get over it. this is simply entertainment. i very much doubt there is danger of a crossover audience. i enjoyed technicalvirgin, and i am NOT rushing off to listen to bedtime nursury tales. i strongly doubt parents are letting there tots see these small comedy slots. lighten up. we are all capable of understanding what a CHARACTER is. she is acting. shame on you for firing someone for showing acting chops....and not letting your audience choose for themselves.
Sprout/Children's Network, LLC/PBS
Reprehensible!
I must admit to being completely baffled at the shortsightedness of Children's Network for terminating Melanie Martinez over a parody sketch she performed years ago.
These internet videos have such a short shelf life in the public eye that any negative impacts to your channel would surely be tremendously outweighed by the negative press you are receiving for Melanie's termination, not to mention the negative impact on her career. There is no public scandal here other than the one being created by the knee-jerk reaction of Children's Network.
Is this standard being applied to all who are associated with your programming? Are you also going to now publicly distance yourself from George Carlin, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, Gilbert Gottfried etc... who's other artistic endeavors are hardly child friendly but allowed to stand on their own merit? What about past projects associated with members of your production staff and executives? Do these now need to be dragged out into the public eye for further scrutiny?
I am a southern white Republican conservative Christian concerned parent. If this doesn't pass as an intelligent decision with ME, imagine how the rest of your market viewership will react. As an entity that relies on public support, you seem quite a bit short-sighted when it comes to judging the public impact of your decisions.
Sincerely,
Powell Blue
My children watch Melanie. Firing her for 2 30sec clips that were created 7 years ago is worng. By the time my kids are old enough to understand those two video clips it would not matter. STOP THIS NEOCON Nonsense.
For the past year and a half Melanie's good night show has helped my toddler get into a bedtime routine. Her good night song at 9:00 was my son's cue that it was bedtime. He would go to be with no problem. Now he gives me a hard time and he is asking me where Melanie is. You should punish her for something she did 7 years ago!
PBS this is hypocritical!!! The guests on Sesame Street have had experiences in their past that would lead to character confusion for children. You are messing with the heads of an entire generation of future PBS subscribers. How would you explain to your children where she has gone? She is there one day and gone the next!! I will blame you PBS.
She can't host a kids' show because of her past, but Bush can be president even though he used cocaine in the past. And don't get me started on Clinton!
How ridiculous to think that children who are young enough to watch Sprout are ever going to care about those faux PSA's. I've seen references to Desperate Housewives on Sesame Street, shouldn't I be upset about that if Melanie's past would upset me??
This is silly. What target-audience member would possibly: a. see the 'offensive' material; and b. have the cognitive ability to make the connection that it is the same woman, much less understand the message that is being parodied or the parody, for that matter,
I try to watch this show nightly and upon hearing this I am so disappointed. My 10 month old just "lights up" when she sees Melanie on the screen and is completely focused. She adores her cheery voice. Please bring her back for the sake of the kids.
Ms. Martinez has done excellent work on the "Good Night Show". Obviously, the technical virgin video has not impacted the "Good Night Show" or its audience before this point, nor is it likely that the "Good Night Show" audience will see, or even understand, the video. Ms. Matinez should be allowed to continue on the PBS program.
