MRN Schedule 2/19/68 - 9/4/09

[mitsguy2001]

12/24 - 12/28/84: 1531 - 1535 (Grandparents) (Christmas/New Year's opera. And interestingly enough they'd have an opera at that time of year until 1994)
12/31/84 - 1/4/85: 1516 - 1520 (Daycare & Night Care) (this became the New Year's annual occasion week, later replaced with 1611 - 1615 (When Parents Go to Work), also about daycare, though what daycare has to do with New Year's is a mystery
1/7 - 1/11/85: 1511 - 1515 (Games)
1/14 - 1/18/85: 1521 - 1525 (Conflict)
1/21 - 1/25/85: 1526 - 1530 (Work)
1/28 - 2/1/85: 1501 - 1505 (Creativity) (Yes, it's an opera, but not the Friday before any holiday, except Groundhog Day which isn't as big a holiday like other holidays for which this tradition has been followed)

What they did was swap Grandparents and Creativity.  Notice that week that Creativity aired is the week that Grandparents would have aired if it had aired in its proper position.

3/4 - 3/8/85: 1271 - 1285
3/11 - 3/15/85: 1286 - 1290

What you mean is:
3/4 - 3/8: 1271-1275
3/11 - 3/15: 1276-1280
3/18 - 3/22: 1281-1285
3/25 - 3/29: 1286-1290

10/28 - 11/1/85: 1541 - 1545 (No & Yes) (it was basically switched with 1476 - 1480 (Divorce), as seen in February, for reasons unknown. Maybe it has to do with the fact that 1480 deals with travel, and it aired President's Week when a lot of kids are on vacation, and interestingly enough also that's the week it debuted in 1981. Although that was the last time it aired President's Week. And even without the switch, Divorce would air one week early.

I think it was so that Betty and James's wedding (No and Yes) would air before they adopted Carrie Dell (Families).

12/23 - 12/27/85: 1531 - 1535 (Grandparents) (For this, same explanation as 1984)
12/30/85 - 1/3/86: 1511 - 1515 (Games)
1/6 - 1/10/86: 1516 - 1520 (Daycare & Night Care) (interestingly enough, both at its annual occasion time and in its proper position!)
1/13 - 1/17/86: 1526 - 1530 (Work) (therefore, switched with 1521 - 1525 (Conflict) for reasons unknown
1/20 - 1/24/86: 1501 - 1505 (Creativity) (again, though an opera, this isn't the Friday before any holiday, even as minor as Groundhog Day, so this week is a real mystery even though interestingly enough it is the Friday after a holiday)

Again, that is not a mystery at all.  They just swapped Grandparents and Creativity; this is the week Grandparents would have aired in its proper position.  The real mystery is why Conflict was moved.

1/27 - 1/31/86: 1521 - 1525 (Conflict)

An unfortunate implication of Conflict being moved for seemingly no real reason is that it aired the day of the Challenger explosion (1/28/86).

Then comes two other mysterious weeks of airings, and the only known time a pre-79 is airing that's nowhere near proper position pre-79 airings. And it leads to two operas in a row
4/21 - 4/25/86: 1286 - 1290
4/28 - 5/2/86: 1296 - 1300 (an opera, but not the Friday before any holiday. However, with Passover 4/24 - 5/1, the opera would air on the last weekday of a lot of spring breaks)
5/5 - 5/9/86: 1561 - 1565 (Celebrations) (this opera would once again be the Friday before Mother's Day)

I think the 2 random weeks were to stall, so that Celebrations wouldn't interrupt in between 1455 and 1456, which maybe after 1979 they realized was a mistake.  At the time it was scheduled, they probably didn't realize that 1565 would be an opera.

8/4 - 8/8/86: 1116 - 1120
8/11 - 8/15/86: 1461 - 1465 (Starting School) (I don't understand why this week, when it never aired this early before, and 1120/1121 isn't a great interruption at all
8/18 - 8/22/86: 1121 - 1125

Why is 1120/1121 any worse an interruption than 1125/1126?  Because of Prince Tuesday's 1 week birthday party in 1122?  I wonder if the 1125 opera is referred to in 1126.  Also, Starting School aired earlier than that in 1982.  It's possible that maybe the 1985 airing was considered to be a week late.

9/28 - 10/2/87: 1296 - 1300 (This is to avoid the post-75 run interrupting between 1310 and 1311, which can't be. Though why, when the story arc is 1301 - 1315, not 1296 - 1315, why 1291 - 1295 was the week that was moved and not this week, is a mystery. Maybe in 1301 - 1305, they talk about the opera as being "last week." Also this means this opera would air in the fall, which is appropriate since it's about potato bugs, and it's airing the Friday before (and day of, starting at sundown) a Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur

They would not have intentionally aired an opera for Yom Kippur, since then Jewish kids wouldn't be able to watch it if it aired after sundown.

12/21 - 12/25/87: 1501 - 1505 (Creativity) (Therefore, the Christmas/New Year's opera amazingly on Christmas Day!)

But that was a waste of a good episode, since few kids would be watching MRN on Christmas, and some stations could preempt MRN.

1/4 - 1/8/88: 1511 - 1515 (Games) (Yes, no Daycare & Night Care at its annual occasion time, but only that year because the week that did air was a PBS sweepstakes in which each show must have at least one episode about daycare)

Where did you hear that?

8/29 - 9/2/88: 1396 - 1400 (one of four weeks to last air at this time for mysterious reasons, probably to phase out pre-79s

There was the theory that the 4 skipped weeks heavily featured Prince Tuesday and Ana, who are younger than Daniel in these episodes, but approximiately the same age as him as the pre-79s.  Also, all of the Mr. Allmine weeks were skipped, except 1421-1425 (where he played a character in the opera, rather than his usual Mr. Allmine character).

9/26 - 9/30/88: 1416 - 1420 (two more weeks to last air at this time for mysterious reasons, probably to phase out pre-79s)[/color]

I also had the theory that the energy crisis was less relevant during the 90s than it was during the the 70s.  And, 1616-1620, from 1990, dealt with environmental topics that were more relevant during the 90s than the energy crisis.

