John and I finally watched Won't You Be My Neighbor last night, and wow. It lives up to the hype!
(It's not free anywhere yet, but you can rent it at Red Box.)
I expected to be a sobby mess by the end, but I have so few memories of the show that I really only had one or two teary-eyed moments. Instead, I found myself... awed. I can't think of a better word for it.
Mister Rogers is awe-inspiring.
I never knew how intentional his life was: how he knew from the start what his mission, his ministry, would be. And somehow he managed to live out that mission without judgement, offering unconditional love and acceptance and respect to everyone - apparently both on camera and off.
After the documentary I watched a few episodes of Mister Roger's Neighborhood on YouTube, and seeing it as an adult, I gotta say, it's calming in the best possible way. Not mind-numbing like ASMR or even Bob Ross (who I also love), but comforting, because you feel more acknowledged. There's also some surprisingly great music (that jazzy piano!) and fascinating "How It's Made" type segments that I don't remember at all. (Did all his shows have these? Because I love factory visits!)
And finally, I watched the most amazing clip of Mister Rogers on The Tonight Show with... oof... Joan Rivers. The contrast between the two is illuminating, to say the least (ha!), and if you can get through the cringe-worthy moments, there's pure gold at the end:
Imagine being so at peace with yourself, so sure, so open and loving of all, that you could sing a love song to Joan Rivers in front of an entire audience of snickering adults. Imagine knowing your purpose in life that well, and being so filled with joy that there's no room for embarrassment. Instead everyone else feels embarrassed for laughing. That's Mister Rogers.
Talk about goals, y'all.
I want to live like that.
I want to love like that.
And on days like today, when I'm feeling a little lost in what my purpose is, a little useless, a little insignificant, it helps to see the difference Mister Rogers made. If I can remind you - yes, you - that you matter, that the things and people you love matter, and that there's still goodness in this geeky world of ours? Well heck, that's all I want. That's the only legacy I want to leave. Anything else is just gravy.
Here's to loving so proudly, so joyfully, so LOUDLY that everyone else is embarrassed they're not doing the same.
I love you guys. Pass it on.
::Big Smooshy Internet Hugs::
Here's to loving so proudly, so joyfully, so LOUDLY that everyone else is embarrassed they're not doing the same.
I love you guys. Pass it on.
::Big Smooshy Internet Hugs::
You already inspire me in a lot of the same ways. You seem so sure of yourself even when I know your not, confident in living your best life and being so welcome to everyone else. <3
ReplyDeleteThank YOU Jen for all the joy, positivity and love you put out into the world!
ReplyDeleteThe most perfect of all the Mister Rogers moments was when he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Emmy, and got the whole frickin' audience to stop talking and remember the people who were important to them for 10 whole seconds, which in TV is obviously FOREVER. You, Jen & John, like Mister Rogers, are truly, genuinely, making the world a better, happier place, and I'm grateful that all three of you are in my life. :-)
ReplyDeleteI was a bit too old for his show but I watched with my sisters, so I haven't been able to watch it yet; it's going to be too emotional and I'm not ready lol.
ReplyDeleteBut have you found the Incredible Hulk episode yet? He did a set visit with Bill Bixby and I still remember how enthralled I was at the time seeing one of my favorite super heroes talking to Mr. Rogers.
Oooh, I'll have to look for that one! I need to see if there's a good place online to stream all his old shows - anyone know?
DeleteLooks like they're streaming with amazon prime if you have that.
DeletePBS has many of them!
DeleteAh, perfect! Thanks, guys!
DeleteYeah Prime has them streaming, my littlest alternates between Mr Rogers and Sesame in the mornings before school.
DeleteAs a Pittsburgh kid, for me not only was Mr Rogers on his show but also just a fixture around town. And although I went through a phase where I had 'outgrown' such silly things as Mr Rogers, I've come back around to appreciating him so much. He was SUCH a good guy in so many ways. And I still know all the denizens of the World of Make-Believe just as well as I did at 4.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes to what someone else said: you and John are amazing for all the positivity you put out!
