Melanie Martinez
Encyclopedia
Melanie Martinez is a television and stage actress. She is most famous for playing Melanie, host of the Good Night Show
, on PBS KIDS Sprout
from 2005 to 2006.
In 1994, she graduated from the Tisch School of the Arts
.
Past theater work includes roles in Caesar and Cleopatra
at Cocteau Repertory and in a verse play, The Death of Don Flagrante Delicto, written by Kirk Wood Bromley.
-only public service announcement
s. The former espoused the virtues of anal sex
, while the latter promoted vibrators. The political spoofs were directed by David Mack and produced by John Ordover, and were hosted on the website TechnicalVirgin.com. In July 2006, PBS KIDS Sprout terminated Martinez as host of the Good Night Show when it learned of these videos, which it deemed "inappropriate for her role as a preschool host."
In his columns on July 26 and August 3 on the PBS website, PBS
ombudsman
Michael Getler
criticized the decision, writing that "it would have been a greater bow to freedom of expression and against guilt by association for the program and PBS to stick by her", and “It struck me as ironic that at the very time PBS is fighting against new Federal Communications Commission rulings about indecency that the network argues will inhibit documentary filmmakers and freedom of speech, it delivers a subjective punishment to a popular performer for something done seven years ago that was clearly a spoof”. PBS President Paula Kerger—who has upheld the right of World War II veterans to use foul language when recounting their stories for PBS regardless of the FCC's stance on indecency -- defended the decision at the semi-annual press tour in Pasadena saying that "What we are looking for in the host of Sprout is someone that is really representative of PBS and Sesame and kids' entertainment. She's not an actress--she really is supposed to embody the service itself."
In an August 5, 2006 article on the front page of the Arts Section of The New York Times
, Martinez says: "I've done lots of roles and worn many costumes. I did not think a spoof P.S.A. would come up like this again."
In an October 7, 2006 interview for feministing.com, Martinez says "Nothing has changed the way I feel about the videos. I think they are hilarious and still a relevant parody on what the kids are taught in school today. The decision to be in the videos was made by a socially aware adult married actress, albeit a comedic one! Not as a “mistake” or a “poor decision made in college which should now be forgiven.” Definitely not a “skeleton in my closet”! It’s always been listed on my resume. I wanted to act in them because it was a funny smart parody of the abstinence-only teaching in schools that I am against. Not abstinence per se, but the popular federally funded abstinence-only curriculum. Children deserve to be taught a responsible comprehensive sex education curriculum. The spoofs were a way to get people to realize how absurd the notion is, particularly back when the video was made, the Not Me Not Now group. They base their teachings on scare tactics. And what about alternative lifestyles? To them, they don’t exist!"
In late 2006 it was announced that Michele Lepe
was hired to be the new host of the show. Lepe has appeared in a number of movies and TV series including a short film in which she plays an undercover policewoman who poses as a prostitute.
Books that featured Martinez's controversy are NY Times Bestseller The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot by Naomi Wolf
, Why We're Liberals A Political Handbook for Post-Bush America by Eric Alterman
, Real World Media Ethics: Inside The Broadcast and Entertainment Industries by Philippe Perebinossoff.
Good Night Show
The Good Night Show is a television programming block on PBS KIDS Sprout which premiered on September 26, 2005. Programming starts at 6:00pm ET each evening...
, on PBS KIDS Sprout
PBS KIDS Sprout
PBS Kids Sprout is a U.S. digital cable television channel, video-on-demand service, and website providing PBS Kids shows and original programming for preschoolers and their families...
from 2005 to 2006.
In 1994, she graduated from the Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University ....
.
Past theater work includes roles in Caesar and Cleopatra
Caesar and Cleopatra (play)
Caesar and Cleopatra, a play written in 1898 by George Bernard Shaw, was first staged in 1901 and first published with Captain Brassbound's Conversion and The Devil's Disciple in his 1901 collection, Three Plays for Puritans. It was first performed at Newcastle-on-Tyne on March 15, 1899...
at Cocteau Repertory and in a verse play, The Death of Don Flagrante Delicto, written by Kirk Wood Bromley.