10/3 - 10/7/88: 1436 - 1440 (the whole 1421 - 1435 story arc moved to avoid a 1430/1431 interruption  for the post-75 run. But the reason why the post-75 run started when it did is a mystery, especially since 1435/1436 would mean starting with Superheroes at its annual occasion time, as in the last four years)

Maybe they wanted 1425, which is an opera taking place at a beach, to air in the spring rather than the fall.

10/10 - 10/14/88: 1441 - 1445 (the last of the mysterious four weeks to last air, probably to phase out pre-79s)

That week heavily features Prince Tuesday.

12/26 - 12/30/88: 1496 - 1500 (Pets) (That explanation could maybe be because Ana's birthday episode, 1500, would air on Betty Aberlin's birthday)

That is the most likely reason.  Since this week is entirely after Christmas, it's unlikely that it aired then due to Christmas, unlike 1984 and 1985.  Betty's birthday seems the most likely scenario.  But why did no other cast members get birthday episodes on their birthday?  I know Fred did, but not until 1992.  And, 1500 did not air on Betty's birthday in 1994 or 2005 (other years her birthday fell on a Friday).  And, they did air 1564 (Henrietta's birthday episode) on Betty's birthday in 2004, but not in 1993 or 1999 (other years her birthday fell on a Thursday).

5/1 - 5/5/89: 1606 - 1610 (Josephine the Short-Neck Giraffe (this makes it even more mysterious that the post-75 run didn't start with the usual Superheroes since the opera would air the Friday before Mother's Day. However, it's the other case of operas two weeks in a row with an opera the following week.

First of all, Josephine has nothing to do with Mother's Day.  Secondly, at the time the schedule was created, they probably didn't realize 1608-1610 would be an opera.  1425, which actually did air the Friday before Mothers Day, has nothing to do with Mother's Day either.

[mitsguy2001]

9/25 - 9/29/89: 1471 - 1475 (Windstorm in Bubbleland) (opera the Friday before (and day of starting at sundown) the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah)

Again, that was obviously coincidence.

10/2 - 10/6/89: 1476 - 1480 (Divorce) (the travel episode would appropriately be the Friday before a holiday)

It aired that same week in 1991 and 1992, which is strange, since I didn't think Columbus Day was a holiday where many kids would be travelling by plane.

9/24 - 9/28/90: 1471 - 1475 (Windstorm in Bubbleland) (the only logical explanation of this week is the opera airing on the Friday before (and day of starting at sundown) Yom Kippur)
10/1 - 10/5/90: 1521 - 1525 (Conflict) (why this week is a mystery. It was a week on war during the period that led to the iraq war, but it would also be if it were in its proper position, since the war started January 15, 1991, long after its proper position week
10/8 - 10/12/90: 1616 - 1620 (The Environment) (this I believe had to do with a sweepstakes)

Those 3 weeks are real mysteries.  Not sure what you mean by a "sweepstakes".

11/5 - 11/9/90: 1511 - 1515 (Games) (why Friends moved is a mystery, and the week it moved to makes no sense)

Probably since it had recently aired, in August, and they didn't want to air it again so soon.

11/12 - 11/16/90: 1476 - 1480 (Divorce) (the first of several out of proper position November airings, the reason why has to do probably with 1480 airing the Friday before Thanksgiving, one of the heaviest travel times

Yes, and also because holidays such as Thanksgiving can be hard for kids with divorced parents.

4/15 - 4/19/91: 1621 - 1625 (Fathers & Music) (the first airing of a week twice in the same post-75 run, but since it debuted before Labor Day, that's the reason why)

Remember, the schedules were from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, roughtly Labor Day to Labor Day.  The previous airing of Fathers and Music was quite a while before Sept. 1.

[mitsguy2001]

Part 6: 8/12/91 - 8/11/95 (last of the pre-79 era):

9/16 - 9/20/91: 1471 - 1475 (Windstorm in Bubbleland) (why this week makes no sense. The holiday it's closest to is it's the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur the Wednesday before)

Just a crazy theory that is almost certainly wrong: maybe so that 1473, with pre-79 opera flashbacks, would air on a day that older kids who watched the pre-79s would be home from school.

12/16 - 12/20/91: 1531 - 1535 (Grandparents) (the Christmas/New Year's opera, though since it's not in its proper position, I don't understand why not one week later, like 1985)

Maybe since many kids would see their grandparents for Christmas, they wanted to air that week before Christmas.  Also, maybe to air an opera on the last day of school for most kids.

12/23 - 12/27/91: 1546 - 1550 (Music) (Though in its proper position, this did begin a tradition of almost every year, not always in its proper position, having a week on music and the arts airing on the week containing Christmas Day)

Probably because older kids would be home from school, and the topic of the arts would be of interest to them.

Another crazy theory (almost certainly wrong): maybe so that an episode about the arts airs the week closest to Betty Aberlin's birthday (Dec. 30), since she has a real passion for the arts.

12/30/91 - 1/3/92: 1556 - 1560 (Making & Creating)
1/6 - 1/10/92: 1516 - 1520 (Daycare & Night Care)
1/13 - 1/17/92: 1551 - 1555 (Families) (why these last two non-annual occasion weeks were switched is a mystery)

Maybe since Fred considered the topic of adoption to be so important, he wanted to be sure kids would see it, and wanted to avoid airing it a week that kids could be on vacation.

5/11 - 5/15/92: 1351 - 1355 (as stated back in 1987 - 88, although it's understandable why not 1291, why, when the walls are painted blue in 1326 - 1327, why not 1336 - 1340. Maybe it just had to do with phasing out pre-79s as seen in the pre-79 airings after this)
5/18 - 5/22/92: 1356 - 1360
5/25 - 5/29/92: 1366 - 1370 (1361 - 1365 was moved to the following year, for mysterious reasons, though that could have been about phasing out pre-79s)
6/1 - 6/5/92: 1371 - 1375
6/8 - 6/12/92: 1376 - 1380
6/15 - 6/19/92: 1381 - 1385
6/22 - 6/26/92: 1386 - 1390 (why it didn't last air along with 1376 - 1385 when it's one big story arc is beyond me. And this week had three airings after this on its own

Those 3 weeks did air together this year (but not the next 3 years).

