From: delzey@gmail.com
To: TODAY@nbcuni.com
Subject: Snooki Bumps Kidlit
Right,
So some fellow members of the children’s literature community are all up in arms that apparently your fine show made a programming decision to run with a segment on Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi’s new book in favor of a segment on the recent Caldecott and Newbery Award winners.
Good.
Quite honestly, for the last couple of years, the only time I’ve ever watched the TODAY show was for this segment, and I always left with the same reminder to myself: Never watch that show again. The segment always felt like a backhanded attempt to pander to the New York publishing industry and the parents in your audience who take your token bits of coverage on children’s literature as a sign of quality.
Which is a joke.
It’s clear your hosts never read the winner’s books either before or after the segment. They have no idea what’s happening in children’s literature (or any literature for that matter) unless it’s been turned into a hit movie, written by a celebrity, or somehow became a hot topic of conversation at cocktail parties. Viewers have come to expect that the hosts just say what’s been prepared for them in advance.
In short, your hosts are probably as culturally illiterate as the average American, which is why the average American tunes in every weekday morning.
So while I’m sure you’re getting a flood of mail from people complaining about your decision I wanted to take this moment to applaud your decision to no longer pretend to care about quality books for children. I wanted to commend you on losing sight of the opportunity you have to enlighten people across this nation of ours, and instead choose to freely admit that showcasing literature for children for five whole minutes out of your broadcast year is a complete waste of time. You know that, in the long run, your decision and the feedback it generates won’t really affect your ad revenues or ratings.
Bravo.
And to the bored intern whose job it is to scroll through these emails, chin up! It’s not too late to get out and do something meaningful with your life. Just don’t write a children’s book about it.
Regards,
David Elzey
!
You are EVIL, oh, my word.
::giggling helplessly::
il più bravo!
I think this is the first genuine smile I’ve had all day.
LOVE this!!!
Ah, the pleasures of sarcasm. Well done!
you know, as i keep looking back over it, i keep wondering if i was too subtle for them. or too long.
ah well, i did my best.
Brilliant. Thank you.
You rule, David. I am copy/pasting this to everyone I know.
I absolutely love it and agree with every thing you said! Bravo!
Bravo, David.
Nicely worded.
I think they got the message. Yeah, five minutes is much too long to grab the nation’s attention on great children’s books
and their creators.
Roberta Rivera
Okay, really, this is awesome. Soooo pitch-perfect. Nicely done. letting the world know about it!
Namaste,
Lee
Well done, sir, well done!
Now I know that I am not alone in not being overwhelmed with dismay at the passing of this “tradition”
There was a time before the Today show featured the Newbery and Caldecott winners… and now… there is a time after.
I’m so glad you wrote this, as it is exactly how I feel. Brilliant and spot on. Thank you!
Well done, Mr. Elzey!! How sad it is that the “dumbing down” of the US starts so early in the morning!
Bravo! Pitch-perfect indeed!
Awesome. You rock!
thank you one and all for the thumb’s up and the reposting across the various social media. i think this issue struck a chord with a lot of people and i truly hope that the folks at the today show heard some of that discord.
i’m also glad so many of you found it amusing as well.
David: This letter is brilliant, and so well written. We know it won’t be noticed, probably not even by an intern. I suggest- move it along further. 1) send it to Lin Oliver, w/suggestion to read it at SCBWI NY conference in a couple of weeks 2) send it to the NBC network. Even the folks at the TODAY show have to be accountable. Perhaps include a list of the Caldecott and Newbery Award Winners of past years, along with a bookmark.
tempting ideas, sandy. thanks for the suggestions!
Bravo. Thank you for this!