Mr. Rodgers Dies
 

Entertainment - AP TV

Fred 'Mister' Rogers Dies of Cancer at 74
10 minutes ago

By TODD SPANGLER

PITTSBURGH - Fred Rogers, who gently invited millions of children to be his neighbor as host of the public television show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" for more than 30 years, died of cancer early Thursday. He was 74.


AP Photo



Rogers died at his Pittsburgh home, said family spokesman David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely on the show. Rogers had been diagnosed with stomach cancer sometime after the holidays, Newell said.


From 1968 to 2000, Rogers, an ordained Presbyterian minister, produced the show at Pittsburgh public television station WQED. The final new episode, which was taped in December 2000, aired in August 2001, though PBS affiliates continued to air back episodes.


Rogers composed his own songs for the show and began each episode in a set made to look like a comfortable living room, singing "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood," as he donned sneakers and a zip-up cardigan.


His message remained a simple one throughout the years, telling his viewers to love themselves and others. On each show, he would take his audience on a magical trolley ride into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where his puppet creations would interact with each other and adults.


Rogers did much of the puppet work and voices himself.


The show gained a wide audience among children and parents who appreciated its simple lessons and Rogers' soothing manner.


Rogers taught children how to share, how to deal with anger and even how not to fear the bathtub by assuring them they'll never go down the drain.


During the Persian Gulf War (news - web sites), Rogers told youngsters that "all children shall be well taken care of in this neighborhood and beyond — in times of war and in times of peace," and he asked parents to promise their children they would always be safe.


Rogers came out of broadcasting retirement last year to record four public service announcements for the Public Broadcasting Service telling parents that children might be confused by the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.


"They don't understand what an anniversary is, and if they see the tragedy replayed on television, they might think it's happening at that moment," he said.


The series remained popular through the years, including with children of baby boomers who watched the show growing up. Its ratings peaked in 1985-86 when approximately 8 percent of all U.S. households with televisions tuned in. By the 1999-2000 season, viewership had dropped to about 2.7 percent, or 3.6 million people.


One of Rogers' red sweaters hangs in the Smithsonian Institution (news - web sites).


As other children's programming opted for slick action cartoons, Rogers stayed the same and stuck to his message.


"It looks like nothing much happens," Hedda Sharapan, an associate producer with the show, said in 2001. "Listening has been one of the main focus points."


Rogers was born in Latrobe. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1962 with a charge to continue his work with children and families through television.


He studied early childhood development at the University of Pittsburgh's graduate school and consulted for decades with the late Dr. Margaret McFarland, an eminent child development expert at the university. The show examined the tribulations of childhood, including anger, fear, even a visit to the dentist.





At a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the show in 1993, Rogers said, "It's not the honors and not the titles and not the power that is of ultimate importance. It's what resides inside."

Off the set, Rogers was much like his television persona. He swam daily, read voraciously and listened to Beethoven. He once volunteered at a state prison in Pittsburgh and helped set up a playroom there for children visiting their parents.

Rogers was an unseen puppeteer in "The Children's Corner," a local show he and Josie Carey launched at WQED in 1954. In seven years of unscripted, live television on the show, he developed many of the puppets used in "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," including King Friday XIII, Daniel Striped Tiger and Curious X the Owl.

Rogers accepted an offer to develop his own 15-minute show in Canada. He brought the show, called "Misterogers," back to Pittsburgh and in February 1968 began its public broadcasting debut.

Rogers' gentle manner was the butt of some comedian's jokes. Eddie Murphy (news) parodied him on "Saturday Night Live (news - Y! TV)" in the 80's with his "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood," a routine Rogers found funny and affectionate.

Rogers is survived by his wife, Joanne, a concert pianist; two sons and two grandsons.

___

On the Net:

http://pbskids.org/rogers:( :(

Re: Mr. Rodgers Dies
 

That's a trip, I guess I didn't realize he was that old...but i guess I never thought about it. I used to LOVE that show!


P.S. What are you doing up so early?

I LOVE Mr. Rogers
 

How sad :( I feel really old now. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

:(

I'll miss Mister Rogers:(
He will be in the thoughts of many millions of people.

