Not good. Is there no holding on to tradition anymore? Is nothing sacred?

Chicago Sun Times reports

Chuck E. Cheese has been given the pink slip.

The company that operates the chain of children’s pizza restaurants is retiring the giant rodent’s outdated image — and the man who voiced its character for nearly two decades. CEC Entertainment Inc. says it plans to launch a national ad campaign Thursday with a revamped image of Chuck E. Cheese as a hip, electric-guitar-playing rock star.

They’re trying to make a rodent hip? Seriously?

These things have consequences. The following day, this story occurred:

Police took one woman into custody tonight after they said she walked into the Monroeville Chuck E. Cheese’s with a brick and a knife and started a fight.

Sources said a man was having a birthday party for his son inside the restaurant on Route 22 when his ex-girlfriend walked into the building about 7:30 p.m. and attacked his new girlfriend.

The new girlfriend was taken to UPMC Mercy to be treated for a non-life-threatening wound to the back of her head, officials said.

Another woman who tried to intervene in the fight was bitten in the chest. Her wound was cleaned at the scene.

Come on. Am I the only one who sees a connection here. Chuck E. goes all rock star on us and knife (and brick) fights break out.

I’m guessing Chuck E. Cheese is getting a little too dangerous. I’m thinking that when I need a break from the kids I’ll just go back to dropping my kids off in Axl Rose’s basement. They’ll be safer there.