:: Dano's Production Journal ::

:: 2/27/2003 ::

Fred McFeely Rogers
1928-2003
Thank you, television neighbor.

An excerpt from 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: Children, Television, and Fred Rogers' edited by Mark Collins and Margaret Mary Kimmel. From Jeanne Marie Laskas' essay "What is Essential is Invisible to the Eye."

“Hey, you’re the real Mister Rogers!” a young boy named Brian cried out one day, on seeing his hero walk into the studio. Nearly every morning of taping there were kids running through Studio A. They came to meet Mister Rogers. Many were fans who had written letters - Fred receives about a hundred a week and responds to each one personally - and children with special needs are often invited to come visit the Neighborhood.
“And you’re the real you,” Fred said, bending down. He shook Brian’s hand. “You’re so brave to shake my hand,” he said. Brian, eleven, was a plump boy, somewhat awkward in his own body. He had Williams Syndrome, a condition that causes mild mental retardation and congenital heart failure. He’d come all the way from Arlington, Texas, to meet Mister Rogers.
“I am special,” Brian said, “aren’t I, Mister Rogers?”
“Yes, you are.”
“You know what, Mister Rogers?” Brian said. “You are my friend.” With that, the boy started singing a song from the Neighborhood. “You are my friend, you are special…" Fred put his arm around him and sang along quietly. The crew in the studio grew silent.
“Good for you, Brian,” Fred said when the song was over. “Good for you!”
“Can I give you a big hug, Mister Rogers?” Brian asked.
Fred Rogers opened his arms and Brian Campbell fell inside.
Brian’s mother was completely undone by this exchange. “This is, like, the highlight of my life,” she said.
Fred and young Brian continued playing. Brian made the trolley go, then fed the fish, while Fred followed along, trying to crouch down to the boy’s height. Eventually, the producer came over, hoping to turn this studio back into a place of work. “Come on, Fred,” she said. But Fred had one more thing to say to Brian.
He got to his knees. He looked the child square in the eye. “You blessed my space today, Brian,” he said.
Brian considered this. “Well, I’m glad you’re here, Mister Rogers,” Brian said. “But we’ll probably never see each other again after today, will we?”
“We can still be television neighbors,” Fred said. “Can’t we?”
“Okay,” Brian said, adding, “I am special, Mister Rogers, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are.”


:: Dano 8:41 AM [+] ::
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