6/29 - 7/3/92: 1421 - 1425 (Some of the earlier 1975 weeks, like 1361 - 1365 were also moved to the following year for a mysterious reason. Though the opera aired Friday before a holiday, and day off for that holiday!)

Some of the above mysteries could have been so that 1425, which takes place at a beach, would air on the Friday before 4th of July, when many kids would go to a beach.

7/11 - 7/15/94: 1431 - 1435
7/18 - 7/22/94: 1421 - 1425 (the reason for these two out of order is probably because in order they can't air them in order without 1426 - 1430,

I don't see why not.

7/10 - 7/14/95: 1681 - 1685 (Fast & Slow) (and again here, a post-Labor Day debut airing again in the same post-75 run. But again this is to cut down on pre-79s, and the same reason applies to these crazy random airings in the next three weeks, all breaking the Labor Day rule
7/17 - 7/21/95: 1566 - 1570 (Playthings)
7/24 - 7/28/95: 1571 - 1575 (Dance)
7/31 - 8/4/95: 1576 - 1580 (Making Mistakes)

I'm guessing they just wanted 3 post-75 from roughly half way through the cycle.

[UUrselfRSpecial]

In 1988, that day was also Reardon's birthday (sadly, his last birthday),

Yes, and even sadder, he died only 8 days later!

I've never heard that 1-65 and 66-130 are considered 2 different seasons.  I know it was speculated that 66 was when the new set debuted.  But Tim said that the new set debuted gradually, and by Episode 21, the set was entirely the new set.

I've heard of 1969 - 1975 as Seasons 3 - 9, and then from then on, every debut between Labor Days as different seasons, with 33 total, so I don't think the season finale was 65 and the season premiere, 66, even though 1 - 130 did debut back to back.

6/30 - 7/4/69: 26 - 30 (I saw the episode descriptions for this week in an old TV Guide, and they matched the University of Pittsburgh Files that I got of recaps of each episode, and that's what led me to believe both that 121 - 125 had to have aired three times before 126 - 130 twice, and that they started with episode 1 on May 26).

First of all, especially back then, I'm not sure that all stations followed a national schedule.  Secondly, that could have been a timeslot that aired the previous week's episode.

I think they did follow a national schedule, and I know that Sesame Street did, which only premiered 3 weeks after the later TV Guide airing I found. And second, I think this was the only MRN airing, so they wouldn't air the previous week's episode without the day's episode itself, and also, which I didn't think was worth noting, they also had 1061 - 1065 on May 5 - 9, 1969, which is confirmed. And if this was the previous week's episode, there'd be a week of slack before 2/16/76, asI think I can pretty much guess that 5/26/69 - 2/13/76 was complete 13 weeks seasons, and from 5/24/71 - 2/13/76 they were uninterrupted.

How is 115 appropriate for Halloween?  If anything, 116-120 is more appropriate for Halloween.  The description for 115 says:

Mr. Rogers plays in a sand box on his porch. He tries on an Arab robe

That last part is appropriate for Halloween! And how is 116 - 120 appropriate for Halloween? Please don't give the whole synopsis of the whole week, just mention the Halloween elements.

5/25 - 5/29/70: 66 - 70

Again, starting with 66 is just completely random.

No it isn't, since 66 - 130 is considered a season. And even if it weren't, this would fit with both 26 - 130 on 6/30 - 7/4/69, 106 - 110 on 10/20 - 10/24/69, 1169 on 7/12/73, 1370 on 1/17/74, and most importantly, 1451 - 1455 on 2/9 -  2/13/76.

4/5 - 4/9/71: 1166 - 1170 (an opera airing not Easter Friday, but Holy Thursday (and one of the two Thursday operas). However, though Holy Week could be a standard spring break week, that could have been intentional for Reardon's birthday, as they could have easily thought that in 1977, the next time his birthday was a Friday, there wouldn't be any more new episodes).

In that interview that was posted, Betty Aberlin said that they aired some operas on Thursdays so that Jewish kids would be able to watch them if they aired after sundown.  However, this was one of only 2 (and the last) operas that aired on a Thursday.  Maybe they tried Thursday operas, and decided against them in the future.

But the thing that's surprising is even if they tried it and they didn't work with only 2 operas, the 2 they tried it with are far apart, as there are 2 operas in between those two Thursday operas, which is a lot for trying it.

Reardon's birthday is the most likely scenario. 

And as for 84, I think it's that they wanted it on the 13th, and the only Friday the 13ths in 1968 were in September and December, when there were no debuts and they knew it at the time. Then the next Friday the 13th was in June 1969 when I'm sure they knew there wouldn't be a debut, and then the next was in February 1970, and at time, the show had only been on 4 months, and therefore they didn't know whether it'd still be on in February 1970, or maybe even June 1969.

I don't know about 1977 or 1983, but an opera did air on his birthday in 1988.

And it didn't in 1994 or 2005 either. It's possible that 1169 aired on his birthday in 1976 or 1982, and in fact 1982 is very likely (and that would also be Holy Thursday as well as the first day of Passover), but 1976 is extremely unlikely, and that wasn't Holy or Easter Thursday, or during Passover.

4/23 - 4/27/73: 1306 - 1310 (the week on love, which would later become popular and have some of its episodes go to video, debuted Easter week, which I'm sure was intentional)

Wouldn't Valentines Day have made more sense?

But I was thinking special episodes (such as operas, unlike some years, the 1973 opera wasn't Easter Friday), rather than holiday themed weeks. And in fact, not all holiday themed weeks debuted at the appropriate time of year, such as Superheroes and Giving & Receiving. And as for Valentine's Day, there hadn't been a Valentine's Day episode since 1969, and as it turns out, that after 1969, Valentine's Day is one of the few February days with no debut. And even if by 1973, they thought the show would still have 13-week seasons after 1975, the earliest Valentine's Day episode would be 1977, which was still a few years away. And even if they did have a debut on Valentine's Day 1977, it'd be the season premiere, so most of the week would air after Valentine's Day (although 1661 - 1665 always aired the week containing Valentine's Day when a Monday). And it's also possible that even in 1977, they wouldn't have a Valentine's Day debut, since, as seen since 1971 when it first became a holiday, the season premiere was always President's Day, which makes sense, and President's Day is always after Valentine's Day.

