I hadn't watched his show in years. I laughed at the parodies Eddie Murphy did of him on "Saturday Night Live." Even so, I was truly saddened to learn of the death of Mister Rogers earlier this week.
Fred Rogers was a true pioneer in the world of children's television. His show had an incredible 33-year run and his influence literally reached millions of children. He taught me about the power of imagination. He taught me the value of friendship and the importance of being a good friend. He taught me how to listen. And, as much as I sometimes didn't want to hear it, he taught me the importance of slowing down.
Children's television has changed a lot over the years. The pace of it is must faster these days. There are more "bells and whistles" too, often including special effects and fast-paced music. Despite these changes, Mister Rogers changed very little. A minister in real life, it was obvious that Mister Rogers really cared about children. He did his best to help them grow up and become good citizens and good people. Yes, it may have seemed hokey at times, but his concern was heartfelt and genuine. In the end, that is all that really matters. Rest in peace, dear friend.
Web site of the week: Our web site of the week honors the late Fred Rogers. This official site from PBS Kids has information on some of Mister Rogers' learning activities, as well as details on where you can order copies of his show. It also has information on how you can help your child cope with his death. The site is located at http://pbskids.org/rogers/. For information on his life and career, please see this article from the Detroit Free Press located at http://www.freep.com/entertainment/tvand...
This week in television history: March 9, 1987 marked the final broadcast of "Remington Steele." This detective/mystery series starred Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan. Zimbalist played Laura Holt, a female owner of a private detective agency. Unfortunately, nobody would hire a female detective, so Holt invented a dashing, mysterious, and fictitious, employer.
Holt eventually hired Remington Steele to play the part of her boss. The two had an instant love/hate relationship and, over time, Steele developed into an excellent detective himself. The series had a five year run and ended with a series of two-hour movies-of -the-week. For more information on the show, please see http://www.klast.net/steele/. Brosnan took over the role of James Bond after series ended. The rest, as they say, is history.
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