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 2 of 15)

Jaye 8-08-2008 @ 2:41PM

Shame on you Sammy, to say such a terrible thing about Mr. Rogers. It's what you were thinking about that come through here.

Elizabeth 8-08-2008 @ 10:43AM

I agree with so many of you. Mr. Rogers was such a sweet individual and genuinely cared about the well-being of young children. My daugther (now 33) and I watched faithfully everyday. She definitely perferred Mr. Rogers to Sesame Street anyday. I think that PBS will be making a BIG mistake if they take Mr. Rogers off of their programming schedule. Shame on you PBS for even intertaining the thought.

larry kakaska 8-08-2008 @ 7:36AM

I am 62 years old.(woopie) I have myself watched his show for
many years. My 14 year old son grew up with his gentleness and
true love for the younger set. To dump a legend; in heaven; for
cartoons or whatever is inconceveable. If PBS is listening' please
RETHINK!!!

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS WHATEVER YOU THINK...

tom 8-08-2008 @ 10:10AM

I couldn't agree more, I watched Fred with my son who's now 32 and we both still think the kindness and the message are something sorely missing from today's world. KEEP FRED on PBS!!!

Erin 8-08-2008 @ 7:36AM

I grew up watching mister rogers when was going to the dentist and told us kids not to be afraid sitting in the dentist chair.I learned it from him

LDM 8-08-2008 @ 10:29AM

That sux! He's a true American entertainment icon...

Lee 8-08-2008 @ 7:43AM

I remember Mr. Roger's Neighborhood quite fondly. King Friday and the land of make believe, the trolley, "speedy delivery." I agree that if nothing but for nostalgia, it should remain on. But on the other hand, in todays fast pace, it is quite a yawn fest for children who have the ability to reach the remote control and change to any of the much less educational, crude humor filled crap that comes on numerous channels available to them.

John F.C. Taylor 8-08-2008 @ 7:45AM

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. How many times have we heard that? Still true here too. Never watched it, but do recognise it as a valuable tv tool for teaching youngsters. Leave it on PBS.

Jerry 8-08-2008 @ 7:53AM

It's about time.. Mr. Rogers is so out of date to American kids.
Who wants to be taught moral values today? Wholesomeness. UGH! Good manners have been missing for years, kids have no idea what good manners are.
I have an idea how Mr. Rogers can be saved for today's kids.
Do some editing, shoot some new scenes. Change the music..
Change the theme song to hip hop or rap. Thjat will get the attention of kids everywhere.
Add some obscenties, every character should use some "naughty words" once in the while.
Have some hanky panky and illicet sex going on in the Kindgom of Make Believe.
Add a group of have naked girls and women (some adults watch with their children) that gryrate and bumb and grind with the rap/ hip hop music.
Use the "F word" at least once each show.
Keep "Mr. Rogers" up with the TIMES. Ratoing will go up and people will call in to keep the "new show".
AFTER ALL, no one speaks up for decency and moral values anymore. Go to chuch and see the empty pews. Notice the lack of children, teens, and young adults. Then go to the movies. Pick a "teen flick" with nudity, obscenties, killings, etc. See all the rows of filled seats. See young adults with their preteen and teen age children out for a good time.
You want to save "Mr. Rogers", made it a product of the 21th century. Moral values have been gone for a long time and with the way our society is going, they won't be coming back for some time.

what? 8-08-2008 @ 9:51AM

I see you're the type who can't watch your kids. The way society is going? Society has been changing for many decades. Why because there is internet? Yeah, I'll give you that much, but that's the challenges of being a parent. No one approved Elvis swaying his infront of many young female teenagers at a concert or to hippies when they went around permiscuously. Kids will be kids and they'll find every advantage to do adolecent things. Maybe if you stop complaining about the negative stuff the world offers and stop "tapping" your kids on their hand and trully discipline them, maybe there will be change in their lives like the other bloggers here. It's called taken on the challenges of parent hood and not knowing what your kids will grow-up to be. If your negative comment is towards the "Hip-Hop" community, let me tell you this--they talk about broken homes, but they don't know what they're talking about. Yes, in life, there are always disadvantage homes when it comes down to parenting, but in the "inner cities" people 20-50 years old respect their parents because they understand their struggles and because their parents, mother, father, or both taught them better. More than what you see being portrade on tv. So, don't rock n' roll have alot of dudes running around with half-naked girls? Aren't there a lot of negatives in other genres?