[UUrselfRSpecial]

11/19 - 11/23/79: 1066 - 1070 (someone on the yahoo board remembered the debut of the model pan, which was this week, on Thanksgiving week, so this could fit that person's memory)

But that same person remembers the 4 "banned" weeks airing in 1981, but you don't even have them airing in 1979.

But if any or allof them aired, there'd be a 1456 - 1030 interruption for a somewhat random debut, and though 1455/1456 is a really bad place to interrupt, I really think anywhere from 1456 - 1030 is worse. And yes, Starting School did air at an appropriate time, but if it meant a 1456 - 1030 interruption, it could easily have aired up to 3 weeks earlier, and as it happened, it never aired that late again.

12/31/79 - 1/4/80: 1101 - 1105 (appropriately, the episode about death would air when kids don't have school, and a lot of people don't have work since some offices are closed the week b between Christmas and New Year's, and for those that don't, it'd mean a broken 4-day weekend otherwise)

I really don't think that New Years Eve, a fun, happy holiday, is the right time to air 1101, an episode about death.

But it could be appropriate because it's a time that kids are home from school and parents are home from work. In fact that's why Sesame Street episode 1839, which also deals with death, aired on Thanksgiving, which is also a fun, happy holiday.

5/26 - 5/30/80: 1466 - 1470 (Superheroes) This is the first of several post-75 runs airing in backwards order, and they're all part of the Mister Rogers Talks to Parents series, where they'd air that special Sunday night based on the theme of the week, and then the week itself. Starting School and Superheroes are two of those weeks, while Bubbleland is not.

Do we know for sure that the Superheroes episodes actually aired that week, or just the special?  I wonder why they'd air the special on a holiday weekend.[/quote]

It's actually more likely that the week aired than the special, because that's what was found in the article. And what's wrong with the special on a holiday weekend? I would understand no special on 7/4/82, since that's a celebratory holiday rather than a federal holiday, which this holiday isn't. And, in fact, I'm sure the Divorce special aired on 2/15/81, which is also the Sunday of a holiday weekend.

Such a post-75 run has been known as a MRN Summer.

I don't think these were called MRN summers.  I think the schedule that you showed me was just labeled "MRN Summer 1982 schedule", meaning that it was the schedule for the summer of 1982.

And 1981, when we know they also had it. I'll call it MRN Summer until I hear otherwise.

Then an unconfirmed backwards MRN Summer, since Starting School is confirmed.
8/4 - 8/8/80: 1471 - 1475 (Windstorm in Bubbleland)
8/11 - 8/15/80: 1466 - 1470 (Superheroes)
8/18 - 8/22/80: 1461 - 1465 (Starting School)

That is really just speculating.

Though speculating is all I can do to figure out how 1354 aired 1/29/81, since if it isn't Bubbleand and Superheroes in that order on 8/4 - 8/15/80, it's two other random weeks at some point from 9/3/79 - 1/23/81, which is also speculating.

I seriously doubt they would have had 2 "MRN summers" as you call them during the same summer.

Why is that? And I can't think of another way to have both 1354 on 1/29/81 and 1191 - 1195 on 5/24 - 5/28/82 if that's correct, and even if it isn't, 1445 on 8/12/83 which we know is correct.

That schedule that Hedda sent you had a lot of cross-outs, and is likely not accurate. 

But it's the best I can go by until I hear otherwise.

Also, although it seemed that the parents special about Discipline was (according to the schedule with the cross-outs) scheduled for Sunday, July 4, 1982, it's unlikely it would have aired that day, since PBS stations always air A Capitol Fourth on July 4.  Originally, it seemed Play was scheduled for that week, presumably to avoid a parents special on July 4. 

Actually, interestingly enough, Discipline July 5 - 9 is more confirmed than some of the others, so maybe it isn't the case that all specials aired the Sunday before the previous weeks. I don't remember whether it was Hedda or another source, but I got that week as well as certain others (July 19 - Aug. 13 to be exact). And a June 21 - 25 seems to be the week that Play was scheduled for.

Also, it's not confirmed that Creativity reran in August.

Though since it was on Hedda's draft, I'll leave that until I hear otherwise.

2/14 - 2/18/83: 1321 - 1325

Someone else said that 1315 aired Feb. 18.

Though that can't be because the debut of Games, a random debut date, would interrupt between 1310 and 1311, which can't be, and it'd mean 2 weeks of slack before 8/15/83, and 2 skipped weeks between 2/2/81 and 2/4/83.

8/20 - 8/24/84: 1461 - 1465 (Starting School)

I thought it aired Aug. 13-17.  You are thinking of 1990.

Maybe you're right; I made the correction.

[mitsguy2001]

I've never heard that 1-65 and 66-130 are considered 2 different seasons.  I know it was speculated that 66 was when the new set debuted.  But Tim said that the new set debuted gradually, and by Episode 21, the set was entirely the new set.

I've heard of 1969 - 1975 as Seasons 3 - 9, and then from then on, every debut between Labor Days as different seasons, with 33 total, so I don't think the season finale was 65 and the season premiere, 66, even though 1 - 130 did debut back to back.

Where did you hear that?

How is 115 appropriate for Halloween?  If anything, 116-120 is more appropriate for Halloween.  The description for 115 says:

Mr. Rogers plays in a sand box on his porch. He tries on an Arab robe

That last part is appropriate for Halloween! And how is 116 - 120 appropriate for Halloween? Please don't give the whole synopsis of the whole week, just mention the Halloween elements.

116-120 is about costumes.  As for the Arab robe: I don't think that was intended as a Halloween costume.

Again, starting with 66 is just completely random.

No it isn't, since 66 - 130 is considered a season. And even if it weren't, this would fit with both 26 - 130 on 6/30 - 7/4/69, 106 - 110 on 10/20 - 10/24/69, 1169 on 7/12/73, 1370 on 1/17/74, and most importantly, 1451 - 1455 on 2/9 -  2/13/76.

