"CPB's own research has shown that the American public believes public television and radio programming is objective and balanced," Dingell and Obey wrote.
"If CPB is moving in the direction of censorship of public affairs content based on partisanship and political views, this will severely erode the public trust that public broadcasting heretofore has enjoyed. Therefore, we are asking that your office fully investigate the issues . . . and report back to us in an expeditious manner."
Jeff Chester of the advocacy group Center for Digital Democracy said yesterday that he hopes the congressional attention "will shed some light on what appears to be a channeling of Richard Nixon's 'dirty tricks' by CPB chair Ken Tomlinson. Reporters on enemies lists, back-channel White House communications, and senior employees axed Friday at 5."
Dave Chappelle has checked himself into a mental health facility in South Africa, Entertainment Weekly reported yesterday.
Last week, Comedy Central network abruptly yanked production of the "Chappelle Show's" third season and scrubbed the highly hyped May 31 debut date. At the time, a spokesman for the network and for Chappelle declined to discuss the circumstances.
Chappelle flew from Newark to South Africa on April 28 for treatment, said the magazine, quoting a source close to the show that it would not identify. Entertainment Weekly told the Associated Press it had corroborating sources for its story.
"We don't know where he is," Comedy Central spokesman Tony Fox told AP. "We've heard about South Africa. We don't know. We haven't talked to Dave."
Chappelle's spokesman, Matt Labov, would not comment on the magazine's story, the wire service reported.
Ten episodes were scheduled for the show's third season; none has been completed.
We Watch So You Don't Have To:
Results night on "American Idol." In which we learn that if you cry after your performance, no matter how bad, you will make it to the final three on "American Idol."
And if you pick a lousy first song, and butcher it to boot, but look hot -- in a "Miami Vice" meets Blues Brothers way, with sandals, suit and dark glasses -- for your second number, you, too, will make it to the final three on "American Idol."
