NEW YORK (October 4, 2012)--Saturday Night Live," Jimmy Fallon, Piers Morgan, the "Today" show and "Good Morning America" all asked for appearances from the giant yellow Muppet Big Bird after Mitt Romney unexpectedly thrust him into the presidential campaign Wednesday night.

Sesame Workshop said Big Bird is declining all appearances, however.

During his debate Wednesday in Denver with President Barack Obama, Romney called for cutting federal funding to PBS, even though he said, "I love Big Bird."

The call renewed a long-running debate over subsidies to public broadcasting.

PBS chief Paula Kerger said 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.