That contradicts what you said above, where you said that even if the 1968 "season" was considered 2 seperate seasons, you agreed that it didn't necessarily start with 66.  I'm thinking that in 1970, either the entire 1968 season somehow aired, or (more likely) none of it aired at all.  Does anyone here who was alive back then remember?

4/5 - 4/9/71: 1166 - 1170 (an opera airing not Easter Friday, but Holy Thursday (and one of the two Thursday operas). However, though Holy Week could be a standard spring break week, that could have been intentional for Reardon's birthday, as they could have easily thought that in 1977, the next time his birthday was a Friday, there wouldn't be any more new episodes).

In that interview that was posted, Betty Aberlin said that they aired some operas on Thursdays so that Jewish kids would be able to watch them if they aired after sundown.  However, this was one of only 2 (and the last) operas that aired on a Thursday.  Maybe they tried Thursday operas, and decided against them in the future.

But the thing that's surprising is even if they tried it and they didn't work with only 2 operas, the 2 they tried it with are far apart, as there are 2 operas in between those two Thursday operas, which is a lot for trying it.

Reardon's birthday is the most likely scenario.  

And as for 84, I think it's that they wanted it on the 13th, and the only Friday the 13ths in 1968 were in September and December, when there were no debuts and they knew it at the time. Then the next Friday the 13th was in June 1969 when I'm sure they knew there wouldn't be a debut, and then the next was in February 1970, and at time, the show had only been on 4 months, and therefore they didn't know whether it'd still be on in February 1970, or maybe even June 1969.

Why would they care about airing an opera on the 13th?  None of the other operas (except 1300) aired on the 13th.

4/23 - 4/27/73: 1306 - 1310 (the week on love, which would later become popular and have some of its episodes go to video, debuted Easter week, which I'm sure was intentional)

Wouldn't Valentines Day have made more sense?

But I was thinking special episodes (such as operas, unlike some years, the 1973 opera wasn't Easter Friday), rather than holiday themed weeks. And in fact, not all holiday themed weeks debuted at the appropriate time of year, such as Superheroes and Giving & Receiving. And as for Valentine's Day, there hadn't been a Valentine's Day episode since 1969, and as it turns out, that after 1969, Valentine's Day is one of the few February days with no debut. And even if by 1973, they thought the show would still have 13-week seasons after 1975, the earliest Valentine's Day episode would be 1977, which was still a few years away. And even if they did have a debut on Valentine's Day 1977, it'd be the season premiere, so most of the week would air after Valentine's Day (although 1661 - 1665 always aired the week containing Valentine's Day when a Monday). And it's also possible that even in 1977, they wouldn't have a Valentine's Day debut, since, as seen since 1971 when it first became a holiday, the season premiere was always President's Day, which makes sense, and President's Day is always after Valentine's Day.

But Superheroes isn't really about Halloween, and Giving and Receiving isn't really about Christmas.  I don't think those holidays are mentioned in either week.  On the other hand, 1261 is about Christmas, and that didn't debut anywhere near Christmas either.

[UUrselfRSpecial]

What they did was swap Grandparents and Creativity.  Notice that week that Creativity aired is the week that Grandparents would have aired if it had aired in its proper position.

First, it's debatable that if they hadn't been switched, either it or Friends aired in its proper position, since though it would follow Pets, Pets was moved to what could be considered an annual occasion time. Second, it's a mystery why they were switched, especially since they're both operas, and one would air at least what could be considered its proper position.

3/4 - 3/8/85: 1271 - 1285
3/11 - 3/15/85: 1286 - 1290

What you mean is:
3/4 - 3/8: 1271-1275
3/11 - 3/15: 1276-1280
3/18 - 3/22: 1281-1285
3/25 - 3/29: 1286-1290

Yes that was a typo and I corrected it.

10/28 - 11/1/85: 1541 - 1545 (No & Yes) (it was basically switched with 1476 - 1480 (Divorce), as seen in February, for reasons unknown. Maybe it has to do with the fact that 1480 deals with travel, and it aired President's Week when a lot of kids are on vacation, and interestingly enough also that's the week it debuted in 1981. Although that was the last time it aired President's Week. And even without the switch, Divorce would air one week early.

I think it was so that Betty and James's wedding (No and Yes) would air before they adopted Carrie Dell (Families).

Yes, you're right! I didn't think of that, though I have always when I noticed that they've always aired close to each other, with No & Yes first, even when at least one didn't air in its proper position. And in fact, I do know that the farthest apart they've aired is 7 weeks in 2004 (No & Yes March 8 - 12 and Families April 26 - 30), and both times No & Yes was skipped (in 1999 - 2000 and 2006 - 07), I knew it was skipped when I saw the latter was airing (more in 2006 - 07 since in 1999 - 2000 I didn't know the schedule in advance, and there were more proper position weeks.

12/23 - 12/27/85: 1531 - 1535 (Grandparents) (For this, same explanation as 1984)
12/30/85 - 1/3/86: 1511 - 1515 (Games)
1/6 - 1/10/86: 1516 - 1520 (Daycare & Night Care) (interestingly enough, both at its annual occasion time and in its proper position!)
1/13 - 1/17/86: 1526 - 1530 (Work) (therefore, switched with 1521 - 1525 (Conflict) for reasons unknown
1/20 - 1/24/86: 1501 - 1505 (Creativity) (again, though an opera, this isn't the Friday before any holiday, even as minor as Groundhog Day, so this week is a real mystery even though interestingly enough it is the Friday after a holiday)

Again, that is not a mystery at all.  They just swapped Grandparents and Creativity; this is the week Grandparents would have aired in its proper position.  

For this, same comment as 1984.

The real mystery is why Conflict was moved.

Then comes two other mysterious weeks of airings, and the only known time a pre-79 is airing that's nowhere near proper position pre-79 airings. And it leads to two operas in a row
4/21 - 4/25/86: 1286 - 1290
4/28 - 5/2/86: 1296 - 1300 (an opera, but not the Friday before any holiday. However, with Passover 4/24 - 5/1, the opera would air on the last weekday of a lot of spring breaks)
5/5 - 5/9/86: 1561 - 1565 (Celebrations) (this opera would once again be the Friday before Mother's Day)

I think the 2 random weeks were to stall, so that Celebrations wouldn't interrupt in between 1455 and 1456, which maybe after 1979 they realized was a mistake.

