Many of us grew up watching Mister Rogers’ NeighborhoodOpens in a new tab on PBS, and on February 19, the series will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. It’s a show that was not only monumental in so many of our childhoods, but it taught us all about being a good friend, helped us dream and be imaginative, and it empowered us to be brave and believe in ourselves.
To help the show celebrate its half-century on public broadcast television, PBS will be airing a star-studded special to commemorate the show, Fred Rogers himself, and the timeless ways in which Mister Rogers’ NeighborhoodOpens in a new tab influenced several generations of kids. Michael Keaton is the host of this delightful walk down memory lane called Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like and will feature commentary from stars like Judd Apatow, Sarah Silverman, Whoopi Goldberg, and more.
The show will also revisit some fan-favorite segments from the show like visiting Koko the Gorilla, Big Bird’s appearance in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, and my personal favorite, the trip to the Crayola Factory (seriously, watching them make those crayons got me SO HYPED as a kid).
Fred RogersOpens in a new tab passed away in 2003, but he left behind a legacy of kindness, understanding, compassion, and tolerance. It’s weird to say this about a kid’s show, but Mister Rogers’ NeighborhoodOpens in a new tab really has been an iconic part of modern American culture. After all, the show had over 900 episodes, 31 seasons, and aired from 1968-2001. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood influenced generations of children, and Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like will really take the time to appreciate the huge cultural influence Fred Rogers had on all of us.
Leading up to the premiere of It’s You I Like, PBS will be running a Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and Daniel Tiger marathon. Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like will air on PBS on March 6.
Did you watch Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as a kid? What is your favorite memory from the show? Let’s talk about it in the comments!
Need More Nostalgia in Your Noggin?
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Feature Image: PBS
