It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

INGRID THOFT

An article in the "New York Times" on Monday caught my eye, 'Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood at 50.'  It's hard to believe that it's been fifty years since Fred Rogers first donned his cardigan and changed his shoes on PBS.  Airing for more than three decades, the show became the gold standard of television programming for children.  The NYT's article quotes show producer Margy Whitmer who said the key values of the show were civility, kindness, empathy, and that it's okay to make mistakes—qualities and a lesson that are just as relevant today, fifty years later.

I have fond memories of watching Mr. Rogers, but I don't remember the "lessons" he taught, which was part of the brilliance of the show.  He never seemed preachy or condescending.  Instead, his matter-of-fact manner enabled him to speak on a whole range of topics, many of which were considered sensitive at the time.  Divorce, secrets, mad feelings, and day care were just some of the issues that Mr. Rogers broached while changing his shoes or chatting with King Friday or Lady Elaine.  His calm approach made it okay to talk about difficult things.

I found myself going down a Mr. Rogers YouTube rabbit hole and revisited some of the more memorable episodes of the show.  His guest list read as a "who's who" of Hollywood, pop culture, music, and science.  In fact, it wasn't unusual for guests to approach the show and pitch a segment in which they hoped to be included.  Mr. Rogers and his talented staff had a knack for pairing guests with lessons they were uniquely qualified to impart to the viewing audience.  Some examples include:

Margaret Hamilton aka The Wicked Witch of the West
Viewers first meet Hamilton as she waited for him on his porch, looking like a harmless old lady from the neighborhood.  Once inside, she and Mr. Rogers discussed her role as the witch and the fact that many kids found her quite scary.  With Mr. Rogers' help, Hamilton donned her witch costume over her clothes, thereby demonstrating that she was just playing make-believe.  Viewers were reassured and also encouraged to explore the possibilities of make-believe.
LeVar Burton
The actor from "Roots," "Star Trek: Next Generation," and "Reading Rainbow" stopped by to talk about why he loved his job as an actor.  His favorite parts were using his imagination, being in touch with his feelings, and reading—scripts and books.  Burton went on to read a book about fathers, which featured fathers of a variety of races and ethnicities.  Mr. Rogers was ahead of the curve when it came to showing how people were different and yet similar at the same time.

Bill Bixby aka David Banner aka The Incredible Hulk
Bixby gave Mr. Rogers and Mr. McFeely a tour of the studio where his show was filmed and talked about his world of make-believe.  In a discussion that must have made parents chuckle, Bixby talked about sometimes feeling angry and strategies for managing anger while not hurting others or oneself.  Turning green and ripping his clothes apart were not part of his approved coping mechanism.

Mr. Rogers was known not only for his decency and kindness, but also for his sense of humor.  He made the rounds of late night talk shows and was always a good sport.  Universally liked, he seemed to be the epitome of the Golden Rule.  His respectful treatment of others made it impossible to dislike him.

A final confession:  Although I grew up loving the show, I had no love for Daniel the Cat, who lived in the make-believe neighborhood.  Mr. Rogers' patience and goodwill were never more apparent than when he was interacting with that annoying cat!

Do you have memories of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" as either a viewer or a parent?  Any favorite guests?

Mary/Liz, you won the Mike Lawson giveaway!  Email me at ingrid@ingridthoft.com with your mailing address.