Support Melanie Martinez
Three days ago, I was incensed at PBS for firing Melanie Martinez from the Good Night Show. I knew that parents would have different reactions regarding PBS' decision but I was overwhelmed by the number of people who did react. Like wildfire, the news spread online via blogs, forums, comments and emails. Most were calls for PBS to reinstate Melanie.
Should you feel the same way as we do and would want to help get Melanie back, there are several ways to let PBS know of your concerns:
- As advised by another reader, Joshua Baller, Sign a petition to bring Melanie back.
- E-mail PBS at info@sproutletsgrow.com.
Let your voices be heard!
July 27th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
It’ll be interesting to see if this has any impact on PBS’ decision. I doubt it, but I can remain hopeful…
July 28th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
My daughter is so sad that Melanie is gone. How do you explain to a 4 year old that Melanie is gone because of something she did 7 years ago? We won’t be watching Sprout in my home any longer. This is truly unfortunate for us, because my daughter truly enjoyed the programming. We were especially enjoying Melanie’s new star friend, and my daughter was enjoying the fact that Melanie’s hair and wardrobe had changed. Guess this is a sign of the times. It seems that our children are forced to grow up sooner everyday by dealing with disappointment and let-down. (I realize that those situations often come naturally, but this was a decision made by execs who were worried about image and not the very audience that they serve!)
July 30th, 2006 at 8:40 pm
Shame on PBS Sprout for letting Melanie go. Reguardless of her past, she has done nothing wrong and she was the best part of that program. My daughter is very upset that Melanie is no longer there to wish her goodnight. Bring her back. If she will come back after conservitive upper level big wigs trated her so badly. SHAME SHAME SHAME.
August 1st, 2006 at 12:09 am
my one year old knows melanie better than most of her own family. every nignt she squeeled with exitement when melanie came on. she was great at her job. I am a christian mom who believes in forgiveness. I hope another networks picks her up, so my little girl can have her “Mel-Mel” back.
August 1st, 2006 at 12:10 am
my one year old knows melanie better than most of her own family. every nignt she squeeled with exitement when melanie came on. she was great at her job. I am a christian mom who believes in forgiveness. I hope another networks picks her up, so my little girl can have her “Mel-Mel” back.
August 1st, 2006 at 11:12 am
If PBS feels that what Melanie has done in her past is enough reason to fire her, then I feel that what PBS has done is reason enough for ME to fire THEM as a channel my children get to watch. Teach our children courage, responsibility, forgiveness – bring Melanie back.
August 2nd, 2006 at 12:16 pm
So either PBS fires her for the videos now or people find out about her videos and then come after PBS for not firing her much sooner. Either way, she loses. And it’s very sad because my 3 year old just loves watching Melanie before she heads to bed. I could throw in the “brown” card saying that’s why they fired her but I’m not going there. I can see that Melanie has such a wonderful support of fasns and the Goodnight show will never be the same. Buena Suerte, Melanie!!!!
August 5th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
It’s a shame that the parents don’t have a say in who we want as a host. My 3yr old loves her. He asks for Melanie everynight. Thanks a lot PBS. How could you replace a host that kids ask for by name?!!
August 8th, 2006 at 4:27 pm
My two year old and I loved Melanie. How can a network that allows people like Dr. Ruth (hello, a sex therapist) and the guy from OZ (a very violent prison drama on HBO) to show up on Seasame street even justify firing her? Shame on you, PBS! What hypocrites!
August 8th, 2006 at 10:42 pm
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.
August 9th, 2006 at 7:45 pm
THANK YOU PBS for doing the right thing. Teach young actors that decency is expected.
August 16th, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Is there anyone out there who wouldn’t like to erase 20 seconds from somewhere in their past? Does anyone know the context of the videos? Had Melanie been on a boring set all day and was just trying to lighten things up? Interesting that so many PBS men (Mr. Noodle, George Carlin, ALec Baldwin, etc are still on the air. Melanie, enjoy the time with your own family. Good things will come to you.
August 26th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
My son is sitting here watching The Tonight Show wondering where Melanie and Star are. He is almost in tears. How sad that PBS would do this. As if our children are ever going to find out about what she did in her past. I keep telling him she is on vacation but pretty soon I’m going to have to tell him something else. I wish Melanie the best of luck and we are going to miss her in this house.
August 31st, 2006 at 5:40 pm
Lee, you will have to thank PBS another day.
The press release went out a few days ago. The new host, while they search for an even newer host, after firing a perfectly acceptable host will be Noel MacNeal.
Credits: Bear from Bear in the Big Blue House
and the PENIS (puppet) in Knee High Park, a Sesame Street spoof on an even bluer house, The Dave Chappelle Show.
We cancelled Comcast today.
September 15th, 2006 at 1:03 am
We need Ms. Martinez back… I really doubt that this will happen but if it doesn’t i hope that she gets hired in another network and tells all of her fans so we can go to the other channel that way PBS will know what they lost, like saying says “WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TILL WE LOSE IT.” maybe than PBS will be kissing some *** because they will want her back. WE MISS YOU MELANIE.
September 15th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
Has anyone been watching “Leo”? He stinks! No charm, no kid appeal. My kids are not watching anymore.