That makes total sense, I think then they should have either had Celebrations debut April 28 - May 2, May 19 - 23 (though that'd mean only one wainscoting week in between beige walls, which would be wrong), or July 28 - Aug. 1, just like they moved the work debut to April, when the debut was usually February - March to avoid the long 1076 - 1125 story arc, or not had a debut between February and November. And also it's similar to the much crazier 1376 - 1390 rearing after just a 5-week interval rather than just go from 1375 to 1391. Yes, that'd mean interrupting for the post-75 run between 1425 and 1426, which is really a bad place to interrupt, but they could have easily finagled the schedule similar to what they did in 1988 - 89 (maybe, since 1415/1416 is also a carryover, aired 1391 - 1410 after 1375, then 1421 - 1440 after 1410 (not dissimilar from July 1993), then after the post-75 run aired 1411 - 1420 and then 1441.

Why is 1120/1121 any worse an interruption than 1125/1126?  Because of Prince Tuesday's 1 week birthday party in 1122?  

Yes, and that is pretty major!

I wonder if the 1125 opera is referred to in 1126.

Though even though they're not confirmed, we know there are more random 1125/1126 interruptions, like for the debut of Work, and it's very likely also Superheroes.

Also, Starting School aired earlier than that in 1982.  

Yes you're right. I meant the earliest in a while.

It's possible that maybe the 1985 airing was considered to be a week late.

But even if that's the case, it did air Aug. 18 - 22 in 1980. But if it is the case, they changed their minds about that by 1990.

9/28 - 10/2/87: 1296 - 1300 (This is to avoid the post-75 run interrupting between 1310 and 1311, which can't be. Though why, when the story arc is 1301 - 1315, not 1296 - 1315, why 1291 - 1295 was the week that was moved and not this week, is a mystery. Maybe in 1301 - 1305, they talk about the opera as being "last week." Also this means this opera would air in the fall, which is appropriate since it's about potato bugs, and it's airing the Friday before (and day of, starting at sundown) a Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur

They would not have intentionally aired an opera for Yom Kippur, since then Jewish kids wouldn't be able to watch it if it aired after sundown.

Although, it being before Daylight Savings Time ended, it probably would never air as late as sundown in most areas. But I'm sure you're right, and a more likely theory is it's appropriate for the fall.

12/21 - 12/25/87: 1501 - 1505 (Creativity) (Therefore, the Christmas/New Year's opera amazingly on Christmas Day!)

But that was a waste of a good episode, since few kids would be watching MRN on Christmas, and some stations could preempt MRN.

\\

But even though it aired in its proper position, it could still have been intentional, since they could have debated about whether to move it and realized that for that reason, they didn't.

1/4 - 1/8/88: 1511 - 1515 (Games) (Yes, no Daycare & Night Care at its annual occasion time, but only that year because the week that did air was a PBS sweepstakes in which each show must have at least one episode about daycare)

Where did you hear that?

On the yahoo board.

There was the theory that the 4 skipped weeks heavily featured Prince Tuesday and Ana, who are younger than Daniel in these episodes, but approximiately the same age as him as the pre-79s.

You mean the post-75s.

Also, all of the Mr. Allmine weeks were skipped, except 1421-1425 (where he played a character in the opera, rather than his usual Mr. Allmine character).

That makes sense, although he was his usual Mr. Allmine character in all the 1421 - 1424 episodes he was in. Or was he not in any of 1421 - 1424? I can't imagine him not being in any of them. And he was also very front burner in 1336 - 1340, which could easily explain the 1992 post-75 run not starting with 1336.

I also had the theory that the energy crisis was less relevant during the 90s than it was during the the 70s.  And, 1616-1620, from 1990, dealt with environmental topics that were more relevant during the 90s than the energy crisis.

That does make sense.

Maybe they wanted 1425, which is an opera taking place at a beach, to air in the spring rather than the fall.

Yes, and therefore closer to beach season. And interestingly enough, no matter when it aired between 1979 and 1986, it had only one fall airing (in 1977), and amazingly, though the week partially aired in the winter of 1986, the opera itself didn't!

10/10 - 10/14/88: 1441 - 1445 (the last of the mysterious four weeks to last air, probably to phase out pre-79s)

That week heavily features Prince Tuesday.

And then he's still a baby.

12/26 - 12/30/88: 1496 - 1500 (Pets) (That explanation could maybe be because Ana's birthday episode, 1500, would air on Betty Aberlin's birthday)

That is the most likely reason.  Since this week is entirely after Christmas, it's unlikely that it aired then due to Christmas, unlike 1984 and 1985.  Betty's birthday seems the most likely scenario.  

I still think it makes no sense.

And, 1500 did not air on Betty's birthday in 1994 or 2005 (other years her birthday fell on a Friday).  

Or 1983.

And, they did air 1564 (Henrietta's birthday episode) on Betty's birthday in 2004, but not in 1993 or 1999 (other years her birthday fell on a Thursday).

And that would have been significant for other reasons!

First of all, Josephine has nothing to do with Mother's Day.  

Although there are mothers in it, but that's not what I was thinking. It's no more about Mother's Day than Grandparents or Celebrations (and even in Grandparents, it's more about a grandfather than grandmother). Although there are mothers in both. But what I was thinking it's no more about Mother's Day than 45, 1370, or 1425 is about Easter, or 1505, 1535, and 1565 are about Christmas or New Year's.

Secondly, at the time the schedule was created, they probably didn't realize 1608-1610 would be an opera.  1425, which actually did air the Friday before Mothers Day, has nothing to do with Mother's Day either.

Although there is also a mother in 1425!

[UUrselfRSpecial]

It aired that same week in 1991 and 1992, which is strange, since I didn't think Columbus Day was a holiday where many kids would be travelling by plane.

I think interestingly enough all Monday holidays are, even though not as popular as by car.

