One More Sign of the Apocalypse

PBS is cutting Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood from its daily format--or at least--they're trying to. The story is here. (Find the link to the story on the right of the page)

I can't tell you the afternoons I dragged myself home from a long day of being mocked and abused by hormonal adolescents teaching middle-school English only to purposefully crash in front of the tv in order to be calmed by the gentle waves of assurance that his voice provided. The quiet confidence he inspired. The blessing that he provided for children who felt different or alone. The way he validated concepts like kindness and curiosity while supporting and demonstrating the radical notion that children were not tiny amorphous creatures just waiting to grow into sentient beings. They already were sentient beings...and worthy of respect.

If the message of Fred Rogers was ever important to you, go to http://savemrrogers.com and add your two cents. I'm not happy about this. Not happy at all, but I think this is an excellent time to show how the power of the blog can be an agent of change...whether you're a mommy or not. It's worth a try.

Comments

[Becca]

This is the third horseman for sure. The first is that there is any market at all for Bratz dolls and the second is videos targeted at very small infants.

[mamatulip]

Unfuckingbelievable.

[melissa]

I tell people that Fred Rogers is like a big soothing bear hug when I switch him on. He cocoons me.

[Ortizzle]

A friend of mine used to say exactly the same thing about the calming effect of Mr. Rogers. I am over there to put my two cents in. Fingers crossed.

[Janet]

This is awful. Mr. Rogers should be the VERY LAST thing taken off the air. Get rid of Barney and the Wiggles, and SpongeBob and all that other crap. Mr. Rogers was consistently good, kind, and understanding from the first episode to the last, and they should be running episodes 3-4 times a day at least. I'll just pop right on over and tell them that. Idiots. (Maybe I won't say that last thing.)

[Ortizzle]

Update: When I went to complain at PBS, I followed the link to local PBS stations, thinking that was the way to go. That lead me to KERA who responded immediately and said that THEY are still showing Mr. Rogers early mornings from MON-FRI, and that it is NATIONAL PBS, not THEM, who is removing the program. (So I sent an email to national PBS... lol. I doubt they will answer, though, given the disclaimer about the volume of email that they receive.)

[shonda little]

Holy shit, his sweaters are in The Smithsonian. I will email PBS. Not that it matters, I contribute to PBS annually and I noticed yesterday that the commercial with the number to contribute came on as my kid was watching Thomas and Friends. I think you should add in your post that we should call the contributions number and tell the person who answers that we won't donate until this is resolved.
Of course, I would never actually go through with that because, without PBS, my children would be allowed to watch absolutely no tv. You know it is a clean AND educational content and, beyond that, you know that the marketing and advertising is minimal.
But, it never hurts to threaten, right.

[Mary]

Thank you for that. I went over there and gave them what for. If ever kids needed Mr. Rogers, it's now. He's an island of calm in a world fraught with crazy.

[Claudious]

Mr. Rogers made PBS... they can't cut him. I bought a book not long ago about the philosophy of Mr. Rogers, everything he did in his life was aimed at making television worth watching for the children. This is a travesty. Thank you for raising the flag.

[Annie]

I haven't even been able to find Mr. Rogers on our local PBS. My son has never seen it.

[Jay]

I think that local PBS affiliates who want to continue to show Mr. Rogers will be allowed to do so. They're just giving them the option. So, it might also help to contact your local PBS affiliate and let them know how you feel about this.

[AlphaDogMa]

I'm a bit conflicted. I really like the nostalgia of the kinder gentler shows of my youth, but I harbour a deep and abiding fear of papier-mache puppets thanks to King Friday. Why was his large misshapen head so poorly painted?

[Candance]

At least KERA has sense enough not to pull it, but I can't believe national PBS would even consider this. Did they think people would be cool with it? Assholes.

[Nance]

I can't say it any more clearly and succinctly than Becca. She is my hero, along with, obv. Mr. Rogers. Thanks for the heads-up.

[singingangel]

I grew up watching Mr Rogers. Now that I have a son, he watches the show. I cannot believe people would rather their children watch something full of ridiculousness and violence than a show as wholesome and educational as Mr Rogers.

[crazymumma]

The Friendly Giant was my salvation when I was little. So sweet.

How can they cut Mr Rogers? That is awful. I love him.

[Gina]

That is not right...I am off to click the link. Did I not say that is NOT right???

[Cheri @ Blog This Mom!]

Oh no! Say it isn't so!

[MamaMo]

This is a little unfathomable - Mr. Rogers' IS PBS. Just seeing his picture gets me teary.
I'll write - thank you for bringing this to our attention.

[Brooke]

I will never, EVER forget the time Mr. Rogers came to speak to the students when I was an undergrad at UCLA. Seeing us all sitting there, enraptured and beaming, made it look as though every child's dream had come true.

He NEEDS to be around for future generations. Even if only in reruns...

[clickmom]

Maybe I was a tired kid or maybe his magic worked double on me. I never managed to stay awake for an entire show. He soothed me to sleep every time.