MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE

Premieres March 6 on WHYY-TV (PBS)

Tuesday, March 6, 2018, 7:30-9:00 p.m.

{Check Local Listings}

New Star-Studded One-Hour Special Hosted by Michael Keaton is a 
Heartfelt Tribute to the Beloved Children’s Television Series That 
Turns 50 This Year

MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE, a celebrity-filled, hour-long special that premieres on WHYY-TV on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. celebrates Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the pioneering PBS series that premiered nationally 50 years ago and became an iconic and enduring landmark in the world of children’s television and beyond. Cast members from the groundbreaking series share their personal perspectives and insights in this new production, which pays tribute to television’s longest-running children’s series, still broadcast on many PBS stations today. The program also features interviews with numerous celebrities who have been influenced and inspired by Fred Rogers, a modest man who always said, “I am not a teacher, I simply help children learn.”

Michael Keaton, who worked as a stagehand and made appearances on the series in the 1970s, hosts the special. Judd Apatow, Joyce DiDonato, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Kratt, John Lithgow, Yo-Yo Ma and son Nicholas Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Sarah Silverman,Esperanza Spalding and Caroll Spinney reveal their favorite memories from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, while Joe Negri (“Handyman Negri”), David Newell (“Mr. McFeely”) and Joanne Rogers, Fred’s widow, share their personal stories. Also featured are performances from the archives by Tony Bennett, The Empire Brass Quintet, Hillary Hahn, Margaret Hamilton, Yo-Yo Ma and Nicholas, Wynton Marsalis and Perlman.

The nearly 900 episodes created by Fred Rogers encompass topics that resonate to this day with adults and children alike. Favorite segments, such as a visit with Koko the Gorilla, Big Bird’s appearance in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe as well as trips to the Crayola Factory and the Radio Flyer Wagon Company, are highlighted.

MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE is produced by JoAnn Young (JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala, Oscar Hammerstein: Out of My Dreams) and John Paulson (JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala and A Raisin in the Sun Revisited). Ellen Doherty and Kevin Morrison of The Fred Rogers Company are executive producers.

PBS special programming invites viewers to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making PBS programs possible. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content.

Why I plan on watching:

Well, to put into words the impact Fred Rogers had on my life is something that could easily fill a book. I found Mister Rogers much later than most kids did. I was in third grade, if I remember right. I was late to the PBS scene, and I watched much later than most kids would have. I was still watching this show on into middle school, and when I thought I could sneak it in, I’d watch it in high school too. I was fascinated by this man and his simple style.

For me, the music of Fred Rogers and his emphasis on imagination and being who you are–those were things that captured my attention. I took piano, and when I would see him play on the show, I was inspired to keep practicing. He instilled an early love of opera within me, and I never found him boring nor fake. He didn’t need bells and whistles to keep my attention.

I remember finally reading a short biography on the story of his life, and discovering that he was a Christian (a former pastor to be precise) excited me to no end. I would catch glimpses of his faith throughout the show, and I always dreamed of meeting him one day.

The closest I got to that was shortly before his death when I happened to see that you could contact him directly via the internet. Now, maybe it wasn’t him, but the response I received was very personal, and I probably have it in a memory box somewhere. I told him how much his show had impacted me personally and that I prayed for him and his family regularly. When I got the response saying that he prayed for me too…well, I took that heart. Here I was in my late twenties having a very special moment, and I remember it all as if it were yesterday.

When he passed away, I rested in the assurance that he was saved. One day, I was going to meet this man in heaven and be able to tell him personally just how much his life had helped me. I can remember so many times turning on his show and if I wasn’t feeling good about myself, I knew that his show would remind me of how special I was. I could never go away from that show feeling sad.

I am grateful for the legacy of Fred Rogers. Sadly, he is sometimes rather maligned by the young people in today’s culture (I won’t go into what I have been told, and I always stand up for this man even to this day.), but hopefully, as they mature, they will understand just how important his message is.

About WHYY

WHYY advances civic life through storytelling, arts, education and civic dialogue. As the region’s leading public media provider and PBS/NPR member station, WHYY’s multimedia outreach includes WHYY-TV, WHYY-FM, WHYY’s award-winning online home for news and civic dialogue WHYY.org and “off-air” community forums, artistic performances, lectures and media education programs through the Dorrance Hamilton Public Media Commons.

About The Fred Rogers Company
The Company was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it not only created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program, but also extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional and behavioral health and supporting parents, caregivers, teachers and other professionals in their work with children. The Fred Rogers Company continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media, and engaging new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The Company’s highly-rated, award-winning children’s series include Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, and Odd Squad. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org Follow The Fred Rogers Company on Twitter and Facebook.

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