Those 3 weeks are real mysteries.  Not sure what you mean by a "sweepstakes".

Some kind of special, which I remember hearing on the yahoo board.

11/5 - 11/9/90: 1511 - 1515 (Games) (why Friends moved is a mystery, and the week it moved to makes no sense)

Probably since it had recently aired, in August, and they didn't want to air it again so soon.

Your'e right; that theory makes total sense. And interestingly enough, Playthings aired in its proper position not much later.

Yes, and also because holidays such as Thanksgiving can be hard for kids with divorced parents.

That makes total sense. Although I also see that about Christmas, and it never aired anywhere near Christmas.

Remember, the schedules were from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, roughtly Labor Day to Labor Day.  The previous airing of Fathers and Music was quite a while before Sept. 1.

But that doesn't change what I had to say about Fathers & Music's airings.

[UUrselfRSpecial]

Just a crazy theory that is almost certainly wrong: maybe so that 1473, with pre-79 opera flashbacks, would air on a day that older kids who watched the pre-79s would be home from school.

That theory actually isn't so crazy, but I'm sure it's incorrect.

Maybe since many kids would see their grandparents for Christmas, they wanted to air that week before Christmas.  

And they realized that after 1989 (when it aired in its proper position rather than switch with Work)

Also, maybe to air an opera on the last day of school for most kids.

And that could be the case for 1992, even though it was for fewer kids.

12/23 - 12/27/91: 1546 - 1550 (Music) (Though in its proper position, this did begin a tradition of almost every year, not always in its proper position, having a week on music and the arts airing on the week containing Christmas Day)

Probably because older kids would be home from school, and the topic of the arts would be of interest to them.

However, I did realize that such a week didn't air out of proper position until 2000.

Another crazy theory (almost certainly wrong): maybe so that an episode about the arts airs the week closest to Betty Aberlin's birthday (Dec. 30), since she has a real passion for the arts.

I really do agree with you that that's wrong. Betty wasn't the only cast member to have a passion for the arts, and no arts episode aired out of proper position on the week of their birthdays. The Christmas theory makes more sense.

12/30/91 - 1/3/92: 1556 - 1560 (Making & Creating)
1/6 - 1/10/92: 1516 - 1520 (Daycare & Night Care)
1/13 - 1/17/92: 1551 - 1555 (Families) (why these last two non-annual occasion weeks were switched is a mystery)

Maybe since Fred considered the topic of adoption to be so important, he wanted to be sure kids would see it, and wanted to avoid airing it a week that kids could be on vacation.

I would think that would be more of a reason to air it when kids were on vacation! Though it's great they realized that by 1992 - 93.

6/8 - 6/12/92: 1376 - 1380
6/15 - 6/19/92: 1381 - 1385
6/22 - 6/26/92: 1386 - 1390 (why it didn't last air along with 1376 - 1385 when it's one big story arc is beyond me. And this week had three airings after this on its own

Those 3 weeks did air together this year (but not the next 3 years).

That's exactly what I said. I just mentioned it there not because they didn't air together, but because why two were green and one wasn't.

6/29 - 7/3/92: 1421 - 1425 (Some of the earlier 1975 weeks, like 1361 - 1365 were also moved to the following year for a mysterious reason. Though the opera aired Friday before a holiday, and day off for that holiday!)

Some of the above mysteries could have been so that 1425, which takes place at a beach, would air on the Friday before 4th of July, when many kids would go to a beach.

But kids would go to a beach a lot later in the summer when it would air if the above mysteries didn't happen. I think it's more about the Friday before a holiday tradition.

7/11 - 7/15/94: 1431 - 1435
7/18 - 7/22/94: 1421 - 1425 (the reason for these two out of order is probably because in order they can't air them in order without 1426 - 1430,

I don't see why not.

Because 1421 - 1435 is one story arc, and yet 1431 - 1435 and 1421 - 1425. What do you mean you don't see why not?

7/10 - 7/14/95: 1681 - 1685 (Fast & Slow) (and again here, a post-Labor Day debut airing again in the same post-75 run. But again this is to cut down on pre-79s, and the same reason applies to these crazy random airings in the next three weeks, all breaking the Labor Day rule
7/17 - 7/21/95: 1566 - 1570 (Playthings)
7/24 - 7/28/95: 1571 - 1575 (Dance)
7/31 - 8/4/95: 1576 - 1580 (Making Mistakes)

I'm guessing they just wanted 3 post-75 from roughly half way through the cycle.

Yes, and as it happens, those were right in the middle of the then-cycle!

[UUrselfRSpecial]

I've heard of 1969 - 1975 as Seasons 3 - 9, and then from then on, every debut between Labor Days as different seasons, with 33 total, so I don't think the season finale was 65 and the season premiere, 66, even though 1 - 130 did debut back to back.

Where did you hear that?

From different sources. I think some were from the yahoo board and some from Hedda.

How is 115 appropriate for Halloween?  If anything, 116-120 is more appropriate for Halloween.  The description for 115 says:

Mr. Rogers plays in a sand box on his porch. He tries on an Arab robe

That last part is appropriate for Halloween! And how is 116 - 120 appropriate for Halloween? Please don't give the whole synopsis of the whole week, just mention the Halloween elements.

116-120 is about costumes.  As for the Arab robe: I don't think that was intended as a Halloween costume.

But it's still a costume.

Again, starting with 66 is just completely random.

No it isn't, since 66 - 130 is considered a season. And even if it weren't, this would fit with both 26 - 130 on 6/30 - 7/4/69, 106 - 110 on 10/20 - 10/24/69, 1169 on 7/12/73, 1370 on 1/17/74, and most importantly, 1451 - 1455 on 2/9 -  2/13/76.

That contradicts what you said above, where you said that even if the 1968 "season" was considered 2 seperate seasons, you agreed that it didn't necessarily start with 66.

I never said it didn't. I said 66 - 130 is considered a season, so it could easily have started with 66.

I'm thinking that in 1970, either the entire 1968 season somehow aired, or (more likely) none of it aired at all.

Why do you think that?

