THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARCHIVE - All Things Mister Rogers

Episode 1484

Topic: Competition
Air Date: June 4, 1981
Previous Episode: 1483 - Competition
Next Episode: 1485 - Competition
Purchase/Stream: Amazon

As he arrives, Mister Rogers is tossing a football in the air. After changing into he sweater and sneakers, he shows a picture of himself with Pittsburgh Steelers football player Lynn Swann. Mister Rogers shows some video footage of Mr. Swann in action on the football field before revealing that Mr. Swann is also a practicing ballet dancer.

Visiting the Neighborhood dance studio, Mister Rogers meets ballet master Bob Davis who is teaching a class. Mr. Swann is running behind schedule so Mister Rogers watches the ballet class as he waits. Soon, Mr. Swann arrives wearing his full football uniform. Before talking about his interest in dance and giving a demonstration of his ballet skills, Mr. Swann shows Mister Rogers the various parts of his uniform and protective gear.

In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, everyone is finishing their drawings for the contest. Meanwhile, Lynn Swann and Bob Dog are sad after losing a football game. Lady Aberlin helps them to feel better by dancing their way to the castle.

At the castle, King Friday gives a new hint about the surprise prize leading participants to believe that the prize may have something to do with the weather. The Trolley delivers a message from the school where the children have prepared their drawings. While Ana's is very detailed and well done, it is clear that Daniel and Prince Tuesday's artistic abilities are not as strong. Back at castle, Corney submits his drawing of the Neighborhood which is made of pretzels.

Back at the house, Mister Rogers asks viewers how they might draw their own neighborhoods and suggests that "most of us draw what's important to us." Mister Rogers concludes by singing It's You I Like.

Notes

Following a Hall of Fame career in football, Lynn Swann has gone on to spend time as a broadcaster and also a successful political career. For more on the life and careers of Lynn Swann, read the entry about him on Wikipedia.

The dance studio featured in this episode is the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School.

As this episode draws to a close, Mister Rogers talks about things that are important to people. His comments at this point in the episode summarize what he found to be so imporant: "I was just thinking, what's most important to me are inside things. It's not the games that you play or the prizes you win that are really important to the poeple who love you most. It's you. You and your own feelings."

This episode is included on the DVD collection Mister Rogers Meets New Friends.

Appearing In This Episode

Guests

Bob Davis
Lynn Swann

Songs

Images

Episode Credits

With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Betty Aberlin, Charles Altman, Carole Muller, Bob Trow
Special Guest: Lynn Swann
Special Thanks To: Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School
Executive Producer: Fred Rogers
Produced and Directed by Hugh Martin
Associate Producer: Cathy Cohen
Music Director: John Costa

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