Coming to PBS Fall 2012 - Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

[MarcB]

PBS has announced a new animated spin-off of the popular Mr. Roger's Neighborhood premiering in the Fall of 2012 - "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fred-rogers-legacy-lives-a-217532

Thanks to Antenna TV on Facebook for posting this article.

 

[KeyTimes950]

The idea is cute, but will it retain Rogers' ability to show respect for his younger audience while making points parents could use, too? While it apparently employs those who worked directly with Rogers and is coming from his Pittsburgh production company, one would have to wonder if this will devolve into just another PBSKids offering that with commercials would fit any station's E/I quota.

 

[azumanga]

While it apparently employs those who worked directly with Rogers and is coming from his Pittsburgh production company...

Actually, its co-producers are Out of the Blue Enterprises (based in NYC) and 9 Stories Entertainment, an animation house based in Toronto. I imagine while some of the staffers would be based in Pittsburgh, no doubt they'll be using Canadian talent to make the program.

Of course, the article makes no mention of WQED, the station that made Mister Rogers possible -- will the station be involved with the new show's production in any way?

...one would have to wonder if this will devolve into just another PBSKids offering that with commercials would fit any station's E/I quota.

To add commercials to any program associated with Mister Rogers would be blasphemy to the highest degree.

 

[FreddyE1977]

Of course Fred Rogers did work and produce a show in Toronto for a time, so there is a tie there.

Still, I don't suppose we'll be treated to the comfortable old Yinzer accents of supporting characters
like Don Brockett, Joe Negri and Bob Trow. Rogers' show was a real national showcase for a lot of
Pittsburgh bred talent.

 

[azumanga]

I don't suppose we'll be treated to the comfortable old Yinzer accents of supporting characters
like Don Brockett, Joe Negri and Bob Trow.

Definitely not Brockett and Trow, as they died awhile back.

Rogers' show was a real national showcase for a lot of Pittsburgh bred talent.

The only name I can associate Mister Rogers and stardom with is Michael Keaton -- and he only did behind-the-scenes to begin with, acting on camera with bit parts here and there.

The closest a Mister Rogers regular ever came to stardom was Betty Aberlin, who was a regular on NBC's "The Smother Brothers Show" in 1975 -- that series was only on a couple of months or so before it was cancelled.

 

[quadraphonic]

"National showcase" doesn't necessarily mean "stardom."
It just gave "Pittsburgh bred talent" like Don Brockett, Joe Negri, Bob Trow, and Betty Aberlin a national place to be seen.

They were all stars to the kids, though, who were their target market. So they did their job. ;D

 

[FreddyE1977]

"National showcase" doesn't necessarily mean "stardom."
It just gave "Pittsburgh bred talent" like Don Brockett, Joe Negri, Bob Trow, and Betty Aberlin a national place to be seen.

They were all stars to the kids, though, who were their target market. So they did their job. ;D

I remember meeting Don Brockett as a teenager, after basically growing up watching him on that show.
I went over and introduced myself. He kind of coughed and wheezed a bit, and then answered
"Howya doin'? Sh*tty day, ain't it?"

Not exactly the image I had maintained throughout my childhood!

Yes I know he and Trow died some time ago. My point is that future Pittsburgh talent is not going
to have the same opportunities for national exposure.

 

[RadioDaze]

Don Brockett had some minor roles in film, including 1991's "Silence of the Lambs" and 1989's "Fletch Lives".

 

[recto101]

Who does the VO for Daniel Tiger since Fred Rogers left in 2003?