"Technical Virgin" video controversy
In the summer of 2000, Martinez was cast to play the role of a student in two 30-second videos, I Have a Future (filmed in July 2000) and Boys Can Wait (filmed in February 2001). Both short films spoofed abstinenceAbstinence
Abstinence is a voluntary restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, or abstention from alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions or practical...
-only public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
s. The former espoused the virtues of anal sex
Anal sex
Anal sex is the sex act in which the penis is inserted into the anus of a sexual partner. The term can also include other sexual acts involving the anus, including pegging, anilingus , fingering, and object insertion.Common misconception describes anal sex as practiced almost exclusively by gay men...
, while the latter promoted vibrators. The political spoofs were directed by David Mack and produced by John Ordover, and were hosted on the website TechnicalVirgin.com. In July 2006, PBS KIDS Sprout terminated Martinez as host of the Good Night Show when it learned of these videos, which it deemed "inappropriate for her role as a preschool host."
In his columns on July 26 and August 3 on the PBS website, PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
Michael Getler
Michael Getler
Michael Getler is an American journalist and ombudsman for the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States. He is the first holder of this post, and the first ombudsman to be appointed at any of the major American television networks...
criticized the decision, writing that "it would have been a greater bow to freedom of expression and against guilt by association for the program and PBS to stick by her", and “It struck me as ironic that at the very time PBS is fighting against new Federal Communications Commission rulings about indecency that the network argues will inhibit documentary filmmakers and freedom of speech, it delivers a subjective punishment to a popular performer for something done seven years ago that was clearly a spoof”. PBS President Paula Kerger—who has upheld the right of World War II veterans to use foul language when recounting their stories for PBS regardless of the FCC's stance on indecency -- defended the decision at the semi-annual press tour in Pasadena saying that "What we are looking for in the host of Sprout is someone that is really representative of PBS and Sesame and kids' entertainment. She's not an actress--she really is supposed to embody the service itself."
In an August 5, 2006 article on the front page of the Arts Section of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, Martinez says: "I've done lots of roles and worn many costumes. I did not think a spoof P.S.A. would come up like this again."
In an October 7, 2006 interview for feministing.com, Martinez says "Nothing has changed the way I feel about the videos. I think they are hilarious and still a relevant parody on what the kids are taught in school today. The decision to be in the videos was made by a socially aware adult married actress, albeit a comedic one! Not as a “mistake” or a “poor decision made in college which should now be forgiven.” Definitely not a “skeleton in my closet”! It’s always been listed on my resume. I wanted to act in them because it was a funny smart parody of the abstinence-only teaching in schools that I am against. Not abstinence per se, but the popular federally funded abstinence-only curriculum. Children deserve to be taught a responsible comprehensive sex education curriculum. The spoofs were a way to get people to realize how absurd the notion is, particularly back when the video was made, the Not Me Not Now group. They base their teachings on scare tactics. And what about alternative lifestyles? To them, they don’t exist!"
In late 2006 it was announced that Michele Lepe
Michele Lepe
Michele Lepe , is a Hispanic actress who spent her early childhood in England and grew up in San Antonio, Texas. She became the new permanent host of PBS KIDS Sprout's The Good Night Show playing the role of "Nina" the Goodnight Guide....
was hired to be the new host of the show. Lepe has appeared in a number of movies and TV series including a short film in which she plays an undercover policewoman who poses as a prostitute.
Books that featured Martinez's controversy are NY Times Bestseller The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot by Naomi Wolf
Naomi Wolf
Naomi Wolf is an American author and political consultant. With the publication of The Beauty Myth, she became a leading spokesperson of what was later described as the third wave of the feminist movement.-Biography:...
, Why We're Liberals A Political Handbook for Post-Bush America by Eric Alterman
Eric Alterman
Eric Alterman is an American English teacher, historian, journalist, author, media critic, blogger, and educator. His political weblog named Altercation was hosted by MSNBC.com from 2002 until 2006, moved to Media Matters for America until December 2008, and is now hosted by The...
, Real World Media Ethics: Inside The Broadcast and Entertainment Industries by Philippe Perebinossoff.