PBS has announced that, starting this fall, affiliated stations will receive only one episode of 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' each weekend - instead of a rerun per day.
But why? Although host Fred Rogers died in 2003, the large library of his show's reruns is still suitable for today's children.
Or is it? Don't tell me that some wingnut somewhere got offended by Mister Rogers so they have to relegate the series to one show per weekend.
I'm guessing that's what happened. You will not believe what offends the Far Right these days. You just won't. Some stuff that could be shown on a kids' show 30 years ago can never be shown now. Producers of 'Sesame Street' even said they could never develop a character like Oscar these days because his negative outlook would be considered too offensive.
It's been speculated that the real reason 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' is receiving fewer airings is to make way for new "art." Um, hello??? Have you actually seen the newer kids' shows? I'd hardly consider most of today's shows for children to be artful or educational. Today's kids' shows are usually forgettable, dull, and emotionless. Mister Rogers at least featured creative puppet skits, timeless film segments, and memorable songs.
Already, many old Mister Rogers episodes haven't been aired in years. Now the memory hole has just gotten even wider. The America we once knew is almost completely history.
It's not such a beautiful day in the neighborhood now.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Today's culture can't even handle Mister Rogers
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ReplyDeleteTell me about it! I fear for this generation growing up on visual vomit instead of real honest to goodness brain stimulant that thousands of kids got from shows like Mister Roger's Neighborhood and Sesame Street and 3,2,1 Contact and so on. Ah well, at least these shows are coming out on DVD so at least some kids will be saved from having their minds rotted by the cotton candy shows that are out for them today.
ReplyDelete(I stumbled upon your blog while looking for the "Sugar Beet" song from Mr. Rogers. Or Sesame Street- I really can't remember which one it was from. Hi!)