“If you take all the elements that make good television — and do the exact opposite — you have ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’...” — Margy Whitmer, Producer
If you were a kid who grew up in the 1970s and 80s (like I did), you likely consumed a steady diet of shows like “Sesame Street” and “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” — child-oriented series that aired in the morning and afternoon on PBS.
The new documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” — focusing on the life and legacy of Fred Rogers — has generated quite a bit of buzz this summer.
The film itself is less a “documentary” and more a “tribute” to the lessons and values Rogers instilled throughout the decades via his series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” (Rogers died in 2003 at the age of 74.)
That said, the film still dives deep.
As a kid, I didn’t realize some of the difficult social issues Rogers tackled on his show — oftentimes played out allegorically in the “Neighborhood of Make Believe” (which featured puppets voiced by Rogers).
The show’s first week of episodes (which aired in 1967) dealt with the political and social turmoil surrounding the Vietnam War (those episodes are available to Amazon Prime subscribers in “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood — Volume 1”).
In that week’s episodes, things have been “rearranged” in the “Neighborhood of Make Believe” by Lady Elaine. As a result, King Friday XIII (who rules the “Neighborhood of Make Believe”) becomes paranoid about change, puts up a wire wall around the castle, and tries to fight back (his motto is “Down with the changers!”).
This is pretty heady stuff for children, but Rogers didn’t shy away from difficult topics on the show.
One other example is an episode where Rogers tackles racism. In the episode, Rogers is cooling off his feet in a small, backyard pool at his fictitious home. He invites Francois Clemmons — who plays a police officer on the show — to join him.
Rogers wrote this sequence because of a real-life incident where a group of African-Americans were told they couldn’t swim in a pool — and a man poured cleaning chemicals into the water to try and force the people to out.
His show also dealt with topics like assassination (in response to the death of Robert F. Kennedy) and divorce.
Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister. He believed the love (or lack thereof) was at the root of everything.
It is readily apparent that his guiding principle was “The Golden Rule” — treating others as one would wish to be treated.
One interesting tidbit is the fact that Rogers (who was overweight as a child) managed to maintain a steady 143-pound weight in his adult life. The number 143 had special significance for Rogers — the words “I Love You” have “1” letter, “4” letters, and “3” letters (respectively). Thus, 143.
It is also worth noting that Betty Aberlin (who played Lady Aberlin throughout the show’s run) isn’t featured in the documentary. Director Morgan Neville told AZCentral.com that he talked to her on the phone numerous times, but says the actress “felt deeply insecure about going on-camera.”
In addition to the myriad of accolades for “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” Rogers’s show also came under fire in the intervening years since his death. Some columnists and “talking heads” argued against a philosophy teaching all children that they are “special” — feeling it might thwart adolescent achievement in our society.
Whatever side you fall on, you can’t argue the cultural phenomenon that “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” became in our society.
One of the most salient examples of the persuasive genius of Rogers happened in the early days of the Nixon Administration — when the president wanted to cut $20 million in funding from PBS.
Rogers (a lifelong Republican) testified before a Senate committee on the topic. He spoke using the comforting monotone employed on his show. His words made a difference, and lawmakers made sure PBS had its funding.
Part of the reason the documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” resonates with audiences has to do with the fact that Rogers preached understanding, patience, and pragmatism on his show.
We’d all benefit by having more neighbors like that...
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