MISTER ROGERS: IT'S YOU I LIKE Premieres March 2018 on PBS

MISTER ROGERS: IT'S YOU I LIKE, a celebrity-filled, hour-long special that premieres on PBS stations in March 2018 (check local listings), 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 production, 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."

Michael Keaton, who worked as a stagehand and made appearances on the series in the 1970s, hosts the special. Judd Apatow, Joyce DiDonato, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Kratt, John Lithgow, Yo-Yo Ma and son Nicholas Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Sarah Silverman,Esperanza 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 The Fred Rogers Company are executive producers.

PBS special programming invites viewers to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making PBS programs possible. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content.
Underwriters: Public Television Viewers and PBS

Producer/Presenting Station: The Fred Rogers Company/TPT

50th Anniversary Mister Rogers' Neighborhood / DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD Theme Week on PBS KIDS

Just prior to the upcoming special premiering on PBS next month, PBS Kids will mark the 50th anniversary milestone with a week-long programming event featuring back-to-back episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and award-winning animated spin-off DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD from The Fred Rogers Company. The broadcast event takes place throughout the week of February 26 and will include a new episode of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, as well as a special PBS Kids Family Night on the 24/7 channel and live streamMarch 2-4. Each day, PBS Kids will pair DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD episodes with the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood episodes that inspired them, with complementary themes such as dealing with loss and coping with angry feelings. Episodes include:

• February 26: DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD "Daniel's Fish Dies/Daniel's Strawberry Seeds" (NEW) and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood "Death of a Goldfish"

• February 27: DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD "The Tiger Family Grows/Daniel Learns About Being a Big Brother" and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood "Families"
• February 28: DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD "Visiting Grandpere/The Tiger Family Goes Home" and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood "Grandparents"
• March 1: DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD "Friends Help Each Other/Daniel Helps O Tell a Story" and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood "Friends"
• March 2: DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD "Daniel Gets Mad/Katerina Gets Mad" and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood "Mad Feelings"

About PBS

PBS, with nearly 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 100 million people through television and nearly 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. TEACHERS of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS' premier children's media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS Kids offers high-quality educational content on TV - including a new 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

About The Fred Rogers Company
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. The Fred Rogers Company continues to build on Fred's legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media, and engaging new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The Company's highly-rated, award-winning children's series include Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, and Odd Squad. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org

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