SkyWire Digital Magazine

by Daniel Andrade Courtesy of Big Beach Films For those of us who grew up in the 90s, many fun and educational programs come to mind that were emblematic of our childhood and that displayed the true potential of public television. Sesame Street , Barney , Reading Rainbow , Bill Nye the Science Guy , Wishbone , and many more served as our unofficial babysitters at times, exposing us to the world in a way that we could understand as children and empowering our natural curiosity. But one show ushered them in and made them all possible, and that was Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood . Hosted by the soft-spoken and sensitive Fred Rogers, this show was not afraid to treat children like adults-in-the-making, delving into complex and often heavy topics like death, divorce, and war. Whatever the topic, Mr. Rogers looked straight through the camera and into all of us and reminded us that it’s ok to be mad, sad, and confused, and that we would find a way to get through this. He reminded each a...