Mildly distressing...

[icewolf]

Okay, so Herself watches about three shows every morning on PBS Kids (or, rather, they're on in the background while I chase around after her).

One of the station promo shots is of Fred Rogers.

No, you're not misremembering, Mr. Rogers passed away some years ago.

Now, I'm sure they wouldn't be using his image without his family/estate's permission, and, given the message of the spot (childhood is scarier than most grownups remember, and PBS shows can help them with that) I can certainly imagine Fred being okay with it. It's probably been used for years. But still. It's creepy. It's getting to a point where I'm considering writing a letter.

Comments

[chickenhat.livejournal.com]

98 Rock uses the voice of Lopez for their station ID (with an added "angelic choir" in the background). I actually find it comforting that they remember him that way and keep his voice on the air after he's passed away.

Fred Rogers was SO integral to the PBS children's show culture that it seems right to keep his show on as well as his image in the promos. Even if he's not aired on your local station, he's still part of the PBS promo.

http://pbskids.org/rogers

I have to go now, there's something in my eye...

See here is where you and I disagree.

[the-mithril-man.livejournal.com]

You think he's dead. Silly, silly girl

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood will probably continue in reruns for as long there is a PBS. (This is now true of many other shows too, given the existence of cable channels such as TV Land.)

I'm not sure what policies networks and stations have about airing *spots* featuring deceased celebrities. A am also nut sure how creepy I would find it, were I in your position. (As it is, I haven't watched much TV at all since I moved to No.Va., and don't watch *any* at home now.)

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

I'd have to see the spot to see why you find it creepy.
(I remember distinctly asking my 3 and 4 year old brothers if they understood that the animated Spider-man was not real, that is that not only did it depict events that didn't happen, but what they were seeing on the screen was not real people... they insisted that it *was* real people.. once you come up against that, somehow the idea that children might thing Fred Rogers is alive in the TV network seems less disturbing.)