Fired for a joke

[scaeagles]

I don't see how this could show up in a background check. Even if they asked her if she had ever participated in conduct unbecoming to the host of a childrens show, I don't find it unreasonable that this wouldn't even come to her mind.

[Isaac]

Gak!

The petition is NOT working again.

Edit: nevermind. It's working again. Just loads slowly

[katiesue]

It does seem silly - since her audience is 2-4 year olds I can't imagine that they'd find the video doing a google search. But others have been fired for similiar things so it's not a surprise. When it came out publically what choice did they have - the parents were I'm sure having a hissy. Not that I agree but I've met some of "those" parents and they go bonkers over everything.

[mistyisjafo]

Look at what happened to poor Pee Wee Herman. The man never came back from his little trip to the porn movies. Because she is associated with children's tv there is probably some clause saying she can't do anything considered "vulgar" hence the firing. I can understand why PBS fired her since they feel that she has a certain reputation to uphold.

You can get fired for so many things thesed days! Its just ridiculous

[innerSpaceman]

Yes, and Pee-Wee's show was not really even a kiddie show. It was so completely subversive, and was funny for being in the kiddie show format and being on at the kiddie show hour (when all of us in the real target audience would see it on the down-side of our all-night acid trips).

[mousepod]

I remember these videos. They played them on the Howard Stern show a couple of years ago. It was a great parody on the kids who were taking the "abstinence pledge". So silly of PBS. Shame on them.

Here's the video I remember.

[Boss Radio]

As a parent, I am deeply saddened that I no longer have the super-hot children's TV host as an excuse to watch PBS. Melanie had the gift - an amazing ability to look straight into the camera while coaxing her young viewers (Sproutlets) to try new things...

There were times where even I said, yes. Yes, Melanie. Let's make a craft.

Unfair though it may be, I think she has a bright future in adult entertainment.

Now all that's left is the very unhot (to me, anyway) Kevin, the birthday guy.

And Big Bird, who asks far too many questions.

[innerSpaceman]

Um, the video mousepod linked to is a little less "harmless" than the postings in this thread led me to believe. It may be an obvious parody, but ... and I don't agree with the firing for a pre-hiring fault at all ... you might be able to understand not wanting your kiddie-sitting actress to be seen elsewhere touting the benefits of anal sex.


I think the station was put in a bad spot ... entirely their fault for not doing enough research ... but a bad spot nonetheless. Damned if they do and same if they don't.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Baloney. True, the second one (which I had not seen) is a bit more risque, but it remains a joke about sex. CP's Alec Baldwin comparrison is a perfect example. From State and Main to his copeous Saturday Night Live appearances (Schwetty Balls? Canteen Boy?), he seems to be the definition of "bad for the children", and yet there he is in Thomas the Train.

PBS acted out of fear that some parents might complain. That makes me ill. Just as Fox getting fined by the FCC due to complaints from 3 people in a country of 700 million makes me ill. Making jokes about sex, even slightly crude jokes about sex, in a completely non-child-audience context, should NOT render one "unsafe for children". Bleh.

[Isaac]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

CP's Alec Baldwin comparrison is a perfect example. From State and Main to his copeous Saturday Night Live appearances (Schwetty Balls? Canteen Boy?), he seems to be the definition of "bad for the children", and yet there he is in Thomas the Train.

PBS acted out of fear that some parents might complain.

Alec Baldwin was already a huge star before State and Main, therefor, he has the star power to get away with such bullcrap. The bigger the celebrity, the more hypocricy they get away with. That's nothing new. Melanie Martinez is a nobody. If she was a famous actress like one of the Baldwins then the network would have kept her even if someone would have complained about her dildo video. Ratings mean more to a tv studio than a couple [potential] 'odd' complaints. It's not fair but it's not unexpected that this happened. As for being proactive, again, I think it's bullcrap but it's not unexpected. Need I remind us of the Teacups @ Disneyland ? This was a typical & very predictable move by corperate. Not really fair but totally expected. So why the outrage ?

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

How is safe sex evil? Is sex evil and someone forgot to tell me?

I eviled myself last night