Vote for why you think it jumped
Never Jumped
I realized Mr. Rogers did all the voices
I saw Fred's hand moving the trolley
Lady Elaine
Day One
Shark Bytes
There are an awful lot of shows with the message "look at me look at me look at me" and with the purpose of making money.
Amongst all of those, there are very few with a Real Message, serving a Real Purpose. Add to that the fact that the target audience includes each and every small child that comes along, and the show would, and did, continually regenerate itself and abide with us.
The purpose and message of the show was to be in integral part of the upbringing of people. The FACT that so many teenagers and adults were so drawn to it shows how basic and necessary it was.
The show kept it real. Even with the puppets and make believe and costumes and purple pandas, Fred managed to keep it more real and more grounded than you'd guess -- the themes were such that, when you saw what he was getting at, you wouldn't -think- "hey that's interesting!" ... instead, you would -feel- the recognition down in your stomach.
On one show a goat was stealing, stealing food. Later, Mr. Rogers asked "Did you ever think about doing something bad, something that would hurt the ones you love? That is a lonely feeling, isn't it?" And by asking the audience to search for that, deep inside, he made the connection. Not a 'suspension of disbelief'. Instead, an examination of what's real.
Mr. Rogers ALWAYS kept it real.
Amongst all of those, there are very few with a Real Message, serving a Real Purpose. Add to that the fact that the target audience includes each and every small child that comes along, and the show would, and did, continually regenerate itself and abide with us.
The purpose and message of the show was to be in integral part of the upbringing of people. The FACT that so many teenagers and adults were so drawn to it shows how basic and necessary it was.
The show kept it real. Even with the puppets and make believe and costumes and purple pandas, Fred managed to keep it more real and more grounded than you'd guess -- the themes were such that, when you saw what he was getting at, you wouldn't -think- "hey that's interesting!" ... instead, you would -feel- the recognition down in your stomach.
On one show a goat was stealing, stealing food. Later, Mr. Rogers asked "Did you ever think about doing something bad, something that would hurt the ones you love? That is a lonely feeling, isn't it?" And by asking the audience to search for that, deep inside, he made the connection. Not a 'suspension of disbelief'. Instead, an examination of what's real.
Mr. Rogers ALWAYS kept it real.
this show was ahead of it's time. very educational, and fred rogers treated the children viewers like they were actually somebody (which is more than we can say for dora the explorer and teletubbies) this show never jumped.... how was lady elaine scary? she was one of my favorites from this show.
this show never JTS!!!
I always enjoyed the puppet sequences and trolley things too. also when they took field trips to places like the post office.
Mr. Rogers had a lot of nice messages for kids of all ages, ie. the importance of being a good friend and being nice, and also taking turns and sharing. I don't remember like where I was or what I was doing when I heard that he died. but of course his show will live on forever and ever in reruns.
I always enjoyed the puppet sequences and trolley things too. also when they took field trips to places like the post office.
Mr. Rogers had a lot of nice messages for kids of all ages, ie. the importance of being a good friend and being nice, and also taking turns and sharing. I don't remember like where I was or what I was doing when I heard that he died. but of course his show will live on forever and ever in reruns.
This show never jumped, and this was way ahead of it's time. Picture Picture was the original flat screen TV, Fred was a groundbreaker! Watch every morning with my 4 year old who loves it!
It jumped the shark when the name was changes from MisteRogers' Neighborhood to Mister Roger's Neighborhood. It jumped the shark when Mr. Rogers painted his yellow walls blue. It jumped the shark when the model neighborhood was changed. It jumped the shark when he stopped singing the Tomorrow song. It jumped the shark when it took a break from 1976 to 1979. It jumped the shark when Johnny Costa died.
The best espisodes, IMO, of MRN had to be from 1981-87, this was when when the show was at it's best and so many classic eps to be viewed, and there were still some good ones scattered thereafter, although in the last 3-4 years of the program, you could tell that Fred wanted to end the program, and I agree with the poster that said he started to look bored around the last few years of the show (especially the last 3-5 years, IIRC, he started to phone in his apperances)
The show truly jumped when
a) Chef Brockett, Johnny Costa and Bob Trow went to the neighborhood in the sky during the period from 1995-98
b) The music directors changed from John Costa to Michael Moricz, and the music used from 1996-2001 just didn't mesh well with the show.
c) When Fred seemed to lose interest in the program towards the late 90's/2000 and wanted to call it a career.
The show truly jumped when
a) Chef Brockett, Johnny Costa and Bob Trow went to the neighborhood in the sky during the period from 1995-98
b) The music directors changed from John Costa to Michael Moricz, and the music used from 1996-2001 just didn't mesh well with the show.
c) When Fred seemed to lose interest in the program towards the late 90's/2000 and wanted to call it a career.
Never jumped. Fred's message was powerful and important, but I'll admit:
I have found myself giggling over some of the bitchiness of Lady Elaine.
She is the rare voice of reality there...telling people to get over themselves and get with the program and such.
In the "divorce" episode, for example, there is worry that King Friday and Queen Sara might split up. Some new female character is seen and it is Lady Elaine who says (and this is verbatim), "Is that the girlfriend?".
Of course, Lady Aberlin then sets her straight.
She is also hilarious during a Neighborhood painting contest, trying to pass of a Monet as her own work,
and bribing others to paint a picture for her...She says to Lady Aberlin, "Will you take a ten for it?"...Scary rosacea face or not (and let me add, dirty red sweater), Lady Elaine Fairchild is a riot when viewed as an adult. "Awww Friday, you're such a spoilsport"
And take another look at how pissed off Miss Polificate gets at her and at King Friday. I never got any of that humor as a kid.
I have found myself giggling over some of the bitchiness of Lady Elaine.
She is the rare voice of reality there...telling people to get over themselves and get with the program and such.
In the "divorce" episode, for example, there is worry that King Friday and Queen Sara might split up. Some new female character is seen and it is Lady Elaine who says (and this is verbatim), "Is that the girlfriend?".
Of course, Lady Aberlin then sets her straight.
She is also hilarious during a Neighborhood painting contest, trying to pass of a Monet as her own work,
and bribing others to paint a picture for her...She says to Lady Aberlin, "Will you take a ten for it?"...Scary rosacea face or not (and let me add, dirty red sweater), Lady Elaine Fairchild is a riot when viewed as an adult. "Awww Friday, you're such a spoilsport"
And take another look at how pissed off Miss Polificate gets at her and at King Friday. I never got any of that humor as a kid.
Oddly enough, it wasn't Lady Elaine or Mister Rogers who gave me nightmares. It was Speedy Delivery Mr. McFeeley who did because he reminded me of a childhood babysitter! 'Nuff sed.
Never jumped.
I wish they'd start showing it all over again from day one...I'd watch them!
In fact, that's one thing weird about shows like this and Sesame Street...you don't have to keep making new episodes. After a few years the younger kids will be too old to watch, so just start over at the beginning. Toddlers wouldn't know the difference anyway.
I wish they'd start showing it all over again from day one...I'd watch them!
In fact, that's one thing weird about shows like this and Sesame Street...you don't have to keep making new episodes. After a few years the younger kids will be too old to watch, so just start over at the beginning. Toddlers wouldn't know the difference anyway.
God, I remember this show. The different cardigan every day, trips to the land of Make-Believe, the trolley. A good majority of the shows on telivision nowadays pale in comparison to Mr. Rogers. May he rest in peace.
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