Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash resigns from ‘Sesame Street’

Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind “Sesame Street’s” Elmo since the early ’80s, has resigned from the show after a second man filed a lawsuit Tuesday, accusing him of a sexual relationship with an underage male and seeking $5million in damages. (Victoria Will/AP)

By Lisa De Moraes By Lisa De Moraes November 20, 2012

Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind “Sesame Street’s” Elmo since the early ’80s, has resigned from the show after a second man filed a lawsuit Tuesday, accusing him of canada goose a sexual relationship with an underage male and seeking $5million in damages.

News of the second allegation comes shortly after the first man who had recanted his allegation that he was a minor when he first had sex canada goose uk outlet with Clash let it be known Monday that he wanted canada goose coats to recant his buy canada goose jacket recantation uk canada goose and canadian goose jacket return a $125,000 settlement.

“I am resigning from Sesame Workshop with a very heavy heart,” Clash said Tuesday in a statement.

“I have canada goose black friday sale loved every day of my 28 years working for this exceptional organization,” he continued. “Personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work ‘Sesame Street’ is doing and I cannot allow it to go on canada goose clearance any longer. I am deeply canada goose uk black friday sorry to be leaving and am looking forward to resolving these personal matters Canada Goose Coats On Sale privately.”

Sesame Workshop said Tuesday in a statement: “None cheap canada goose uk of us [at Sesame Workshop], canada goose clearance sale especially Kevin, want anything to divert our attention from our focus on serving as a leading educational organization… Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin’s personal life has become a distraction Canada Goose sale that none of us want, and he has concluded that he can no longer be effective in his job. Cecil Singleton seeks more than $5million in damages, according to the Web site TMZ, which first obtained the court documents.

In the suit, Singleton, 24, said he “did not become aware that he had suffered adverse psychological buy canada goose jacket cheap and emotional effects from Kevin Clash’s sexual acts and conduct until 2012.”

Clash, a Baltimore area native, had been on leave from the lauded PBS children’s show since news broke this month about the first accuser.

NBC’s mighty return

NBC once home to and

NBC will win its first November “sweep” in nine years among 18 to 49 year old viewers, who are the currency of the TV cheap Canada Goose business jumping from a fourth place finish last November.

The network decided to celebrate uk canada goose outlet by putting NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt on the phone with reporters Tuesday as another full week’s ratings were issued, officially sealing the deal.

“We’re very happy this November the canada goose coats on sale first time we’ve been this happy in a long time,” Greenblatt began, well, happily.

Then some Debbie Downer on the call Canada Goose online kicked off the Q period by asking Greenblatt whether he thought NBC would canada goose factory sale remain in first place in the first quarter homesite of ’13, when “The Voice” and “Revolution” are on hiatus (and CBS has the Super Bowl and Fox has Nicki Minaj wreaking havoc on “American Idol”).

“We expect a pretty significant leveling of the playing field, but canada goose uk shop we knew that going in,” Greenblatt acknowledged. But, he said, “we just feel like, to start out this strong heading into Canada Goose Online what we know will be a tough winter, feels like a big accomplishment.”

Plus, Greenblatt forecast that in March, when “The Voice” and “Revolution” return, NBC will be back in the game in a big way.

Then along comes Negative Nell, wondering what Greenblatt thought the odds were of NBC’s finishing the whole TV season (mid September to late May) ranked No.1.

But Greenblatt’s happiness canadagoosejacket-outlet was too strong for them:

“I feel pretty confident we will not end up in fourth place again this year,” canada goose store he began.

“I’d be astonished if we ended up being No.1, given the firepower some of Canada Goose Jackets the other networks have, but thrilled if we landed at 2 and really pleased if just in third place… Third place would be a triumph for us.”

The reporter noted, as if meaning it to sting, that NBC had finished last season in third place.

Greenblatt countered pleasantly that last year, NBC had the Super Bowl.

That shut ’em up.

‘Boss’ is canned

Pay cable network Starz has canceled Kelsey Grammer’s

The second season, which wrapped its 18 episodes in mid Canada Goose Parka October, averaged about 940,000 viewers across multiple plays. That’s not far Canada Goose Outlet behind the ratings for Starz’s “Magic City.”

On the other hand, Starz had domestic rights on “Boss,” while it owns outright and therefore reaps the benefit of its latter show’s sale internationally. You do the math.