The Oscar race is getting pretty heated, with the big showdown on Sunday seemingly between "Birdman" and "Boyhood," but to take some edge off of that tension, why not watch a truly brilliant and terrific "Sesame Street" spoof, entitled "Big Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Orange Pants." It's awesome.

What's notable about the video is that it features Carol Spinney, who has essayed the Big Bird character since 1969. (Since 1998 Matt Vogel has performed the character more regularly, and he appears as the character in the final segment of this video.) Rarely are the performers behind the characters ever seen, much less a performer dealing with their alter egos. It's pretty heady stuff, captured in the "Birdman" single-take style. Anyone who is a fan of the Muppets, "Sesame Street," or Spinney, who was recruited by Jim Henson during the embryonic days of the series, will get a kick out of this short.