Oh wow, I didn't even know he had cancer!
This is going to be a big deal in Pittsburgh- I pass by the WQED (our PBS affiliate) studio every day- where the show was filmed. One of our buildings on campus was where the show was originally filmed.

I wonder where services will be held..... I'm not familiar with the Presbyterian churches in the city.... but if the service is in the city, I just may go.

:(

Very sad. He was one of the few people on TV that you knew were 'real'.

This is so, so sad. I love Mr. Rogers! :( :( :(

FCI Press Release
 

Remembering Fred Rogers

All of us at Family Communications would like to thank you for your expressions of care at this sad time.

Fred Rogers was an amazingly talented and loving person, and we will all miss him more than we can say. We at Family Communications will continue his work of helping children, their families, and those who support them.

Naturally, many people - especially children – will join us in mourning the loss of Fred Rogers. When children learn that someone they know from television has died, they are sometimes surprised and confused when they see that person on the screen. If you know children who are puzzled to see Mister Rogers on his television program, you can tell them that he made his programs on videotape so that his "television visits" with them can be shown again and again. For more help with talking with children about Fred Rogers' death, you may want to visit the "Tips for Parents" section of this website.

Anyone who wishes to share messages, pictures or drawings with the cast and staff of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood or with the Rogers family may send them to our office at:

Family Communications, Inc.
4802 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Messages may also be sent through the "Contact Us" feature of our web site, www.fci.org.

As always, we will be glad to hear from our neighbors.
-------
www.fci.org

Ok, Pittsburghers....this should be a day off for us.

This is so sad. :( I grew up watching him...hopefully, it will be still be on the air so my children have the same chance.

:( :( :( :(

I just hope they keep on running the shows.

WAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!
 

I honestly can not remember a time in my life when Mr. Rogers wasn't on the air.

Only a few months ago, he did a phoner w/ the classic rock morning drive-time show (Arrow 93.7) and gave a detailed, insightful synopsis of his approach to child psychology and how it differed from childrens' shows today.

Years from now, people studying psychology are going to have to read chapters or books on his methods. Aside from *maybe* Sesame Street and Bill Cosby, I can't think of anyone on television who has made such a positive contribution to educational programming. He's left a huge gap behind him in childrens' entertainment.

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)
:(

Isnt he awesome. I never really thought he could get older than he was on the show. I though he'd always be that age...it is very sad:(
My fav part of the show is when he would change into his house shoes and sweater when he got home, and then he get back in his suit jacket when he left. lol wasnt it great?:D

This is a sad day for kids and kids at heart everywhere. May his memory be eternal. :(

http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/bawling.gif

I use to watch his show every morning when I was young.

:(

When I was about 8, 9 months old, my parents would ask me what time Mr. Rogers came on and I would say "3 o'clock!"

I would throw a fit if we missed it.

:(

Nothing to say but

:(

I met Mr. Rogers when I was in college. We (the ADPis and the Pikas) were volunteering to answer the phones at WQED for a telethon, and during a lull, the staff told us to take turns with breaks. About 4-5 of us were wandering around WQED and discovered the Mr. Rogers set! We started playing ("Oh, look, it's King Friday's Castle! Owl's Tree! The Trolley!") and generally acting like kids.

I glanced up at the doorway, and there stood Mr. Rogers, with a beatific smile on his face. I immediately apologized, as did everyone else, and he said, "No, no - it's been fun watching you all enjoy the Neighborhood!" We all shook hands with him, told him about the telethon, and went back to work. What a sincere, gentle man!

The neighborhood is a little darker today... :(

Very sad ! Some of my earliest memories are of watching his show.

I am really sad...they've got to keep on airing the stuff. It's timeless. I loved the puppets, the king and queen.

On the PBS website, they have a resource for parents to talk about this with their children. That's so awesome. I realized that there really isn't any quality entertainment for kids today, outside of PBS. Has anyone seen some of the drivel that's on now? :confused:

It's a sad day in the neighborhood. R.I.P. Mr. Rogers :-(

I have always been a HUGE fan of Mr. Rogers. I often wonder if kids now-a-days know who he was. He had wonderful stories with appealing morals. He took us into an imaginary wonderland that was always exciting. He was kind, gentle, and such a great teacher.

