Who would have thought that a reality show could make for such an abundance of great costume ideas?! Jersey Shore, the show that offended some Italian-Americans and a good chunk of New Jersey residents with its club-hopping and fist-pumping antics, has become a breakaway hit and has been renewed for a second season by its network, MTV, with the entire cast returning for another summer at the shore.

While it’s doubtful that MTV will come out with officially licensed Jersey Shore costumes (hey, stranger things have happened… Look at how long Ronnie and Sammi Sweetheart have lasted as a couple!), you can still dress up as your favorite characters from the show. Guys can skip the gym time and check out how to make a Mike “The Situation” costume with our simple tutorials. And ladies, you know you’ve been dying to know how you, too, can transform your blah, limp hair with a poof as perfect as Snooki’s if you check out our simple DIY how to make a Snooki costume. (Yes, there is a step-by-step walk-through on how to get your hair that high with teasing and getting that ultimate guidette eye makeup!

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If you picked up a Sarah Palin mask sometime during 2008, it looks like you made a wise investment. And if you’ve gotten a pair of Even though she was a bust as a Vice Presidential candidate in the 2008 elections, television news network FOX picked up “Sarah Baracuda” as an on-air political analyst and commentator. After stepping down as the Governor of Alaska, everyone assumed Palin had just “Gone Rogue,” with her book and subsequent signing tour. Apparently, she had other plans in the works. Looks like Tina Fey will get more mileage out of her lookalike status…and a few more guest spots on Saturday Night Live.

Her multi-year tenure should be in full-swing in the very near future, giving you ample time to dust off your best conservative business suit and sexy librarian glasses or pick up a pair for a pundit party to ease the winter boredom. For some more ideas, check out our DIY hints on how to put together a great Sarah Palin costume or get some pointers to get FOX’s newest addition’s mannerisms down pat with a “Being Sarah Palin” tutorial.

In what’s become a long-standing tradition, TBS is running their 24-hour marathon of A Christmas Story. Based on a story by author Jean Shepherd, the tale of little Ralphie who only wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas has become a modern day classic.

The film’s cult-status has inspired Christmas conventions at the Tremont House in Cleveland, OH where A Christmas Story was filmed. Even better, from November until January, the house is turned into a museum open to the public with all sorts of props and memorabilia from the movie. All of the familiar items from the flick, including Randy’s toy zeppelin and of course, the Red Ryder BB gun itself are on display. There’s also a gift shop to purchase your own leg lamp! The house also features a Griswold wing, modeled after another favorite Christmas movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation in which Clark Griswold, Cousin Eddie and the whole family bungle their way through the holiday season!

If you can’t make it out to the A Christmas Story house or convention, dress up as your favorite character and watch the movie on Christmas Day. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so since TBS runs it from 8PM on Christmas Eve throughout Christmas day. Plenty of time to guard your turkey from the Bumpus hounds and watch the film with friends and family.

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Remember the Smurfs? They stood no more than three apples high and were tiny blue critters that lived in mushroom shaped houses in the forrest. They used the word “Smurf” as a noun, verb, and adjective in each of their sentences? They scampered through the forrest singing “La, la, la, la-la, laa! La, la, la, la-la!” Well, those little blue creatures that children of the ’80s grew up with are making their way to the silver screen, sometime in 2011. The film is scheduled to be a mix of 3D animation and live-action performers.

Among the actors attached the project are John Lithgow as the voice of Papa Smurf, the kind, yet authoritative leader of the tiny creatures and character actor, Wallace Shawn (Cyrus on Gossip Girl) as the evil wizard, Gargamel, who wants to destroy the Smurfs.

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The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a holiday tradition. Broadcast on NBC every Thanksgiving morning, this past year marked the 83rd time the Parade made its way down Broadway in New York City. Always entertaining, the parade mixes beautiful floats with popular characters and gigantic character balloons that fly overhead above the all-ages throngs of those in attendence lining the parade route.

