Product Description

Fred Rogers has been America’s favorite neighbor for more than 30 years on PBS… delighting, enlightening and reassuring children with his unique television programs. Now, his life and legacy are celebrated in this commemorative program full of treasured memories, rare vintage clips and behind-the-scenes footage from his 50 years in television. Fred Rogers: America’s Favorite Neighbor is hosted by actor (and former Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood crew member) Michael Keaton.

Program Content
-A Beautiful Life in this neighborhood (2003)
-Tonight Show (1983)
-Tonight Show (1986)
-Mister Rogers Goes to Washington (1969)
-Creative Person: Fred Rogers (1967)

Special Content
-Arsenio Hall Show (1993)
-Lifetime Achievement Award (1997)
-Jeff Erlanger/TV Hall of Fame (1999)
-Presidential Medal of Freedom (2002)
-Backstage Memories (2003)
-Meet Family Communications (2003)
-"You Are Special"

Winner of Parents’ Choice Gold Award 2004

Proceeds benefit the Fred Rogers Fund and children’s programming

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54131 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-09-28
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 180 minutes

Amazon.com
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. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

I like you too
I can still remember about 25 years ago throwing a huge temper tantrum, slamming my tiny hands hard against 70s-ish, tacky-looking, artificial wooden walls. My outrage: I missed an episode of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood". And yet it was certainly not the response that would have pleased my idol.

Now I look back and smile, not only because it's a little funny, but also because after many years of being "grown up" and asserting my "maturity", I am once again on the Mister Rogers bandwagon, perhaps even more so than when I was a child.

No doubt, it began in 1998 when I read Tom Junod's extensive (but worthwhile) article about him in the November issue of "Esquire". But this DVD has now put the icing on an already delicious cake. My only wish is that there could have been an interview with Tom Junod, the writer who was at least partly responsible for re-introducing Mister Rogers to the current pop culture.

Mister Rogers was the word gentleness made flesh. He was kind not only in front of the cameras, but even in his own private life. He was in fact the real deal! He was genuine with everyone regardless of age, economic position, or power. He talked to congressmen, co-workers, Joan Rivers, small children, and you and me all alike. He displayed a gentleness and genuiness that our world is not at all comfortable with and yet in dire need of, never more so than today.

I highly recommend this DVD to everyone. Even if you hated the man (it's hard to believe, but there are such people out there), or you're a skeptic, or a mocker. Mister Rogers could tame even the toughest audience, and if you're up to the challenge, you can see him do it over and over on this DVD. And lastly, I recommend this DVD to anyone who is just aching to see something decent on their television screen.

God blessed us.

A real saint
Unlike so many people with a religious background, Mister Rogers never threw his own religion around. Instead, he wanted kids (and adults) to always like themselves the way they are.

Mister Rogers knew that more could be accomplished in the world if people were emotionally/mentally built up instead of being told that they were not any good. This timeless lesson (along with his naturally caring personality) was what made Mister Rogers Neighborhood such a wildly popular show on PBS. According to the official program record, it was PBS's longest running show.

Even when Sesame Street and other PBS shows were trying to go for 'current' Mister Rogers refused to talk down to his audience. He was also radical in believing that children deserved respect and needed to be listened to.

Sure, Picture Picture went from filmstrips to videocassettes, but that was a technical change so Mr. Rogers could continue his show. A technical change was acceptable because it had not altered the time-honored formula established in the very first show.

This documentary is good for Mister Rogers Neighborhood fans, but it is also a good teaching tool. People wanting to go into broadcast production and/or early childhood education must be made aware of the critical difference between good material, the mediocre, and the absolutely horrible.

Wonderful Tribute
This is a wonderful and touching tribute to one of America'a true heros. It will be enjoyed by children and adults alike for many, many years.