 3-D world that wouldn’t be better sent to me digitally. In the real world, mail is kind of a drag. In “Blue’s Clues,” mail was beyond exciting. It was so exciting that I leapt into the air and screamed.


So you’re not singing the song anymore?


No, but the reason for the big scream at the end is because I couldn’t hit the note, so I just kind of channeled Pee-wee Herman and Grover at the same time.


That’s the best part of the whole thing.


Yeah, we just kind of left it. Actually, the guys who did the music were Mr. Salt and Mailbox, Michael Rubin and Nick Balaban. I think the legend is I just did that as a joke and they’re like, “Nope, we’re keeping it.”






You also tweeted that you’re still upset about the pants.


They were very extreme. I’ve never seen pleats like that outside of an MC Hammer video. They were legitimately extreme pleats. I don’t think “Blue’s Clues” gets enough credit for its innovative work in pant-pleating.


Were they custom-made?


I think they were. I think they were store-bought, but don’t know. Maybe someone that I didn’t see spent a lot of time adding extra pleats to them. The shirts were all handmade.


Really?


Yeah, and they were made out of the itchiest wool that any person could find. They were super-duper itchy. I still have a couple of those, too. They’re much cooler in person, too, because they’re much brighter than you think.






When’s the last time you wore the outfit? 


I did [a Make-A-Wish event] maybe three or four years ago, and it was challenging because I had to lose a bunch of weight, and I’m bald, but I did it. I got down to fighting weight for it and managed to squeeze back into the shirt. It was what it always was, man. That puts everything into perspective. It’s the most humbling thing ever.


I can’t even imagine.


It’s ostensibly about this child’s wish, but underneath it all, it’s always the child’s wish to make the parents happy. It’s just the most incredible thing.


I was one of the wish granters of the year in 1999, which is the thing that I’m most proud of in my life, and I got an award from David Hasselhoff.


[Laugh] That’s awesome. So what is Steve from “Blue’s Clues” doing today?


Right now, just really focused and excited about releasing “Foreverywhere.” It’s a labor of love and we’re really excited to release it to the world. 


Would you ever go back to a kids show? Possibly a “Blue’s Clue’s” revival?


I don’t know how that would work. That’s such a fun idea, though. How would that work? Steve has gone to college and he majors in shapes and colors and he’s in the middle of doing his thesis on shapes and colors and he’s come back very professorial [Laughs].


Why not? When we use our minds and take a step at a time, we can do anything ...





You can check out “Foreverywhere” on iTunes. The full album arrives in February 2017.


This interview has been edited and condensed.



Hit Backspace for a regular dose of pop culture nostalgia.

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Tony Bennett Has Done A Lot In 90 Years — Except Work With Beyoncé

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Tony Bennett rang in 90 this year and has spent roughly 70 years in show business. But the biggest thing he’s ever done? Well, it’s yet to come.


Hitting screens Dec. 20 is a two-hour special on NBC entitled, “Tony Bennett Celebrates 90” ― a tribute from the “music industry’s most prominent artists” to Bennett’s legacy. The segment will feature greats like Andrea Bocelli, Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, Elton John, k.d. lang, Stevie Wonder and others.


“When someone reaches 90, everyone loves them,” Bennett said in an appearance at New York City’s Paley Center for Media on Wednesday night, “But this [special] is the biggest thing I’ve ever done.”


Bennett participated in a chat with his son, producer Danny Bennett, and NBC’s Lester Holt to promote the segment.





The singer shared some fun facts from his illustrious career and what he wants others just starting out to know:


On what he wish he knew when he first started:



I can’t tell you how many mistakes I’ve made in my career ... When I first started out I had a couple of big records like “Because of You” and “Cold, Cold Heart” that sold millions, but when [I met George Burns and Jack Benny they] told me, it’s going to take you about nine years to learn your profession. I can’t believe how accurate they were. There’s so many mistakes you make until you learn what not to do and what to leave out when you’re on the stage. It really took nine years for me to learn that I was a competent performer.



On his biggest influences:



Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire, and Nat King Cole.



On recording live:



You have to be honest if you perform. I learned that from Bing Crosby. He was the most honest singer I’ve ever heard. He was very natural ... He made the public fall in love with the United States [by singing “God Bless America”].



In a Q&A after the discussion, the “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” crooner responded to questions pertaining to both the Battle of the Bulge and Beyoncé.


