Mr. Rogers, secular saint

Fred Rogers is the closest thing television has to a patron saint.

No other figure has advocated so powerfully for television as an educational medium. A young Rogers single-handedly saved PBS from federal budget cuts, testifying before a Senate committee and defending his televised “expression of care” over against the recent glut of violent cartoons. After Rogers recited the lyrics of “What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel?”, the committee chair gushed, “I think it’s wonderful. Looks like you just earned the $20 million [federal grant].”

As an performer, Fred Rogers modeled remarkable compassion. One episode of the Neighborhood, in particular, illustrates Rogers’ on-screen demeanor.[1] In a segment filmed in 1980, Rogers kneels to chat with Jeff Erlanger, an affable ten-year-old quadriplegic. Rogers marvels at Jeff’s electric chair, invites him to discuss his disability openly, and joins him in a song. It’s a charming moment; Rogers listens intently, interrupting Jeff only to add a word of praise or admiration. Just try not to tear up when Mr. Rogers launches into “It’s You I Like.” Or when, decades later, Erlanger surprises Rogers at his induction into the TV Hall of Fame.[2]

As childhood heroes fall left and right, I’m tempted to brace myself for some horrifying postmortum accusation against Fred Rogers. For some rumor to tarnish his spotless legacy as a tireless advocate for educational media and for children’s well-being.

But in the decade since Rogers’ death, no such story has broken.[3] The closest thing to a “scandal” was a ridiculous Fox News segment that accused Mr. Rogers of over-coddling kids, blaming him for young people’s sense of entitlement.

If Rogers’ worst secret is that he made kids feel too good about themselves, then he’s done pretty well.