By Amy & Nancy Harrington, Pop Culture PassionistasThis week a talk show host got schooled by her kid, a comedian spoke of possibility with some working class heroes, an ’80s pop star turned jeans into dreams, a rocker preached the power of a meatless life, and a “Saved by the Bell” actor taught colleagues how to drop some pounds. Here are this week’s most inspirational moments in pop culture.Elisabeth Hasselbeck Gets Schooled by her KidWe can all agree that Elisabeth Hasselbeck went a little too far on “The View” this week. The conservative chat show host commented on “Dancing with the Stars” contestant Erin Andrews’ skimpy wardrobe choices of late. She went on to joke that if she were Andrews’ former stalker she would have been thinking, “‘Man! I just could’ve waited twelve weeks and seen this — a little bit less — without the prison time!'” Sending trickles of uncomfortable laughter through the audience.But here’s where the inspiration comes in. That night, while watching the “DWTS” elimination show with her five-year-old daughter, Grace, Elisabeth said she was sad about having “hurt someone’s feelings.” Out of the mouths of babes came the solution. Grace turned to her and said, “Mommy, why don’t you just call Erin and tell her you’re sorry?” A simple, childlike solution to an overblown, grown-up problem. In a tearful apology Elisabeth told her “View” costars that she promised her daughter, “I told her, and I promised her, that I would use my words more mindfully, like I try to do, to build people up not break them down.” And with that “Dancing with the Stars” contestants and Democrats everywhere breathed a huge sigh of relief.Bill Murray – Poet for the Working Man The actual event happened a year ago but the momentous occasion is just now making the viral video rounds. The unusual footage shows actor Bill Murray reading poetry to a bunch of construction workers.The workmen were building the new site of the Poets House in Battery Park, New York and Murray popped in to read them a verse or two. But not without warning them, “They get worse, OK. So if you wanna lie down or get sick, take a sick day. Do it now.”Sure there were the inevitable jokes and a bit of awkward silence following his rendition of Emily Dickinson’s “I Dwell in Possibility.” But everyone’s favorite “SNL” alum seemed to want to express his gratitude to the men who were pouring their hearts and souls into the new building. From one craftsman to another he said, “I want to say thank you for building this and for putting yourselves into it. The way the poets put themselves into their words. And the way all New Yorkers put themselves into what they really, really gravitate to, what really makes them a man or a woman.”As for the Poets House’s impact on the city he added, “I know I feel it when I come down here. And the fact that it’s gonna be here is a pretty nice piece of bliss. It’s a little bit of balm. It’s the hope that comes out at the end of Pandora’s box.” Inspiring words indeed. Debbie Gibson’s Jeans Turn into DreamsDo you remember Debbie Gibson’s 1986 hit “Only in My Dreams”? Well now Deborah, all grown up and still dreaming, has launched Only In My Jeans. The online auction will feature jeans signed by celebrities like Hilary Duff, Ryan Seacrest, Lance Bass, and the entire casts of “Glee” and “Desperate Housewives.”The proceeds from the auction will go to the singer’s own charity, the Gibson Girl Foundation, which helps young girls achieve their dreams through the arts. 100% of the funds raised will go towards scholarships so young girls can go to summer arts camps and to buy musical instruments for various children’s hospitals.Gibson’s own summer camp, Electric Youth, teaches arts classes as well as the business involved in being successful. She said, “I don’t feel like I’ve done anything but create an atmosphere for them to flourish and interact and learn. And it’s been this calling that I didn’t even know I had until I started doing it.”Gibson said Electric Youth has suffered lately due to the poor economy making her realize that in hard times, the arts are the first thing to go. So she started the new charity. She said she came up with the idea after years of singing the joke lyrics to her hit song. She thought, “Maybe I should call upon some of my celebrity entertainer friends and see if they’d be willing to donate. And it has turned into a pair a day arriving at my doorstep.”To bid on Debbie’s jeans check out her website.Joan Jett Helps New Yorkers Go MeatlessSure Joan Jett loves rock ‘n’ roll, but she loves animals, too. In fact she’s been a vegetarian for over 20 years because she says it’s not necessary to eat meat to sustain life. To spread the vegan word, she hit the streets of New York to hand out PETA’s new vegetarian starter kits. It has recipes, tips, and nutrition info to start anyone on the path to a meat-free life. In a recent PETA testimonial Jett said, “When I learned how animals on factory farms are treated, I gave beef the boot and stopped eating pigs, chickens, and fish, too. Cutting meat out of your diet is the best thing you can do for animals and your own health.”Lose ‘Extra’ Pounds with Mario LopezMario Lopez is an ex-“Dancing with the Stars” contestant, a current “Extra” host, and a past “Saved by the Bell” star. He’s also known for his rock-hard abs and his knack for taking his shirt off to let us see them. Now he wants to be known as an inspirational nutrition guru. He has penned a new book called “Extra Lean: The Fat-Burning Plan That Changes The Way You Eat For Life.” The book claims to be able to help readers lose fourteen pounds in fourteen days. And to prove the plan works, Mario has challenged some of the “Extra” staff to be his guinea pigs and try to lose weight. The best part of the plan is it mostly relies on changing eating habits. So none of the contestants have to get into the boxing ring with Lopez to reach their goals. The recipes actually seem pretty yummy, from baked chicken cutlets to peach frozen yogurt. Mario’s plan is to eat what you like, but control the portions. Sounds easy, no?To read more from the Pop Culture Passionistas, visit their website.

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