PBS kids show host fired for 'inappropriate' video

[shugah]

Melanie Martinez, the host of PBS sprouts good night show was recently terminated because of a video that she made 7 years ago that was deemed inappropriate - "PBS KIDS Sprout has determined that the dialogue in this video is inappropriate for her role as a preschool program host and may undermine her character’s credibility with our audience." PBS comments on the firing here:
http://www.sproutletsgrow.com/good_night/index.html

the video can be seen here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1994546325179027565&q=technical+virgin

personally, i don't think she should have been fired. i think a former film students appearance in a short and silly 7 year old video should not be a reason to fire her from a job that she has, to the best of my knowledge, always done well and with perfect appropriateness and appeal to her audience. i wrote to the show to let them know i was unhappy with their decision. i am the parent of a good night show watcher, and i think the sudden disappearance of melanie made more of an impression than some video appearing on the internet that he will never see.

what do you think? did melanie deserve to lose her job?

[XemaSab]

1. It's not exactly appropriate, no

But if they hadn't made a big deal out of it, nobody would have known about it. :shrug:

[shugah]

3. they weren't showing the video during the kids show

some radio host/personality posted the video on the internet and it became an issue. melanie did tell her boss/es, and they decided to can her.

even 'knowing about it' i don't think she should have been fired.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. no, she doesn't

but the guy who fired her does.

[countmyvote4real]

4. fuck shock&awe dick ABM pussy MOAB, U get the idea.

Porn is in the eye of the beholder and the control of parents that are hopefully holding some restraints on exposure to the evening news as well as their personal sex videos.

[ixion]

5. nope... not IMO

[don954]

6. 1st, the video was funny as hell

and no, she shouldn't hve been fired, i hope she sues. Her audience is tots, i seriously doubt they are going to be googling here past videos....

or even know what she is talking about!

[Warren DeMontague]

7. What did it have to do with her current job?

Zero.

I agree- I think that's ridiculous.

[CoffeeCat]

8. We'll miss Melanie..

...My children love her!

She is so good at "talking" with kids and entertaining them. She's got such a sweet, soothing voice and a sparkly personality.

I saw the video that got her fired. I must say...it was a bit surreal to see her say those things because I've only seen her during the Goodnight Show.

I do think what she said on the video is in complete conflict with her character on the Goodnight show. However, I don't think she should have been fired. This was obviously a joke--a Saturday-Night-Live-ish skit thing. It is embarrassing...but the past video has nothing to do with her current job. It's not like she robbed a bank or was a porno star.

Look at Dr. Laura. She pontificates about being a moral person for 15 hours a week--and nude pictures of her surfaced as well as a story about her having an affair with a married man--which led to her own divorce. They kept her on!

[ninkasi]

9. Give me a break!

The pResident has been photographed picking his nose, shooting the finger, trying to open a locked door, and speaking with his mouth open, after stuffing an entire roll into it. He has been broadcast calling a member of the press an asshole, and saying "shit" at the G8 Summit, and giving an unwelcome massage to the leader of another country. While the Mideast descended into chaos, all he could think of was eating a pig.

After all of hs vulgarities, they're going to make a big deal out of something as trivial as this? To answer your question, no, Melanie didn't deserve to los her job.

[shugah]

16. what's funny about that

is that it is probably fear of backlash from the so-called 'moral' people that influenced PBS to fire melanie - and they're the same ones that support bush.

[kaygore]

10. If she can be fired for her past then why aren't we kicking out Bush

for his????

[wanpete]

11. I'm sad they fired melanie. My kids still watch sprout from time to time

although they sometimes feel they are too big for it now.(4&6) She's a great host for the show.

All of us have done some things in our youth that we nay not be very proud of, but to fire her over this is very much over the top. I'm sure the tots and youngsters will miss her sweet voice and her fun exercises and arts and crafts.

Hope she'll find her niche somewhere else real soon.

[Bill219]

12. PBS sucks for doing this

I told my son today that Melanie had to go away and he cried for about 45 mins. This is rediculous and there must be something we can do about this. He aboslutely loves Melanie and The Good Night show.

[wanpete]

21. Sorry to hear your son took it so hard. I'm sure he's one of many.

Seems like there are some bigger fish to catch for wrong doing than Melanie from the Goodnight Show.

[newyawker99]

13. How did PBS find out. Maybe there is someone

with an axe to grind?

[shugah]

15. apparently she told them

when the video hit the internet. but the person who posted it must have something against her :shrug:

:hi: newyawker

[RedStateShame]

14. Didn't Gordon from Sesame Street star in Willie Dynamite?! As a pimp?!

[shugah]

17. not to mention george carlin

on shining time station. i think there is something of a double standard at play.

[Tesha]

18. My letter to the show, CC'd to the PBS Ombudsman...

Folks:

I read of your firing of Melanie Martinez, the former host of "The Good
Night Show". I'm deeply disappointed by this; it's a show that we've
enjoyed watching with our two grandsons.

Once again, it appears PBS has pre-emptively silenced someone based on
fear that America's Right Wing will not like you. I have an important
message for you:

*AMERICA'S RIGHT WING WILL NOT LIKE YOU AS LONG AS YOU EXIST.*


You can fire hosts like Bill Moyers and Melanie Martinez until the cows
come home, and America's Right Wing will not like you. They fear the truth,
and to the extent that your programs reveal the truth, you become the enemy.
Well, I suppose if you fill the entire broadcast day with "Antiques Roadshow"
and "The New This Old House Hour", they may find you no longer the enemy,
just a competitor for DIY Networks. But they still won't want to see
any CPB money flowing your way.

Returning to the topic of "The Good Night Show", PBS, once again, you've
disappointed me. You had someone who was obviously talented at her job and
doing it well. That she may have made a video seven years ago that someone,
applying 2006 blue-nosed standards may now have deemed "inappropriate"
(what an ambiguous term!) is immaterial to what she was doing now. But
you're cowards and you've once again allowed bullies to pound you.

It's a shame, really. You used to stand for something, and I used to
contribute to you because of that. But you stopped, and so did I. And
your actions continue to make it more and more clear that I was right.

Tesha
Anytown, USA

[LoZoccolo]

19. XUXA FROM THE FAMILY CHANNEL WAS IN BRAZILIAN PLAYBOY! n/t

[ulysses]

20. you mean she's a real human being?

She might have appeared in a hilarious an impure short? What's she really up to with that "Star" character anyway? Off with her head!

We're so damned stupid about sex.