PBS says Sesame Street parody on FOX News was wrong
By Jimmy Orr | 11.06.09
So maybe the writers at Sesame Street aren’t trying to infiltrate children with left-wing communist propaganda?
Yesterday we told you about one conservative blogger who thought that Sesame Street was out of line for a recent skit which had a muppet call a fictional news network a “trashy news show.”
What incensed the writer? The name of said network was POX News. And guess which news network rhymes with POX?
Friends in high places
Turns out this blogger has an ally that has some influence over at Sesame Street. No, Snuffleupagus hasn’t gone rogue or anything. It’s one of the big cheeses: PBS Ombudsman Michael Getler.
Getler writes in his blog that he received some negative correspondence following the October 29th broadcast of the children’s show. In this episode, Oscar the Grouch — the founder of the Grouch News Network (GNN) — receives a phone call from what appears to be a female muppet (or Bret Michaels from Poison) complaining that GNN isn’t grouchy enough.
“I am changing the channel,” she says to Oscar. “From now on I am watching ‘Pox’ News. Now there is a trashy news show.”
It sounded so much like FOX News that even he was fooled by it.
“Everybody who wrote to me heard this as “Fox News,” and I can’t really blame them,” Getler writes. “When I went and watched the tape for the first time, I thought I heard “Fox” as well, perhaps because of the association one assumes when you hear “news” right after the word.”
Crossed the line
Getler said in one respect the joke worked, but overall it was too close for comfort.
“Pox News as an alternative and competitor to the Grouch News Network would seem to be a clever and appropriate title,” he wrote. “But you would have to be anesthetized as a producer not to assume that many parents will hear this, or assume this, to be a clever shot at Fox News.”
“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,” he added.
Now there’s not much an Ombudsman can do after the fact. Perhaps the skit won’t run again in the future. And surely the writers won’t repeat that specific offense.
Waddya say now?
But the admission that they went too far is providing one website with something to crow about — the same website that called attention to it in the first place.
John Nolte, the Editor-in-Chief of Andrew Breitbart’s Big Hollywood site, seemed to bask a bit in the glory of PBS’s admission of guilt.
“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,” Nolte writes. “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 watch the original video clip here. But we couldn’t resist embedding Oscar’s favorite song “I Love Trash” below…
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What GOP candidates want: a Sarah Palin endorsement
By Peter Grier | 11.05.09
Sure, Sarah Palin lost in last year’s election, but she might be on track to win the title of GOP endorser-in-chief.
Just as we predicted, Republican candidates are starting to compete to win a coveted nod of approval from the ex-governor of Alaska.
First up is Rep. Mark Steven Kirk (R) of Illinois, who is running for the Senate seat formerly occupied by Barack Obama. The Washington Post reports that he’s written a letter to a Palin friend that fishes for an endorsement – something “quick and decisive.”
Problem is, Representative Kirk is something of moderate. He is not at all an ideological fellow traveler of conservative Doug Hoffman, the candidate in New York’s 23rd Congressional District whom Ms. Palin backed in Tuesday’s vote.
What Kirk appears to be trying to do in Illinois is head off a New York-like situation in which Palin backed a conservative, ultimately forcing the official GOP nominee, state Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, out of the race.
As one might expect, a conservative Republican running for that Illinois Senate seat has already complained. His name is Patrick Hughes, and he says Kirk is unworthy of Palin’s approval.
“I believe Mark Kirk, who has consistently supported President Obama’s legislative agenda … is quickly realizing that Republican primary voters do not share his extreme views,” said Mr. Hughes in a statement released by his campaign.
Who will Sarah choose? Mark or Patrick? It’s like the storyline in Archie comics – will he pick Betty, or Veronica? – with the genders reversed.
Democrats are aware of how a spat like this can help them. They won that race in New York’s 23rd, after all, when Palin’s endorsement split the Republican Party. So the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is already out with a letter trying to fan the flames, as MSNBC’s First Read reports.
Framed as a letter to Palin herself, the DSCC missive points out that while Kirk may not be seeking her endorsement, he has had less-than-kind things to say about her in the past.
“Faced with a difficult reelection race in 2008, Kirk told reporters he ‘would have picked someone else’ for Vice-President and that frankly he ‘didn’t know whether you are qualified to be President,’ ” the DSCC pointed out to Palin.
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Sesame Street — 40 years of laughs, joy, and communism?
By Jimmy Orr | 11.04.09
Happy Birthday, Sesame Street.
The timeless children’s program celebrated its 40th anniversary Wednesday to much celebration. Even Google commemorated the big day by changing its logo on their home page.