A great barometer of what’s new and hot in animated fare, as well as Broadway shows with a dash of nostalgia mixed in, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade offers some insight into some possible costume choices for the year ahead. As always, some of the classics were on hand including Sesame Street, celebrating its 40th anniversary, Snoopy and his pal, Woodstock, and Spongebob Square Pants.

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You know them, even if you are no longer a child and have not seen a show in years- you know who the Sesame Street gang is. The gang has been around for forty years as of November 10, 2009. For these four decades Sesame Street has been instrumental in teaching children and adults a variety of important topics.

Though the show is for children, they have discussed many important topics such as psychology, how to help your children and much more. Education is the foundation of this puppet show. Sesame Street is set in a fake Brooklyn City where Big Bird and his many friends live. Aside from the puppets of the show, Sesame Street has had a number of very popular celebrities on their show.

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Charles Schultz left a legacy that will not be forgotten any time soon. His creature of the “Little Round Headed Boy,” and his dog pal have warmed hearts for several generations. Each year ABC brings back Charlie Brown and his pals in the various holiday animated cartoons, which were created.

Last month ‘It’s a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” was played for the Halloween Holiday, and already we have two more holidays lined up to celebrate. Coming soon on television will be Charlie Brown’s animated celebration of Thanksgiving. You might decide breaking out the Pilgrim Costume is the right thing to do, especially if you add a little snoopy costume to the mix. Can you imagine Snoopy dressed like a pilgrim? I sure can!

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Remakes of all things ’80s have reached a fever pitch. The latest on the block is a movie redux of the television show that brought Mr. T to primetime and into homes everywhere: The A-Team.

The ’80s original centered on four Vietnam veterans who were framed for a crime they didn’t commit. They take the show on the road to evade the military police, helping out people along the way as they attempt to clear their names. In the original, Mr. T played B.A. Baracus (”B.A.” for “Bad Attitude”), the A-Team’s mechanic and muscle. George Peppard was Hannibal, the group’s cigar chomping leader who “love it when a plan comes together.” Dwight Schultz was “Howling Mad” Murdoch, the team’s resident loose cannon and Dirk Benedict was Templeton “Faceman” Peck, the group’s prettyboy and master of disguise.

While you gotta pity the fool that steps into Mr. T’s shoes, UFC fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson just may have the mettle, muscle, and humor to bring it to the role of B.A. Baracus. (Anyone doubting Rampage’s sense of humor has to see this past week’s episode of Ultimate Fighter 10.) Rounding out the cast is Liam Neeson as grey-haired Hannibal, Bradley Cooper as Faceman, and Sharlto Copely as Murdoch. Jessica Biel is also part of the cast, although what role she is playing has yet to be confirmed.

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The Simpsons is perhaps the most popular animated television show to hit primetime. The show was created by Matt Groening. At first The Simpsons were little shorts on the Tracey Ullman Show. They first appeared in 1987. The small sketches were such a hit that in 1988 Fox picked up the show for a series to be released for the 1989 season. Since then The Simpsons have been warming households each week.

This year for Halloween if you want to be one of The Simpsons characters you certainly have plenty of options. There are Bart Simpson costumes, Homer costumes, even Snowball II costumes. But for a truly great costume consider Marge Simpson costumes.

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Mayhem ensues as parents’ all over the United States get ready for Halloween. Each and every parent has their investigative hat on to figure out what Halloween costumes are needed for their infant to toddler aged children. With only eight weeks to go, it is a scramble to find the “purrfect” ferocious lion or cuddly bear. Notes are being furiously scribbled in their notebooks as parents make decisions, reject others, and plan out the entire evening of gathering candy, visiting friends, and showing off their bundles of joy.

But what are they choosing? What costumes are making the cut for this year’s Halloween? Is it the same popular costumes of the years before or something less main stream? Stay tuned as we go over the sensational, the edible, and the furry picks of the season.

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