Talk:Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
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Is the trolley a character? Mr. Rogers talks to it, and it tinkles back at him... --Uncle Ed
- I think tinkling is qualification enough for trolley to be a character. Plus, trolley's magical. :) Atorpen
The Fred Rogers article contains a section on this show. Should it be moved here? -- Kimiko 14:30, 4 Mar 2004 (UTC)
Definitely, especially considering that his biography article has more information about the show than the article about the show itself. The current article about the program doesn't do nearly enough justice to the show that influenced more children's lives (mine included) than any other. :) Kakashi-sensei 05:03, 6 September 2005 (UTC)
"The series was divided into two halves. The first half aired from 1968 to 1976 (pre-79). The second half aired from 1979 to 2002 (modern series). Episodes of the first half are no longer shown on television."
What about 76-79? or should it read 1968-79 03:49, 3 February 2006 (UTC)
Comment by Jcr13 17:39, 9 February 2006 (UTC)
I am working on expanding this article a bit. I talked to FCI on the phone today. Here is an email that I am about to send them:
First, you can take a look at the current article here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Rogers%27_Neighborhood
In my opinion, the article is still a bit lean (only one picture... only five sections). The largest section is currently "Mister Rogers in popular culture," which simply lists pop culture references to the show.
I recently expanded the "About the Show" section quite a bit. I would like to add a new section called "Show Topics" that would focus on the types of issues that Mister Rogers discussed. One amazing thing about the show was that it dealt with "difficult" topics (issues that other childrens' programming avoided). I am aware, from other articles about the show, that the topics included divorce, death, and war. I also recall, from my personal exposure to the show, that Mister Rogers talked quite a bit about anger and how to deal with it in peaceful ways (such as pounding clay).
In the "Show Topics" section, I plan to give a general list of topics discussed and then give more detailed descriptions of particualarly interesting episodes as highlights.
So far, I am interested in writing a summary of the "Conflict" series (1983, season 14, episodes 651 through 655). All that I know about this series now is that there is some kind of "arms race" in Make-Believe between the Neighborhood and Southwood, and that the conflict ends in a peaceful manner.
Are these particular episodes available from your archives?
I am interested in samples of other episodes that covered other "difficult" topics as well.
Also, some sort of list of the topics covered by all 895 episodes (e.g., an archive index) would be helpful when I compose the general list of topics covered. For this list, I want to give a good overview of all the topics covered (including Grandparents, Sharing, Be Yourself, etc.), and not just the difficult topics.
Also, while I've got your attention, two more things...
Here is a quote from the current article:
>>>> Pittsburgh-area native Michael Keaton got his first major acting break as a "Neighborhood of Make-Believe" character in 1975. >>>>
Is this accurate? If so, what character did Keaton play?
Are the very early episodes (from the CBC or NET shows) available in your archives? If so, I would be interested in writing a bit about those to highlight how the show changed over the years. For example, it would be great to have something in the article about the first-ever MisteRogers show (episode 1, if you will). According to the current article, the CBC broadcasts were only 15 minutes long.
Thank you for your time, Jason Rohrer
[edit] Re: Michael Keaton
According to IMDB, 1968 was the first instance of him on TV--and yes, it really was on Mr. Roger's show (he is credited as the "stage man".)
-- JFB 07:26, 14 February 2006 (UTC)
Jcr13 17:08, 21 April 2006 (UTC) Okay, got a nice letter back from FCI and made a lot of changes. Here is a dump of source material for you:
Dear Jason,
Thanks for being in touch with us. I�m glad to help with your questions. Let me know if there�s any other information you still need after you�ve read this.
Michael Keaton was on the production crew in 1975. Part of his responsibility was running the Trolley for us. He was on-camera twice: once in a group of �circus acrobats� who parodied circus acts � called themselves �The Flying Zookeenies.� They did their �tricks� as a gift for King Friday�s birthday. He also appeared as a phone answerer, along with others who were helping with the Museum-Go-Round TV auction that was similar to the PBS auctions that public stations used to have as fund-raisers.
I think we have somewhere here only a few of the early programs from the CBC�We also have the early NET programs. You might like to know they are available for students at our archives at the University of Pittsburgh School of Library and Information sciences. A number of tapes are also at the NY Museum of Radio and Television. What�s on the air now starts with the programs made from 1979 on. Actually, the program didn�t change much over the years! Fred Rogers used to say that �While the outsides of children�s lives may have changed, their insides haven�t changed at all�evolution doesn�t happen that quickly!� One thing that was new � from 1979 on, each year he wrote the programs as Theme weeks � with a theme across a whole week. (In the earlier years, the theme sometimes carried over to the next week�or lasted only a few days. He may have picked up his pace just a bit from the ones we did in the late 60�s and early 70�s�and he showed more factory videos. But other than that, the pacing and tone and format matched what helps children learn -- then and now!
We don�t show the Conflict week any more. King Friday misunderstood about the small parts that were ordered by a neighboring community � thought they were building bombs. It turned out they were making record players. That week was written during the time when bomb threats weren�t real�today they are!
To get a good look at the topics, why don�t you go to our website and click on the newsletter www.fci.org/newsletter on the lefthand side, you�ll see the words Broadcast Schedule � click on the year at a glance. That�ll give you the calendar for the year. You can see on the schedule the theme for each week. In fact, maybe you�ll tell people to go to our two websites: www.fci.org and www.pbs.org/rogers
What other difficult things did we deal with? Here�s my list:
Divorce, death, adoption, scary things on TV, anger, when parents are at work, going away & coming back (hard issue for young children when their loved ones go away�until they trust they�ll come back!), competition, jealousy, concerns about the new baby, going to the emergency room � x-rays and stitches, the pediatrician�s office for an exam, getting an immunization, what�s in an ambulance, nighttime fears, scary dreams, fear of going down the drain, sharing, when adults get angry, feeling shy, going to the dentist, going to the eye doctor, feeling more comfortable with people who have disabilities.
And yes, Fred Rogers also wrote a lot of programs that are joyful! The operas, the parties, the festivals, Celebrating the Arts, celebrating the little moments in life�celebrating children�s growing (especially their �inside� growing), helping children feel good about who they are � and appreciating others.
I found a number of things in your writeup that I felt weren�t quite right or accurate. Is there a chance you�d consider a few minor revisions? Here�s one: we didn�t refer to Mister Rogers� Neighborhood as a show�we called it a program. There is a difference (a show is more for entertainment�this is entertainment, but it�s also about life lessons�a show is more one-sided, but this is more interactive). I see that you have a lot of references to �show� � any chance you�d change them to the word program?
The first paragraph refers to the program in the past. We are currently being broadcast on almost all PBS stations. Can you please change it to :Mister Rogers� Neighborhood is a children�s television program created and hosted by Fred Rogers, which was produced in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by Rogers� non-profit company, Family Communications., Inc.
(actually, in the late 1960�s for a few years it was produced by WQED, but after Fred formed his own production company, we just used their studios � and our offices are housed at WQED).
8) Under History�the end of the second paragraph is more accurate if you say on most PBS stations.
It�s also more accurate in the third paragraph under History to say that: The first half was produced from 1968 to 1979. The second half was produced from 1979 � 2001. (In the broadcast schedule, we had to mix the old ones with the new for a number of yeras, until we had enough new ones to fill a whole year).
It�s also more accurate to say the program was produced at WQED, rather than originated.
9) Under About the Show (Program), in the paragraph that starts� This reality/fantasy distinction�it�s more accurate to end it by saying Sesame Street, which freely mixed realistic and fantasy elements. (I guess you were trying to balance realistic with fantastic, but fantastic makes it sound super-wonderful!)
When you write about the music � Fred composed all the songs (the melodies and the lyrics!) There are over 200 of them! John Costa arranged and played them, along with the other members of his trio, but he didn�t compose them. And he wasn�t Fred�s brother-in-law. That�s the first time we heard that one! Wonder where you found it!
10) Under Characters on the program, can you list Bob Trow (Bob Dog, Robert Troll) up there with the real people? Now he�s listed after the puppets.
