Melanie Martinez
» Zealots, Crusaders, Pests
America’s narrow-mindedness gets yet another proof in the removal of Melanie Martinez from her PBS job.
How dare she have a controversial opinion or mocked conservative truisms in the past.
The videos, produced seven years ago, made fun of abstinence-only public service ads and featured jokes about vibrators and sexual acts.
A statement from the management of PBS Kids Sprout said that the Martinez videos, titled Technical Virgin, were “inappropriate for her role as a preschool program host and may undermine her character’s credibility with our audience.”
PBS Kids Sprout is a joint venture of Comcast, PBS, Sesame Workshop and HIT Entertainment, producer of such content as Bob the Builder and Angelina Ballerina.
The departure of Martinez as host of The Good Night Show, a three-hour feature that helped prepare preschoolers for bed, was announced quietly Thursday on Sprout’s Web site.
Melanie Martinez made fun of abstinence ads and joked about sex acts in the 7-year-old videos.
Comments
such a shame! the Technical Virgin stuff was hilarious, and spot-on. People can be fired for something they did in the past, or something they do not at work? lame!
Posted by: Anonymous | July 26, 2006 7:18 PM
Call the president of Sprout (Sandy Wax) at 215-667-2750. Since she didn’t take George Carlin off Thomas the Tank Engine, I can only assume that she likes the seven words you can’t say on radio (Sh-t, P-ss, F-ck, C-nt, C-cksucker, Motherf-cker, and T-ts). So feel free to use them on your message.
Posted by: Ralphie | July 28, 2006 9:33 PM
They also support sex acts on TV (Sesame street people characters on the Sopranos), as well as spousal abuse (Alec Baldwin) and drug and alcohol abuse (Ringo Starr). I am glad I know what they consider approriate behavior.
Posted by: Dave | July 31, 2006 8:14 PM
all i am going to say is GEORGE CARLIN is one of the narrators for Thomas & Friends.
Posted by: denise | August 4, 2006 5:52 PM
My 14 month old son is heartbroken, he does not undrstand where Melanie went. he used to RUN into the room, drop whatever he was doing..HE LOVED HER! I think they underestimated the kids attachment to her.The goodnight show does not hold his interest any longer, we have switched stations. Sorry Prez Sandy Sprout. ANYTHING IN YOUR PAST????
Posted by: cindy | August 5, 2006 10:39 PM
My twins LOVED Melanie. they would do all her stretches and jumps. Now, they don’t like the ‘Goodnight Show’. The past is the past, bring back Melenie!!!
Posted by: Trina Packett | August 6, 2006 10:39 AM
OK you want my opinion here it is. I think this is an outrage! What next bert and ernie for sharing a room? What she did seven years ago should have no baring today. My 4 and 3 year olds are deeply heartbroken that she is gone. My 4 year old went to bed crying because she couldn’t sign with her “melody” that is what she calls melanie. George Carlin is more then less then tasteful. I hope that with all the opinions we as parents can get her back!
Posted by: Lauren Horton | August 8, 2006 2:08 AM
My little boy started asking about her today while he was winding down before he his bedtime. I told him she was just on vacation and she’ll be back soon. I hope the people who are in charge of Sprout realize that what she did in the past has ABSOLUTLY no bearing on what she is doing now for our children.
I guess the corporate types who run Sprout and PBS do not realize that the narrator of Thomas the Tank engine have been an admitted drug and alcohol abuser, Ringo Starr. A man who came up with the “7 dirty words” that aren’t aloud on broadcast television and radio…George Carlin. And Alec Baldwin, a mediocre actor at best who has some political views some might not see eye to eye with.
It’s a dangerous and disgraceful way of doing business.
Posted by: renmat | August 8, 2006 10:42 PM
Honestly, I personally hated Melanie. I thought as my child was watching her, he was getting dumber by the minute.
HOWEVER, I don’t agree on firing someone because she did something 7 years ago. The HR department should have done their homework and a background check years ago. Not when she is already filming.
George Carlin is more distasteful and he is the voice of most of the Thomas the Tank segments.
Get Real!
Posted by: Jody | August 17, 2006 9:23 PM