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 a Dubious Day in the Neighborhood
A San Diego teenager named Michael Kinsell has drawn fire for purporting to be the "successor" to the late Fred Rogers, the creator/host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Furthermore, he intends to "honor" Rogers at a ticketed event this Sunday, with proceeds going to Kinsell's own "Children's Media Foundation." Neither PBS nor Family Communications, producers of Neighborhood, are happy about it.
According to public broadcasting trade paper Current, Kinsell plans a "gala" event to give Rogers a "Children's Hero Award." Although details of the event are sketchy at best, he implies that it will feature live appearances by celebrity "supporters" of his foundation, including Bette Midler, Tom Hanks and Eddie Murphy. He's quoted as saying "That’s kind of our way of saying they will be on stage that night, but scheduling stars is difficult."
The Current article also stated that publicity for the event suggested that he would present himself as the "successor" to Mr. Rogers. Kinsell, who has appeared in a photo sporting Rogers' trademark cardigan, has apparently produced several episodes of a series called "Michael's Enchanted Neighborhood."
A follow-up piece in the North County Times says that Kinsell has changed his tune after receiving cease-and-desist orders from both Family Communications and PBS. He claims that previous statements that "Michael's Enchanted Neighborhood" would air on public television were "used out of context."
During my recent excursion to Baltimore for the PBS Showcase, I had the opportunity to chat with David Newell, who played "Mr. McFeely" and current serves as Family Communications' Director of Public Relations. He told me that they're in the early stages of developing an animated show that would carry on Fred's ideas and characters. I'm certain that it wasn't "Michael's Enchanted Neighborhood." Just as I'm certain that if Mr. Rogers ever truly has a successor some day, you won't be hearing about it at a self-promoter's own charity event.
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