• by November 15, 2005

A NOT SO BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD -- Normally, when we think about public television it conjures warm and fuzzy thoughts about TV with a nobler purpose. Something that is above the fray of crass commercial interests, or even worse: corrupt political interests. As it turns out, it may have been far more of a political hotbed than we had ever imagined, and one driven by a crass non-commercial interest: the pursuit of federal handouts. An internal investigation by the Corporation for Public Television, the federally funded non-profit group that is supposed to represent the public's interests in public TV, found. Apparently, public television isn't the friendly neighborhood depicted by Mr. Rogers or even Sesame Street. It's more like a "Frontline" expose.

Among other things, the 67-page report released Tuesday by the inspector general of the CPB reveals:

* Former CPB Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson "violated his fiduciary responsibilities and statutory prohibitions against Board member involvement in programming decisions" in creating the "Journal Editorial Report."

* The report criticizes the secretive hiring of Republican operative Frederick Mann to monitor "Now with Bill Moyers" and other programs without authorization from the CPB Board.

* While the report concludes the violations were primarily the result of Tomlinson's "personal actions to accomplish his various initiatives," it also identifies "serious weaknesses" in the CPB's governance system.

Who knew? Certainly not us. We always thought the CPB was squeaky clean and beyond reproach, and in the spirit of Mr. Rogers theme song, a welcome part of our neighborhood. Lest we forget, here's a tune the CPB team should have been singing:

Artist: Fred Rogers
Title: Won't You Be My Neighbor

It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood
A beautiful day for a neighbor
Would you be mine
Could you be mine

It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood
A neighborly day for a beauty
Would you be mine
Could you be mine

I've always wanted to have a neighbor just like you
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you

So, let's make the most of this beautiful day
Since we're together we might as well say
Would you be mine, could you be mine
Won't you be my neighbor
Won't you please, won't you please
Please won't you be my neighbor