He will be missed!

I remember watching Mr. Rogers all the time at my great-grandma's house when I was little.

RIP :(

Man, I just found out a second ago and it's weird....I teared up. I feel like my gradfather died....He was a part of my childhood and taught me things like colors and sharing....Today is a very sad day.

First I'm ill. Next I miss both my classes because of the stupid PAT bus. Now this. My father used to see him occasionally when he visted terminally ill children at West Penn Hospital. I went to high school right next door to the TV studio where they filmed.

Things couldnt get any worse.

RIP Fred Rodgers.

This was the first news I heard this morning, and I remained saddened. Mr. Rogers was not only a wonderful friend and neighbor to millions -- including my children (yes, Hootie, they do know who he is) and me -- but he was also my brother in Phi Mu Alpha, a true Sinfonian who daily lived the great obligations of Sinfonia.

Oh, may I join the choir invisible
Of those immortal dead who live again
In minds made better by their presence....
-- George Eliot, The Choir Invisible

Well done, good and faithful servant!

I didn't know Mr. Rogers pass away until I saw this thread. I'm very sad that one of the all-time great T.V. personality has passed away. I'll always remember him as a man who rerally does care about the welfare of the children of the world. We'll miss you , Mr. Rogers. Thank you for sharing your gift with the rest of the world. You'll always be the world's favorite neighbor.:(

I had the honor of meeting Mr. Rogers at a public television fundraiser a number of years ago. He was such a gentle soul; such a *real* person. He will be missed by children of all ages; God bless him and his family. :(

I heard about it right before I had to go take a huge music history exam. I was actually distraught over it. I still watch him when I get a chance and the show is one of the few things in my life that always comforts me. May God bless him for all the good he did for so many people.

by the way, a little confession: I was in my teens before I realized that King Friday was the 13th...I never knew what those "funny letters" after his name were. :)

Very sad. I grew up with Mr. Rogers. He will be missed. :(

:( so sad...

bit/pieces from CNN.com-

"Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" won loads of recognition, including four Emmys and a lifetime achievement award. A cardigan sweater belonging to Rogers hangs in the Smithsonian.

Those sweaters became Rogers' identifying characteristic. He credits his mom for the fashion statement that says, more than anything else, "Won't you be my neighbor?"

"My mother made a sweater a month for as many years as I knew her," Rogers said. "And every Christmas she would give this extended family of ours a sweater.

"She would say, 'What kind do you all want next year?' " said Rogers. "She said, 'I know what kind you want, Freddy. You want the one with the zipper up the front.' "

An ordained Presbyterian minister, Rogers' command of innocence won him thousands of young fans.

"I do think that young children can spot a phony a mile away," he says.

And it also made him the butt of parody by adults like comedian Eddie Murphy, who played his own version of Mister Rogers on "Saturday Night Live."

Rogers knows for a fact that Murphy meant no harm with his humor. In fact, they met once.

"He just put his arms around me and said, 'The real Mister Rogers,' " says Rogers.

On the last show, Rogers enters his home and dons his red zip-up sweater and trades his loafers for a pair of comfy blue sneakers.

The finale ends a weeklong tribute to art, with Rogers leafing through a stack of drawings kids made of the Neighborhood Trolley "to see how different people draw the same thing."

It's a simple message of diversity that will be aired on hundreds of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" reruns on PBS, and Rogers hopes kids who watch it will take it with them as they grow into adults.

"We all long to be lovable and capable of loving," he says. "And whatever we can do through the Neighborhood or anything else to reflect that and to encourage people to be in touch with that, then I think that's our ministry."


What an incredible, incredible man.

Goodbye Neighbor! You will be missed!
:(

I feel sad. I loved Mr. Rodgers. He was a good man.

:(

I watched Mr. Rogers as a child too. He will be missed.

WQED (Mr. Rogers' home station) is running a whole bunch of footage right now, and yes, I'm sitting here bawling.

You're better off than I - I wasn't able to watch it at all!

honeychile

It's a very sad day in the neighborhood. :(

i haven't been this upset since captain kangaroo died.

NOW whose going to be my neighbor