Fred Rogers: America's Favorite Neighbor (2004)
Writer, producer, puppeteer, songwriter--America's Favorite Neighbor takes a thorough look at the career of legendary children's television host Fred Rogers. Produced for Pittsburgh's WQED, this informative documentary tracks his rise as floor manager for various NBC programs, such as Your Hit Parade, to the major awards he received later in life, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Along the way, he's seen launching public TV programs The Children's Corner, which featured a soon-to-be-famous puppet named King Friday, and Canada's MisteRogers. The latter, naturally, was followed by Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which made its national debut in 1968, and would eventually became the longest running program in PBS history. Hosted by fellow Pennsylvania native Michael Keaton (Batman), who worked on his show in the early days, America's Favorite Neighbor is suitable for all ages, but is geared more towards adults, particularly parents and educators.
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Load of rubbish!!
Instant Favorite.
The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.
The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
Fred Rogers will always be a unique icon in the hearts and minds of people everywhere. While his fame somewhat declined in the 1990s, anyone born before then was treated to a treasure chest of positive reenforcement learning experiences. Younger generations who have been numbed with their Pokemon, cable TV and Playstations may find him boring and inaccessible, but the millions of kids that did grow up with Mr. Rogers will surely the kindness and greatness that was in his heart.No one to this day has ever managed to say a bad thing about Mr. Rogers. Not even Rotten.com, a consortium of all that is evil in the world, could find something sarcastic to say about this man. When the world ends and all we have left are tapes of television shows, I certainly hope this film and a majority of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood is among those tapes. I couldn't think of a better answer to help illustrate the compassion, tolerance and love our culture could have.
Michael Keaton hosts this tribute to Fred Rogers. Michael Keaton, then Michael Douglas, worked the Picture, Picture machine for the 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' show. The program gives a brief biography of Mr. Rogers, following him from childhood to his college choices. It also follows him through his beginnings in television. From the 'Children's Corner' to the 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'. During the different shows, the program interviews co-workers, such as his first co-host and his later music director, John Costa. Also, interviews with leading child psychologists to expound on how Mr. Rogers' style is good for children. This is a good program for any fan of Fred Rogers' work. I was so touched by his lifetime of work that he put into his shows. I was also touched by the segment about Jeffery, a boy who was paralyzed and came on Mr. Rogers' show to explain that he was different like everyone else. Near the end, the dedication shown by Fred Rogers toward children is easily seen. He has won many awards, such as the Lifetime Achievement Emmy. He has touched many children's lives with just Mr. Rogers being Mr. Rogers.