One of the great things about these here Internets is that it seems that every minute, someone is releasing their “Top (Number Here) Greatest (Noun Here) of (Time Frame Here)” list. It’s like every day is Total Request Live, without the shrieking teenagers, toolbag hosts, and lame music videos. Perhaps the most prolific listmaker is the American Film Institute, who Sunday released their list of the best 25 movie musicals of all time. Tops on that list was Singin’ in the Rain, followed by West Side Story, neither of which anyone can really argue with.

As the list gets nearer to its end, though, there arise some questions: Chicago at 12? Guys and Dolls at 23 (to be fair, they didn’t list anything that Brando sang as a “memorable song”)? Moulin Rouge! at 25 (you can argue that it belongs higher or not on the list at all)? The most glaring omissions, to me, are The Music Man and South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut. As with all lists, though, everything is up for debate. If you feel so inclined, knock yourself out and comment.

After 44 years of fearless showmanship, Steve Irwin, the quirky Australian zookeeper known to the world as the Crocodile Hunter, met his untimely fate today while filming on location. Though he was best known for wrestling with crocs, it wasn’t the monstrous reptiles that did him in but a rather harmless sting ray whose stinger pierced his heart.

It always seemed more en vogue to imitate Irwin’s over-the-top Australian accent than his dogged determination to preserve wildlife. But beneath the cries of “Oy” were true attempts to protect nature, and that’s something that he should be remembered for. Instead of seeing ten more goofy, khaki-clad Animal Planet hosts take his place, let’s hope that we see some kind of fund for conservationism formed in his name.

Crikey.

Ain’t It Cool News posted today that the theme music for NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcasts has been written by none other than…John Williams. Yes, that one. Of Star Wars fame. You can hear the audio here.

Now, I’m not going to question Williams’ ability to connect with sports; after all, he wrote the Olympic theme, and who hasn’t carried a tiki torch humming that to themselves? No, just me? Fine, then. But I’m not sure this music is enough to get me ready for some football. It’s right in line with the NFL Films music that’s so popular with Harry Kalas’ velvety baritone pouring over it, but it’s not something that pumps me up, like any of the industrial FOX sports themes (NHL, NFL, or MLB), or the glorious NBA on NBC theme. I’m sure we’ll learn to love, or at least ignore, Williams’ NFL theme. At the very least, it will soothe our nerves as we go to commercial hearing John Madden stating the obvious…yet again. “Sometimes, when the quarterback throws directly at the other team, the ball is intercepted…”

Non-Williams themes courtesy I Love WAVs.

One of the great things about my job is that I have to do the same thing every morning: post the electronic events newsletter. After two-plus years of doing this, it’s become a rather mindless task (the posting of the newsletter, not the writing of it), and I can do a few other things to entertain myself while I go through the motions.

I’m not sure how I got around to YouTube this morning, or how I got to searching for “Sesame Street” videos from there, but that’s kind of the point of YouTube. Anybody who is in their 20’s or early 30’s knows the glory days of “Sesame Street” and will recognize the clips linked below. On the “explore more videos” section of each clip is a wealth of links to other genius clips. I could even make it a regular feature, akin to Huge Tiny Mistake’s “Boy Meets World” Mondays feature, but won’t. Enjoy these highlights.

• Guy Smiley and Count von Count on “Beat the Time”
• Cookie Monster on “Beat the Time”
• “C is for Cookie”
• The Beetles sing “Letter B”
• “I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon”
• “Dance Myself to Sleep”
• Bert and Ernie explore a pyramid
• “Put Down the Duckie”
• The National Association of W Lovers
• Mourning Mr. Hooper

Pictured, of course, is Super Grover, who isn’t involved in any of the clips.