PBS Kids Host Melanie Martinez, Fired For Staring in two "Technical Virgin" Videos

[Troll4Hire]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co...rticle/2006/07/24/AR2006072400931.html

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.

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.

Here are one of her movies, the second one I cannot find.



http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1994546325179027565&q=technical+virgin
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/438978?htv=12

 

[RichardE]

Ah nvm, thought I was still in OT just clicked on video link.

 

[Troll4Hire]

Nothing, I heard the news just a few minutes ago while listening to the John Bachelor Show. and decided to find out what the big deal was.

 

[Troll4Hire]

A few people have made some great points on the iFILM commentary page.

http://www.ifilm.com/posts/list/99947.page#80988

 

[Amplifier]

I wonder how those 2-5 year olds came into existance... a stork perhaps

 

[DrPizza]

"starring"
Maybe I'm just tired, but I read it as she wasn't acting well... she just stared into the camera...

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Troll4Hire
Nothing, I heard the news just a few minutes ago while listening to the John Bachelor Show. and decided to find out what the big deal was.

Your second link just has some idiot whining about traffic.

 

[SirStev0]

only in the us

 

[loup garou]

Geez, I thought maybe "Technical Virgin" was some sort of porn series, but she was essentially fired for telling 2 off-color jokes (and not even disgusting/controversial ones at that) before she was hired!

 

[Thump553]

I don't agree with PBS's decision to fire her, but I certainly understand it. PBS is under constant and unrelenting fire from the religious right who are bound and determined to find any excuse to fold up PBS entirely.

in more tolerant times these previous tapes (and the one I watched I thought to be pretty funny) would be a nonissue. But with the constant battle to survive, PBS cannot divert any goodwill on such an extraneous issue.

It is entirely possible that we will lose Frontline before the 700 Club. And the United States would be much the lesser for it.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Originally posted by: Thump553
I don't agree with PBS's decision to fire her, but I certainly understand it. PBS is under constant and unrelenting fire from the religious right who are bound and determined to find any excuse to fold up PBS entirely.

in more tolerant times these previous tapes (and the one I watched I thought to be pretty funny) would be a nonissue. But with the constant battle to survive, PBS cannot divert any goodwill on such an extraneous issue.

It is entirely possible that we will lose Frontline before the 700 Club. And the United States would be much the lesser for it.

We're so screwed...

 

[Bitek]

WTF.... What does this actually prove by firing her. Note she did those like 5 yrs ago, long before she got he PBS bit... If she was actually having anal on camera, then maybe I could see the fuss, but here she is just making a joke, not even all that racey. Good god I've seen worse stuff on SNL..

Tim Allen is in all sorts of Disney movies and he actually spent time in jail for blow.
Stupid fundies ruining America..

 

[her209]

People who live in glass houses shouldn't walk around naked.

 

[herkulease]

maybe PBS asked her if she been anything can that could be seen as offensive and said no. Its possible that if PBS knew about that would be able to control the information and at worst have her take a pay cut.

Its possible that Tim Allen was upfront about this past, allowing disney to keep the press's eyes busy on something else.

 

[Bitek]

Originally posted by: herkulease
maybe PBS asked her if she been anything can that could be seen as offensive and said no. Its possible that if PBS knew about that would be able to control the information and at worst have her take a pay cut.

Its possible that Tim Allen was upfront about this past, allowing disney to keep the press's eyes busy on something else.

Everyone knew about it, the press (if you call it that) blasted it all over the place, and then everyone realized they didn't care.

Would I suddenly not let my kid watch this show cuz I found out she did this joke years ago? No, I could care less.

 

[Termagant]

Originally posted by: Hafen

Originally posted by: herkulease
maybe PBS asked her if she been anything can that could be seen as offensive and said no. Its possible that if PBS knew about that would be able to control the information and at worst have her take a pay cut.

Its possible that Tim Allen was upfront about this past, allowing disney to keep the press's eyes busy on something else.

Everyone knew about it, the press (if you call it that) blasted it all over the place, and then everyone realized they didn't care.

Would I suddenly not let my kid watch this show cuz I found out she did this joke years ago? No, I could care less.

Drugs may be bad, and violence is sometimes bad but often times good and glorious. But sex and anything remotely bawdy is very bad. Dr. Freud probably would have something to say about that.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Thump553
I don't agree with PBS's decision to fire her, but I certainly understand it. PBS is under constant and unrelenting fire from the religious right who are bound and determined to find any excuse to fold up PBS entirely.

in more tolerant times these previous tapes (and the one I watched I thought to be pretty funny) would be a nonissue. But with the constant battle to survive, PBS cannot divert any goodwill on such an extraneous issue.

It is entirely possible that we will lose Frontline before the 700 Club. And the United States would be much the lesser for it.

Horay for the Republican Taliban :thumbsup:

 

[theeedude]

I guess Red Scare has been replaced with the Sex Scare.