“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” (Fred Rogers documentary) in theaters June 8th

I don't know of one -- not a collection like the recent set of 1979-2001 shows -- but Amazon does, or did, have listings for certain individual shows, or weeks.

https://www.amazon.com/Misterogers-...587131&sprefix=misterog&sr=8-3&ref=mp_s_a_1_3

Download Episodes - The Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Archive

 

After finding a few interviews and message board posts from over the years, Betty Aberlin does seem to be one of the only persons who actually knew Rogers who has been somewhat critical of him. Nothing earth shattering, but she seemed to feel he could be too controlling when it came to the show, and resistant to suggestions from others. She believed that his wealthy upbringing sometimes insulated him from what "real life" was like for his audience, and the people who worked on the show.

 

That is interesting about Betty Aberlin. It is not explicit in the film. But, somewhat there, i think. Definitely part of his character when pointed out. They made his upbringing and very strong point of view especially central to his character. I bet there were conflicts through the years because of this. Had to be.

 

He had a very strong vision and single-minded sense of purpose. It is almost inevitable that a person like that can sometimes seem to be "controlling." Time after time, similar things are said about successful or iconic artists. I'm pretty sure he wasn't unkind to those who worked with him.

 

I don't have any doubt of that, and I didn't get the sense Aberlin believed there was any malice on his part, either. I got the sense, more than anything, that she sometimes felt resistant towards the canonization of someone she knew and worked with as a flesh and blood person for most of her adult life. She does come across as a bit...eccentric. (There's a segment in this interview where she suddenly expresses black supremacist views: Billevesées: Interview: Betty Aberlin ).

 

What a great interview. She is so interesting. Very New York. Informed. I'd love to converse with her over coffee. She kind of fleshes out more of Mr. Rodgers personality. Not damning just more. The music part of the original show is what i always found so cool. He had on lots of great jazz. And the operettas they did. Just so cool. Her personality is so lively. I find her attractive and intriguing. More of this interesting story of a supposedly simplistic kids show with the people who made it not at all being simplistic. Thanks for that interview link.

 

My wife and I watched it last night and I’m happy to say I only collapsed into a pathetic heap during the final several minutes. But it was tough keeping my emotions in check for sure!

What a beautiful and sincere human. I love this movie.

dan c

 

Mr. Rogers seemed uncool when I was 12 in his first year on tv, but I'm glad he's getting the kudos he deserves as he really cared about kids.

 

It really is interesting the timing of this doc. Mr. Rodgers is the complete opposite of our times in many ways. The marketing commercial aspect is so fine tuned today. The kindness. The honesty with caring. So many things now are the opposite of his philosophy. Also his being a pastor. The religious right now is so compromised it's so weird. The symbol of being religious may have in reality been a contridiction but now it seems so opposite of the good part of religion standing for. Just so many things now he seems an antidote for. Perfect timing. Wish this doc would get some views in schools.

 

That part of the doc was so interesting. I was watching with my wife, and she laughed hard at the SCTV clips (she loves Martin Short in particular). I also chuckled at the Eddie Murphy clips. I absolutely loved his Mr. Robinson bits when I was growing up.

However, we both groaned at the Carson bit with the "hooker" line. Ouch.

The doc didn't pass judgement on which spoofs were mean spirited or which ones Mr Rogers seemed to enjoy, but it's been known for a while he found Eddie Murphy's take genuinely funny.

In fact, I recall an appearance by Murphy on Letterman's show way back in the day where he recalled meeting Mr. Rogers. He joked about expecting him to be all "Hey man! How ya doing!" but was actually exactly like he is on TV. I think Murphy even said he's a sweet man, and this was prime young, brash and unsentimental Murphy! The clip's on YouTube Im' sure.

dan c

 

There's also a biography of Rogers out:

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Neighbo...swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1537821019&sr=8-1

and a film coming with Tom Hanks playing him.

Is somebody coordinating this surge of interest in Mr. Rogers or is it just one of those coincidental occurrences when multiple projects hit the finish line simultaneously?

 

Just watched the doc tonight. Out of everything included in the film, relieving what it was like to be a kid during the challenger disaster hit me hardest.

 

I remember that disaster strongly. We watched it in high school in the library. Just a real disbelife to it all. Similar to 911.

 

As Greenalishi noted a few posts above, it may well be that, in our present time, what Mr. Rogers stood for no longer seems corny or square, but rather desperately needed.

 

This Saturday night @ 8 pm PBS & HBO will be airing this documentary. A "freebie" from the folks at HBO. Isn't that nice of them?

 

Thanks for sharing the reminder, saw it last Fall. An excellent documentary.

 

Sew this last week on HBO....
and, yes.....tears.....
"Sometimes I feel, like I'm a mistake."
whoa....

 

Someone reaching that particular conclusion might not have completely understood what she was talking about.

 

I just watched it this weekend and it was great - and yes I had the very same reaction. I wasn't expecting the Challenger video and as soon as they cut to the kids in the school, I had this pause... you knew what was next and I immediately was transported back to grade school.

 

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Absolutely brutal. You hate to see something like that...

 

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