Mister Rogers Dies

[Guest Vern Gagne]

http://foxnews.com/story/0,2933,79742,00.html

 

 

Fred Rogers, host of the children's public television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood for more than 30 years died of cancer Thursday morning. He was 74.

 

 

 

 

 

From 1968 to 2000, Rogers, an ordained Presbyterian minister, produced the show at Pittsburgh public television station WQED. The final new episode, which was taped in December 2000, aired in August 2001, though PBS affiliates continued to air back episodes.

 

Rogers composed his own songs for the show and began each episode in a set made to look like a comfortable living room, singing "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood," as he donned sneakers and a zip-up cardigan.

 

Rogers died at his Pittsburgh home Thursday morning, said David Newell, a family spokesman. Rogers had been diagnosed with stomach cancer sometime after the holidays, he said.

 

Rogers' message remained a simple one throughout the years, telling his viewers to love themselves and others. On each show, he would take his audience on a magical trolley ride into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where his puppet creations would interact with each other and adults.

 

Rogers did much of the puppet work and voices himself.

 

The series remained popular through the years, including with children of baby boomers who watched the show as kids. Its ratings peaked in 1985-86 when approximately 8 percent of all U.S. households with televisions tuned in. By the 1999-2000 season, viewership had dropped to abut 2.7 percent, or 3.6 million people.

 

One of Rogers' red sweaters hangs in the Smithsonian Institution.

 

As other children's programming opted for slick action cartoons, Rogers stayed the same and stuck to his message.

 

"It looks like nothing much happens," Hedda Sharapan, an associate producer with the show, said in 2001. "Listening has been one of the main focus points."

 

Rogers was born in Latrobe, Pa. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1962 with a charge to continue his work with children and families through television.

 

He studied early childhood development at the University of Pittsburgh's graduate school and consulted for decades with the late Dr. Margaret McFarland, an eminent child development expert at the university. The show examined the tribulations of childhood, including anger, fear, even a visit to the dentist.

 

At a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the show in 1993, Rogers said, "It's not the honors and not the titles and not the power that is of ultimate importance. It's what resides inside."

 

Off the set, Rogers was much like his television persona. He swam daily, read voraciously and listened to Beethoven. He once volunteered at a state prison in Pittsburgh and helped set up a playroom there for children visiting their parents.

 

Rogers was an unseen puppeteer in "The Children's Corner," a show he and Josie Carey launched in 1954. In seven years of unscripted, live television on the show, he developed many of the puppets used in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, including King Friday XIII, Daniel Striped Tiger and Curious X the Owl.

 

Rogers accepted an offer to develop his own 15-minute show in Canada. He brought the show, called "Misterogers," back to Pittsburgh and in February 1968 began its public broadcasting debut.

 

Rogers' gentle manner was the BUTT of some comedian's jokes. Eddie Murphy parodied him on Saturday Night Live in the 80s with his "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood," a routine Rogers found funny and affectionate.

 

Rogers is survived by his wife, Joanne, a concert pianist; two sons, John, who lives in Kansas, and Jim of Pittsburgh; two grandsons, Alexander and Douglas.

[Guest Luke Cage]

I'll always have a special place in my heart for "Mr Rogers' Neighborhood".

 

I grew up watching Mr. Rogers change from his dress clothes to his zip up sweater and sneakers. He had such a friendly, personal style of broadcasting. Even though I knew other kids were watching across the country...I always felt like he was talking directly to me.

What a shame that so many children's shows these days are merely 30 minute product placement spots. I hope his show runs in repeats forever.

[Guest Flyboy]

*sniff*

 

His opening theme was so beautiful.

 

Maybe he died because of all his smoking! /Truth mode off

[Guest The Electrifyer]

Damn, that sucks. He was probably my favourite person I saw on TV for the first 8-9 years of my life.

[cawthon777 0]

I always thought Trolly stole the show.

 

ding ding chuga chuga chuga ding ding

[Guest Flyboy]

Was that about the castle/train shit, caw?

 

Because I always hated that part.

[cawthon777 0]

Was that about the castle/train shit, caw?

