Saturday Night Live

NBC's long-running sketch comedy show has been no stranger to Neighborhood parodies over the years.

Dr. Jekyll and Mister Rogers

Season 3 - Episode 15 - March 23, 1978

A new horror film stars Vincent Price who plays the part of Dr. Henry Jekyll -- a scientist who chemically changes himself into Mister Rogers.

Mister Robinson's Neighborhood

Actor/comedian Eddie Murphy frequenly portrayed the part of Mister Robinson on Saturday Night Live. Mister Robinson often took advantage of his neighbors and found any opportunity he could to gain a financial advantage.

According to the Fred Rogers Company:

In 1982, Fred Rogers was at Rockefeller Center in New York and had just finished taping a segment of Late Night With David Letterman. According to David Newell, who accompanied Fred on the trip, staff suggested Fred stop by the set of Saturday Night Live, which taped on the building's ninth floor and meet Eddie Murphy. Mr. Murphy did a very popular parody of the Neighborhood called Mister Robinson's Neighborhood. Fred said he enjoyed Eddie Murphy's work on the show and as his own alter ego and agreed to go up and tell him that.

As David Newell relates, "Fred knocked on Eddie's dressing room door. When Eddie opened it, he took a step back, surprised, then got a big smile on his face and said 'The REAL Mister Rogers' and hugged Fred."

Season 6 - Episode 11 - February 21, 1981

Mister Robinson is visited by Mr. Speedy, the delivery man, before he takes a trip to the "wonderful magic city of fantasy."

Season 7 - Episode 3 - October 17, 1981

Mr. Landlord serves Mister Robinson an eviction notice followed by a visit to the "magical land of make-believe" where a group of disgruntled citizens ask questions of the President.

Season 7 - Episode 11 - February 6, 1982

Mr. Landlord has shut off the heat, so Mister Robinson sets out to teach him a lesson. [Images courtesy of bendouwsma.com]

Season 8 - Episode 2 - October 2, 1982

Mister Robinson plays the drums loudly before he is visited by his angry neighbor, Mr. T. [Images courtesy of snltranscripts.jt.org]

Season 8 - Episode 20 - May 14, 1983

Mister Robinson has stolen car radios and jewelry in his neighborhood and plans to sell the items for some extra summer income.

Season 9 - Episode 2 - October 15, 1983

Mister Robinson finds a special delivery from his "old friend Juanita" -- a basket with a baby inside.

Season 9 - Episode 5 - November 12, 1983

Mister Robinson has come from the grocery store where he has stolen a bag of food.

Season 9 - Episode 10 - January 21, 1984

Mister Robinson arrives with a dog he has stolen and plans to hold for a ransom payment.

Season 10 - Episode 9 - December 15, 1985

Mister Robinson arrives in a Santa suit and explains that he uses a Salvation Army bucket and bell to scam people out of money. He also replaces the head on a baby doll with a head of cabbage resulting in, of course, a "cabbage patch doll."

Season 45 - Episode 10 - December 21, 2019

Mister Robinson, still living in the same apartment after 30+ years, has experienced the gentrification of his neighborhood.

In 2018, the Museum of Broadcasting in Chicago hosted a special SNL exhibit featuring one of the sweaters used in "Mister Robinson's Neighbohrood."

[Photos by Scott Schilbe]