Here it comes!

[Neighborhood Archive]

If you've not seen it already, the Fred Rogers Company has gone public with details about their new show:

http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/arts-entertainment-living/tuned-in-journal/29601-more-details-on-daniel-tigers-neighborhood

Read the article....share your thoughts!

[Degeneration X The Owl]

No footage available yet?

[Neighborhood Archive]

Here's another article with some more information:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11212/1163932-67.stm

[David Mauldin]

I just read about this today, I was disappointed that I didn't get to announce it first! :)

[earnhardtfan4life]

What I would really like to see and this is probably far fetched - have Francois Clemmons, Betty Aberlin and Chuck Aber lend their voices and or live action segments to these.  Talk about having icing on top of the cake!  That would probably make it stick and gel very well.  I wonder if FCI considered this.  

I imagine with the press getting a hold of this - FCI will probably be announcing something very soon - probably this week.

Mike

[Neighborhood Archive]

Considering one of these two articles is an interview with Kevin Morrison from the Fred Rogers Company, I'd say it can be considered "announced."

As for using cast members from the Neighborhood program, I think FRC was looking to do something new based on the old show and not just repackage what once was. I think there's a different market out there now and a totally different types of shows to compete with. This new program needed to be different but still, the desire was there to pay tribute to Fred Rogers through his characters and his practices.

I'll share my thoughts in more detail on the blog later this week, but I think they've hit the nail right on the head here by not trying to recreate Mister Rogers' Neighborhood but rather using bits and pieces to carry on Fred's legacy to a new generation which is looking for something totally different.

[David Mauldin]

So glad this is happening, I have been worried that Mister Rogers would just disapear. Now I know that's not going to happen.

[earnhardtfan4life]

Do you know what that first picture with all the characters strapped inside the Trolley reminds me of?  That scene from a Granddad for Daniel where Betty Aberlin is driving the trolley through the so called Jungle.

Mike

[earnhardtfan4life]

If you have noticed Sesame Street has gone to more computer animation segments as well.  I remember a year or so ago I will flipping through the channels and noticed a computer animated Bert and Ernie.

Mike

[Degeneration X The Owl]

So glad this is happening, I have been worried that Mister Rogers would just disapear. Now I know that's not going to happen.

I remember after watching The Radio and Television Archive interview with Fred that his original intent after the Neighborhood was to do a live action version of The Neighborhood Of Make Believe and have real actors portray the puppets.  And he was gonna teach them how to do it.

[Degeneration X The Owl]

Considering one of these two articles is an interview with Kevin Morrison from the Fred Rogers Company, I'd say it can be considered "announced."

As for using cast members from the Neighborhood program, I think FRC was looking to do something new based on the old show and not just repackage what once was. I think there's a different market out there now and a totally different types of shows to compete with. This new program needed to be different but still, the desire was there to pay tribute to Fred Rogers through his characters and his practices.

I'll share my thoughts in more detail on the blog later this week, but I think they've hit the nail right on the head here by not trying to recreate Mister Rogers' Neighborhood but rather using bits and pieces to carry on Fred's legacy to a new generation which is looking for something totally different.

The story did say Mr. McFeely will be an occasional character, definitely not as much as he was in MRN.

[Dais79]

I am going to pass out from excitement.  THIS IS AWESOME!!!  I am so excited that Mister Rogers message will reach more children!  How can I wait until fall 2012???

[OperaLover]

Quite ADORABLE sneak-preview!!

[Degeneration X The Owl]

I just realized, Prince Wednesday?  Wonder if it means Tuesday will have a sibling or will he be phased out.  And looks as though the jury is out for the Platypus.

[Eric S]

I'm both excited and a little sad about this. Excited in that I know FCI will do a great job in instilling the show with Fred's values and lessons. The sad part is just the fanboy in me who knows that in a few years, kids will know these characters more from this new show than from the old, but of course realistically the old show was disappearing and there was a good chance of not knowing the characters at all.  So apparently Daniel and the original puppet characters are all adults, and the show features a new generation- interesting. In some ways that sidesteps the problem of having to have anyone come in and recreate Fred's voices, though I'm sure they would have found passable imitations. I wonder if it's a mistake in the article where it mentions Prince Wednesday being child of King Friday and Queen Sara- could it be that they meant Grandchild and Tuesday is now King? Frankly I'd be more interested to continue to see King Friday and to heck with Tuesday. Oh well- I can't believe that this is still a year away though!