Big Bird declining all media appearances after debate thrusts him into campaign

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Big Bird has never been so hot.

“Saturday Night Live,” Jimmy Fallon, Piers Morgan, the “Today” show and “Good Morning America” have all asked for appearances from the giant yellow Muppet after he was unexpectedly thrust into the presidential campaign by Republican challenger Mitt Romney on Wednesday. Sesame Workshop says Big Bird is declining all appearances.

During the debate with President Barack Obama, Romney called for cutting federal funding to PBS, even though he said “I love Big Bird.” It renewed a long-running debate over subsidies to public broadcasting.

PBS chief Paula Kerger says she “just about fell off the sofa” when the issue suddenly came up. She said that if the subsidy goes, so will some PBS stations.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.