News of the Week: Resolutions, Sesame Street, and the Hot New Drink Is Actually 60 Years Old

This Year Is Gonna Be Different

Every year around this time I review the resolutions I made the first week of the year. Looking back at January of 2024 I see that I’m … one for six. That’s a terrible batting average.

But this year I’m really going to keep more of those resolutions! Especially if I change the definition of the word “keep.”

There are those who say they don’t make New Year’s Resolutions. I call these people “liars.” They may not officially make any resolutions, call them “resolutions,” or make a list. But at the end of the year isn’t it natural to think about one’s life, and the new plans you have to make for the new year? If you have anything you want to accomplish or change or think about for 2025, that’s a resolution, whether you call it that or not.

And if your plan is to not make any resolutions this year? Hey, that’s a resolution.

What are yours?

Can Sesame Street Be Saved?

Imagine a world where Sesame Street has to be “saved.”

But that seems to be the situation right now, as HBO and Max have decided not to renew the deal to make new episodes after the 55th season launches (though old episodes will still be available).

I bet it finds a home, though it worries me that the production company wants to “reimagine” the show, with longer narrative arcs instead of the format that, you know, made the show popular with kids and parents for a half century.

Hot Dr Pepper

There’s a new trend on the socials (I try to sound hip by saying “socials”), but if you’re someone who dives into the Post archives regularly (which you can do with a subscription!), you already know it’s several decades old.

It’s a Hot Dr Pepper, which was advertised in the pages of the Post back in the mid-’60s.

Those We Lost in 2024

This is the time of the year for lists. Unfortunately, along with the best-of and worst-of lists, we also have a rundown of the people that have died over the past 12 months. The New York Times has a nice write-up of some notables, and Turner Classic Movies has released their annual video tribute.

Uploaded to YouTube by Turner Classic Movies

CBS will have their tribute video up this Sunday on this page.

RIP Rickey Henderson, Art Evans, Alfa Anderson, Woody Fraser, Slim Dunlap, and Marisa Paredes

Rickey Henderson was a Hall of Famer and the baseball’s all-time stolen base leader. He died last week at age 65.

Art Evans was probably best known as Barnes, the air traffic controller who helps Bruce Willis in Die Hard 2. He also had roles in A Soldier’s Story, School Daze, Fright Night, Ruthless People, Metro, and Tales from the Hood. He died Saturday at the age of 82.

Alfa Anderson was one of the lead vocalists for Chic, known for such songs as “Le Freak.” She died last week at the age of 78.

Woody Fraser was a veteran producer who created such shows as Good Morning America and The Mike Douglas Show. He died Saturday at the age of 90.

Slim Dunlap was a guitarist for The Replacements. He died last week at the age of 73.

Marisa Paredes was an actress who appeared in several Pedro Almodóvar films. She died last week at the age of 78.

This Week in History

Humphrey Bogart Born (December 25, 1899)

The Post had an extensive feature on the actor in the August 2, 1952 issue. He died less than five years later at the age of 57.

Indian Ocean Earthquake (December 26, 2004)

The 9.3 magnitude quake caused a tsunami that killed 230,000 people. It was one of the biggest disasters in recorded history.

This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Falls City, Nebraska, at Christmas by John Falter (December 21, 1946)

Falls City is where Falter spent his childhood. His father had a clothing store on this street and he worked there as a boy. Kids used to sleep on the big water tower seen in the distance. It was 75 feet in the air so authorities eventually told them to stop doing that.

New Year’s Eve at Home

New Year’s Eve is the most overrated night of the year.

I remember in the ’80s getting together with friends for the night, maybe at someone’s house, but I’ve never really gone out on a New Year’s Eve. Running around in freezing temperatures and dealing with crowds and drunks? That’s why I stay home and watch TV and drink a few cocktails.

Like the Negroni, made with gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. Or a classic Old Fashioned, made with rye whiskey/bourbon, sugar, and bitters. For something different, how about a Frozen Chocolate Martini, a Campfire Mule, or a Kir Royale?

(And don’t forget the Hot Dr Pepper.)

You’ll need some food, so try some of these appetizers: a Spicy Chex Mix, Fried Deviled Eggs, this BLT Dip, a Buffalo Chicken Dip, or always popular Pigs in a Blanket.

And if you are at home watching TV all day, TCM will have a marathon of the Thin Man movies starting at 9:15 a.m. ET and ending at 7:45 p.m. (they liked their cocktails too). After that, it’s The Apartment, the classic Billy Wilder film that’s set during the holidays. And after the ball drops (which several channels will cover), you can catch Repeat Performance, a New Year’s Eve-themed time travel film noir I bet you haven’t seen.

Next Week’s Holidays and Events

Bowl Games (Late December/early January)

Here’s a list of the college bowl games and where you can watch them. There’s a Pop-Tarts Bowl!

New Year’s Day (January 1)

This is the day you can start on those resolutions.