Parents Television Council

Omission of God has show's creator asking what's the big idea?

The Jackson Sun (Tennessee)

October 14, 2006 Saturday
Madison Co. and West TN Edition

BYLINE: GWENDA ANTHONY

NBC-TV and the creator of "VeggieTales" are at odds over the editing of the popular children's show that promotes Christian principles. NBC denied it intentionally removed any references to God and the Bible from the animated series, citing it had to edit the show for time constraints. The "VeggieTales" creator said that reason was false. �

"Editing the show for those references (referring to God) is unfortunate," said Caldwell, senior director of programs for the Parents Television Council. "Certainly there's no getting around that 'VeggieTales' is a wonderful show," she said. "It's wholesome, clean, entertaining and has good values. "Even if there had been no biblical references, she said, it is still a good program. "But by taking out the references to God and the Bible, which is what the series is all about, NBC removed one of the core components of the show," Caldwell said, adding that she thinks it shows a double-standard on the part of NBC. "For fear of offending non-Christians, it refused to show the Danish cartoon."(Many in the Muslim community believed the recent cartoon shown in some newspapers was blasphemous because they considered it a violent portrayal of Prophet Muhammad)."For fear of offending non-Christians, it removes biblical references to God in a children's cartoon. That in itself could be considered offensive to Christians," she said. �

Kelli Turner, of Nashville, is disturbed that NBC wants to take something as successful as "VeggieTales" and alter its content. "My 8-year-old daughter, Nikki, grew up on 'VeggieTales.' She just loves them. "I know all of the songs, and we probably have all the titles upstairs," said Turner, director of the Nashville chapter of the Parents Television Council. It is the only chapter in Tennessee, but Turner hopes that will change. She would like to see other cities, including Jackson, start their own chapters. "We're grass-roots and the feet of the PTC," Turner said, "and would be glad to come talk to anyone about starting a chapter. "Big Idea Inc. produces the series, Turner said. When NBC approached the company about trimming the show to 23 minutes, Turner said, Big Idea complied. But apparently NBC wasn't satisfied, the mom said, pointing out that the network sought more concessions. It asked the company to remove the Bible verse at the beginning of the show and the saying at the end. The characters, Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber, close the episodes with "Remember kids, God made you special, and he loves you very much." "'VeggieTales' became wildly successful with little marketing, and to remove or edit what made it such a success is kind of silly," Turner said. �

Turner fears what may happen next. Her family likes "VeggieTales" because you get a good story and a moral lesson, she said. "These stories are done well and offer fun in a biblical way without the "thee's and thou's" I heard growing up," Turner said. "The kids learn about Jonah and the Whale and David and Goliath, which I believe is called 'David and the Giant Pickle,'" she laughed. The show's slogan is "Sunday morning values, Saturday morning fun." "It's a little distressing that NBC wants to change what makes the show so special," Turner said. "We'll be watching Saturday mornings to see how it plays out." ► more