Big Bird, We Hardly Knew Ye

A right-wing shill in the White House press corp, paying "journalists" to write favorable articles on republican policy and administration-produced "news" videos are clear evidence of Rove's master plan. So why does it come as a surprise that they would cast their shadow on PBS?

The current chaiman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Kenneth Tomlinson recently hired Mary Catherine Andrews (ex of the White House Communications staff) who immediately set up a new "office of ombudsman" at the C.P.B. She recently appointed two other republican chronies as additional muscle.

Meanwhile Tomlinson hired a consultant to put "NOW with Bill Moyers" under a republican-filtered microscope. All this truth-management gives rise to my predictions for the future of PBS:

* Bert and Ernie are sent off to a gulag (obviously gay)
* Big Bird is hosting a new show titled "Living Right" (you're never too young to be a good little republican)
* "Nova" does a hard-hitting series on "The Big Ozone Lie"
* "Antiques Road Show" goes to the national parks to do valuations on ancient timber and oil for big business.
* "The McNeil Lehrer Hour" isn't cancelled but renamed "The McNeil Lehrer 30 Seconds." (programming note: new time, 3AM)

There is one upside to all this. Now that the republicans have taken over PBS, there will be no more fund-raising marathons. Corporations are lining up to pay for production costs - so long as the programming shines a favorable light on them.

By the way, in case you find this all a little far-fetched, consider that Tomlinson recently ousted the president of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and replaced her with Ken Ferree, an interim apointee. Patricia Harrison - former co-chairperson of the republican national committee will soon be holding the job permanently.

To read more in this subject:
Common Cause
American Progress Action Fund
Media Matters