Am I missing something here?

[khaosworks]

HIV-positive TV Muppet worries lawmakers

Republican lawmakers are worried about plans to introduce an HIV-positive Muppet to the "Sesame Street" gang, Hollywood trade paper Daily Variety reported in its Monday edition.

A day after show executives announced they would develop the as-yet-unnamed character for audiences in AIDS-ravaged South Africa, five members of the House committee on energy and commerce said the Muppet would be unwelcome on American TV.

In a letter sent on Friday to the president of the government-funded Public Broadcasting System, which airs "Sesame Street," the lawmakers noted the average age of U.S. viewers of "Sesame Street" in the U.S. is 2- to 4-years old.

"As such, while it is important to teach children in an age-appropriate manner about compassion for those who contract certain diseases, we would like to inquire as to whether there is other PBS programming, aimed at an older age group, which may be more suitable for such sensitive messages," Daily Variety reported the letter as saying.

What part of "It's only for South Africa" don't they understand?

What business do members of the house committee on energy and commerce have to do with PBS anyway?

What part of "none of your fucking business" don't they understand?

Way to show the public how dumb you are just before the mid-terms, guys.

Comments

[adamselzer.livejournal.com]

That's the GOP for you...the ones who want to "keep government off our backs." All I ever hear around here is "Republicans are better because they don't poke their nose in other people's business." Clearly, their PR machines are working.

[camwyn]

I wonder how many of them bought into the urban legends a few years ago that Bert and Ernie were going to be presented as gay, or that Ernie was gonna get leukemia. I'll bet these ijjits are afraid that those old rumors will turn out to be true.

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE, GOOVERNMENT MORONS. God, I hope none of you were from my state.

[johno.livejournal.com]

Unfortunatly, the Energy and Commerce Committee are the folks who hold PBSs purse strings. Blame them, if you think your local PBS station runs to many pledge drives.

Luckily the CTW (Children's Television Workshop) only sells the program to PBS and is not directly funded by them. So the congress critters can't directly do anything about it. They may pressure PBS not to buy the HIV+ character segments, but since the CTV isn't planning on trying, it's a moot point.

I'm also sure those same critters didn't want Seaseme Street to deal to with Mr Hooper's death or the World Trade Center tradgety either.

[(Anonymous)]

What part of "It's only for South Africa" don't they understand?

Actually, if you read here: http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/12/sesame.street.reut/index.html

You will note that Joel Schneider, vice president and senior adviser to the Sesame Street Workshop has stated that talks are underway to introduce such a character to the United States version of the show as well.

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

Okay, now this I can understand. I don't necessarily approve, but I understand reaction. Thank you.