PBS to cut Mister Rogers' Neighborhood!

by Jennifer Jordan (Subscribe to Jennifer Jordan's posts) Aug 8th 2008 9:01AM

Categories: Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, In The News, Environment, Media, Education, That's Entertainment

(Click the photo to see the 5 Most Irritating Kids Shows on TV)

Yes, yes, you read that right. Sad but true, the Public Broadcasting Service, better known as PBS, has decided to cut Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. If ever there were such a thing as true classic television, that has since gained cult status among us adults, it would be Mister Rogers' and that crazy red cardigan of his. He will be sorely missed by a large portion of Americans, even if out of nostalgia.

Mister Rogers is basically an institution. Like Sesame Street, the show was some of the best of what educational television has ever offered. He was a nice man that got children to actually trust men, and he always took the time to change his shoes. Comfort was big with this man, and so it is with many of us today. According to Brian Linder, the head of the savemisterrogers.com, who is spearheading a campaign to get PBS to think twice about relegating the show to member stations, the show continues to provide " a special nurturing voice in the lives of children." Yes--that's what I was trying to say! Linder believes Fred Rogers, bedecked in his red sweater (and, uhm, comfortable shoes), taught not only the young boy a thing or two, but also his parents.

Frankly, I think it's pure blasphemy to remove Mister Rogers from programming. Can someone please tell me another show that is possibly good enough to take its place? That's what I thought: SILENCE FROM THE INTERNET. So what is to be done? Well, join the campaign to save our favorite cardigan wearing nice guy. Do your part to let PBS know how you feel by visiting the website. For my part, I'm imagining Mister Rogers the movie. Clearly we need one. If something as vapid as the Smurfs can get a run on the silver screen, then by golly Mister Rogers has a posthumous Oscar headed his way. Question is, who would play him? Possibly Will Ferrell? Will is sort of a softy and a sweetheart, so maybe he's our man. Or, maybe Luke Wilson. That might not work though, as Wilson is sort of too hot to be Mister Rogers. Thoughts???

Are these shows supposed to take his place?

The 5 Most Irritating Kids Programs on TV

Source

Comments (283)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 15)

Elizabeth 8-08-2008 @ 6:25AM

What a shame! My daughter grew up watching Mr. Rogers. I think partly because of him, she is a kinder person. Every now & then I will be flipping channels and stop to hear his sweet, kind voice. I think all mothers of toddlers should complain.

nancy 8-08-2008 @ 9:40AM

i always think of his kindness when i think of Mister Rogers. Do you remember the time he sang to the little boy in the wheelchair? "It's you i like, it's not the clothes you wear, it's not your fancy chair, but it's YOU i like" - so sweet and kind it brings tears to your eyes.

My kids have all outgrown Mr. Rogers but luckily i am a daycare provider and we watch Mr. Rogers everyday. We don't watch Dora or any of the other overcommercialized shows out there, but we love Mr. Rogers...

i still love to watch when he goes into a factory to see how things are made.

i can't believe they would cancel Mr. Rogers.....

napervillemom 8-08-2008 @ 10:35AM

Check out this classic youtube of Mr. Rogers testifying before congress to get funding for his fledging undertaking. He was a hero, a huge child's advocate. Pass it on.

Mr. Rogers takes on Congress (1969)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEuEUQIP3Q

nancy 8-08-2008 @ 1:54PM

here is a beautiful tribute to Mister Rogers from YouTube, made after his death in 2003....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlTjWUziZhg&feature=related

Thad Mumau 8-10-2008 @ 6:02PM

I am so disappointed.
Mr. Rogers was truly an institution. What a kind, caring man!
As my daughters grew up, I watched his show with them, and I enjoyed it as much as they did. As a father, I think I learned a great deal from him just a my girls did.
One thing he always stressed was that we are fine just like we are ... we don't have to try to be like other people. It is okay to be an individual.
Mr. Rogers taught good manners and good sense. He explained simple things in simple ways. His visits to places like the bakery or the post office were teaching devices.
Fred Rogers is a hero of mine. Many jokes have been made at his expense, but I feel most have been good-natured and that almost everyone appreciates what a wonderful man he was and what he contributed to society and to children.
I am 62, and I admit that from time to time, I will tune in one of his shows and smile, wishing I could somehow be more like him -- gentle and so considerate of others.
A BIG BOO TO PBS. Shame on those responsible for taking Mr. Rogers off the air.

