Thursday

Say so long
to Mr. Rogers

He passes, a cardiganed legend of American TV

By Toni Fitzgerald

   It’s a not-so-beautiful day in the neighborhood.
   Fred Rogers, the longtime star of public television’s “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” died of cancer early today. He was 74.
   For more than 30 years, Rogers taught children about acceptance and tolerance on his slightly hokey but well-loved show.
   Rogers found out he had stomach cancer during the holidays, and passed away at his Pittsburgh home.
   An ordained Presbyterian minister, Rogers worked as a puppeteer for “The Children’s Corner” for seven years beginning in 1954. He developed many of the “Mister Rogers” puppets on that show, which aired on Pittsburgh’s WQED.
   He segued that into a Canadian development deal to produce a 15-minute show called “Misterogers,” which he brought back to Pittsburgh’s WQED in 1968 as “Mister Rogers.”
He performed most of the puppet work for the Neighborhood of Make-Believe himself, and also provided the voices.
   The show received its highest ratings in 1985-86, drawing 8 percent of all households. By the show’s final season in 1999-2000, only about 2.7 percent were still tuned in.
   The preternaturally calm Rogers proved soothing to kids and adults, but, with his cardigan sweaters and message of self-love, he was a natural target for comedians.
   Rogers apparently took the ribbings in stride. He was a big fan of Eddie Murphy’s hysterical “Mister Robinson” parody on “Saturday Night Live” in the early 1980s.
   Rogers continued his show until 2000, with the final original “Mr. Rogers” episode airing in 2001.
    Last year Rogers recorded several public service announcements for PBS aimed at anxious parents unsure of what to tell children as the Sept. 11 anniversary arrived.
   Rogers is survived by wife Joanne, a concert pianist, two sons and two grandsons.
   Despite his reputation as world’s calmest man, Rogers often emphasized that it was okay for kids to have emotions and anger, saying he had them himself.
   "Of course, I get angry. Of course, I get sad. I have a full range of emotions. I also have a whole smorgasbord of ways of dealing with my feelings. That is what we should give children. Give them ... ways to express their rage without hurting themselves or somebody else. That's what the world needs."
   One of Rogers’ sweaters is displayed at the Smithsonian, a testament to a rare feat with kids’ shows these days – a scandal-free run.

-Toni Fitzgerald is a staff writer for Media Life.

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