PBS Ombudsman: ‘Sesame Street’ Fox News Slam Crossed Line
by John NolteEarlier this week, Big Hollywood’s Stage Right broke the story of a ”Sesame Street” episode which referred to Fox News as “Pox News” and “trashy.” In response to the episode, PBS also received a number of complaint letters from viewers which prompted a reply from PBS Ombudsmen Michael Getler:
I don’t know what was in the head of the producers, but my guess is that this was one of those parodies that was too good to resist. But it should have been resisted. Broadcasters can tell parents whatever they think of Fox or any other network, but you shouldn’t do it through the kids.
In response to Stage Right using “Sesame Street’s” unfortunate behavior as an example with which to speak for the many, many many parents frustrated with the idea of partisan programming aimed at children, some online outlets responded with the expected and usual dismissive snarky contempt. But now that PBS is on record agreeing with Stage Right, we’re left to wonder if they find PBS ”stupid,” “asinine,” “absurd,” and “idiotic.”
You can read Getler’s full article here, along with some of the complaint letters PBS received.
The New York Times picked up on the story here and here; as did Politico – who refer to Big Hollywood as “one conservative blogger critical of the episode, too.”
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394 Comments
I just watched it. Not a big deal. Listen, if you let your kids watch that communist crap; you get what you deserve.
When an opponent declares, “I will not come over to your side,” I calmly say, “Your child belongs to us already. . . . What are you? You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In a short time they will know nothing else but this new community.”
Adolf Hitler (1889 – 1945)
Source: 1933, quoted in The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, “Education in the Third Reich”
“He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future”.
Adolf Hitler
Don't forget all the gradeschool children who are singing the "praises" of Obama. For the life of me, I don't understand why more Americans aren't concerned with this indoctination of our children.
My kids grew up watching Seasame Street and now my grandkids watch it. There is nothing wrong with kids watching this, it is better than some of the other kids shows by far.
Wow it would be sweet to have a dollar for everytime an ignorant moron quoted hilter, do you realize that he hated black people you freakn idiot? Communist crap?!?!?!? It's really funny that most of you douches who whine and cry about money being taken away from the wealthy make less than 50k a year. Get over yourselves and if you don't like the leadership of the country nobody would even notice if you took a hike.
It's bad enough that our kids are getting this in school, but now they are getting their heads full of ideas before they reach school. The time to fight this is now, and PBS needs to know we want our tax dollars being spent for a little less bias and a little more education.
What does quoting Hitler have to do with black people? Are you that desperate for a point that you're playing the race card?
I don't know if you know enough of us beyond your stereotypes to assume what we make. And well, in my occupation, I kinda need the wealthy, ya follow? Because poor people don't really , erm, employ anyone.
And being that the lastest polls place much of the nation at Center-to-Right, I think it would be noticed if we "took a hike".
And based on the whiny, attempt at insult tone… I think you should get over yourself first.
*MissQuinn*
At least they weren't chanting, "Mmmm – Mmmm -Mmmm, Barack Hussein Obama. Oh! Wait – maybe they are.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jennifer, Big Hollywood. Big Hollywood said: PBS Ombudsman: ‘Sesame Street’ Fox News Slam Crossed Line http://bit.ly/XUn0o [...]
Let PBS (Proletariate BS) survive on libs' taxes only. They'd close up in a month.
[...] reading: New York Times: Comedians find Obama jokes a tough sell John Nolte, Big Hollywood: PBS Ombudsman: ‘Sesame Street’ Fox News Slam Crossed Line Mcnorman’s Weblog: Michelle Obama on Sesame Street (via, The Tonight Show w/ Conan O’Brien) [...]
Wow, you really don't get what those qoutes are saying do you? Hitler hated himself too (hence the reason why he wanted anyone with blue eyes and blonde hair to be dominate…. Lord knows Hitler was brown haired and brown eyed like his Jewish ancestry)…. The point is, the society (whether socialist, communist, fascist or libertarian) that 'teaches' your children are the ones that are going to influence your childrens line of thought and political stances… sometimes more so than you do…. When politics and social justice are even ever so slightly interjected into their everyday lives, through school or Sesame Street, will eventually influence them…
[...] reading: John Nolte, Big Hollywood: PBS Ombudsman: ‘Sesame Street’ Fox News Slam Crossed Line Sci Fi Wire: Our 15 favorite Sesame Street sci-fi [...]
[...] Will on Obama’s ‘gaseous rhetoric’ and Olympian ego John Nolte, Big Hollywood: PBS Ombudsman: ‘Sesame Street’ Fox News Slam Crossed Line The Black Sphere: Team Obama Punked by IOC Derek Hunter, Big Government: A Rush to Judgment: [...]
