It’s a beautiful day in to make new friends! For the first time ever, Daniel Tiger and Donkey Hodie meet in Someplace Else in a brand-new, special crossover event. To celebrate these iconic shows coming together, we’ve put together a special selection of classic Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood episodes this month, featuring Daniel Striped Tiger (now Dad Tiger) and Donkey Hodie (now Grampy Hodie).
***
Mister Rogers arrives with a large suitcase filled with the puppets from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. After talking about how some things are only pretend, Mister Rogers takes out each of the puppets and shows that he is the one that makes them move and talk. He then shows a film featuring some behind-the-scenes footage of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
At Bob Trow’s workshop, Mr. Trow takes a break from repairing a washer and dryer to show that he his behind the voice and movement of Harriett Elizabeth Cow. Mister Rogers then works with Mr. Trow to learn how the potato washer-dryer-sorter-dumper works.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Bob Dog and Francois Clemmons are taking pictures of one another when Lady Elaine shows up in the background. After seeing their pictures, Lady Elaine reveals that she is starting her own television station — MGR-TV. Inside the Museum-Go-Round, Lady Elaine shows off her new studio. The new camera is delivered by Yoshi Ito and Lady Elaine puts her new station on the air. Her first broadcast includes an interview with and dance peformance by Bob Dog. This is followed by Francois Clemmons and Yoshi Ito singing Pretending.
Thank you to our neighbors who continue to help us build on Fred Rogers’ legacy, and a special thanks to the Nimick Forbesway Foundation for matching all donations. https://www.fredrogers.org/
Mister Rogers visits a first-grade classroom, and the teacher shows some of the things children will find in first grade, like desks. Mister Rogers talks about learning – and how important it is for children to want to learn. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Lady Elaine Fairchilde thinks she is helping Prince Tuesday get ready for school, but mostly she is making him afraid.
Oops! Mister Rogers forgot about a meeting and finds a way to deal with his mistake. There’s a factory video of how people make erasers and in Make-Believe a skunk is visiting. When startled, he spews his smell throughout the Neighborhood. Lady Aberlin tries to help fix the skunk’s mistake, and Daniel confides in her that he worries that maybe he’s a mistake because he’s not like other tigers. In this memorable Make-Believe she reassures him through words and song that he’s fine just the way he is.No one is a mistake.
Mister Rogers shows how to make different sounds using bottles filled with water. At Betty’s Little Theatre, The Mississippi Fife and Drum Corps folk musicians explain their instruments and play a song. In The Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Daniel Tiger feels forgotten, and finds what helps when a friend makes you sad.
Mister Rogers uses empty milk cartons, oatmeal boxes and other household cast-offs to create a miniature sandbox village. He explains that getting to be friends is like building bridges. Although friends often have hard or sad times, they can also build a stronger and stronger friendship each time they are together. It’s raining in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe where the neighbors are finding their own ways to be peaceful together.
Watch full-length Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood programs. The first Monday of every month will feature programs from the early years 1968-1975. The third Monday of every month will feature programs from the “Theme Weeks” library 1979-2001.
Looking for more Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood episodes? Find them here:
