PBS Celebrates Mister Rogers Birthday With ‘Mister Rogers & Me’ Documentary [Video]

PBS will be airing a new documentary this week to celebrate children’s TV host Mister Rogers who would have turned 84 today.

“Mister Rogers & Me” examines the relationship Fred Rogers relationship with MTV producer Benjamin Wagner, who lived in a summer home in Nantucket next door to America’s neighbor.

Wagner writes at MTV:

“In 15 years at MTV News, I’ve interviewed some of my biggest rock heroes: Bono, The Edge, Michael Stipe, Neil Young. But it’s a sensitive septuagenarian singing “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood” who I count as my most rock and roll hero.”

Wagner said that the documentary was inspired by a conversation that he had with Rogers after the TV host filmed his 900th episode. Rogers said:

“Deep and simple is far more essential than shallow and complex.”

Wagner wrote, produced, directed, shot, and edited “Mr. Rogers & Me” and today, more than 10 years after they first met, the film is being released. “Mr. Rogers & Me” is currently on DVD, iTunes, and certain PBS affiliates.

Here’s a trailer for the new documentary.

And here’s a clip from Mr. Rogers that proves that he was a rock star.

If you’re a fan of Mr. Rogers you should read Wagner’s piece on the man on MTV. Wagner writes:

“Make no mistake, I’m down with distortion. I dig leather pants. And I’m all for guyliner. But sometimes rock and roll comes in a cardigan. And sometimes, that’s the most rockin’ move of all.”

Were you a fan of Mr. Rogers?