….."but my guess is that this was one of those parodies that was too good to resist"…..
PBS Ombudsmen Michael Getler certainly signaled his sympathies.
Hey, Gelter, you need to try harder, you putz, to look more nonpartisan. You blew it.
Someone needs a hug… or a Valium.
It's time to end the NEA and PBS.
Again, Elmo's interview with President Obama: http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/10/seeking-to-av...
Hey, moron, did you realize you forgot your meds this morning! As is typical of a liberal, you lack reading comprehension. He wasn't quoting him because he AGREED with him, he was showing how the liberals, progressives, socialists, communists and statists in this country are doing exactly as Hitler did – indoctrinating the children.
And as Miss Quinn already smartly pointed out – the wealthy create jobs and are usually the employers so we, um, kind of need them. Unless you want us all to just work for the State. Wouldn't that be a statist's wet dream.
And, you know, may you are right – maybe we productive people should go Galt and watch the rest of you sputter out of existence.
I've never heard of "Hilter". But then again, I'm one of those "ignorant morons" you're referring to.
I doubt the Ombudsman needed to say anything. Making partisan political jokes on a kids show is clearly wrong and, really, quite unbelievable.
Now the question is: how did this go unnoticed for so long?
I'm as conservative as they come, but but but…..is anyone complaining about the GNN parody of Grouch News Network vs CNN….those reporters do come off as pretty grouchy. I think it was a funny parody, and as much of all of the liberals whining about Fox News as opposed to the conservatives whining about being whined about. Everyone is starting to be as irrascible as Oscar and losing their humor.
Look out conservatives! I think Santy Claus is out to get you now!!!
You silly fools never learn… the sky is falling, the sky is falling, the death camps are coming and everyone's out to destroy our way of life!
And yet, you troll here.
If this kind of thing happened during a conservative administration the media would howl. The only thing these educational programs and schools need to be teaching children beyond the three R's is a love of country.
Why is public television trying to persuade children about matters that are not for children. There's a word for this: Propaganda.
First I like how this site says that Big Hollywood "BROKE" the story- the episode was aired like 2 years ago- so way to be behind!!! Second if you don't like it don't watch it. PBS has giving us great series, shows etc for years. Also if you watched the show for Grouches being Trashy is a good thing!!! So perhaps it was a complement- but I guess you people always look for the BAD in everything!!!
Very well said Miss. I would also add that I really don't want my children aspiring to be a poor person when they grow up. I much prefer that they believe that if they work hard, come up with some original idea, they might actually become prosperous.
I could also use quotes by Mao, Pol Pot, Casto, or Mussolini, however the words they used were nowhere as succinct as those of Hilter. You can choose whatever poison you'd prefer, the fact remains that there is a concerted effort to endoctrinate American children to be "good little workers" and conform to the wishes of the government.
Anyone who has little ones at home, and is paying attention, either doesn't let them watch TV at all or just once in awhile when its healthy programming. There's nothing wrong with Sesame Street. Try watching almost any other "kids" cartoon and you'll see that most programming is horrific junk food. Judging by a majority of the previous comments, there are a lot of "grown ups" that have failed to conquer maturing beyond adolescence. And let's call things as they really are, Fox News is trashy and biased, and everyone with half a brain knows it.
Well if the only thing we have to learn from are your intelligent posts, I wonder why it is that we never learn?
As an uneducated liberal, I doubt that they're trying to destroy "your" way of life.
There is now and has always been much wrong and yes, "bad" about Sesame Street.
Small childxren should be read to, talked to, and taught songs by their parents and grandparents; not T.V. ! If you want kids to watch something, let them watch old Looney Tunes, old movies and some new ones based on historical events/persons and taken from classical children's lit ( TREASURE ISLAND, FIVE CHILDREN AND IT, THE SECRET GARDEN, and THE NEVER ENDING STORY, to name but a few good ones ), which will both educate and entertain.
Bronco46- Propaganda is the PERFECT word to describe Fox News. If Fox News doesn't want to be perceived in this manner then perhaps they should stop being a blatantly obvious GOP mouth piece. kudos! You nailed it!
Wow, if we gave yousuck a penny for his thoughts, we'd get change back.
You pick "yousuck" as the best moniker you can come up with?? How old are you??
I doubt that YOU make more than $50,000; if that and you have no idea how much anyone posting here makes/is worth. But did you ever get a job from someone on welfare?
