More About Melanie Martinez

I sent an email to PBS Sprout ( a joint venture between PBS, Comcast, and HIT Entertainment from England ) about the firing of Melanie Martinez. I sent them this email:

I wanted to take a moment to let you know that the firing of Melanie Martinez for those two spoofed PSAs is unjustified. Melanie is a sweet girl who had a real rapport with my kids and was a joy to have on in the evenings if we’re letting the kids watch TV. I think that PBS has always shown itself to be a little counter-cultural to begin with and that you guys should return her to her post.

Thank you for your time.

This morning I got the following response:

We understand that you are disappointed with the recent changes to The Good Night Show, and we too are saddened that we had to make this difficult decision. Our foremost priority is to do what is best for our young viewers and those who love them, and we will continue to provide the quality programming you and your children have come to expect from PBS KIDS Sprout.
Thank you.

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly on this.

However, it is my belief that you have made the wrong decision, as I indicated below. Melanie was an important part of the good night rituals of not only my children, but many children around the country and without warning or preparation you have removed her, causing lots of children pain and sadness. The least you could have done was let her departure be an orderly one, with enough time for the parents of sproutlets to prepare their kids. Now we have to scramble to explain why she’s no longer a part of their lives. On the whole, however, I think your decision to remove her was silly because I have no worry that my toddlers would be able to find those movies on the internet, or have any idea what they’re talking about in those two short movies.

I think that by removing her so suddenly you’ve caused more harm to children than by leaving her in place.

Thank you for your time.

I'm not one to normally claim that we need to shield our children from all harm and pain. You can't nerf the world. Still, toddlers are big on routine and ritual. They build their lives around the sameness. That's why a child can eat chicken nuggets every day for two months and NEVER get tired of it. Ritual and routine for toddlers makes them feel safe, helps them to grow up strong, and to feel secure in and of themselves. And as a parent I want to help them maintain their rituals and shield my kids from disruption.

But it's not just that. I think that Melanie Martinez is being done a great diservice in being let go. I think it's an injustice and I don't like it. I support willful employment laws and I understand that PBS Sprout has the right to let her go for just about any reason they see fit, but I'm not going to like it, and I'm going to keep writing to PBS Sprout and here to voice my ire.