TV Worth Blogging
by David Thiel, Program Director for WILL-TV
An insider's view of public television programming and the issues that help determine what and how you watch
It's Hard to Let Go
Effective September 1, PBS dropped Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from its daily kids' lineup. WILL-TV is one of many public TV stations that will continue to air the series on a reduced basis, once a week. (We will air it Sundays at 7:00 am, beginning September 7.) Still, the decision to follow PBS' lead was not an easy one to make for this programmer; I count my one encounter with Fred Rogers as one of the highlights of my 44 years in this world.
It's only been out of the daily schedule since yesterday, but I've already received some e-mail from upset viewers. "Shame on you," one writes, "My children and now my grandchildren love Mr. Rogers. He has taught countless children to be kind and gentle as well as the educational value of his program [sic]."
I don't disagree with that writer's sentiment; the show has long been special to me. Like many, I grew up in the Neighborhood. And as an adult working in public TV, I once again became fascinated with the program. My work for WILL has had me working alongside David "Mr. McFeely" Newell at several station events. And on one occasion, my wife and I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Rogers face-to-face. I described that wonderful moment in a tribute article for the public broadcasting industry's newspaper, Current, on the event of Fred's passing in 2003.
I believe that many of us in public TV felt much the same. To be honest, the fact that the show remained on many stations more than five years after Fred's death and eight years after it went out of production is testament to the very values described by the above viewer. While beloved by many adults, it was watched by fewer and fewer kids over the years. The Neighborhood's intentionally limited production values grew ever more dated. Furthermore, without Fred's absolutely vital presence, it was impossible to produce new episodes that would reflect changes to society or to current educational methods.
In the end, PBS came to the decision that it was time to let go; they ceased their daily satellite feed of the show as of yesterday.
For the past several years, Family Communications--the producers of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood--have been trying to figure out a way to incorporate Fred's messages into a new series, and are currently working on a couple of proposals for PBS. Meanwhile, they intend to put the Neighborhood archives online to insure that they remain available for generations to come.
I know that none of this makes the news any easier to take for those of us who grew up with Mister Rogers' comforting personality. If you are one, I hope that you understand that the decision was not made lightly, nor was it done without due consideration of Fred's legacy. And as I mentioned earlier, the Neighborhood will still be there to visit each Sunday on WILL-TV for the foreseeable future.
I had wondered why PBS was not airing Mr. Rogers. I sit for an 18 month old little boy and he would always say “TROLLEY! TROLLEY!” when he wanted to see Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood after lunchtime.
It is sad to see Mr. Rogers being reduced to once a week…I always loved his gentle way of relating to children. He was such a charming man and had a wonderful and quiet show for the little ones. I see some of the television kids watch today and it actually makes me nervous-there is so much noise and chaos involved.
So sad to see Mr. Rogers go. His was a sweet program of love and caring in this too loud and frantic world.
Todays television is not bad… it’s just a little crazy and full of lights and color. I think that Mr. Roger’s the Neighborhood is a terrible lost for all of us.
I am so dissapointed. Many of the other shows do not hold my 15 mo. old’s attention like Mr. Roger’s could. He likes the shows with real people in them, no the silly cartoons. This truely is a loss.
it is not right what you did I look faward on eatting my lunch at 12.00pm when seeing the show becuse I have to go to church at 7.30am on sunday moreing
I am sad to see Mr. Rodgers go—I have the utmost respect for his kindness and gentleness with respect to working with kids, and I’m a firm believer in the parenting method (and it works equally as well with adults) known as “What would Mr. Rodgers do?”
HOWEVER, while I’m able to sit down and watch Seasame Street (with the exception of Elmo’s world), dance and bop with both of my girls (7 years old and 2yo) through all the episodes of Between the Lions and Cyberchase, I could never stomach Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood very long either as a pre-teen with my baby sister or with my own children as an adult. True, it is significantly more palatable than Barney, Boohbah or Teletubbies, and a bit better than Darla the Annoyer (Dora’s little known cousin) but still relatively unpalatable to the grown up… and since they control the TV…
And that is for me the failing of MRN: One of the best benifits of educational television is to get both the child and the parent interacting and discussing the concepts of the show well after the show is over—I can sing the Aligator King song, the Ladybugs Picnic and 1-2-3-4-5, 6-7-8-9-10, 11-12 Yeow! from my youth with my kids. Ooh-Ahh, Dance in Smarty Pants and Abi-yo-yo from BTL (not to mention “It’s announcer daddy here, Here’s what’s comming up next on Between your fork and spoon (ie, dinner plate)” I don’t have any such moments from MRN, and this is something for Family Communications to be aware of for their next show: You’ve got to be able to get BOTH the parents and the kiddos, or you get Barney Backlash: I hate you, you hate me, we’re a disfunctional family 
While I am a big fan of Fred, I’m quite saddened that I never really cared for his children’s show either as a child or as an adult. However Fred is a great role model for dealing with children on their own level and learning gentle parenting.
Oh yes, and for those missing MRN and saddened that it’s only on once a week? TiVo. Kids that age learn more repeating the same show over and over again, and once you have 7 weeks of MRN, you’ll be able to rotate through them.
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