This Is What PBS Has to Offer and Why We Need to Save It

What I learned from the presidential debate: 

Mitt Romney: Big Bird Killer

Police reports that the 43-year old Big Bird was killed by M.D.--Mormon Drive-by

The people of the Internet, which can occasionally do some good, has taken upon themselves to make sure that the beloved character from Sesame Street overshadowed just about everything that both candidates have said or done in the first presidential debate. Well, Jim Lehrer's less-than-gracious moderating skills have also taken center stage. 

Poor Jim. Maybe he should stick to telling his guests on his show to shut up.

Please stop interrupting---fuck it, I can't do this anymore.
You bastards can fight to the death for all  I care

Sidebar: 

"I'm not going to say I've done a poor job..." -Jim Lehrer

It was so bad that Chris Traeger is still crying uncontrollably.

Response from Twitter: "Worst moderator ever." -Rob Lowe

Imaginary response from Chris Traeger: "That was literally the worst moderating I have ever seen in the history of debates."

But Lehrer may not have a show to host come November if Romney is elected president. He has stated that he would cut any and all programs that would not benefit America if it meant that he "had to borrow the money from China." PBS is one of those programs.

Now, the Save Big Bird campaign is kicking into overdrive. Even Big Bird has created a Twitter account to speak out against this atrocity. Within 3 hours, he has amassed over 15,000 followers.

I don't know I have ever seen Big Bird angry. I didn't know he could get angry.

And oh man, he is not just angry--he is fucking pissed. 

He's mad as a badass motherfucker could ever be.

But it's not only Big Bird and the rest of the Sesame Street clan who would lose their home if PBS is destroyed. Here is a list of programs that have appeared on the network, most of them becoming cultural institutions, if not widely beloved, popular programs for millions of people not only in the United States but across the globe.

PBS turns 42 on October 5.
The now-awkward birthday party will be held on Saturday at the Y
in Green Park. BYOB.

Downton Abbey.


The 9-time Emmy winner has not only broken record ratings for PBS but has caused millions of Americans to develop emotional bonds to Matthew Crawley and Lady Grantham, John and Anna Bates; earned Dame Maggie Smith 2 Emmys and even more popularity (as if Harry Potter and numerous Oscar-winning or nominated film roles, and a celebrated stage career didn't already do the trick), and has revived the career of Evanston native Elizabeth McGovern, who was once best known for being Timothy Hutton's much-needed girlfriend and for being the woman was having a baby with Kevin Bacon in that John Hughes movie.

Sherlock


Yes, Robert Downey Jr. is Sherlock on the big screen. But have you ever seen Sherlock research and solve a crime on his iPhone? This version from the BBC was able to confirm that Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman, in his best role since the British version of "The Office") would be a decent roommate and figure out his life story within three seconds of meeting him. Benedict Cumberland, who was once deemed sexy as an otter, was born to play this conflicted, pompous genius. At least until he is hopefully officially attached to portrayed Wikileaks' Julian Assange in a movie that may or may not be directed by Academy Award winner Bill Condon, aka the man who directed two "Twilight" movies. (Which ones? I don't know. Go Google it if you're that curious.)

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide


This month, a two-part documentary aired in which six actresses/activists (America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union, and Olivia Wilde) traveled to different parts of the world to cover a different segment that the best-selling book/movement discusses are the biggest challenges women face on a global scale, such female mutation/circumcision, child and intergenerational prostitution, and macroeconomic obstacles. If nothing else, this proves that television cannot be deemed a "vast wasteland", which was what one of the first commissioners for the FCC once described the medium.

Julia Child


In 1963, Julia Child's "The French Chef" debuted on PBS. She quickly became one of the most popular shows ever broadcasted by PBS, as millions of people tuned in to either learn how to make beef bourguigon, soufflé  pastries, etc. or simply watch in amazement as this larger-than-life personality created such edible masterpieces with ease, wit, and charm.

Arthur


"Hey Arthur!" I totally related to the four-eyed aardvark. We both wore glasses. We were picked on. We often broke the fourth wall and talked to an invisible camera and TV audience. (We were mock-doc-ing life before mock-doc-ing was cool, then not cool.) We also had a sister 4 years younger than us. And she was annoying. (We are totally cool now with our sisters, cuz, we grew up. Well, Diana and I did. Arthur and D.W. are still 8 and 4 years old, respectively.) And they are still on PBS, and they are in the middle of producing their 16th season, an impressive feat for any fictional program, let alone in a genre where shows often become tiresome, outdated, and unable to adapt to the always unpredictable TV-watching habits of kids.

Austin City Limits


Hundreds of artists from all genres of music have performed on this program since 1976. The capital of Texas has become the "Live Music Capital of the World", which has later been solidified by the presence of SWSX. It is also the only television show to earn the National Media of Arts. 

Great Performances

Hamlet


The first time I watched an episode of Great Performances was for a theatre appreciation course back in community college. I watched Cyrano de Bergerac, which featured Kevin Kline as Cyrano. It was one of the reasons why I became a big fan of theatre. Even though I wasn't there to witness it live, the production, as well as the performances from Jennifer Garner and Daniel Sunjata, were impressive enough to transcend the TV I was watching it on.
In addition to dramas, "Great Performances" features ballets, operas, classical and contemporary music, Broadway musical adaptations, and others.

Frontline



Since 1983, Frontline has broadcasted over 500 episodes of in-depth and thought-provoking documentaries which have covered has about every topic under the sun. The newest episode will cover unbiased views of Obama and Romney. Ha, ha, irony!

Charlie Rose

Kurt Vonnegut, 2007. This is actually the last interview he gave before his death. It was broadcast one day after he passed away on April 11, 2007.


Look, I have no idea what Charlie Rose is doing on a morning talk show with Oprah's "special friend." And I don't care. (I think this is beneath him.) Here's why. No offensive to Anderson Cooper, Rachel Maddow, Lisa Ling or the numerous others, but Charlie Rose is the best living television journalist in the United States. (Mike Wallace once held this title, but then, he died.) He doesn't bullshit. He has no agenda. He just asks questions and gets the answers that viewers deserve to hear. And he gets a couple of extra videos for this list.

The White Stripes, 2007


Auug San Suu Kyi, 2012


Sesame Street

Opening for the show, mid-1970s


Feist performs, 2008


Sesame Street needs no explanation. It was amazing and entertaining when we were kids, when our PARENTS were kids, and it is amazing and entertaining today, and will continue to do so for generations to come. SAVE BIG BIRD!

I told you he was a badass.

The public broadcaster, which for decades was the only alternative to the once-big and mighty networks for unbiased news reporting, thought-provoking documentaries, dramatic programming, children's programming, Julia Child, etc. has always depended on federal funding along with grants from public and private institutions and donations from viewers like you. In an era when Americans cannot trust the government or mainstream media, they have be able to place their faith in public broadcasting. After military defense, PBS is the best investment of tax dollars. Maybe Romney doesn't want his tax dollars being invested on Downton Abbey or Elmo. That's fine. What little he pays in tax can go fund the military or whatever other "non-essential" program he wishes to gut and cut.

PBS is not just a public broadcasting channel. It is a part of our national identity. Their current slogan describes what Americans should do: "Be More"