But not everyone’s happy with the PBS offering. One high profile website featured a blog questioning the political leanings of everyone’s favorite trash-loving muppet. Or perhaps, more accurately, the writers behind Oscar the Grouch and all the gang at Sesame Street.
Surprising? Well, when you produce a satirical skit on a network that receives a chunk of its funding from the federal government, some people are going to get upset. Especially if the satire doesn’t bend their way.
Controversial video exposed
One such skit, apparently produced two years ago but was re-released last week, is in the crosshairs of a conservative blogger who penned a 900-word manifesto Wednesday condemning the program.
No, the video doesn’t contain footage of Oscar attending an ACORN meeting or delivering a sermon with Jeremiah Wright. Instead, he appears at the helm of a new news network he founded. Oscar calls it GNN — the Grouchy News Network (see a portion of the video below).
But there’s a problem with GNN. An unnamed muppet in the skit calls Oscar to complain that his programming isn’t grouchy enough. So she’s switching to another network.
“I am changing the channel,” she rants to Oscar. “From now on I am watching ‘Pox’ News. Now there is a trashy news show.”
POX news or FOX News
Pox News? A not-so-subtle slam at FOX News? They’re getting beat up everywhere. Sure, some of it’s self-imposed like yesterday’s blooper, but this “Pox News” thing is not coincidental says the blogger who calls himself “Stage Right” on Andrew Breitbart’s conservative Big Hollywood site.
“If Mom and Dad watch cable news, it’s better than 50/50 they watch ‘POX News,” he writes. “So what gives? PBS — a network partially funded with my tax dollars — has the right to tell my kids that their parents watch ‘trashy’ news?”
“The message is clear, I can’t even sit my kids in front of “Sesame Street” without having to worry about the Left attempting to undermine my authority,” he said. “And don’t tell me, ‘If you don’t like it change the channel.’ There are no channels left! It’s everywhere.”
On the other hand
Well, maybe it’s not that bad. Perhaps “Stage Right” just needed to blow off some steam. Because at the end of his missive, Mr. Right changes his tune.
Sesame Street? Meh.
“Sesame Street can awkwardly slam FoxNews from the comfort of their stodgy old PBS studios,” he writes. “Meanwhile, we have the cool kids on our side: Dennis Miller, Greg Gutfeld, Andrew Breitbart and yes, even Glenn Beck. And our cool kids are pointing out just how boring, lame, predictable and lazy the other side has become.”
“We no longer NEED their approval. We see them for what they are: bitter, pompous and desperate,” he adds.
A tempest in a teapot, it appears. But Right’s rant was something that the left side of the blogosphere took great enjoyment in lampooning.
“Call the Waahhmbulance! Wingnuts upset over ‘Pox News’ on Sesame Street,” reads Susie Madrak’s headline over at the popular Crooks and Liars website.
Right, Left, Center?
Regardless, the “controversy” appears to have subsided. In the meantime, we tried to identify Oscar’s political persuasion by reviewing video on YouTube. But we weren’t that successful.
All that we could come up with is that he’s kind of a cross between Bill O’Reilly and Keith Olbermann. His personality is more like O’Reilly. Yet he’s green. So that would make him Olbermann-like.
As for his appearance, Wolf Blitzer probably comes the closest. Not that Blitzer looks like he lives in a garbage can or anything but there aren’t many TV commentators with facial hair.
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FOX admits blunder in reporting Obama watched documentary
By Jimmy Orr | 11.04.09
Earlier today we told you about a FOX news anchor who reported that President Obama decided not to watch election returns last night so he could watch a documentary about himself instead.
The news anchor — Martha MacCullum — said that White House press secretary Robert Gibbs gave reporters this information at a morning briefing.
But as we pointed out, Gibbs never said that. Gibbs was asked if the president watched the returns last night. He replied no.
Did the president watch the new HBO documentary about the presidential campaign instead? To that, Gibbs said he didn’t know, but said that he hoped the president was watching the Chicago Bulls game.
So how did this get all turned around?
FOX says it was a simple mistake. FOX White House correspondent Major Garrett said he thought that’s what he heard Gibbs say.
“At 10 o’clock this morning, Martha [MacCallum] reported that the president didn’t watch the election returns and watched the HBO movie [instead],” Garrett explained to FOX anchor Shephard Smith.
“That’s because I misheard Robert Gibbs in the gaggle. The White House says he was probably watching the Bulls-Bucks game. My mistake.”
FOX supplied The Vote with a link of Garrett’s explanation. Click here to see it.
