My daughters watched Melanie every night before bed. They are far too young (as I would assume most children are that watch this programming) to be affected in any negative way. In case you aren't keeping up, this isn't the 1600's and witch hunts are a long bygone practice. Just because she did something unconventional many years ago doesn't mean she should have been fired, especialy since it's not even commercially available at this point. What does SAG say on this? Many people do non-union 'gigs' they aren't necessarily proud of before they get their break (e.g. Vanessa Williams). The fact that you aren't willing to forgive is the worst lesson you could teach a child-I look forward to using this as an example when my kids are older! I sure hope you'll reconsider... My girls are waiting for her to return to the big chair.
because my kids miss Melanie and ask why she isn't on anymore. I hope that I will be able to tell them that she'll be coming back soon!
Everyone has something in their past that they are not proud of. People can change.
Come on PBS which one of you can cast the first stone?
Melanie was the main reason my 3 year oldson liked the Good Night Show and now he asks me where Melanie is. The children are being punished because of the companys mistake for firing her. This was over 7 years ago, if you find one person that didn't do something questionable in their past, then that person is lying to you. Please bring Melanie back for the children. She was the best host and kids love her.
Our daughter does not watch a lot of tv. About 1 hr a day. She chooses to watch Sprout and has asked everyday "where Melanie and Star are?" I think every show but Calliou and Noddy are good quality. I personally was annoyed by Sprout as a whole but my 4 yr old is an intelligent person and she enjoyed the craft and story time. This is how we spent our hr before bedtime wrapping up the day. I think it was very selfish of the producers not to think of the children and just removing the host like the kids would never know. They should of explained it to the kids on air not through a letter to the parents to figure out what to explain to the children. Thanks for leaving it up to me to explain Melanie and Star disaperence.
Come ON..it was a joke, and my two year old won't understand it OR see it anytime soon so lets not pull a pee-wee's play house and take a child's favorite host off the air for something they did outside of Sprout.
I want to let you know that I find the firing of Melanie Martinez to be offensive and absurd. The idea that an actress (and that is what she is, not a spokesperson, she plays a role) would be fired because of a spoof she did many years ago is completely and totally silly. My children are not going to see these spoofs. Nor are anyone else's children. Ms. Martinez should be rehired and apologized to. She did a fabulous job. I will be writing my outrage to your various sponsors as well and will likely decide to buy other products. I am a supporter of public broadcasting, too. Ms. Martinez has been wronged. You should be ashamed. This was a terrible business decision based on false fear.
I have a 4 year old & an 18 month old who LOVED Melanie on the Good Night Show. Even having seen the two spots she was in, I still believe that her work now should have taken precedence over past jobs. I mean, Sesame Street had the likes of Elton John, Robin Williams,& Johnny Cash--all who've had upstanding careers with alcoholism & drug addiction in their past. And there are stars, as well as at least one regular actor on Sesame Street, that have done adult-themed work. I hope Melanie finds a good job that will, as Sesame Street & Mr. Rogers always taught me, "love her just the way she is."
I'm a very active and involved Christian and I do not approve of the content of these videos, although I understand their humor. That being said, there are things I was doing seven years ago I certainly wouldn't want to be public knowledge. At some point a person deserves to be forgiven, in this case the time is now.
I loved (hell, still love) those spoof PSAs and it seems ridiculous that she could have gotten fired for them, especially seven years later! It's not as though the target audience would have seen them (although I bet her parents have, and would probably laugh if they recognized her!). I hope Melanie finds other work, and soon!
the web site is not for children, so whats the dif!Actors need to get a start somewhere! Does everyone at PBS start at the executive level?
Get real PBS!!! No more of my money for you!!!
It is absolutely absurd that PBS Sprout would fire a person because of a short film or 2 they did 7 years ago. Who would remember and who would really care?
Additionally, Melanie is a mother as well and is very good at what she does. As an actress, she performed work that was given to her seven years ago. PBS was not paying her then, or even in the picture then. Besides, her role in that movie had nothing to do with her Sprout work.
PBS Sprout and Technical Virgin have very different viewing audiences, especially in age. Unless people are letting their babies and toddlers watch these movies, the children would not know the difference anyway.
My daughter is age 2 and I see no problem with her watching Melanie. Why do these executives? Or are they just trying to cover their tails in case there are some ultra conservative parents out there who would make a stink? Make a real statement and bring Melanie back. It's just wrong if she's not brought back.
My three-year old and seven-year old love Melanie. Firing her was an over-reaction. Please consider rehiring. My children loved the addition of the talking star and yoga exercises!
First PBS caved in when Sec. of Ed. Spellings decreed that Buster the Bunny must not be allowed to visit children with lesbian moms. Now they penalize an actress for past work. And for the record, I have no problem with those videos. Toddlers would never be aware of them; and abstinence only sex ed DESERVES some good spoofing. I'm so disappointed that PBS is faltering on the core issues of freedom of expression, tolerance, and acceptance of diversity. Bring Melanie back and let Buster visit those kids in Vermont who have lesbian moms!!
I hope that pbs kids realizes that they have hurt the children by there own overeaction to an insignificant act by Melanie Martinez. You should hope no one judges you as harshly in your life time as you do to others. Thanks a lot for making my children upset about losing a person they felt very close to and loved to see every night before bed.
It's unfortunate that the powers that made this decision didn't apply the same rationale to the entire board of directors and executive management... this nonsense is getting out of hand.
My 2-and-a-half- year-old grandson and I have greatly enjoyed the goodnight show with Melanie hosting. She has an endearing quality, and I am hard put to find legitimacy in your reasons for removing her from the show.