September 15th, 2006 at 10:05 pm
Indeed. Our kids are not enamored with “Leo” either. This guy is sorta freaky looking. Sort of has a petofile kind of personality to him. My daughter was asking for Melanie the first day “Leo” showed up. PBS could not have picked a worse replacement for Melanie. Congrats to the Sprout mgmt team for really screwing up a good thing.
September 17th, 2006 at 6:44 pm
Holy mackerel! I just watched the Chappelle show episode on Youtube and I am floored. MacNeal’s face and voice may never have been shown or heard but he was puppeteering while these children were being exposed to that language (or appeared to be, post edit) and ideation. What hypocrisy for Comcast/Sprout to replace Martinez with MacNeal (even temporarily) for the reasons they gave!!!! Come Monday morning, Comcast will be getting an earful and inbox full of my mind (I *wish* I could cancel).
September 22nd, 2006 at 9:47 pm
I had not clue what had happened to Melanie until I did a search this evening and actually I was looking for the Hush Hush Little Fish Poem that she always recited.
As a mother of a special needs 5 year old I am always looking for tools to encourage speech with him. Melanie was one of those tools. He ws always repeating her poems and stories. He still tries to recite the poem and I don’t know it enough to help him. He has no interest in Noel. And whoever said it earlier.. You’re right he is dry…. dull… and doesnt grab your attention like Melanie did. I hope PBS changes their mind, what’s in the past is in the past. I think i could understand their decision if it was something she did while on SPROUT, but geesh this was long before SPROUT was ever thought of.
October 2nd, 2006 at 11:41 pm
O.K, let me get this straight…
PBS fires a girl for joking about taking it up the A$$ only to hire a guy who probably DOES take it up the A$$! Nice job PBS, no wonder why you guys are always looking for people to donate money to support your warped views. Melanie was the best thing that ever happend to your child audience and you replaced her with some weird… well, never mind. Its not fair to assume things about our new little “friend” of stars, but I think all the readers of this know what I’m getting at. Poor little star getting pillow humped.
October 6th, 2006 at 2:16 am
My one year old is not interested in TV luch at all. I think this is a good thing. The only time she even paid attention to it was when Melanie’s face appeared. My daughters face would light up to bright. I do not think my daughter cares what Melanie did years ago. By the time she learns how to use the computer to look up the parodys that Melonie did, she won’t be interested. She will have moved on to some other show that is more her age. GROW UP PBS!!!!!!!!
October 11th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
Shame on you, Scott Ringer.
Mr. MacNeal has been married (to a woman) for five years and has a two year old kid.
October 11th, 2006 at 1:24 pm
I just recently found out why Melanie is no longer on PBS Sprout. My 2 yr old twins have been watching since they were born and miss her!!! This new guy Leo is weird and totally does not appeal to children. And this Star character sounds like a longtime smoker! PBS made some really bad choices. Like our toddlers are going to surf the web and find the Melanie videos?!! Ha!!! We want Melanie and HUSH BACK NOW!!!
October 29th, 2006 at 4:59 am
I undertsnad why all these parents are upset. i was initially very upset as well for the decision to fire melanie. i however did my research and looked up the video to blame for melanie’s firing. i am now glad she is gone, the video was disgusting and if my child ever went to look up her name on the internet i would be ashamed of what they found. before we all try to support melanie we should look at what she has done. i encourage all parents to go see the short film and realize she was no role model for our children.
December 1st, 2006 at 10:27 pm
No matter what the outcry I’m sure PBS will not be bringing Melanie back. They’re fully comitted to moving on with their new host, Michele Lepe. As for Melanie, she should just make the best of things and spin all this buzz into a new, probably better, job. As it relates to our children, they’ll forget Melanie existed in about a week, she was no Mr. Rogers.
January 26th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Michele Lepe did NOT play the part of a prostitute in that movie. She portrayed a POLICEWOMAN posting as a prostitute to catch the badguys. That’s an honest and honorable role.
Melanie Martinez did NOT tell the PBS people about her sleazy part in a sleazy film piece. That’s dishonest, and that alone is enough to terminate her employment.
Here’s a lesson for the ethically-challenged: Don’t lie to the (prospective) boss about your resume, or leave anything out. If you get caught, you’ll be fired.
January 28th, 2007 at 2:07 am
Michele Lepe is friggin’ hot!
April 25th, 2007 at 10:45 am
TV is not what it used to be 15 years ago. Just watch at this rubbish today ! i can’t believe it. When i’m going to be a parent i will surely not let my children watch such mind-twisting shows.
May 25th, 2007 at 3:35 am
They should make a survey involving certain tv shows to see peoples opinion. Period.
June 2nd, 2007 at 3:09 pm
They should make a survey involving certain tv shows to see peoples opinion. Period.
November 9th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Having a 5 month old daughter and having just purchased digital cable, we are new to Sprout in our house so I never saw Melanie, but I have to say as a young dad, I don’t see what the fuss is about, to replace Melanie and we got Nina (Michele Lepe)? She’s urber hot. And it makes even Sagwa enjoyable to watch knowing that cute little latino gal and her star buddy are just around the corner.
April 9th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Get a clue, people. Having Michele Lepe host the Goodnight Show is in your kids\’ best interest–it pretty much guarantees Dad will spend some time watching TV with them.
May 17th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I’d imagine PBS is run by saints. what was that about casting the first stone ? want to get your message through to sprout ? watch the show and e mail the sponsors to let them know you will not be watching sprout anymore without nina