PBS kids' show host fired for video

PBS kids' show host fired for video

Mon Jul 24, 7:25 PM ET

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.


Too bad; my daughter liked her. Here are links to the videos in question, you can see if you think the firing was warranted. See as the target audience of the show is 2 to 5-year-olds, I don't know how they would stuble onto the videos, which are basically like a SNL of Fox TV skit. PBS seems to be paranoid after the REpublican drive to change their programing plus the fines for decency standards. See for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu8WZHOigPQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91lch_WMku8