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CNN Live At Daybreak
A Sad Day in the Neighborhood
Aired February 27, 2003 - 05:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: If you're just waking up, it is a sad day in the neighborhood. TV host Fred Rogers died overnight after a brief battle with stomach cancer.
CNN's Michael Okwu takes a look back at the man who touched the lives of so many children.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRED MCFEELY ROGERS: It's a beautiful day in this neighbor, a beautiful day for a neighbor...
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fred McFeely Rogers started his television career as an assistant producer in 1951 and ultimately became one of the most trusted and respected faces in children's programming. His work in the children's arena didn't begin until 1953, when he was hired by the public TV station WQED in Pittsburgh.
There, he developed, produced and provided puppet voices for "The Children's Corner," a locally produced show where some of his now famous puppet characters were born.
ROGERS: Queen Sarah and Lady Evenly, I presume.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Correct, as usual.
OKWU: But his world of make believe truly became a reality in 1968, when his series "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" was made available to PBS affiliates.
ROGERS: It's such a happy feeling. You're growing inside...
OKWU: Rogers studied music composition in college, which later helped him write songs for his show. In 1962, he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister, with a charge to continue his work with children and families through the media. He lived up to that charge. Over the years, he spoke candidly to children about heavy topics like death, divorce and the anxieties of growing up.
His aim was also to help parents. In 1981, he produced a visionary documentary about helping children understand violence in the news.
ROGERS: All over the world, there's so much violence in the news. I felt it was urgent to talk with families about it.
OKWU: A decade later, Rogers took on the Persian Gulf crisis in a series of PSAs telling parents how to talk to their kids about war.
ROGERS: Children aren't responsible for wars. The least and the best we adults can do is to let our children know that we'll take good care of them no matter what.
OKWU: In 1993, Rogers was honored for 25 years of hosting the longest running children's program on public TV. At that time, he had a message for TV programmers everywhere.
ROGERS: We have to remember to whom the air waves belong and we must put as great an emphasis on the nurturing of the human personality as we can.
OKWU: Over the years, Rogers played host to many famous guests, include President Clinton on a Disney Channel special.
ROGERS: These are some questions that children from around the country asked me to ask you.
OKWU: A link to the president, a voice of calm reason, a grownup with answers, Fred Rogers was a small screen pioneer who played big role in bringing up the TV generation.
ROGERS: Please won't you be my neighbor?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 27, 2003 - 05:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: If you're just waking up, it is a sad day in the neighborhood. TV host Fred Rogers died overnight after a brief battle with stomach cancer.
CNN's Michael Okwu takes a look back at the man who touched the lives of so many children.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRED MCFEELY ROGERS: It's a beautiful day in this neighbor, a beautiful day for a neighbor...
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fred McFeely Rogers started his television career as an assistant producer in 1951 and ultimately became one of the most trusted and respected faces in children's programming. His work in the children's arena didn't begin until 1953, when he was hired by the public TV station WQED in Pittsburgh.
There, he developed, produced and provided puppet voices for "The Children's Corner," a locally produced show where some of his now famous puppet characters were born.
ROGERS: Queen Sarah and Lady Evenly, I presume.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Correct, as usual.
OKWU: But his world of make believe truly became a reality in 1968, when his series "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" was made available to PBS affiliates.
ROGERS: It's such a happy feeling. You're growing inside...
OKWU: Rogers studied music composition in college, which later helped him write songs for his show. In 1962, he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister, with a charge to continue his work with children and families through the media. He lived up to that charge. Over the years, he spoke candidly to children about heavy topics like death, divorce and the anxieties of growing up.
His aim was also to help parents. In 1981, he produced a visionary documentary about helping children understand violence in the news.
ROGERS: All over the world, there's so much violence in the news. I felt it was urgent to talk with families about it.
OKWU: A decade later, Rogers took on the Persian Gulf crisis in a series of PSAs telling parents how to talk to their kids about war.
ROGERS: Children aren't responsible for wars. The least and the best we adults can do is to let our children know that we'll take good care of them no matter what.
OKWU: In 1993, Rogers was honored for 25 years of hosting the longest running children's program on public TV. At that time, he had a message for TV programmers everywhere.
ROGERS: We have to remember to whom the air waves belong and we must put as great an emphasis on the nurturing of the human personality as we can.
OKWU: Over the years, Rogers played host to many famous guests, include President Clinton on a Disney Channel special.
ROGERS: These are some questions that children from around the country asked me to ask you.
OKWU: A link to the president, a voice of calm reason, a grownup with answers, Fred Rogers was a small screen pioneer who played big role in bringing up the TV generation.
ROGERS: Please won't you be my neighbor?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