Cntry 8-08-2008 @ 6:30AM

My son and I watched Mr. Rogers everyday together. We enjoyed it so much. I guess now with so much technology, the old,real, true, living life is gone. Now you can't even let them watch cartoons without trashy advertisements. Can you see them during a commercial saying Mom do you and Dad wear those?

dorothy 8-08-2008 @ 6:30AM

very sad commentary on our society today - Mr. Rogers offered gentle values and a very calm way to look at the world. Our kids will be poorer for this decision .

Gwen Arnold 8-08-2008 @ 4:29PM

I so agree! We need people who exhibit good values and kind approaches. It saddens me to think today's children hear so much bad language and see so much unkindness...and then to give up this wonderful role model! I may rethink donations.

Kim 8-08-2008 @ 12:05PM

I am 47 years old and remember being a child watching Mr. Rogers. Just his soothing voice makes me feel warm and safe. He is a true hero to children and childrens television. I say keep him as long as he has the drive and incentive to give the next generation of kids his wisdom and love. LONG LIVE MR. ROGERS !!!!

Sign..
Child of the 60's and 70's

dorothy 8-08-2008 @ 1:27PM

so true gwen and kim

Carol Behary 8-08-2008 @ 8:42PM

If PBS continues this ironic display of poor decision making, myself as well as everyone in my neighborhood will pull out our support of PBS, ie: WQED permanantly. This is a terrible thing. Mr. Rogers Neighborhood is the only decent childs program on TV as we know it.

Pamela 8-14-2008 @ 9:34PM

I agree. He was for the children, always.

yvette 8-08-2008 @ 6:58AM

mr.roger was a god sent to me i had 5 children 3 with mental problems and he helped them feel that they had nothing to be ashamed of that they were part of a famliy and of a big world. i give that man thanks i hope you change your mind at lest for the next kid that feel afraid and needs confort from a man that understands all that a child feel.try to remember when you were a kid and remember just remember.

Busy-Nancy 8-08-2008 @ 7:10AM

Mr Rogers was a gentle soul. He was an ordained minister with the mission to bring kindness to children. He was, from what I have heard, exactly as you saw him on TV. Quiet, thoughtful, and kind. ( No prevert here 'dude'. ) He truely understaood children and actually listened to them. He will be missed and won't ever be replaced.
He helped my son learn English when he first arrived from overseas as a toddler. PBS is making a mistake.

peleroja 8-08-2008 @ 7:09AM

Seems like any program that tries to teach traditional values, honesty, empathy, respect, and caring for others to kids ends up being canned/dropped... this is an extremely POOR PBS decision for young kids at that age who definitely could use and benefit from this type of show... this comment is from a teacher, so I do have some experience with children and know what I speak of!

book1806 8-08-2008 @ 7:07AM

When my daughter was little, she preferred to watch Mr. Rogers over Sesame Street. I think she liked his calmness and soft-spokeness. There is too much loudness and huurriedness in this world. My daughter is a kind and sensitive person as an adult. She knew what was good for her when she was small. Mr. Rogers.

cyn 8-08-2008 @ 8:41AM

Mr. Rogers passed away some time ago!

mary 8-08-2008 @ 8:21AM

What a shame!
In this internet, computer, gameboy 24-hour children's programming world where children run, run. run. click. beep this guy SLOWS people down to enjoy life.
He was a model for people which chidlren who stutter, to get them to create a more relaxing atmosphere.
I have two books about him, and he was a good true, kind and smart man.
God bless him and his family.

christine 8-08-2008 @ 7:25AM

I once wrote to the show about a topic they covered on adoption (at the time our son was just beginning to understand the concept of being adopted). Two weeks after I wrote that letter, I received a PERSONAL letter from Fred Rogers thanking me for appreciating it and explaining to me why this show was important for him to do. As it turns out he has an adopted sister and he felt that this was an important topic to share. He was a class act.

Sammy 8-08-2008 @ 8:21AM

I was watching an episode with my grandson one day and they were showing nursing mothers. Animal and human. Imagine my surprise when human nipples were there, in extreme close-up, for all the little kiddies to see. My first thought was of the so-called nipple-gate from the Super Bowl in 2004 and the great hue and cry from so many people over an accidental exposure of a nipple for one second and yet, here was this children's program showing more than one nipple on purpose. And the slight smirk on Fred's face after the clip was shown was interesting too.