To Whom it May Concern,
I'm a parent of a three year old who watches the Sprout channel on a daily basis. Its pretty much the most viewed channel in our home. I especially like taking the time to watch the "good night show" with Melanie with both my wife and son. It has been a part of our family since we discovered the Sprout channel a few months ago.
My son has gotten attached to Melanie's show and has been asking "Where's Melanie?" for a few days now. I figured she was on vacation or had some family emergency. I finally had the time to go to your website today and found your statement on what happened to Melanie. I have a few problems with your termination of Melanie and the "Good Night Show" and the manner in which you presented this notice.
1. While I do not condone her participation in the spoofs that were mentioned in your website, it is something that she did in the past and has no bearing on what she did for your station. In addition, the audience for those spoofs was not your target audience. What she has done for your station is bring a family atmosphere regardless of her past.
2. In your "notice to parents regarding the Good Night Show", you specifically mention the independent short films in which Melanie was involved. This was unwarranted. PBS could have easily stated that both parties have reached a mutual agreement to stop the show. I, along with other parents, would have never known of the spoofs and you would have kept Melanie's reputation as a beloved kids show host intact. By mentioning the spoof, it seems as if you intentionally wanted to harm Melanie's career.
3. There are a number of other "questionable" personalities that appear on your program on a daily basis. Is PBS going to take care of them too? Alec Baldwin narrates Thomas and Friends. I'm sure you are well aware of his run ins with the
My 20-month old LOVES Melanie and misses her. You will not be able to replace her easily. I don't think what she did justifies termination or diminishes who she is today whatsoever.
tHIS HAPPENED A VERY LONG TIME AGO.it should not refelct on what she does today. Actors and actresses starting out really have to take whatever job comes along. My children are very upset that she was let go.
She was just really starting to shine on the show.
Go Disney Channel. I am dissappointed in PBS Sprout. My 2 year old son loves Melanie,and will never see an acting job she did 7 years ago, on the internet. Go Wiggles!!!! Unless PBS realizes they lost a great entertainer for small children, our viewing will be on another station.
"The whole principle [of censorship] is wrong. It's like demanding that grown men live on skim milk because the baby can't have steak." - Robert Heinlein, "The Man Who Sold the Moon" (1949)
I think Melanie's firing is th eonly inappropriate act hurting the kids that watch Sprout. She is an actress, and perfect for the role she had as the Good Night Show host. Every night my daughter asks about Melanie and says that she misses her. She may have had other roles, but the kids who make up her viewing audience and adore her could care less, nor would they make any connection to other roles.
