good start; now defund it entirely

[libertybells]

A House subcommittee voted yesterday to sharply reduce the federal government's financial support for public broadcasting, including eliminating taxpayer funds that help underwrite such popular children's educational programs as "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," "Arthur" and "Postcards From Buster

Comments

[seahorse715]

"Sesame Street" is a huge hit with my son, as it was a huge hit with me 30++ years ago. (Yes, including Elmo--though he didn't exist in my day. However, we had Kermit, whom my son wouldn't know from Adam since he's no longer on Sesame...but I digress.) I think, for the most part, it's a great program-----BUT, it is far too commercially successful to necessitate funding from the government. They've marketed and licensed out to nearly as many different sources as Disney. They don't NEED the funds the government provides. They could do it on their own in a heartbeat.

I don't believe in PBS, NPR, the NEA handing over our tax dollars for depravity disguised as "art"...none of it. It's simply not necessary.

Besides, PBS isn't even "commercial-free"--the sponsor spots are so long nowadays that they're practically full-blown advertisements. Oh, and if you ever watch, the one for the W.M. Keck Foundation has the letters flying into the screen such that your mind's eye will see the word "F*CK" spelled out. No joke--my husband and I have both seen it. We thought we were insane. Well, we are--but it's there nonetheless (intentional or not).

Anyhow...we'd watch "Sesame Street" whether it was on PBS or some other network. (In fact, the ones on Noggin are even better 'cos they're older.)

[libertybells]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN -- KERMIT ISN'T ON SESAME STREET ANYMORE?!?!?

[seahorse715]

He took off when he hit the Big Time.

(Actually, I'm really not sure why Jim Henson (RIP) stopped playing him on SS, but it seems his appearances on SS diminished and then disappeared after Henson started "The Muppet Show." [I babysat a lot, so I've seen lots of SS over the years since my early childhood in the '70s.] Elmo appeared sometime in the late '80s, and became huge in the '90s. He's a huge focus now--the last 20 min. of the show are dedicated to "Elmo's World." Little kids tend to adore him--and he's not creepy to me like Barney is.)

(BTW, interesting trivia: Elmo is played by a big black man who doesn't sound or look at all like he could ever play Elmo. I saw that on a behind-the-scenes show recently. When you see the actual guy doing the Elmo voice, you have to do a double-take!)