Mister Rogers...what a loss..

[Blazey]

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 27 ? Fred Rogers, who became a nurturing television friend to millions of children as host of the public television program ?Mister Rogers? Neighborhood? for more than 30 years, died of cancer early Thursday. He was 74.

ROGERS DIED at his Pittsburgh home, said family spokesman David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely on the show. Rogers had been diagnosed with stomach cancer sometime after the holidays, Newell said.
From 1968 to 2000, Rogers, an ordained Presbyterian minister, produced the show at Pittsburgh public television station WQED. The final new episode, which was taped in December 2000, aired in August 2001, though PBS affiliates continued to air back episodes.
Rogers, who gently invited millions of children to be his neighbor, composed his own songs for the show and began each episode in a set made to look like a comfortable living room, singing ?It?s a beautiful day in the neighborhood,? as he donned sneakers and a zip-up cardigan sweater. One of his red sweaters is now in the Smithsonian.
The show was quickly embraced by both children and parents for an imaginative but simple approach and the ongoing message: ?There?s only one person in the whole world like you.?
His message remained simple throughout the years, telling his viewers to love themselves and others. On each show, he would take his audience on a magical trolley ride into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where his puppet creations would interact with each other and adults.
Rogers continued to do much of the puppet work and voices himself.

A WIDE AUDIENCE
Rogers taught children how to share, how to deal with anger and even how not to fear the bathtub by assuring them they?ll never go down the drain.
During the Persian Gulf War, Rogers told youngsters that ?all children shall be well taken care of in this neighborhood and beyond ? in times of war and in times of peace,? and he asked parents to promise their children they would always be safe.
Rogers came out of broadcasting retirement last year to record four public service announcements for the Public Broadcasting Service telling parents that children might be confused by the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
?They don?t understand what an anniversary is, and if they see the tragedy replayed on television, they might think it?s happening at that moment,? he said.
The series remained popular through the years, including with children of baby boomers who watched the show growing up. Its ratings peaked in 1985-86 when approximately 8 percent of all U.S. households with televisions tuned in. By the 1999-2000 season, viewership had dropped to about 2.7 percent, or 3.6 million people.

LISTENING WAS KEY COMPONENT
As other children?s programming opted for slick action cartoons, Rogers stayed the same and stuck to his message. The show was the longest running children?s program on public television.
?It looks like nothing much happens,? Hedda Sharapan, an associate producer with the show, said in 2001. ?Listening has been one of the main focus points.?
Characteristically, the Web site of his production company Family Entertainment Inc. announced his death with advice on how to relay the sad news to children who will continue to see him on television.
?Children have always known Mr. Rogers as their ?television friend,? and that relationship doesn?t change with his death,? the message said.
At a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the show in 1993, Rogers said, ?It?s not the honors and not the titles and not the power that is of ultimate importance. It?s what resides inside.?

I remember watching this show...as i got older i thought it was silly.. [img]frown.gif[/img] ..but seeing it now..as a grown up..with children in my future...i see what a real impact this man had in his day...nowadays kids would rather see cartoons..with ppl getting beaten up..killed..and never dying..all that kinda thing..and what does it teach them...so sad..to think of what the world is coming too isnt it..

[Beta-Decay]

That is really sad.

[demon chloe]

I was going to post that very thing


I knew last year..after the Sept 11 atttacks....that the world..underestimated this individual....


[img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img] he will be missed.......

his sweaters ROCK!