Screen legend Anjelica Huston knows what makes good TV and what doesn't. And there's no question which side of the line ads that use great apes fall on. She is urging Steak 'n Shake to pull its current TV spot that includes a forced performance by a chimpanzee. Along with a copy of her video exposé about great-ape "actors," Anjelica sent the company a long letter, saying, in part, "These chimpanzees are destined to endure a lifetime of abuse for your 30-second spot—a point that no compassionate person would find funny in the least." 

The stars of Enlightened are enlightened enough to know that you don't force animals to perform—but you can ask a PETA staffer to! Star Mike White is such a big fan of PETA that he invited PETA Vice President Lisa Lange to make a guest appearance on this Sunday's episode and plug the organization. And during filming, Laura Dern thanked Lisa for what PETA is doing for animals.

Zachary Quinto knows the right way to put animals on camera: making a film starring homeless dogs that's about adopting from animal shelters instead of buying from pet stores and breeders. And Zachary's tweet about his film Dog Eat Dog was one of our paws-down favorites this week:

Anne Hathaway was a paws-down favorite at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, accepting her award in custom-made vegan Jimmy Choos. 

Actor Aisha Tyler took to Twitter to talk about some vegan meals she has been enjoying, and PETA has been helping by tweeting Aisha links to tasty recipes. 

And Paul McCartney gave us plenty of them to choose from with his Meat Free Monday Cookbook. He reflected on decades of meat-free eating and animal advocacy as well as how he is honoring Linda McCartney's life in a poignant piece titled, "My Life as a Vegetarian – Supporting Linda's Legacy." 

Fauja Singh will be leaving quite the legacy as well. The world's oldest marathon runner has announced that he will retire this year at the ripe old age of 101. What does he say gave him his longevity and fitness? Exercise and a vegetarian diet, of course.

To keep up with what all the stars are doing for animals, follow @PETA on Twitter. 

Call it life imitating art. Fans who caught the latest episode of HBO's Enlightened on Monday got a little more enlightened when PETA's message popped up on the show. Executive producer, star, and PETA friend Mike White stuck it to cruelty when he stuck PETA stickers on the desk of character Amy Jellicoe (Laura Dern). Here's what the stickers, which were clearly visible throughout the scene, read:

In need of some illumination of your own? Read more about the leather industry and dissection on PETA's website, and see the stickers' appearance in the new episode of Enlightened on HBO Go.

wallpaperbase / CC

My interest in CBS's Amazing Race started to wane when PETA pal Mike White and his dad were bumped from the show.

Well, the announcement that scientists in Holland have created a sort of pork in a petri dish means a different kind of amazing race is on—one that can save tens of millions of animals every year. As you may recall, PETA announced earlier this year that we'll pay $1 million to the first team of scientists who could create test-tube chicken flesh that looks and tastes like the "real deal" by June 30, 2012.

The Dutch scientists definitely have their work cut out for them if they're to grab PETA's reward money. The article says their "meat" is presently a gooey blob that "requires exercise, like human muscles, to turn it into a tougher steak-like consistency" and that they expect to have laboratory meat within five years. It doesn't sound appetizing—yet—and five years is a little after our contest deadline, but we're hopeful that they'll work out the kinks and apply their findings to create in vitro chicken flesh for public consumption in time to win the prize.

Until then, my animal-defending compadres and I will keep serving up mouthwatering Gardein to entice meat-lovers to kick their cruel, unhealthy meat addictions.

Written by Karin Bennett

Post-Thanksgiving bliss is a beautiful thing. You're so full you can barely move, and you can look forward to leftovers and a month of nonstop holiday music on the radio. But the best part of the Thanksgiving aftermath? Fur-Free Friday—the most joyous, humane shopping day of the year. This year we hosted more than 50 demos in the U.S., Canada, and even Johannesburg, South Africa, to kick off the fur-free season.

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, our breathtaking bunnies hopped their way into the hearts of delighted shoppers who happily took in the anti-fur message.

Meanwhile, a few cuddly friends (and PETA staffers) were in Norfolk, Virginia, urging passersby to love animals, not wear them.

This year, gear up for a warm, compassionate winter by pledging to make every day fur-free.

Written by Logan Scherer

On last night's Family Guy, the show tried (sort of) to make the point that dogs' lives are not worthless (how risqué of them). But I'm not totally convinced that the animal rights message came across through the myriad of violent deaths of cartoon dogs.

Incidentally, I've been waiting, like, nine years for that oh-so-clever PETA/Peter joke. Especially since other notable animated shows tackled animal rights issues (and, yes, even PETA) years ago.

Family Guy's been on notice ever since we found out that its writers are captive manatees. (We're against that sort of thing, you know.) This episode has us thinking that Family Guy might want to fire the animal writers and hire people who can generate material that doesn't make us roll our eyes.

Written by Amanda Schinke

Mike White's dog looks like a pig—and for that, we're grateful. It was Mike's unique-looking canine companion who first inspired him to try a vegan diet—and now the creative mastermind behind such quirky comedies as Year of the Dog, School of Rock, Nacho Libre, and The Good Girl has stepped in front of the camera to star in a brand-new veggie testimonial for PETA.

"You know I have a dog who looks like a pig," Mike explains in the PSA, "and I would look at him and I'd think, 'You know, I cannot eat pig anymore.'"

It's true—there are so many reasons not to eat pigs. One of them is that they are even smarter than dogs.

Mike also sat down for an exclusive behind-the-scenes interview, in which he told us of yet another great reason to go vegan—for your health!

Let's see: Saving animals' lives and drastically improving your health. If you're wondering where you can sign up for such amazing rewards, look no further.

Written by Amanda Schinke

How adorable is Mike White? You can find out for yourself by tuning in to The Amazing Race, which airs every Sunday at 8 p.m. (check local listings). The quirky School of Rock and Nacho Libre writer/director/actor is teamed up with his dad (see "adorable" above) in the latest installment of the hit reality show. We probably love Mike the most, though, for his work on the incredibly touching movie Year of the Dog, about how the love of a dog inspires a life dedicated to animal rights. Not only did the death of Pencil in the beginning of the movie turn me into a hot mess of emotions, but I was thrilled that the movie touched on so many different animal rights issues.

We're rooting for Mike and his dad Mel because Mike is a vegan and an avid PETA supporter who has worn not one but two PETA tees on the show (and we suspect there are more to come!):

The plucky duo have proven to be tough competitors, placing first in episode 3, during which Mike bravely donned a Romanian gymnast's leotard and demonstrated his stylin' moves on the balance beam.

Need more reasons to pull for Mike? He spoke out in favor of the groundbreaking California Healthy Pets Act, which would have mandated that nearly all dogs and cats in the state be spayed or neutered.

Speaking of which, check out Mike's interview with PETA in which he talks about Year of the Dog and why he went vegan:

Written by Alisa Mullins