If you tax the "rich", until everyone is poor, that means than nobody is able to buy what poorer people produce. Do you remember what happened back in Clinton's day, when a tax on luxury goods and yachts was enacted? I do. It almost put American boat and yacht builders out of business, plus all those who supplied materials for such products.
Far lefties are SOCIALISTS; some are even avowed MARXISTS or COMMUNISTS. Socialism, Marxism, and Communism are all bad and do nor work.
Hamas uses a knockoff of Sesame Street to indoctrinate small children, who then become TERRORISTS.
Obviously, Sesame Street has now knocked off the knockoff.
The great shows are BOUGHT from England. Almost everything PBS produces, on their own, is unadulterated crap !
Go away you stupid troll!
Just wait……………..someday you just might grow up and then you'll be so embarrassed that your posts are still readable on line. LOL
If only, AlistZ, if only.
I couldn't author a more ignorant remark if I was a Lib.
You have done yourself proud.
To all libs please don't post unless you can beat "yousuck" in brevity stupidity.
Nope, nice try. Your original statement is still the dumbest.
Keep trying tho.
Ageof it sounds like your age has affected your reason. Just because you don't agree with Fox does not make their message propaganda. But, sticking political messages in children's programing in propaganda.
Your silly attempt to change my statement will not fool anyone who hasn't long ago stopped asking questions and or listening to more then one point of view.
Your beef with Fox is bogus. The news shows on Fox are far more moderate then most other news broadcasts. As for commentary shows like Glenn Beck or Hannity there's a simply answer for people like you that only want to have your beliefs validated. You can turn to that bastion of fair and balanced news CNBC.
Dear Age of Reason,
Maybe you and the other members of the Royal Mongolian Debating Society (of which I am sure you are the founding member) can help us conquer our persistent adolescence.
Help us, we are drowning in a sea of domestic light beer, NASCAR coverage, cheaply made products from Wal-Mart and worst of all constant indoctrination from…gasp <h2>FOX NEWS</H2>….the horror.
I have to admit you gave it a run but your original statement still is the dunbest.
If your vocabulary was better your posts would be more interesting.
Need to watch more Monty Python.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVxM5IBLeU4
umm…. let me guess, 13, maybe 14? if you wrote that nonsense and you're older than that, you should be embarrassed. now get off the computer, the other people in your halfway house need their turn.
Quoting Hitler on this subject is ridiculously absurd. I feel sorry for you.
i give it credit for being consistently idiotic.
It must be Big Hollywoods influence. Very little else has been absorbed.
Why is SS doing adult-issue parody anyway? That's a good use of funding. Our school are going down the crapper and they are doing parodies. The kids can't count to 10, but they know a good "inside joke" when they hear it.
Does Sesame St. run a list of corporate sponsors? Boycott?
Man, lose a couple of Governerships and the trolls really hit the streets.
I can't wait until 2010 we then will each have our own personal troll to educate.
I am wracking my brain trying to think of a precedent for this propaganda aimed at kids. I am at a loss. I wonder when Barack's cultural revolution will begin? In 3 years the vanguard of youth will be spying on, and reporting their parents to the feds for counter-revolutionary thoughts. Sunny days indeed.
Whenever I read an attack on the bias of PBS, I remember the morning I saw an animated show derived from Edward J. Bennett's "Book of Virtues" on PBS. What I don't understand is how the "Family Values" crowd can relate to Fox anything, since Fox has some of the raunchiest programming on broadcast TV. (I know, cable can be worse, or sometimes better, a lot of variety, but Fox's standards are way lower than the Big 3 were thirty years ago).
Go back and read the story Nolte. Stage Right complained that the joke wasn't told properly, not that it was made.
Also: the ombudsman's job is to make ninnies feel heard. Good work!
Sesame Street has been doing parodies for years, mostly for the adults watching the show with their kids. (It's not like 5-year-olds know anything about H. Ross Perot or CSI or soap operas.) It's just this one happens to be insulting to a particular group.
Then again, I haven't seen the skit in question to properly judge it.
This clearly isn't the Age of Reason. Like drones, you mindlessly click thumbs up to any pro GOP comment and thumbs down to any comment outside of that. I thought perhaps this site's regulars were a little more evolved. Think for yourselves people! Your inability to do that got us in the mess we're all in now in the first place. I see there's no reason to read or post on this site again. Same old closed minded, petty, group think mentality you see everywhere. what a shame!
those who don't LEARN from history are doomed to repeat it. Obama is one of those who wants to repeat it. Seems like you dumbhead are one of his sheeple.
