Didn't PBS broadcast Thomas with George Carlin or Alec Baldwin as narrator? Surely, they have portrayed roles inappropriate for the average Thomas viewer. Why should Ms. Martinez bear the brunt of PBS's new found self-righteousness?
My nephews overheard a discussion about the situation - and we ended up having to explain why she was fired. Thanks a lot, PBS! If you'd left it alone there would have been no problem.
If the parents of her viewers aren't seeing Ms Martinez' past actions as a potential hazard and aren't objecting to her continuing her job, I can't really see what point PBS is making that justifies her being fired.
This is absurd. The knee jerk reaction of this firing is just another sad example of corporate bowing and scraping to all things conservative. The only good thing to come out of this is that, as this petition proves, the sea is changing and this will only hasten that change.
Melanie's termination has more to do with your fear of the religious right and the right-wing wing nuts in congress. no reasonable person could possibly expect a 2-5 year old to have any comprehension of the offending parody video if the were ever to see it. That in itself is highly unlikely. Shame on PBS for your duplicity over the issue of free speech.
Ms. Martinez should get her job back because I'm outraged by the retroactive "mccarthyism". same on PBS. some people consider the News Hour offensive because it allows alternative positions on extremely volatile issues. shame on PBS. I'm not outraged as a parent but as an American.
What a joke - another blow for creative children's television personalities! At least Pee Wee Herman was arrested for something - what this woman did was just a joke video 8 years ago, no nudity or drug use!
This deciscion is b.s.
What did she do wrong? It was all a joke, but it's easy to say that the clip has a good message. ANd besides..who does this hurt? Will the preschoolers know the difference.
This is a perfect example of corporate cowardise,double standards,and ignorance of the customer's wants and needs. Shame on PBS for supporting this suppression of "public service."
