My Email to Sprout and PBS

Here's the text of the email I sent to Sprout, my local PBS affliate, and PBS Ombudsman, Michael Getler:

Subject: Rehire Mel


Body:

I just wanted elaborate on my previous email about the ridiculous firing of Mel.

1. Given your line of reasoning (Mel used salty language in a tongue-in-cheek comedy sketch), then the venerable Sesame Street should be pulled off the air. I mean, they have a huge roster of guest stars that have produced music, films, and television material not suitable for children. Let's run down some of these guests and their material that is, as you say, inappropriate:

Jason Alexander - On Seinfeld, discussed the size of his penis. Regularly lied, stole, and adulterous

Tyra Banks - Victoria Secret model

Wayne Brady - Used the "N" word on Chappelle's Show

Jim Carrey - Used naughty words and appeared nude in Ace Ventura

Bill Cosby - Numerous sex scandals and outspoken activist

Jamie Lee Curtis - appeared in her underwear in movies

Robert DeNiro - regularly plays murders

James Gandolfini - plays a murder/criminal

Madeline Kahn - played a number of 'saucy' characters, in movies like Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. Much like the bits Mel was in.

Mel Gibson - regularly kills people on screen, and has appeared nude in film.

Tom Green - gross out comic. Built nude statues of his parents and displayed on TV.

Julianne Moore - has appeared nude and in numerous sex scenes.

Bob Saget - was in the Aristocrats

Arnold Schwarzenegger - star of dozens of violent movies

Cindy Crawford - posed nude for Playboy

Johnny Cash - drug addict and adulterer

Lucy Liu - made a career of playing sexually charged characters

Susan Saradon - sex scenes, scantily clad, sexually charged roles

Glenn Close - in Fatal Attraction was nude in several sex scenes. Played a psychotic, murderous adulterer.

The list goes on and on. Fortunately, the fine folks at Sesame Street realize that their audience won't have their childhood ruined because one day, they grow up and watch Fatal Attraction.

2. This teaches an awful lesson to children: Make one mistake and that's it. No forgiveness. Just immediate, irreversible punishment. Good lesson.

3. To the person(s) that decided that firing Mel was the right decision: What have you done in college that warrants you losing your job today?

Mel did these bits when she was in school. They were two 30 second spots. She's an actress. What stupid things have you done? What skeletons are in your closet? Should you lose your job today for them?

This was a terrible business decision, and it was also an awful decision morally. It was a politically motivated action, perpetrated by a coward(s). Instead of standing up to potential a backlash over 60 seconds worth of comedy (it's not like she was in porn), you took the easy, spineless, cowardly way out. You stabbed Mel in the back, after she, and her show, helped build the foundation of your network. Saying that the network felt Mel acting as host for the show would be inappropriate is a lie. The network simply feared a negative reaction.

So, fearing some salty language, you have, inadvertently taught us all a lesson: The people that run Sprout do not value loyalty, forgiveness, honesty, or courage. Every night our family watched the Good Night Show as part of our child's bedtime routine. Until Mel, and her show is restored, we will not be watching. Those responsible for this decision need to show some integrity, class, and responsibility by issuing an immediate apology to Mel, parents, and all the children that tune in every night.

In addition, I'm seriously questioning whether or not we should provide any support for my local PBS affiliate -- if this is a decision that PBS is happy with.