We have the documentary recorded and I just can't find a good time to watch it. I know it's going to be emotional. Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood was one of the few shows I watched as a kid. We had two of his records and listened to them all the time. I loved the factory visits! He just was so kind and affirming. When we moved to Pittsburgh 5 years ago, one of the things I was most excited about was moving to Mr. Rogers' "neighborhood."
ReplyDeleteI have to say the FoE community on Facebook gives me the same good vibes as his show. You and John have inspired something wonderful too. <3
"Talk about goals, y'all.
ReplyDeleteI want to live like that.
I want to love like that."
Beautiful... ME TOO!
He is who I strive to be like. There is an episode where he tries to put up a tent, but it just won't cooperate with him. He never lost his cool, got frustrated, nothing. I try and remember that when I get angry about something.
ReplyDeleteI saw a clip of Mr. Rogers in a "Candid Camera" type show many many years ago, and he's been my hero ever since. The set-up was a hotel full of tv personalities, writers, and critics at some sort of television convention. One by one, the "victims" were led to a hotel room where the (fake) hotel staff sadly informed the person that there weren't any tvs in the room. One by one, the "victims" screeched, hollered, demanded to be moved, and pulled that oh-so-fabulous "Don't you know who I am?" line. Mr. Rogers was finally brought to the room. And then this happened: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV-eVYahckA He didn't know he was being filmed. He didn't know it was a set-up. That was just his calm, grateful, polite personality shining brightly for all to see.
ReplyDeleteI was going to post this exact story! That impressed me so much.
DeleteAww, he really WAS Mister Rogers even off camera. I love it.
DeleteHi Jen, Mr Rogers wasn't a part of my upbringing in South Africa, but I've read a lot about him and about the movie. I love your thoughts, and yes, we all need to unashamedly love each other. And FoE is a great way to start! Thanks for being our inspiration.
ReplyDeleteMary Clare (MC from NZ)
I loved his show as a kid. You could tell the warmth and love was genuine and earnest. Plus there was the variety. It wasn't the same thing each show. Sure, there was usually a trip to the Land of Make-Believe, but you would have the video clips and other fine segments to keep a kid's interest.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the How It's Made segments, they also used some of those for Sesame Street. The best one is the crayon factory. They used video from one viait, but different footage for each!
https://youtu.be/PoM0p02KGcM
https://youtu.be/FszGkMqAF0c
But the absolute BEST Mr Rogers? The one that showed him to be an absolute WIZARD of kindness and caring? Testifying before the Senate in order to secure funding for PBS.
https://youtu.be/fKy7ljRr0AA
LOOK at what this man does. He reduces a hardened politician to TEARS. All with the promise of a world in which children learn kindness and emotions.
THAT is my neighbor.
After watching this documentary in the theater with my in-laws, we talked about it and Mr. Rogers' life philosophy on the way home. I used that opportunity to come out as bi to my in-laws. Apparently my MIL checked in with my husband right afterwards to see if she'd understood correctly, and he then came out to her too. Later that evening, she gave me a big hug and told me that she loves me "just the way you are."
ReplyDeleteMr. Rogers was a wonderful man who gave whole generations a vocabulary for sharing empathy and love. And that's beautiful.
I think what makes him so longlasting is that he treated us all as worthy of love and respect, regardless of age, belief system, gender, race. Mr. Rogers was one of my first heroes and you summed it up beautifully: I want to live like that.
ReplyDeleteWonderful comment, thanks!
DeleteSadly, my brother forbid his daughter to watch Mr. Rogers (!?) and trust me here, she did NOT turn out well in adulthood! Maybe it's just a coincidence, but still...
I loved watching it with my kids! My favorites were his field trips to factories and such. I still remember the woman who put doll fronts onto doll backs, all - day - long, as they rolled down the belt. Stay in school, kids!
ReplyDeleteAnd how about playing his clarinet (was that what he played?) in the caves where they were growing mushrooms?
"(It's not free anywhere yet, but you can rent it at Red Box.)" I beg to differ, Jen. Check your local library, where it can be checked out for free (and usually for longer than Redbox)!