What will indoctrination of our young by leftist "educators" to glorify and protect their illustrious leader bring about?
A society of snitches, making their job much easier.
I think Sesame Street has a blog you would feel more comfortable at. Buh Bye.
Well that's better than the Liberal approach. Hitler, what? he's nothing to worry about, just stick your heads back in the sand. Radical islam, what? they're nothing to worry about just stick your heads back in the sand. But when the earths temperature increases 2 degrees over the last 200 years, all we hear is stop driving, stop flying, stop breathing, stop having kids, stop eating meat, stop industrializing third world nations, for heaven's sake somebody save the polar bears. Oh the humanity!
Do your parents know you are playing on the computer again?
Race baiter! Race baiter! I hope that sufficiently lowers myself to the childish level of the one who resorts to the race card whenever there isn't a worthwhile contribution to be made on the debate. The Hitler quote is apropos, given that the state-funded PBS is using children's programming to program our children. It is called mind control, or propoganda, and it is not a new idea. It is very effective, proven by 50,000yrrepublican's less than enlightened comments.
Perhaps anyone with half a brain, you and your lot, knows it. They also voted for Obama. Not a ringing endorsement for your team.
Those of us with a fully functioning brain and the ability to actually reason realize that Fox News is at least asking questions of this administration that their cohorts at ABC, CBS, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, and NBC don't have the cojones to ask. I'd put Brit Hume and Chris Wallace up against Wolf Blitzer and the other Jeopardy dropout any day of the week for intellect, perception, and the ability to truly grasp what's going on in this country and around the world.
Nice and thoughtful for a lib
seriously I get that you think FNC is biased but can you tell us what you mean by "trashy?" That sounds a little like name-calling.
Are you mixing up Fox and Fox News?
Gammy… if you think there's nothing wrong with that… then there's something terribly wrong with YOU.
Read them a book, and turn off the TV.
hooray!!! you have half a brain!!! i was starting to worry about you.
You replied to the wrong person……………I posted what you just posted. LOL
Nice to see that someone else knows that it is always far better to read to kids, than to plunk them in front of the T.V. and especially to plunk them down to watch liberal garbage.
Thank you olddog for your comment. I am so tired of people saying that it's not a "big deal". Yes, yes it is a big deal when a parent wants to raise a child that respects the values that The United States of America were founded on. Hitler's quote should be a wake-up call to all of us. My children are mine to educate, not the government's!
I also don't contribute to the DNC, Mr William, just to be fair.
Let CNN look out for themselves.
Letterman, Leno, Stewart or Steward etc. pretty much beats the funny out of being a conservative.
Heck we have conservatives that have voted for Obama that feel the way you do.
I see very little gained by trying to appreciate both sides of arument when the other side is
trying to destroy us.
I don't wish to over dramatize the position we are in but the otherside is not your friend.
Thank God, you are finally going away. Age of Reason? From your posts, it is evident you know nothing about "reason"! Go to school or buy all the Cliff Notes on philosophy you can carry…. come back after you have memorized all the chapter headings. Oh wait, can a person who believes in God be included in your "Age of Reason"?
Hey, bud, go find a mirror and recite your post exactly as written to yourself, see if it might apply exactly to who you are. Seriously, do yourself a favor, you might learn something.
LOL… spoken like someone who gets a welfare check! LOL i know it's hard for you to wrap your brain around the idea that some people, who dont make a lot of money, DON'T WANT A HANDOUT.
and to use your words, "nobody would even noice if you took a hike"… so, give it some thought, pack a bag, and enjoy your next stop.
who left the moron cage unlocked??
Wow. you are clever…for a five year old. Does your mom know your on the internet?
I don't think we have to wait to 2010. They seem to be out in full force. Just means that we're getting to them. Poor little trolls!
Your post doesn't even make sense, and that being said, I'm sure that I have at least 3 degrees more than you do. Your a Cliff notes kind of guy, fine, but I actually do the work. And why does everyone think that God and reason can't co-exist? Some on the most intelligent people in the world are men and women of God. Get a life buddy! Better yet, follow your own advice, and go back and get that GED you haven't earned yet.
the real problem is that no one will be fired for this.
It was stated that your quoting Hitler on this subject was "ridiculously absurd". Really? Maybe this one is better? "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." ~George Santayana That sums up everything quite nicely. The whole Sesame Street deal is just another tie-in in a long line of things "we don't need to look to the past to see if it's been done before because that's just silly".
Here's another accurate quote: "History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new." ~Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NLT)
So, I'm with you olddog55. But, people will continue to brush this off…until it's too late.
