Tuesday, October 2, 2018

PBS Distribution Releases Heart Warming Documentary Today on DVD -- "Mister Rogers: It's You I Like" (Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent a screener from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.


A HEARTFELT TRIBUTE TO THE BELOVED
CHILDREN’S TELEVISION SERIES 


Available on Digital September 3
Available on DVD October 2


Nominated for two Emmy Awards – Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
and Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program




Did you grow up watching Mister Rogers on TV?  I used to love tuning in every day with my brothers and mother to watch his show on PBS.  I couldn't wait to see what he would talk about, and loved seeing him take off his shoes and put on his comfy sneakers, and swap out sweaters.  And, whenever trolley came into his house, you knew you were going to go on a fun adventure around the neighborhood.  

If you loved Mister Rogers, and you hold a special place in your heart for this iconic television series, which premiered back in 1968 and had nearly 900 episodes aired over the run of the series, then you will want to check out this new DVD from PBS Distribution, "MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE."  This is a 60-minute retrospective hosted by Michael Keaton,and featuring many famous celebrities like Sarah Silverman, John Lithgow, Whoopi Goldberg and Christ Kratt, to name a few, who share memories of this show.  I live in the quiet corner of CT and we are lucky enough to have Caroll Spinney live in the next town over with his wife.  He is a cartoonist, and also played Big Bird and Oscar the Crouch on Sesame Street. He still paints and draws pictures of these beloved Sesame Street characters and displays and sells them in downtown Putnam for fans to admire and purchase.  My husband bought me a drawing Carroll Spinney did, when we welcomed our first daughter, and the drawing of Big Bird is still up in our oldest daughter's room.  So, being a fan of his, I was happy to see him on this DVD sharing his memories of this show.

In addition to celebrities sharing their favorite memories of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, this tribute film also has Joe Negri (who played Handyman Negri), David Newell (who played Mr. McFeely), and Fred Rogers' wife, Joanne, sharing personal stories, which makes this DVD that much more special to watch and enjoy.  If you loved Fred Rogers, and welcomed him and his friends into your home as a child, as you gathered round the television, then you will want to watch this new release, which also includes over 30 minutes of bonus video and archival musical performances from Tony Bennett, Yo-Yo Ma an so many others.  This is definitely one of my favorite tribute videos, and one I will watch time and again.

More about this new DVD release:

"MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE,” is a celebrity-filled special that celebrates MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD, the pioneering PBS series that premiered nationally 50 years ago and became an iconic and enduring landmark in the world of children’s television and beyond. Cast members from the groundbreaking series share their personal perspectives and insights in this new program, which pays tribute to television’s longest-running children’s series, still broadcast on many PBS stations today. The program also features interviews with numerous celebrities who have been influenced and inspired by Fred Rogers, a modest man who always said, “I am not a teacher, I simply help children learn.”

MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE” will be available on Digital September 3 and on DVD ($19.99 SRPOctober 2, 2018. The program has a run time of approximately 60 minutes.

Michael Keaton, who worked as a stagehand and made appearances on the series in the 1970s, hosts the special. Judd ApatowJoyce DiDonatoWhoopi GoldbergChris KrattJohn LithgowYo-Yo Ma and son Nicholas MaItzhak PerlmanSarah SilvermanEsperanza Spalding and Caroll Spinney reveal their favorite memories from MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD, while Joe Negri (“Handyman Negri”), David Newell (“Mr. McFeely”) and Joanne Rogers, Fred’s widow, share their personal stories. Also featured are performances from the archives by Tony Bennett, The Empire Brass Quintet, Hillary Hahn, Margaret Hamilton,
Yo-Yo Ma and Nicholas, Wynton Marsalis, and Perlman.

The nearly 900 episodes created by Fred Rogers encompass topics that resonate to this day with adults and children alike. Favorite segments, such as a visit with Koko the Gorilla, Big Bird’s appearance in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe as well as trips to the Crayola Factory and the Radio Flyer Wagon Company, are highlighted. 

MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE” is produced by JoAnn Young (JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala, Oscar Hammerstein: Out of My Dreams) and John Paulson (JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala and A Raisin in the Sun Revisited). Ellen Doherty and Kevin Morrison of Fred Rogers Productions are executive producers."

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About Fred Rogers Productions
The company was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it not only created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program, but also extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health and supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated, award-winning children’s series include Daniel Tiger’s NeighborhoodPeg + CatOdd Squad, and Through the Woods. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About PBS Distribution
PBS Distribution is a leading distributor of public media content around the world, reaching audiences through multiple platforms including digital distribution of OTT branded channels, TVOD, SVOD and VOD, as well as through theatrical licensing, DVD and Blu-ray sales, inflight entertainment and international licensing.  

PBS Distribution offers consumers and educators over 4,000 programming hours of the highest quality factual, scripted and children’s programming, including films from producer Ken Burns, hit dramas from MASTERPIECE, entertaining and educational children’s series and award-winning documentaries from NOVA, FRONTLINE, AMERICAN MASTERS, NATURE, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and many independent producers. For over 20 years, the company has extended the reach of programming beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system, stations and producers.

Follow PBS Distribution on Facebook and Twitter.

MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE
Street Date: October 2, 2018
Genre: Documentary
Run Time: Approximately 60 minutes on 1 disc
SRP: DVD, $19.99
Format: DVD and Digital

Disclosure:  I was sent a screener from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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