I reluctantly admit that I was not a frequent viewer of his program growing up as a child. I do remember watching his show a few times in completion, but Mr. Rogers failed to entertain me which is a shame, because his message and intentions were absolutely timeless, Christian and humanitarian. With his consoling demeanor, soft spoken sincerity and monumental contribution to Child development, I should have been more attentive. But I wasn't. I preferred the energetic and faster pace of shows like Sesame Street, Electric Company, Kroft Superstar lineups and The Brady Bunch, etc. Children have shorter attention spans and perhaps when presenting the material of Mr. Rogers to child viewers there is a lapse in providing excitement and energy which is what children want. But we cannot deny that this is the type of material children need. Maybe the program needed a boost in popularizing itself to gain a wider audience. I'm not sure. In retrospect, as Fred McFeely's legacy has been under the radar in recent months, I can see the enduring legacy and value to humanity he left behind. Hopefully, his message can be perpetuated in a form that captures our attention while not deviating from the intentions of goodwill and compassion.
Review of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
