‘That’s part of the genius of Fred.’ Mister Rogers’ friend to share his life lessons in Bradenton

Life can be difficult and complicated, but it can also be rewarding and beautiful. Fred Rogers, known by many as the host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” offered his support to children and families with every 30-minute episode, and his life lessons are coming to Bradenton during a free community event.

Hedda Sharapan met Rogers in 1965, before the show first aired. They shared a passion for the healthy development of children, a bond that led Sharapan to become an assistant director and later an assistant producer for the renowned television series.

Sharapan will lead a conversation — “What We Can Continue To Learn from Fred Rogers” — during a Jan. 30 event at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W. The free event is hosted by leaders at the Manatee Community Foundation, and registration is available on the organization’s website, ManateeCF.org.

“I’m going to show some treasured videos and explore with the audience, what can we take away from this?” Sharapan said. “Each one has its own layers of wisdom.”

Early experiences are carried into adulthood, informing the way people react to obstacles and victories. While “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” was technically a children’s TV show, it offered timeless insight for people of all ages, Sharapan said.

Rogers tackled important and often confusing aspects of life, whether it be relationships or emotions. And he delivered each lesson through songs, activities and gentle conversations, making it easy for viewers to digest.

“That’s part of the genius of Fred,” she explained. “He was able to take these complex issues and offer it in such a simple, meaningful way.”

She then pointed to one of Rogers’ most impactful songs: “What Do You Do With the Mad That You Feel?” It dealt with the uncomfortable feeling of anger, and the empowering feeling that comes with maintaining control.

“What do you do with the mad that you feel, when you feel so mad you could bite?” Rogers sang. “When the whole wide world seems oh-so wrong and nothing you do seems very right. What do you do? Do you punch a bag? Do you pound some clay or some dough?”

“It’s great to be able to stop when you’ve planned a thing that’s wrong, and be able to do something else instead,” the song continues.

Rogers shared the song during his testimony before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communications in 1969. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was about to suffer a budget cut, and Rogers successfully appealed to Sen. John Pastore, securing $20 million and the future of public media.

“I’m supposed to be a pretty tough guy, and this is the first time I’ve had goose bumps for the last two days,” the senator remarked.

As he explained during the testimony, Rogers was unhappy with the state of television. He had enough of people firing guns and tossing pies in each other’s faces.

Rogers brought something authentic and meaningful into people’s homes, Sharapan said. There was often trouble in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, a fictional kingdom in Rogers’ show, and viewers could watch the characters work through an issue over a week of episodes.

“You didn’t have to solve a problem in eight minutes,” Sharapan said. “You watched people struggle and try different things.”

The show also had a way of feeling interactive, she continued. Viewers felt like Rogers was talking with them, not at them, when he asked questions and offered a moment of silence.

Silence is often avoided in television or radio, but Rogers used it as a tool. The silence allowed people to digest his questions and to feel like their own opinions and feelings mattered.

“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” ended on Aug. 31, 2001, and the host died less than two years later, at the age of 74. His passions and lessons were carried on by people like Sharapan, a senior fellow for the Fred Rogers Center, and a consultant for Fred Rogers Productions.

Sharapan helped to archive the show and its messages at misterrogers.org, and on Thursday afternoon, she hopes to share a bit of Rogers’ magic with the people of Manatee County.

“Fred Rogers would not refer to it as a show,” she said. “He referred to it as a television visit.”

This story was originally published January 25, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "‘That’s part of the genius of Fred.’ Mister Rogers’ friend to share his life lessons in Bradenton."