No fair, you copied from the post to yousuck! Plagiarist!
Sesame Street, however, would survive. They make money hand over fist with all the merchandising they do. I work with preschoolers and I see how many Elmo lunch boxes and Zoe sweat shirts come through the door. There's no reason we, the taxpayers, should be subsidizing this show.
"Get a mirror"? really? That's all you got? Pathetic! Stop waisting your time on this site and go get signed up for those online GED classes we talked about. You'll thank me later.
HA! i love it!! you're soooooooo right!!!
Wow. You are dense. First off Obama has done absolutely nothing to make me like him. Second, your the ones who voted in Bush, not once, BUT TWICE!!!! We all saw that that was quite possibly the worst 8 years in the history of our great country, yet you apparently must be suffering from amnesia. I don't care about Wallace or Blitzer, or Hannity or Beck. They are all worthless! Not one of them will EVER do a thing to help this country. Ever! If you don't get that, you're lost my friend. Divided we fall, and we are falling. You're all right about Obama, he's a Fraud. Unfortunately you can't see that Bush was 10x worse. 200 years from now everyone will assocaite his name as an enemy of the state and the worst president ever!
Too bad you don't my friend!
Fair enough. Fox News is biased. Fox TV is trashy. How's that?
Gosh Ageof Reason, apparently leaving is hardest thing to do.
We are such a closed minded group( to your tripe, yes) that you just can't see the
reason to post on this site again. Yet here you are. You keep your promises just
like Obama does. Don't let the door…well you know the rest.
I'd be very upset too, but come to think of it…Glen Beck does lead a trashy line-up of so called journalist on that network. The guy is a joke and is playing you guys like a violin. I thought Americans were sensible, instead you are being lead by and ex-alcoholic and pothead (Beck) and that freak of nature drug addict Limbaugh. THAT is the tragedy here. You tea baggers really need to get a life and concentrate on real issues like why your fine with families going broke paying medical bills while protecting filthy rich insurance companies.
I just got offered my own show on a Conservative Talk Radio AM station. I need other Influential GenX Conservatives as guest speakers. Please tell them to visit my site and email me for details. I will be on 4 times a month, once a week, for 1 hour. Hopefully it goes well and I can get a Conservative message to more of my Generation.
http://www.myfreepress.net
You are right. We certainly have a bunch of them. Either they just got back from Trick or Treat.
or they just finished their homework and have 1 hour of play before beddy bye.
I would guess no other blog tolerates them. We will make em one of us or send them home crying.
PBS is left wing garbage!!! Why should tax payers have to dish out there hard earned dollars for this crap!!
half my brain tied behind my back, just to make things fair!
That would be "wasting" your time honey. I normally don't pick on people for misspelling a word but I had to based on your accusations against people on this site. Who needs a GED?
So this is what its come down to for conservatives, huh? Getting riled up about Sesame Street. The children's television show Sesame Street. Unbelievable. What's next? SpongeBob? Barney The Dinosaur?
"and everyone with half a brain knows it."
So happy to see that you agree that 'everyone who knows it' are liberals with half a brain.
Age of Reason you do realize that every thing you put into your post is your opinion and does not contain 1 single fact! Why is Bush worse than Obama when Obama spent more money in his firtst ten months in office than Bush did in 8 years. That is an indisputable fact, not my opinion! When has 1 person outside of our current Democraticly lead Congress and White House said that the best way out of debt is to put more on your credit cards? Ever hear of interest? It is a financial killer. But again I used facts not my opinion. Why is Obama's friendly diplomatic policy not showing any positive results? Fox News is trashy, again your opinion. Why is YOUR OPINION that Fox News is biased and trashy more important than MY OPINION that MSNBC is biased and trashy. Why are you so upset that there is 1 network that you disagree with but 5 networks available that you do agree with. I'm sorry but your obviosly self-inflated sense of importance is not what causes the world to turn.
sesame street was just as biased when my boy was little. over 20 years ago. most liberals live off the government pocket book. check it out.
OK. That's what I thought you probably meant. Not sure what the Fox network has to do with anything but hey. Blog comments are a modern cesspool of conflation, fallacy and childish nonargument and sadly BH is no exception.
Three notes, Steve. (1) Beck, like most alcoholics, does not consider himself "ex-" but recovering. He seems to have matured a bit beyond those days. (2) Unlike you, Limbaugh came clean, took responsibility for his actions, got treatment, and resumed work.
(3) Presuming you know what a "Tea Bagger" is, you indicate yourself to be a currently active, vulgar little boor. I'll take an "ex" addict over a vulgar little boor any day.
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