 

Because I always hated that part.

Trolly was the little train that would go into the fucked up puppet world, which I wasn't a huge fan of either. Some of those puppets looked pretty demonic.

 

Mr. Rogers would talk to Trolly and Trolly would respond with "ding ding" and somehow Mr. Rogers knew exactly what it was saying.

[Guest The Electrifyer]

What? You guys are telling me you *couldn't* tell what Trolly was saying?

[Guest starvenger]

Friendly Giant, Mr. Dressup and now Mr. Rogers are all gone. All the kids show icons from my youth are now gone, and that just sucks.

 

RIP Mr. Rogers.

[Guest Dmann2000]

Captain Kangaroo better watch his back I guess.

 

Man this sucks on so many sucking levels of suck.

[Guest notJames]

Godspeed, Mr. Rogers.

[Guest Mole]

I never was a fan of the show, even as a kid. However its sad to see him leave, especially to cancer.

[Guest HartFan86]

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

Man, my afternoons went "Sesame Street" at 4:30, and then "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" at 5.

 

I didn't like the trolley stuff though, I found Mr. Rogers himself more entertaining.

[Guest Kingpk]

I loved the giant traffic light he had near his kitchen. Plus his shoe toss = Mr. Perfect's gum swat.

 

RIP Fred.

[Guest CED Ordonez]

And I just started to use his ending theme as my end of the workday theme song.

 

Anybody remember the episode where he had this one kid breakdance? That was the shit. I loved all the Speedy Delivery skits where they'd always show you how the things were made.

 

Mr. Perfect and now Mr. Rogers...sad....

[Guest RenegadeX28]

This is one of the best TV icons of all time. Everyday after school, I would sit down, and watch it. My favorite part of the show was the Trolly, and the Speedy Delivery skits. I loved that beginning sequence as well.

 

PBS should give him a tribute. Show some of great episodes of his show. Make some sort of rememberance program. I would so record it.

 

Well, one last time, he zipped up his sweater, put on his shoes, and went to heaven. God bless that man.....RIP Mr. Rogers.

[Guest SP-1]

Take care, Mr. Rogers. I'll see you when I get there.

[Guest Nevermortal]

Mr. Rogers died? Damn. Loved that show. My favorite part was when he used to dig in the indoor sandbox, which I thought was so awesome...A sandbox, INSIDE!

 

RIP Freddie.

[Guest MrRant]

I am sure he will be the head of the neighborhood in the sky... behind Christ of course.

[Guest SP-1]

I am sure he will be the head of the neighborhood in the sky... behind Christ of course.

I want a ride on the heavenly Trolley.

[Guest areacode212]

Friendly Giant, Mr. Dressup and now Mr. Rogers are all gone. All the kids show icons from my youth are now gone, and that just sucks.

 

RIP Mr. Rogers.

Mr. Dressup is dead too?? Those 3 were my kids show icons as well.

 

This week sucks.

[Guest MaxPower27]

 

Mr. Rogers, Sesame Street and Reading Rainbow were pretty much the only shows I had when I was a little kid. We didn't have cable, and there was nothing on during the day, so most of my days were spent watching them. A part of my childhood is gone.

 

[Guest wwF1587]

man... i dont know what to say... i cant say i was the biggest mark of the show but i use to watch it every now and then when i was a little kid....damn

[Guest bob_barron]

RIP Mr. Rogers.

 

I wrote him a letter when I was younger and he wrote back- He was one of my childhood heroes.

 

He was a great guy and this day in age his show was the perfect thing to watch

[Guest Youth N Asia]

Never liked him as a kid...I was more into Mr Dressup and Fred Penner.

 

RIP none the less...he's entertained millions of kids over the decades.

[Guest MDH257]

Rest in Peace Mr. Rogers. You were enjoyed.

[Guest BRUCE]

I personally think the man was a closet pedophile. But it doesn't matter now. He did do a lot of good for public television though.

[Guest SP-1]

I personally think the man was a closet pedophile. But it doesn't matter now. He did do a lot of good for public television though.

. . .

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Everyone talking about Mister Rogers say he was has nice in real life has we was on the show.