“I’d like to do something with her,” he said of the “Formation” singer. Bennett has said before he hopes to one day work with Queen Bey (which clearly needs to happen). Later, he talked about his experience serving in WWII, telling Holt, “I couldn’t wait to leave.”


The winner of 19 Grammys repeatedly said that he loves being an entertainer and has no plans of ever retiring.


“I love the public and they’ve never let me down,” he said.


Tune in to “Tony Bennett Celebrates 90” on NBC at 9 p.m. EST Dec. 20.

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'Dear Mr. Trump,' This Is How Women Feel About Your Sexism

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One woman is painting powerful feminist sentiments on naked women’s bodies in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s hateful rhetoric ― and the results are breathtaking. 


Created by Kate McClure, “Dear Mr. Trump” is a gut-wrenching black-and-white photo series that features women of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities coming together in an act of protest. McClure, a New York City-based writer and feminist artist, said she felt compelled to create the series after Trump’s presidential win in November. 


“I felt women had been silenced. A highly-qualified female candidate lost to an unqualified, openly misogynistic man. That was a serious blow,” McClure told The Huffington Post. “All the progress made by the incredibly brave women (and enlightened men) before us seemed to vanish overnight. The rhetoric coming from Trump was so extreme, I felt an extreme response was needed.”


The words painted on each woman’s body include sentiments of anger, love, despondency and encouragement. “Denial, anger, bargaining, depression... resistance,” one sentiment reads; another reads “real power” across a woman’s chest as she breastfeeds. Arguably the most powerful photo is a portrait of a young woman who has “I am (still) the future” written on it. 


McClure said some of the statements were her own idea, while others came from the models themselves. “Before the shoot, we all sat down and talked,” she said. “I got to know them better and I got a sense of how they were each feeling about the new President-elect. Their honesty and insight really helped inform the phase choices.” 



The photos will be sold for a limited time only and all profits will go directly to the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. As an artist, McClure hopes this is one way she can actively resist and speak out against Trump. 


“I think American democracy is something worth fighting for and as artists we are on the frontline of this battle,” she said. “Artists explore humanity and when humanity is under attack, artists have a duty to defend it.”


McClure hopes audiences feel emboldened and galvanized to fight against everything Trump stands for. 


“We live in a time of radical hate and we must react with radical love,” she said. “If we all speak up and refuse to have our rights taken away, they can’t take them... When women join together and lose the shame, that’s when we’ll own our power.” 


We are all about fighting hate with love. Scroll below to see the rest of McClure’s powerful “Dear Mr. Trump” series. 


Images below may be considered NSFW to some readers. 



To see more photos from “Dear Mr. Trump” head here or to see more from McClure head over to Twitter

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The 21 Best Movies Of 2016

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Cries of cinema’s death knell rang out among critics and journalists tracking this year’s poor-performing sequels and reboots. If franchises form Hollywood studios’ bedrock, one might assume American movies are in trouble. Look closer, and you’ll see, as far as quality is concerned, that’s not true at all. 


Worthwhile films barreled into theaters left and right, so much so that I dare say 2016 was a fantastic year at the movies, if you knew where to look. Making a best-of list was so difficult that I couldn’t even stop at 20. I want you to see all of these! What are you waiting for?




And a few more recommendations, because why not:


Cameraperson” [dir. Kirsten Johnson]. A meta celebration of life around the globe, this documentary probes a filmmaker’s relationship with her subjects.


The Handmaiden” [dir. Park Chan-wook]. A twisty erotic thriller set in 1930s Korea, this deceptive tale about a conman’s attempts to steal a Japanese heiress’ fortune will shock you.


I Am Not Your Negro” [dir. Raoul Peck]. This essential documentary traces the civil-rights moments through the words of James Baldwin.


The Invitation” [dir. Karyn Kusama]. A well-paced chiller about a cultish dinner party, this movie has one of the year’s best endings.


Little Sister” [dir. Zach Clark]. When a young nun (Addison Timlin) returns home to her dysfunctional family, she revisits her goth adolescence as the Bush era draws to a close. The results are smart and humorous.


Things to Come” [dir. Mia Hansen-Løve]. In the year’s second Isabelle Huppert stunner, the actress plays a philosopher facing domestic upheaval. 

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Poet Delivers Powerful Piece On Kanye: 'You Forgot You Black, Boy?'

