Episode 1739
Topic: Noisy and Quiet
Air Date: February 18, 1999
Previous Episode: 1738 - Noisy and Quiet
Next Episode: 1740 - Noisy and Quiet
Purchase/Stream: Amazon
Mister Rogers arrives with a card that shows a drawing of a fish on one side and the word "Fish" on the other. After showing the card to the fish in his aquarium, he shows another aquarium set up on his kitchen table. This aquarium belongs to Sylvia Earle who will be stopping by later. Mister Rogers remembers a time he and Ms. Earle went snorkeling. Looking at the fish in the new aquarium, Mister Rogers sings Peace and Quiet before Mr. McFeely stops by with a videotape for Ms. Earle.
Stepping outside, Mister Rogers waits quietly for Ms. Earle to arrives. As he waits, he concentrates on his breathing. Upon her arrival, Ms. Earle joins Mister Rogers in the kitchen where they place an underwater microphone in the new aquarium in hopes of hearing the fish. Unfortunately, the fish do not respond and Mister Rogers and Ms. Earle decide to move on to the video delivered by Mr. McFeely. The video features the underwater sounds made by various fish.
In the Neighborhoood of Make-Believe, Mayor Maggie is talking to King Friday about the constant drumming coming from the tree. Lady Aberlin arrives having changed from her outer space costume into a fish costume. She goes to the tree where she finds Bob Dog, still sworn to secrecy. Although he cannot talk about the secret he is keeping, he is able to shut off the drumming and inform Lady Aberlin of the whereabouts of X and Henrietta.
At the Museum-Go-Round, X and Henrietta are in the S Room (S for "scared" and "safe"). Lady Elaine shares that they are hiding from something they are afraid of -- something from outer space. As Lady Aberlin passes back by the tree, the drumming starts again. It stops after she mentions that she is only Lady Aberlin in a fish costume.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers talks about things on television that might be scary to young viewers. He suggests that young viewers can be strong by turning off scarey television.
Notes
There is probably little coincidence in the fact that the fish drawing shown at the beginning of this episode is similar to the ichthus symbol -- commonly referred to as the "Jesus Fish," a symbol of Christianity.
The time Mister Rogers spent snorkeling with Sylvia Earle was originally shown in Episode 1619.
The segment with the underwater microphone has become one of the better known segments of Mister Rogers Neighborhood. When the fish failed to respond to the food and produce any sort of underwater sounds, most people on the set assumed a reshoot was in order. Fred Rogers, however, chose to leave the segment as it was orginally filmed and use it as a lesson in patience and the appreciation of silence.
Appearing In This Episode
- Bob Dog
- King Friday XIII
- Lady Aberlin
- Lady Elaine Fairchilde
- Mayor Maggie
- Mister Rogers
- Mr. McFeely
- Prince Tuesday
Guests
- Sylvia Earle
Songs
Images
Episode Credits
With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Betty Aberlin, Sylvia Earle, Lenny Meledandri, David Newell, Maggie Stewart, Bob Trow
Special Thanks To: Phillip Lobel of the Boston University Marine Program
Executive Producer: Fred Rogers
Producer: Margaret Whitmer
Director: Bob Walsh
Editor: Susan Howard
Associate Producer: Michael Johnson
Music Directors: John Costa, Michael Moricz
Produced in association with WQED/Pittsburgh
A production of Family Communications
© 1999 Family Communications, Inc.