Let's help PBS fight the right wing, end Puritanism and misogyny, have a damn sense of humor, and free ourselves from the shackles of zealotry! Melanie DID NOTHING WRONG. To fire her is to kowtow to those who would destroy Truth, Justice, and the American Way! Bring Melanie Back!
My son loves her! Why punish him? He doesn't even know what porn is! The new guy is just not as good, and my son doesn't like him as much. She was pretty cool!
Simply ridiculous. 7 years is ancient history - and almost pre-internet. The very firing of Melanie brings more attention to these videos than having done nothing at all...
We used to groan when melanie came on (our daughter loves her) but she should never ever be fired over such an idiotic thing in the past. We support Melanie!
PBS is crazy! What about George Carlin ( Thomas tha Tank)??? Ever heard his comedy!! And Dr. Ruth???? Give me a break, this is a joke!!Let Melanie come back!!
After telling her bosses, they decided to fire her for a show she did years ago. If they have problems with her past behavior, why don't they go ahead and pull Thomas & Friends, since George Carlin, one of the narrators for the show, does a comedic routine that isn't good for preschoolers either! Actually, that goes for most of the narrators, which include Ringo Starr and Alec Baldwin. Bring back Melanie, because my son saw a picture of her and asked me why she wasn't do the show anymore. Telling him why she was fired would have only confused him more and I don't like lying to my child.
PBS has made a horrible decision in letting go its host of the good night show. I am now contending with a 4 year old who is devastated that she no longer gets to watch her favorite show and host. How many execs at PBS actually think a 4 year old is able to log onto the internet and search for a link where they would be able to view a video made seven years ago? This is totally ridiculous and unless Melanie is brought back as host, we will no longer support PBS or any of its affiliates. Let’s get a clue people and do the right thing. We feel you have definitely done more harm than good. As a side note, any parent that would actually complain over something as trivial as this is ignorant to begin with. The only way a child would ever have access to that information is if a parent would give them access…and what parent in their right mind would do that. We truly hope you will do the right thing and fix this situation and restore order to your station and viewers!
Sincerely,
Michael and Rebecca Rowan
It's absurd that PBS would fire an actress for a past performance, especially one that no preschooler would ever see, and few adults would have been aware of had Ms. Martinez not been fired. Frank Oz did a gag in The Blues Brothers involving a used condom - should we have run him off and lost Grover and Bert?
I realize the conservatives are looking for any excuse to kill PBS, and perhaps that's made you overly cautious, but this is ridiculous. Melanie deserves and apology, her job back, and to not have to co-host with that creepy star puppet.
George Carlin, Alec Baldwin, Ringo Starr, not exactly the influences I want for my young child. Melanie is adorable and should not be punished for a JOKE, not a mistake, not a travesty, not some heinous crime, but a JOKE made seven years ago.
Seven years ago! She made a joke, probably with a bunch of friends, and she's fired? She didn't make porn, she didn't show herself to be racist, at worst, she told a tasteless joke and commited it to video. I've done the same at wedding showers, maybe I should be fired to.
this is unbelievable, this is something she did years ago before she even had the Sprout job. she does a terrific job, my kid loves her, and its a shame PBS fired her. they should rehire her immediately.
I just read an article praising PBS for standing up to the FCC and for its San Mateo, CA station. Now this? When are you people going to grow a backbone?
The Good night show and Melanie are an important part of my 3 year old bed time activities. He doesn't ask to watch Sprout or Thomas the Train or DragonTales. He asks to watch Melanie. Please reconsider your decision. I'm sure we have all done thinks in our youth that we might regret. For right now, I believe Melanie is a good role model for our children. And probably a great mother herself.
We are truely upset by your decision.
Tom, Kristy and Aden
If PBS is going to come up with 'standards to be a preschool host' then the onus is upon them to do background checks on all potential employees to support their 'standards'.