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“Maybe Yeezus was all talk. Jesus never needed Adidas to walk.” 


After Kanye West’s shocking meeting with president-elect Donald Trump on Monday, there’s been a collective loss of interest in trying to reconcile the rapper’s erratic behavior. 


But before Yeezy’s pro-Trump proclamation and concert cancellations, poet Jasmine Mans predicted the rapper’s downfall last December in her poem “Footnotes For Kanye.” 


Brilliantly alluding to lyrics from some of West’s earlier works, Mans asserts that his marriage to Kim Kardashian distanced West from his black identity.


“When Kim f**ks up the lyrics to ‘The College Dropout’ like them white folks used to f**k up your name, do you pretend not to notice?” Mans recites. 


Materialism and lack of social activism are among the other problematic aspects of West’s life that Mans addresses.


“Can you hear all the black kids calling your name? Wondering why the boy who rapped about his momma getting arrested for the sit-ins didn’t sit-in―-why he traded in his Nat Turner for Ralph Lauren.”


Check out the full “Footnotes For Kanye” performance in the video above. 

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Unfiltered Photo Series Shows What 'Progressive Parenting' Looks Like

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A unique photo essay is giving viewers a glimpse into one family’s “progressive parenting style.”


From Sept. 6 to Nov. 27, photographer Ted Zolyniak aka Ted Zee documented the Murphy Peetz family of South Park, Seattle. Shawna Murphy and Christian Peetz are parents to 12-year-old Beezus and 6-year-old Minnow.



Ted told The Huffington Post that the Murphy Peetzes are very “open and giving” people. “Christian is a painter, a funny guy and a loving father,” he said. “Shawna runs a small childcare center from her 1,000 square foot home. The kids are hilarious, caring, free thinkers, and you see their parents’ strength and love coming through.”


Living in Seattle’s diverse South Park neighborhood, Shawna and Christian are activists, organizers and advocates for their community, which they care for deeply.



Ted first encountered the family while photographing a Martin Luther King Day rally in Seattle in January. He snapped a powerful photo of Shawna, Beezus and Minnow marching in solidarity for justice and peace over hatred and intolerance. A mutual friend spotted Ted’s photo on Instagram and connected him with Murphy.


“I kept coming back to the MLK Day image, and knew there was a great story there, and the words and pictures that Shawna shared on social media compelled me to ask her if I could follow her family,” the photographer said. “With the election coming up, and so much at stake, it seemed like the right time.”



Seattle MLK Day Rally

A photo posted by Ted Zee (@ted.zee) on




Ted started photographing the family right before the kids went back to school. Although he was nervous at first, the photographer and family quickly became more comfortable around each other. “We went from something that felt very awkward to almost normal in a short amount of time,” he said.


Though he planned to photograph them until Election Day, Ted felt compelled to extend the project to see how they dealt with the aftermath. 



Shawna told HuffPost she believes people will draw many different meanings and messages from her family’s photos. Ultimately, she feels the images reflect who they are.


“When we were pregnant, we talked about raising our kids without shame and guilt, first and foremost,” the mom said. “My girls know that being their mother has been my life’s dream come true.”


Having been a childcare provider for over 25 years, Shawna said she’s had many opportunities to observe different families and parenting styles. 



“Long before I became a parent, I already knew what I liked and what I thought would work for me,” she explained. “I try to be really intentional in my work with children and now with my own, but I also embrace being authentic because that’s what I’m asking of the kids, too.”


Parents face a lot of obstacles and worries today, but the Murphy Peetzes refuse to let that hinder their strength and courage.


“We are a working American family doing our best to get by in challenging times,” said Shawna. “We will not sit idly by in complacency in the face of homophobia, racism, sexism and bigotry. My children are brave, fierce and loving and they remind me to live without fear every day.”



The photographer hopes his photo essay moves viewers to action.


“I hope that the Murphy Peetz family inspires people, as they have for me, to get more involved in their community ― to put work in and contribute, in any way they can, to bring out the changes that they want to see for their own families and neighborhoods,” Ted said.


“I hope they see how much their children are looking to them as they are shaping their own personalities and their own path,” he added. “I hope they see that love wins.”


Keep scrolling and visit Ted’s website to learn more about Shawna, Christian, Beezus and Minnow.



Photo captions have been edited and condensed.

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Pics Of Chubby Asian Babies Will Warm Your Cold, Despondent 2016 Heart

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Brace yourself. You’re about to see the most delightful thing on the internet. 


