Episode 1478
Topic: Divorce
Air Date: February 18, 1981
Previous Episode: 1477 - Divorce
Next Episode: 1479 - Divorce
Purchase/Stream: Amazon
Mister Rogers has an idea to use blocks to build a garage. After he's done, he shows a model of an electric car before he takes time to remember a day when he visited a place where electric cars are made. Back at the house, Mister Rogers takes the Trolley off its track to show that it also has wheels.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, everyone is searching for Prince Tuesday. When he is found at Daniel's clock, Prince Tuesday does not want to come home. At the school, Prince Tuesday continues to express his feelings of worry and sadness over the possibility of his parents divorcing.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers is visited by Jeff Erlanger, a young boy in an electric wheel chair who talks openly about his physical handicaps. Jeff demonstrates how his chair works before he and Mister Rogers sing It's You I Like.
Notes
Unlike other episodes from the post-1979 era, the opening does not show text of the week's topic.
This episode contains what is quite possibly the most famous Mister Rogers moment of all time. The interaction between Fred Rogers and Jeff Erlanger is a perfect example the influence this man had on young people and the comfort they felt in his presence. Every time I watch this episode, I am amazed by Jeff Erlanger as he talks about some difficult issues in front of a television camera and shares a song with Mister Rogers.
In this episode, Daniel Tiger has a parrot pencil box, Ana Platypus has a pirate box, and Prince Tuesday has the Tiger box.
In 2021, artist Forrest Young created a sketch of Mister Rogers and Jeff Erlanger using only the lyrics from It's You I Like.
Jeff Erlanger was on hand to welcome Fred Rogers into the TV Hall of Fame in 1999. Bringing tears to the eyes of audience members and viewers at home, this reunion was as touching as it gets.
This episode is included on the DVD Kindness Collection.
Sadly, Jeff Erlanger passed away in 2007 at the age of 36. For more about Jeff, please feel free to visit the links below:
- Remembering Jeff Erlanger - The Daily Page - Madison, WI
- Obituary - Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Pittsburgh, PA
- The Jeff Erlanger Award - City of Madison - Madison, WI
Appearing In This Episode
- Ana Platypus
- Daniel Striped Tiger
- Handyman Negri
- Harriett Elizabeth Cow
- Lady Aberlin
- Miss Paulificate
- Mister Rogers
- Prince Tuesday
Guests
- Jeff Erlanger
Songs
Images
Episode Credits
With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Betty Aberlin, Charles Altman, Jeff Erlanger, Carole Muller, Joe Negri, Audrey Roth, Bob Trow
Special thanks to: Electric Vehicles Industries
Executive Producer: Fred Rogers
Produced and Directed by Hugh Martin
Associate Producer: Cathy Cohen
Music Director: John Costa
Produced in association with WQED/Pittsburgh
A production of Family Communications
© 1981 Family Communications, Inc.