We are working on a web comic as a way to generating a consistent story. This will also allow us to see if we actually have a story and characters that people would like to see as an animated series down the road. We hope to gain more viewers by putting out this format content sooner.
Until then, please enjoy Greg's Watchcat Review of the recent documentary, “Won’t you Be My
Neighbor”
In today’s climate -- so divisive,
so dangerous and so unsure of what the future holds -- “Won’t you Be My
Neighbor” is the perfect medicine. The documentary is less a bio pic of Fred
Rogers' life and more about the message of love and acceptance that he tirelessly
tried to communicate through "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." His
philosophy about what it means to be a good neighbor and a decent human being
inspired and empowered both children and adults.
I grew up watching "Mister
Rogers' Neighborhood," "Sesame Street," "The Electric
Company" and sometimes "Zoom" on the PBS station in Chicago. I
remember enjoying the opening with him singing “Would You Be my Neighbor.” When
he put on his cardigan and sneakers it made me feel like he was going to spend
time with me. In the documentary, he says that when he looked into the camera,
he imagined talking to one person. No one in particular, just one individual.
How powerful! That explains why it felt like he was talking directly to me.
To be honest, I don’t remember any
of the individual episodes. But I do remember always going back to them. And
maybe that was his secret. He never treated children as kids. He treated them
as young adults and he always told it to you straight. This incredible
documentary revealed how he incorporated so much adult messaging into a kids'
show and honestly discussed such weighty topics as divorce and death.
As an
ordained minister, Fred Rogers always displayed Christian values but it never
felt like he was preaching. However, he truly believed in the scripture that
called for us to “love thy neighbor." He wanted to teach by example and
his message was simple: Everyone, no matter who they may be, are capable of
loving and being loved. And what better message to relay to children as they
grow and interact with others. I think that was the key in creating the
sensation that we know and love.
Another
way this show became so popular was that, from the beginning, he understood the
power of television. While other kids shows were showing children and adults
getting pies in the face, water buckets over their head, simply to raise a new
generation of consumers, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood was preparing children for
life and the consequences that come with it. In the documentary, it shows how
he knew that with the right delivery, a crucial message such as the power of
love could reach millions and millions of people. Thanks to his knowledge, his
show easily became one of the most popular amongst children and parents alike.
I think
the reason he was able to communicate so well with children was because he was
just a big kid himself. Unlike most grownups, he never lost his inner child as
an adult and kids were able to see that.
Maybe
part of the reason he was that way was the fact that when he was a kid, was a
sickly and overweight. Because of his weight, he would get bullied and called
“Fat Freddy.” So he knew what it felt like to be different and how it felt to
be an outcast. And yet he was never cynical.
I used
to wonder, was he really like that all the time? Was this soft spoken man, the
same man in real life than he was on the show? According to the film, the
answer is yes. Never having any skeletons in his closet, no scandals, he was
truly a good man that cared about people, how refreshing. One of his son’s
recalls, it wasn’t easy living with “The Second Coming!” What you see is really
what you get when it comes to Fred Rogers. But he wasn’t perfect.
The
same son talked about how he communicated his true feelings through his
puppets, particularly Daniel the Tiger. Though Mr. Rogers voiced all the
puppets on the show, Daniel voiced Fred’s most inner thoughts, fears and
insecurities. There’s a wonderful and poignant duet in the film with Daniel,
who feels like he was a mistake and Lady Aberlin (Betty Aberlin), who reminds
Daniel that he is not a mistake and that he is unique and special. I wonder if
Fred felt that way. I wonder how many children have felt that way. I know I
have.
And
after the show ended, and the 911 tragedy struck, he was persuaded to come back
on the air to comfort a country that was grieving. This wasn’t the first time
he had to comfort us. He actually had a frank discussion on the show about the
assassination of Robert F Kennedy.
We
really did look to him as our moral compass.
He
passed away in 2003.
Through
all the good that he had done and success he’d had, his image still took lots
of hits.
Tons of
parodies, like Johnny Carson Martin Short, from SCTV and the most famous one,
Eddie Murphy’s “Mr. Robberson’s neighborhood,” (A clips here) went after him
relentlessly. Though some of it was actually funny to him, some he could not
laugh off.
I
couldn’t think it was possible to vilified someone as good as Mr. Rogers, but
Fox News tried.
They
claimed that his message that “children are special” somehow created a whole
generation of entitled people. Children shouldn’t be told that they’re special
without actually proving it. How absurd.
In the
film, there was a protest during his funeral by people who believed this and
hated him for it. The saddest part, some of them even brought their children along
with them. There’s nothing like spading a little hate in a child’s life.
I
wonder what he would think of America today. Seeing pictures of children in
cages, being separated from their parents at the border. Police shootings,
racial divide in this country. There’s an episode where King Friday XIII of
Make-Believe Land wanted to build a walls around his Kingdom to keep
undesirables out, and the rest of the neighborhood had to convince him that
there was no need to. We now have an administration that is actually trying to
build walls. Around the same time of that episode, he had one of his characters
Officer Clemmons, who is black, sit with him and soak his feet in the same
kiddie pool.
In the
60s. He broke so many rules.
I had
the good fortune to meet the filmmaker Morgan Neville who won an Oscar for his
documentary
“Twenty
Feet From Stardom”, a film about the lives of the unsung heroes behind the most
legendary R&B bands: the back up singers (Can’t wait to see that film.)
With
this incredible and inspiring movie, he might be on his way to winning yet
another Oscar.
I only
have one regret for the film. I wish they could’ve interviewed Betty Aberlin,
who played “Lady Aberlin” in the show. She was in a lot of my favorite scenes
and I think that her insight on Fred and the show would have been fascinating.
However, Morgan Neville really captured a rare behind-the-scenes of one of the
most famous children show in American history. Neville got tons of insight
through interviews with the people closest to Fred, including his wife, Joanne,
his two sons, and most of the cast and crew of his TV show. And somehow he
managed all of this in 1 hour and 34 minutes.
It’s
truly one of the best films of the year. I think everybody should watch this
movie at least once in their lifetime. There will never be anyone like Fred
Rogers again, which is why we must cherish the memories and the messages that
he left behind for us. For me it is “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” is really an
invitation of inclusion and acceptance of all people. No matter what your race,
creed and sexuality are, each one of us are special and can co-exist as
neighbors. I only wish that the leaders of this country could adopt that
philosophy!
What did you think of this Watchcat Wednesday?
Let us know by leaving a comment below. Or click on the ads to show your support.