Also in that paragraph, it�s more accurate to say that the puppet characters were developed by Rogers years earlier for The Children�s Corner, the educational children�s program he co-produced with Josie Carey.
On the last paragraph in that section of Characters, I wouldn�t refer to Fred as a character. He was himself on the program, not a character. I would just eliminate the beginning phrase. Or you could say Host and creator of the program Fred Rogers passed away�
11) For the latest addition under Mister Rogers in popular culture -- did you hear the news last week, that the CD called Songs from the Neighborhood � Fred Rogers� songs sung by such great musical artists as Roberta Flack, Amy Grant, Jon Secada, etc., and produced by Dennis Scott � won the Grammy for best children�s music? You can find out more about it on www.songsfromtheneighborhood.com
Jason, hope this has been helpful. Let me know if you have any questions�or need anything more. I�ve been here almost 40 years�and I know a lot of history.
Hedda Sharapan sharapan@fci.org
[edit] Origin
If the show was aired on CBC first, why does it say that the country of origin is the 'United States'? - IstvanWolf 17:12, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Prank edit...?
I noticed in the About the show section of this article, in the 4th paragraph down, it says:
"Once, a crew member managed to sneak onto the set, and Mr. Rogers reportedly cried, "Snakes on a plane." This episode was taken off the air and was never aired again."
Considering the whole viral internet meme going around about the soon-to-be-released (and already cult) movie Snakes On A Plane, I think that this is obviously put in the article as a prank... misternuvistor 04:31, 18 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Crowd Control
"When Fred Rogers died in 2003, PBS was forced to do some crowd control via their website to make children not to be scared about Mr. Rogers recent death and addressed parents on what to say to them about Mr. Rogers and how to approach a child who asks about him. PBS stated that the parents would have to say that although Mr. Rogers is no longer with us, he shall live on in the television show."
What kind of crowd control keeps kids from being scared? --Gbleem 06:18, 23 September 2006 (UTC)
I noticed this too, and I revised it. I think they meant to say "damage control", but even that isn't quite the appropriate phrase (though I get what they were trying to say). NickBurns 19:21, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Statistics
" It is noted for having the longest run of any American series that is not a news program or a soap opera."
I'm not sure I like these kinds of statistics. Why not the longest running TV show staring a guy named Fred? The longest running show with a toy trolly? --Gbleem 01:37, 25 September 2006 (UTC)
It is an awkward way to say that....But it is true that the only shows on TV that have run longer than MRN are either news programs or soaps - I think that a handful of the soaps have been on 40+ years, with "Guiding Light" turning 70 in 2007 (if you factor radio time in as well) and I believe either "Meet the Press" or "Face the Nation" - or both - have both hit 50-60 years. NickBurns 19:24, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] apartment building
does anyone have a cap of the building they used in place of the NET building in early 70s model neighborhood? Also, when did they switch th the building that they used for the rest of the show's run?
74.115.226.191 23:11, 8 October 2006 (UTC)
The article says it's the same building repainted. --Gbleem 23:22, 8 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Urban legend/vandalism
I removed the following from the article:
"However, this gentleness was a cover-up of the dark and violent past of Fred Rogers. As a sniper in Vietnam, Mr. Rogers had at least 41 confirmed kills. This figure does not include women and children. Mister Rogers' trademark sweaters began as a method to cover up his tattoos. Though not confirmed, it is rumored that his left arm features a graphic image of Satan stabbing Abraham Lincoln with a trident."
