(In case the embedding is hosed: http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/438978?htv=12)
PBS Kids' Show Host Fired for VideoNow, I don't know about you, but I don't know of a single toddler aged 2 through 5 who is even going to understand the concept of virginity, much less some of the dialogue in this pretty funny spoof.
By Associated Press
July 25, 2006, 12:58 AM EDT
NEW YORK -- The PBS Kids Sprout network has fired the host of "The Good Night Show" after learning she had appeared in videos called "Technical Virgin."
The host, Melanie Martinez, had alerted network officials about one of the videos late last week and she was immediately taken off the air.
"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," said Sandy Wax, network president.
Airing for three hours each evening, "The Good Night Show" airs soothing stories and cartoons designed to get an audience of 2-to-5-year-olds ready for bed. Each night, Martinez guides a puppet character into dreamland. Martinez is a stage actress and mother of a toddler.
Further, show me any parent who would let their toddler watch this (it comes with an adult-content caution), and I'll show you a kid who has much bigger problems than confusing the host of a TV show with an actress in a satirical video.
How many times has Dr. Ruth been on Sesame Street? Or Robin Williams, yet he never seems to cut back on the raunchiness in his act? Or any number of actresses who go on to do nude scenes in movies, or movies that spoof some morality issue? Hell, George Carlin replaced Ringo Starr on "Thomas, The Tank Engine"!
My god, what is PBS coming to?
Melanie Martinez
PBS
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