Good Night Show
PBS fires kids’ host
over ‘Virgin’ videos
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.
In the two “Technical Virgin” videos - made before she landed the children’s show job - she spoofs PSAs about how young women can keep their virginity.
PBS Kids Sprout airs children’s programming 24 hours a day and is seen in about 20 million of the nation’s 110 million television homes.
“The Good Night Show” has been temporarily replaced by cartoons while a search is conducted for a new host.
I saw this story on Friday morning, while still on vacation - just getting around to posting about it now. How pathetic could PBS be?
My kids do watch the Good Night Show from time to time. That doesn’t mean that they will ever watch the ‘Technical Virgin’ videos or ever even be aware of them. Not until they’re old enough to be looking for or at stuff like that, anyway. It’s not like my kids are going to be like “Wow, I love this Melanie Martinez. I wonder what else she’s done. I’m going to go google her all by myself right now!” And, even if they did, then it’s not PBS’s fault that they are looking at inappropriate material - it’s *mine*. And, well, with my kids, if they did somehow see the videos, I’d just use the opportunity to talk to them (yes, even at their ages) about satire, spoof & even sex.
Sheesh.
I just don’t get how PBS can justify this.
Now, I’m not claiming that my kids won’t be able to sleep without Melanie or that they’re heartbroken because she’s gone. They lived through Steve leaving Blue’s Clues & being replaced by Joe. The kids don’t really care *who* is hosting the Good Night Show. Thing is, Melanie did a fine job of it & I don’t think it’s right that she should lose her job.