Instagram page “Tiny Gentle Asians” features happiness-inducing photos of chubby, adorable Asian babies alongside hilarious, meme-worthy captions. 



Poutout to my main girl @kyliejenner

A photo posted by Tiny Gentle Asians (@tinygentleasians) on




The page launched about two years ago and since then, it’s racked up more than 50,000 followers, even attracting famous fans like Chelsea Handler.



One small step for (wo)man, one giant leap for mankind #

A photo posted by Tiny Gentle Asians (@tinygentleasians) on




But we can probably all agree that’s not surprising at all. The little guys are so cute, your face will start to cramp from smiling so hard. 



Maybe she's born with it⁉️ Maybe it's Babylline!

A photo posted by Tiny Gentle Asians (@tinygentleasians) on




Just look at their smooshy lil faces!



When your friend looks good and you look bad but she posts that pic anyway. # #baddog

A photo posted by Tiny Gentle Asians (@tinygentleasians) on




Mel Kenny, the genius behind the page, told The Huffington Post in an email that it all started purely out of “irrepressible love” for tiny gentle Asians, or “TGAs” as she lovingly calls them. The name, Kenny says, perfectly captures what these little nuggets are all about. 



It me, @skrillex

A photo posted by Tiny Gentle Asians (@tinygentleasians) on




“The Merriam-Webster dictionary tells me gentle means ‘free from harshness, sternness, or violence,’” she said. “How can babies really be anything other than those things?”



If anyone needs to borrow some sugar hmu. Rgds, your friendly neighbour Totoro. #sweetcheeks #totorolls

A photo posted by Tiny Gentle Asians (@tinygentleasians) on




Kenny’s posts range from Asian babies in precious costumes or stuffing their faces Asian babies chillin’ with pets, among other ridiculously cute moments that score a 10 on our extremely official cuteness scale. 



Stand up and let your voice be heard #depacifyme

A photo posted by Tiny Gentle Asians (@tinygentleasians) on




Kenny, who’s a writer, editor and social media consultant mentioned that part of the draw of chubby Asian babies on Instagram lies in the way their preciously pudgy features are captured.



“What I have observed is that Japanese and Korean mothers seem to take a more theatrical approach to documenting their babies.”




I was once a peasant like you.

A photo posted by Tiny Gentle Asians (@tinygentleasians) on




“What I have observed is that Japanese and Korean mothers seem to take a more theatrical approach to documenting their babies,” she said. “This approach is most definitely steeped in humor – using unflattering angles to best accentuate a baby’s chubbiness, for instance.”


Another reason why the page is so popular is because TGAs are, well, all of us, Kenny noted.



7 Steps To Creating The Perfect Smoky Eye (you'll never believe #3!) @bonmilk_rani

A video posted by Tiny Gentle Asians (@tinygentleasians) on




“The average person finds enlarged babies from Asia rather relatable,” Kenny, who’s Thai, told HuffPost.


She added that people often tag their friends when seeing TGAs that perfectly illustrate different moments in their lives: “Going ‘hi @friend remember when we skipped the gym in favour of that Family Pizza Meal Deal?’ is just another way people communicate with their friends during the day.” 



I am so smart like Albert Einstein or Jennifer Lawrence

A photo posted by Tiny Gentle Asians (@tinygentleasians) on




But when it boils down to it, the Instagram page is really just proof of the awesome, uplifting power of the interwebs, Kenny said. 


 “Joy can be cultivated via digital screens and it is contagious!”  



If you can't afford extravagant pillows, a naturally cushioned face is just as good

A photo posted by Tiny Gentle Asians (@tinygentleasians) on




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Of Course There’s An A Cappella Rudolph-Themed ‘Hamilton’ Parody

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Well this was probably inevitable, folks. 


An a cappella “Hamilton” parody set to the tale of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is here, just in time for Christmas.


In this clever adaptation, Rudolph is the story’s Alexander Hamilton, while Santa Claus appears as George Washington.


Santa is, of course, “in dire need of assistance.” (There’s a thick fog threatening to ruin Christmas, for those who don’t remember the tale.) And Rudolph? The fearless reindeer is not giving up his shot.


Watch the rendition in the video above. You could spread some holiday cheer by sending it around to all the “Hamilton” fans in your life. Or you could get them something from the below gift guide.


H/T Mashable

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