I hardly ever watched him because I lived close enough to Windsor to get the show of one of his proteges, Mr. Dressup. I used to watch that every morning before Canadian Sesame Street.
Mr. Dressup had one intangible skill that I've never seen in any other kiddie show host: Whether he was interacting with crude shrill-voiced puppets and talking paintings, or somehow changing into a different pair of pants he got out of the tickle-trunk without removing his work-boots, or singing "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" in a clown suit, he just seemed like the most normal, natural guy on earth.
Maybe it's just how infrequently I watched Mr. Rogers by comparison, but something about him and his whole show just seemed creepy and desolate. I know children's television owes him a huge debt, and Mr. Dressup would likely never have gotten his show started without Mr. Rogers' guidance, so please don't flame me. Maybe the handfull of his shows I caught were just his off-days, but I've spoken to others who share my opinion.
OK, I used to imitate the trolley's theme music on my mom's piano. I guess it's impossible to dislike his show entirely.
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No one in the world ever gets what they want,
and that is beautiful.
Everybody dies frustrated and sad,
and that is beautiful.
-TMBG