Rogers won't stray far from neighborhood
| • | Television's Fred Rogers leaving the neighborhood |
USA Today
Though Fred Rogers has left "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," he hasn't stopped thinking of new ways to reach a young audience.
He has produced a set of classroom videos called "Different and the Same," to help children identify and prevent prejudice. He's exploring transferring some of the "Neighborhood's" mini-operas to the stage. (Music always has played an important part in the show.) And he's excited about the possibility of eventually making the "Neighborhood" available through the Internet.
"We're at the place we were when I first started in television," he says. "None of us knows what the Internet is going to become, but in the computer world, people could truly finally become their own program managers."
His staff refuses to say "never." While taping of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" officially ended in February, the staff in Pittsburgh has kept the show's sets in place, just in case Rogers changes his mind and wants to return someday to the "Neighborhood."
After all, as he himself says, there is still work to be done.
"Anything we can do to help foster the intellect and spirit and emotional growth of our fellow human beings, that is our job. Those of us who have this particular vision must continue against all odds," he says. "Life is for service."