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At White House, music to Michelle Obama’s ears
By Linda Feldmann | 11.04.09
The White House had the feel of a music conservatory Wednesday afternoon, as 120 high school and middle school students from around the country – classical musicians all – attended master classes with some of the top names in the business.
Yours truly, serving as the print pooler for first lady Michelle Obama, got to dip into each class: First, Grammy-award winning violinist (and heart-throb) Joshua Bell, in jeans and shirt-tails, met with some 30 teenage violinists in the Map Room.
“Hey, everybody. Whaddaya think, being at the White House?”
“Woo-hoo!” the students replied.
Bell lamented that he now seems to be most famous for a Washington Post experiment he took part in almost three years ago, in which he played the violin on the street – to see if anyone would notice that he was a world-class violinist. (A few people did.)
“I guess any publicity is good publicity,” he said. “I made $38 in about 40 minutes. The good news is that I didn’t have to give my manager 20 percent.”
Next, to the Diplomatic Room, for 27-year-old cellist Alisa Weilerstein – called by New York magazine, “arguably, Yo-Yo Ma’s heiress apparent” – and a roomful of cellists. The group played the prelude to one of the Bachianas Brasileiras, by Heitor Villa-Lobos.
Then it was off to the Blue Room, for virtuoso classical guitarist Sharon Isbin and a roomful of guitarists. One young player performed a piece, and she then coached him on body position and other techniques. “Do you know the formula for a more sweet, dolce sound?” she asked. It’s all about where you strum: “Divide the string in half.”
Finally, we went to the East Room, where the lively and accomplished pianist Awadagin Pratt was performing the Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor by Bach (arranged by Awadagin Pratt) for piano students.
A moment of disclosure: Your correspondent ran into an old friend, Martin Goldsmith, a classical music announcer for Sirius/XM Radio, who was there for the network’s recording of the event. He tipped me off to what the performers were playing. Sirius/XM will air Wednesday night’s full-dress concert over the weekend.
Then it was off to the State Dining Room, where FLOTUS em-ceed the awarding of the annual Coming Up Taller Awards, which recognize outstanding after-school and out-of-school programs in the arts and humanities. The awards, an initiative of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, were started in 1998. Many of the programs reach at-risk youth, who then often end up doing better in school and going to college.
Mrs. Obama looked fabulous in a light gray flecked skirt suit, with a darker gray blouse, large brooch, and silver belt. Hair was in an up-do.
Fifteen groups from the US and four from abroad (Mexico, China, and Egypt) won awards. The ambassadors of those three countries attended. Each program receives a $10,000 prize.
FLOTUS spoke of “the power of the arts to change young people’s lives” and as each award was handed out, she posed with representatives from the groups – dispensing many hugs, especially to the kids.
After it was over, she declared. “Well, let’s do that again!”
Then, it was back to the East Room for the Classical Music Student Workshop Concert. Mrs. Obama spoke, and referred to the assembled students as the “classical music superstars of tomorrow.”
“I love events like this because this is what the White House is all about,” she said. “It’s the People’s House. We say that all of the time. It’s a place that’s steeped in history. You can look on – the pictures on the walls, and there are so many stories that can be told. But also it’s a place where we like to start new traditions and to bring people together in different ways.”
Mrs. Obama also noted the hard work and dedication it takes to master a musical instrument. To the students, she said: “Many of you are perfectionists, and it takes a lot of energy and time, and it’s not always easy.”
Each of the world-class musicians performed, as did a few of the students. Perhaps most eye-popping was 8-year-old prodigy Sujari Britt of New York, who performed on the cello alongside Alisa Weilerstein. Mrs. Obama commented that Sujari is the same age as Sasha – and from a distance, she looked like Sasha Obama.
Later, I asked Sujari how much she practices each day, and she said three or four hours. Her mother said, “actually, more than that.” Because she is home-schooled, she can easily pick up her cello throughout the day and play. Sujari also mentioned the string trio she plays in with sister and brother, which, she says, practices every other day. Sujari studies at the Manhattan School of Music.
White House social secretary Desiree Rogers sat next to Mrs. Obama during the concert. Also sighted in the East Room (and in the master classes) was actor-turned-administration-official Kal Penn, who helped pull Wednesday’s music program together.
The program, which culminates in a concert this evening, was the fourth in a series started by Michelle Obama called The White House Music Series. Previous musical forms featured were jazz, country, and Latin.
The students’ travel to Washington was funded by outside organizations (not the White House), such as the VH1 Save the Music Foundation.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
