THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARCHIVE - All Things Mister Rogers

Episode 1361

Air Date: April 8, 1974
Previous Episode: 1360
Next Episode: 1362

Upon his arrival, Mister Rogers mentions that Chef Brockett and Mrs. McFeely will be making waffles at the McFeely's. After showing a list of ingredients, Mister Rogers takes viewers to the kitchen where he shows each of the individual items that are needed in order to make waffles. Making a quick call to the McFeely's to be sure Chef Brockett has arrived, Mister Rogers is asked to bring along some syrup. Out of syrup, Mister Rogers decides to bring strawberry jelly instead.

At the McFeely's, Chef Brockett prepares the waffle iron and adds some batter before he sings I'm a Chef. As the song finishes, so does the waffle. Mister Rogers cuts it into four pieces -- one Chef Brockett, one for Mrs. McFeely, one for himself, and one to save for Mr. McFeely. Peanut butter and jelly are the toppings of choice for Mister Rogers. As he takes his first bite, Mister Rogers pays compliment to Chef Brockett by singing a few lines of Good Feeling with a slight change to the lyrics: "It's such a good waffle. A very good waffle."

Back at the house, Mister Rogers talks about the different things that might be used to top a waffle and alters yet another of his songs: "There are many ways, to top a waffle." He then shows a film of people making maple syrup.

In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Chef Brockett is at the castle with Edgar Cooke and some fresh waffles. Donkey Hodie and Harriett Elizabeth Cow have had a meeting with King Friday and the King has asked Chef Brockett and Edgar Cooke to make waffles for an upcoming event at Someplace Else. With maple syrup running low, Chef Brockett sets out to find some more. Sure enough, Lady Elaine Fairchilde is willing to help as she commits to having maple syrup ready for Someplace Else.

After make-believe, Mister Rogers uses a bottle and water to show the meaning of half-full, full, and empty before he sings Many Ways To Say I Love You.

Notes

There were several instances during this episode where the dialogue between cast members and characters is especially interesting. The first two came during the conversations between Mister Rogers, Chef Brockett, and Mrs. McFeely. After spending the first several minutes of the program describing the ingredients used in making waffles, Mister Rogers tries to remind viewers of this as Mrs. McFeely shows the waffle batter she and Chef Brockett have made. Mrs. McFeely responds by saying: "We used a mix. But it has all of those kinds of things in there." While this may have been intended to show that there is more than one way to make waffles, I found her comment to be very odd and quite out of place -- especially after the first segment of the episode had been all about waffle ingredients.

Just moments later, after Chef Brockett has finished singing I'm a Chef, the following dialogue takes place:

Chef Brockett: Cause it's my kitchen.
Mrs. McFeely: But you don't have to be quiet in here.
CB: You like a noisy kitchen, Mrs. McFeely?
MM: I love a noisy kitchen. I love a kitchen full of people talking. Even singing. Thank you for singing in my kitchen today. And for making waffles.
CB: Do you turn up the radio in your kitchen and sing along with it?
MM: Sometimes I turn up the radio. Sometimes I turn up me. And I just sing and sing.
Mister Rogers: How's it sound Mrs. McFeely?
MM: It sounds very good to me.
MR: It'd sound good to me. I'd like to hear you sing.
MM: Well...Some other day.

In print, this may not seem especially interesting; however, if you watch this episode, you can hear a sense of resignation in Mrs. McFeely's voice. Almost as if to say, "This ad-lib has gone on long enough. Let's talk about waffles before you make me sing."

Finally, I was entertained by Chef Brockett as he goes in search of maple syrup in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. After talking with Grandpere, he stops by to see if Henrietta or X has any syrup. As one would expect in conversation with Henrietta, her dialogue is laced with "meows." As the threesome discuss the mystery surrounding the upcoming event in Someplace Else, Henrietta speaks the following line of dialogue: "Meow meow meow meow meow." For a very split second, there seems to be a a sense of confusion on the face of Chef Brockett before he quickly replies, "I imagine." Quick thinking, Chef.

Appearing In This Episode

Songs

Images

Episode Credits

With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Don Brockett, Betsy Nadas, Joe Negri, Audrey Roth
How Maple Syrup is Made courtesy of Campbell Films
Directed By Bill Moates
Music Director: John Costa

Produced by Family Communications, Inc. in association with WQED, Pittsburgh

The people who gave the money to make this television visit are the people of The Sears Roebuck Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

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