Trecia Holloway 8-08-2008 @ 11:17AM

That is the most crazy thing to say teach the children and they will learn. Our childern can be very teachable and I think Mr Rogers can still educate our childern to be mannerable.

ellen 8-10-2008 @ 5:22PM

WELL, IT IS PLAIN TO SEE THAT YOU DID NOT PAY ATTENTION IN SCHOOL OR A GOOD ROLE MODEL WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP. YOU ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE IN BEATING SOMEONE UP IF THEY DON'T AGREE WITH YOU OR ARE A MALE CHAUVINIST PIG!!!!!!!!!! OUR WORLD NEEDS MORE PEACE LOVING EXAMPLES FOR OUR CHILDREN TO LOOK UP TO AND MAYBE THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND ANYONE WE MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH!!!!!!!!!

Bette Dewing 8-08-2008 @ 8:09AM

But where is the protest??? Threaten not to support PBS - Get a movement going - yes, in your civic/political.PTA etc group, your religious group, and let's not forget crime prevention group. Every other kid program is hyper/brash/loud and yes even sexy .no message they really need to hear and in this society more than ever beffore.

LETS BOMBARD PBS WITH PHONE CALLS - E-MAILS - LETTERS - PETITIONS
LET'S WRITE/CALL NEWSPAPERS/BLOGGERS ETC.

LET'S CONTACT LOCAL/STATE/FEDERAL POLS OR WANNABEES..

ISN'T THE CHANBE WE NEED MOST IN OUR SOCIETY IS A RETURN TO G RATED ENTERTAINMENT WHICH SO SHAPES CUSTOMS AND VIEWS. WOULD MAKE THE WORLD SAFER TOO.

ACT! PLEASE! IAND MY COLUMN DEWING THINGS BETTER IN MANHATTAN WEEKLIES OUR TOWN AND WEST SIDE SPIRIT.WILL SURELY GET ON IT.

cc 8-08-2008 @ 8:07AM

It's unbelievable for most people to think that Mr. Rogers is really the way he was on his tv show. Yet, it's true. I saw him years ago on the Arsenio Hall show and he was awesome. Arsenio gave Mr. Rogers a black leather jacket which he immediately put on, just like he did with the red sweater on his show. He was a man who put children first and making money or seeming cool last.
Eddie Murphy also met Mr. Rogers after doing his famous snl skit "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood". Eddie said something along the lines that Mr. Rogers actually recognized and enjoyed the humor in it and was a great sport about it. Eddie was pleased and he admitted that he watched Mr. Rogers as a child as well. He was truly one of those people who wasn't a fake.

DAVE EIFERT 8-10-2008 @ 7:45PM

NO ONE WILL EVER REPLACE FRED ROGERS, HE WAS THE REAL THING, A DEDICATED TEACHER. HIS SUCESS WAS WHEN YOU WATCHED HIM HE WAS TALKING TO YOU PERSONALLY ,NOTHING IN BETWEEN .NO ONE LISTENS TO CHILDREN TODAY AND WHEN WE PUT THE CHANNEL CHANGER IN THEIR HANDS, IT WENT TO THEIR HEADS,SHORT ,DISCONNECTED, ATTENTION SPANS,WE HAVE HAD OUR FOOT ON THE GAS FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS.WE HAVE COME TOO FAR, TOO FAST.PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN? PBS IS ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH.

Reesev 8-08-2008 @ 8:10AM

Dude and Bin Laden- you are an embarr-ass-ment to yourselves and don't even realize the ignorance of your comments. Mr. Rogers was far from a liberal. He was very much against anything that would harm a child. He spent his lifes work helping to educate our youth with useful information, not the junk that is passed off today as "information". Another thing that most people do not know, and something that I am sure neither of you can say that you have done(especially given the names you chose) is serve his country! He did so quite well also, and earned recognition for that many times, but because of the type of person that he was, he did not want that "put out there"He wanted children to see the gentle side of everything and never have to be faced with any of the things that adulthood would bring until they absolutely had to and tried to find ways to ease all of those transitions on his shows. Maybe you should take the time to not only learn about the man Fred Rodgers not just Mr. Rogers, but also try to pattern yourself after someone such as him. The world would be a much better place if more people did.

Charli 8-08-2008 @ 11:07PM

WELL SAID, REESEV!!!!!!!!!! KUDOZ!!

Dorien 8-08-2008 @ 8:13AM

One of the first sentences my now 25-year old son said was "look at Rog". He was and is loved by many. His lessons aren't being taught anywhere else.

Stacey 8-08-2008 @ 8:17AM

Won't you please...
Won't you please...
Please won't you save my neighbor!!!!!

patty 8-08-2008 @ 8:18AM

Nerdy? Perhaps...he had many college degrees as did his own children. I personally knew the man growing up and he never deviated from being a spiritual and moral leader. You don't find many people like him these days. If you actually knew him, you would WANT your children around that kind human being. He is an amazing man! Go read up on his life and achievements.