Re: Fred Rogers

[Bob Nelson <raccoonradio@yahoo.com>]

--- Dan Billings <billings@suscom-maine.net> wrote:

> And what's wrong with that?  PBS needs income just
> like any organization.

Given all the merchandising PBS does for show-
related merchandise, plus those "donor announcements"
that sound like commercials, maybe the time has come
for PBS (and possibly NPR) to go commercial. (With
the government's permission). This way, "Sesame
Street" would be brought to you not only by the
letter G and the number 5, but also by Trix,
Toys R Us, and McDonald's.

"Big Bird and Elmo will be right back, right after
these important messages!"

Just think: no more begathons! No more auctions,
pledge drives, or asking for government or grant
money.

(Recently someone in L.A. sent me a tape of Harry
Shearer's "Le Show" via KCRW, and the hour-long show
was really about ten minutes long. The other fifty
minutes were begging. And you thought commercial
TV/radio was bad? :) )