ReplyDeleteOh sweet! I always forget to check the library for movies, thanks!
DeleteWhat a great article about a great man… thanks so much for sharing about this!!!
ReplyDeleteYou know, when people say that they always love and/or accept others for who they are, I don't believe them. Ever. I've met so many people who make that claim with a little "exclusions apply" asterisk that they don't realize is there, because in their minds, it's just *obvious* that THOSE people don't deserve their acceptance. But they're willing to show unconditional kindness to everyone who's good enough, duh!
ReplyDeleteYet somehow, I never got the sense that Mr. Rogers was like that. He's one of the very few that actually seems to be genuine about it.
He really was amazing. As an adult it's been interesting re-watching with my youngest and seeing all the things I'd forgotten. The snippets about how things were made, all the music information, Johnny Costa's work with Mr Rogers to help add Jazz to the show. The telling people he's feeding the fish because they can't all see him do it, it's all so good.
ReplyDeleteHe makes me cry in such a good way. My little one is a huge fan of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, which is admittedly not the same thing, but it's kind of wonderful to be reminded again of the love. I sing his songs to her all the time.
ReplyDeleteYou are my friend, you are special
You're my friend, you're special to me
You are the only one like you
Like you, my friend
I like you
When this movie was in theaters, my boyfriend and I went to see it. Our showing was at a small local place that happened to have PBS in the same building and, for this showing, had a Q&A session (complete with free autographs, too) with David Newell aka Mr McFeely. It was one of the most moving, beautiful movie experiences I've ever had. Not only was Mr Newell exactly as he should be but the theater was completely packed - people ranging from children all the way up to people who had clearly been adults when the show first aired - and, at the end, when we were all quiet and thought of people, you could just barely hear a groundswell of sniffles. At the end of the movie, the entire theater was sharing in a quiet, respectful, loving catharsis of tears. No one judged anyone else. We just looked at each other and smiled through the tears.
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing.
I didn't find out he was from the other side of my state until I was an adult and I remember that feeling so very right. Just like finding out from a woman I worked with once who was from Pittsburgh that she knew him personally, her family was vaguely friendly with his, and that he was EXACTLY that way all of the time.
You said, "I want to live like that." And on the side of the screen is the photo of the little girl hugging you/Jawa -- I think you are living like that.
ReplyDeleteI didn't grow up with the show (we didn't get PBS where I lived in those pre-cable days) but I loved the movie and found myself deeply moved. It felt as though it had been a long time since I had seen such kindness and compassion demonstrated and it did my heart good. I live in Pittsburgh now, and Mr. Rogers is still justly celebrated and loved.
ReplyDeleteI love Mr. Rogers!!!
ReplyDeleteHis messages about understanding how you feel and handling emotions are very important, especially for my autistic daughter--she struggles with them! He didn't do factory tours all the time, but the ones I remember most were the crayon factory and the peanut butter factory. I was surprised by the in depth visit to the doctor that he showed.
Several seasons are on amazon prime and I watch them with my kids.
Jen, you should check out the episode where Mr. Rogers visits the crayon factory! It was my FAVORITE as a kid. I was unable to successfully pronounce the word "crayon" for a long time, and I will never forget my dad suggesting to me that since Mr. Rogers says it "crans," perhaps I could, too. So that is what I did for YEARS. (Honestly, I still do, unless I'm thinking about it.)
ReplyDeleteThe crayon factory episode is the one I remember the most! My brother and I both pronounce it as "cran" [IPA: kɹæn] and it's always baffled and annoyed our mother, who says "cray-ahn" [kɹeɪ.ɒn] -- now I know why we say it that way, lol!
DeleteThat said, Fred Rogers has always struck me as THE most perfect a human could be. We watched Won't You Be My Neighbor? when it was on PBS and hearing the behind-the-scenes stories just solidified my good thoughts. Just thinking about him and the show make me feel immensely happy. C-:
You are an amazing person. So was he. Thank you for sharing all the goodness and making us smile
ReplyDelete