Come on, people. That's just tacky. I get that it's supposed to be humorous, but draw the line somewhere. --Matt S. 16:18, 24 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] References in popular culture
I keep looking at the pop culture section and trying to weed it out some; it's too big, and I think the single-line references to Mr. Rogers in things like The Simpsons need to go. --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 04:51, 30 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Specials
While this section lacks citation, it is important to keep this section up and available for editors to review and research. I agree that we should tag this section for "sources", but we must give it more than a few hours before removing the section. Why? Well, for one, it gives editors a chance to find sources. These episodes were taped prior to the advent of the web. As a result, sources may not simply be a Google search away. For another, I've e-mailed the good folks at FCI and asked them to review this section. It's Friday, and I would expect it will take them a week or two to get to it. If this section is removed, they won't be able to review it, and I doubt they're versed in the esoterica associated with scanning article histories for prior versions. Sure, we could send them a copy of the section, but by leaving it up, they can review the whole article - something they have done for us in the past. As a minimum, though, except in cases of blatant vandalism, it's only polite to give more than a few hours to find sources after sources are requested. Rklawton 00:00, 2 December 2006 (UTC)
- The section remains in the history. But I will try to compromise by moving the selection here:
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- The other special was a more updated version of the famous 1968 Robert F. Kennedy episode that aired in 1981 due to Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II's assassination attempts. The reason behind this was the continuous airing of the shootings in the television media. The story has Rogers discussing the recent tragedies including John Lennon's murder from 1980. But it mostly deals in the Neighborhood of Make Believe where a character named Walking Talking Tree was found dead and believed murdered. On Lady Elaine's TV station MGR-TV, Lady Elaine and a male human co-anchor did continuous coverage of her co-anchor sadly carrying the dead Walking Talking Tree. He gets annoyed with Elaine because she keeps showing him carrying the dead tree. After a moment of fear, the killer turned itself in, which was another walking talking tree. This special was aired for only 3 months in 1981 and was never shown again. Rogers was asked about this particular special during an interview for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation but stated that he couldn't remember.[citations needed]
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If anyone wants to further research this, they may. But I am very seriously calling it into question, so this does not belong in the article until it is verified. --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 00:37, 2 December 2006 (UTC)
- In that case, you are the first editor I've found who has marked something as unsourced and removed it in the same day without a shred of evidence - and without giving other editors a chance to research the matter. That shoot-first approach isn't typical of experienced editors. Rklawton 02:57, 2 December 2006 (UTC)
- That's fine. I do like to be bold. And the guidelines guide my actions: from WP:CITE: Don't be inappropriately cautious about removing unsourced material...If it is doubtful and harmful, you should remove it from the article; you may want to move it to the talk page and ask for a source, unless you regard it is as very harmful or absurd, in which case it shouldn't be posted to a talk page either. Use your common sense. This section very much seems inappropriate, and so I have removed it from the article. It is that simple. Wikipedia:Verifiability dictates that we do not add unverifiable material to articles, and currently, this is unverifiable. As you have pointed out, there is no trace of this special online, but the offline work I have done has turned up nothing either. The only thing that will merit this selection's return to the article is a published reliable source. --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 04:32, 2 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] FCI e-mails
I just noticed these above. These are not reliable sources. Please do not treat them as such. --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 00:37, 2 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Popular culture
Since this article is about Fred Rogers, it seems to make sense to limit this section to Mr. Rogers' involvement in popular culture - rather than the other way around. That is, if Mr. Rogers made a guest appearance on another show, at an event, etc, then it belongs here. If some other show referenced Mr. Rogers without his actual involvement, then this reference belongs in that article's show and not here - as Mr. Rogers had nothing personally to do with it. If an editor would like to include a sourced paragraph on Mr. Rogers' impact on popular culture, that would be great. However, many of the examples currently provided demonstrating this impact actually comprise original research regarding his impact on popular culture and are therefore not appropriate for Wikipedia. Thoughts? Rklawton 19:52, 3 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Hanahkah
How was it spelled on his banner? --Gbleem 10:56, 4 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Too much trivia
The pop culture section really needs to be trimmed. Too much trivia, really. --Chris Griswold (☎☓) --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 08:17, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Mr. Rogers and Mr. McFeely
They both feature in a song by "BloodHound Gang", album "One Fierce Beer Coaster, song "Your Only Friends Are Make Believe". After the joke at the start of the song, it coninues with; "Knock, knock Mr Rogers. It's Mr McFeely. I brought you a letter, speedy delivery. Well Mr Mcfeely, if there's postage due, you can go f-yourself like Captain Cangaroo...". The song continues on a seemingly negative direction, but the end is not bad - "...Your best friend is you, I'm my best friend too, I share the same views and hardly ever argue..."
AliceD 168.209.97.34 14:05, 16 March 2007 (UTC)
