Not surprisingly, a network’s decision to yank a popular host from his time slot and replace him with someone who lacks the same broad appeal has resulted in controversy. The network to which I’m referring is Sprout, a 24-hour children’s channel operated by PBS.
The segment in question is The Sunny Side Up Show, a morning program featuring a trio of hosts who spend time at the Sunshine Barn with a puppet chicken named Chica. Over Christmas, one of the hosts, Kevin Yamada, was replaced by Dennisha Pratt. When I discovered this, it bothered me no end. Why had it happened? Had he been fired? And why did I care? After all, my almost-two-year-old son didn’t seem to notice.
Indeed it was a level of interest I usually reserve for shows like The Sopranos or Mad Men. And I’m not alone. After learning what had transpired—in a farewell episode, Kevin explained to Chica that he was “moving to the big city”—I came across a comment section on Sprout’s website. It had been flooded by irate parents demanding Kevin’s return to his rightful place.
“Are you trying to emulate NBC?” asked someone named Gabe. “If something works, do not change it!!! Bring Kevin back or my family will never watch Sprout again!”
Randy, another father, went further: “Our son loves Kevin and is so sad now that he cannot see him any longer! He knew something was wrong right away. . . . We plan on writing to Sprout, calling, doing whatever it takes to get Kevin back on. . . . The girl they have on there now seems fake and we cannot stand her arm movements while singing ‘Happy happy birthday to you.’ Too stiff and fake. Sorry, it’s the truth. KEVIN, PLEASE COME BACK!!!”
Unhinged, you say? Why don’t we get a life? Or better yet, turn the tele-vision off and teach our children to read. Give them some paper and crayons. Let their imaginations bloom.
Fair enough. Yet there are times when you just need to get things done around the house. Or maybe you are just plain tired. Either way, plopping your child in front of a TV, though certainly not ideal, can be useful. (At least he’s not coloring the walls or dropping coins through the floor vents.) The problem is, as a parent, you inevitably end up watching more than your fair share of these shows and sadly end up knowing way more than you should—like the lyrics to “Make Way For Noddy.”
Of course we exercise restraint. Our children will not watch as much TV as I did growing up—this included whatever was on HBO, such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Omen II, and Coma. They can either watch sports or a children’s channel—Sprout or Nick Jr.
Overall, Nick Jr. (short for Nickelodeon) is the smarter of the two, with clever shows like Wonder Pets!, Little Bill, and even Blue’s Clues reruns (in case you’re wondering, we prefer Steve to Joe—but who doesn’t?). On the other hand, Nick Jr. also features the incredibly annoying Dora the Explorer.
As for Sprout, other than The Sunny Side Up Show and Thomas & Friends, there isn’t much we look forward to. The worst of the lot is Dragon Tales, an utterly mind-numbing cartoon that, we are reminded at the opening of each episode, “is funded in part by a grant from the Department of Education.”
But there is one notable exception: The Goodnight Show starring Nina and Star (the latter is a plush puppet). I’ve discovered that I’m not the only one devoted to the show. So are two of my colleagues, one of whom isn’t even a father but claims to watch because of his “niece.” Nina is a pajama-clad Latina actress whose real name is Michele Lepe. She has long brown hair, dark, alluring eyes, and an inviting smile. “Even her hands are attractive,” said my coworker. He’s right. Nina sings and makes all sorts of arts and crafts. She also performs yoga—for the kids, of course.
Taking a step back from parenting duties, I recognize the reaction to the change at The Sunny Side Up Show is laughable. As one mother put it: “This is a kid channel that we allow our children to watch so we can have a break!! What do you all care who hosts The Sunny Side Up Show?!” She’s right. We parents need to get a grip.
On the other hand, if Sprout ever decides to replace Nina, I, along with thousands of other dads, will be taking to the streets and burning cars until justice is done.
Victorino Matus