4/5 - 4/9/71: 1166 - 1170 (an opera airing not Easter Friday, but Holy Thursday (and one of the two Thursday operas). However, though Holy Week could be a standard spring break week, that could have been intentional for Reardon's birthday, as they could have easily thought that in 1977, the next time his birthday was a Friday, there wouldn't be any more new episodes).

In that interview that was posted, Betty Aberlin said that they aired some operas on Thursdays so that Jewish kids would be able to watch them if they aired after sundown.  However, this was one of only 2 (and the last) operas that aired on a Thursday.  Maybe they tried Thursday operas, and decided against them in the future.

But the thing that's surprising is even if they tried it and they didn't work with only 2 operas, the 2 they tried it with are far apart, as there are 2 operas in between those two Thursday operas, which is a lot for trying it.

Reardon's birthday is the most likely scenario.  

I agree.

And as for 84, I think it's that they wanted it on the 13th, and the only Friday the 13ths in 1968 were in September and December, when there were no debuts and they knew it at the time. Then the next Friday the 13th was in June 1969 when I'm sure they knew there wouldn't be a debut, and then the next was in February 1970, and at time, the show had only been on 4 months, and therefore they didn't know whether it'd still be on in February 1970, or maybe even June 1969.

Why would they care about airing an opera on the 13th?  None of the other operas (except 1300) aired on the 13th.

Because that's what King Friday could have wanted, as it's his name. And I thought I heard that in 1298, they mention the opera would air on Friday the 13th, but I could be wrong.

But Superheroes isn't really about Halloween, and Giving and Receiving isn't really about Christmas.  I don't think those holidays are mentioned in either week.  

They're not. In fact, I've never heard any holiday mentioned in any week, even an annual occasion week. Though since I haven't seen 1306 - 1310 in 25 years and therefore don't remember it, I do wonder if Valentine's Day is mentioned, though I'm guessing not, which makes its debut not at Valentine's Day make even more sense And that contradicts what you said about 115 being appropriate for Halloween, since it's very possible that Halloween is mentioned in 115 when Fred puts on the Arab costume, but that's unlikely, and if anything, it's mentioned in 116 - 120, but I really think that too is unlikely.

On the other hand, 1261 is about Christmas, and that didn't debut anywhere near Christmas either.

I think 1261 is more about Santa Claus than Christmas in general. Although that is the most likely time that Christmas (or any holiday) could have been mentioned. And though it didn't debut anywhere near Christmas, it still debuted in the winter, but a different part of the winter. And as for Christmas airings, the only times it really aired anywhere near Christmas was in 1973 (whether the reruns were according to my theory or the other theory of rerunning the past season 3 times in between seasons), 1978, and most likely 1982, and even 1973 and 1982 wouldn't really be at Christmastime, since Christmas time begins after Thanksgiving and 1973 was before Thanksgiving. However, interestingly enough in 1973, according to both my theories, part of the week aired on and after Thanksgiving, even though 1261 itself didn't!

[mitsguy2001]

2/8 - 2/12/71: 1121 - 1125 (This airing has multiple significances. It's an opera airing both on a holiday (Lincoln's Birthday, which was widely observed then), the Friday before a holiday (President's Day, the first year ever it was observed on the third Monday in February rather than Feb. 22 and called President's Day rather than Washington's Birthday), and the Friday before Valentine's Day, it's a romantic opera and one that deals with the color red!)

From the point of view of my personal life, it would be interesting if that date is correct.  I proposed to my wife exactly 39 years later, on Feb. 12, 2010.  And we went to Hawaii for our honeymoon!  (Episode 1125 is an opera that takes place in Hawaii).  Also, my wife has a resemblance to Betty Aberlin, who played a major role in that opera!  Also, coincidentally, our engagement party was on April 24, 2010; the 40th anniversary of the first airing of 1125!

I also forgot to post that my wife was born on Saturday, May 20, 1978, the day after another likely airing of 1125 (meaning, 1125 aired on the weekday closest to her birth).  And, her bridal shower was coincidentally on Aug. 22, 2010; exactly 24 years after another confirmed airing of 1125!  It seems as if these airdates indicate that I was destined to marry a woman who resembles Betty and that we'd go to Hawaii for our honeymoon!  I don't think 1125 ever aired near the date of our wedding and honeymoon, however.  The other amazing thing is that the first time we ever met each other was April 5, 2002; the 48th anniversary of the Children's Corner series premiere!

[mitsguy2001]

You may want to update your posts, since some of what you posting is showing up as quotes.

[UUrselfRSpecial]

I just did

[mitsguy2001]

What they did was swap Grandparents and Creativity.  Notice that week that Creativity aired is the week that Grandparents would have aired if it had aired in its proper position.

First, it's debatable that if they hadn't been switched, either it or Friends aired in its proper position, since though it would follow Pets, Pets was moved to what could be considered an annual occasion time. Second, it's a mystery why they were switched, especially since they're both operas, and one would air at least what could be considered its proper position.

I still think that they felt the topic of grandparents was relevant for Christmas, so they wanted to air it for Christmas week, so they moved Creativity to spread out the operas.  Or maybe they wanted to avoid airing 1502 (where Queen Sara gets injured) on Christmas Eve or Christmas.

Then comes two other mysterious weeks of airings, and the only known time a pre-79 is airing that's nowhere near proper position pre-79 airings. And it leads to two operas in a row
4/21 - 4/25/86: 1286 - 1290
4/28 - 5/2/86: 1296 - 1300 (an opera, but not the Friday before any holiday. However, with Passover 4/24 - 5/1, the opera would air on the last weekday of a lot of spring breaks)
5/5 - 5/9/86: 1561 - 1565 (Celebrations) (this opera would once again be the Friday before Mother's Day)

I think the 2 random weeks were to stall, so that Celebrations wouldn't interrupt in between 1455 and 1456, which maybe after 1979 they realized was a mistake.

That makes total sense, I think then they should have either had Celebrations debut April 28 - May 2, May 19 - 23 (though that'd mean only one wainscoting week in between beige walls, which would be wrong), or July 28 - Aug. 1, just like they moved the work debut to April, when the debut was usually February - March to avoid the long 1076 - 1125 story arc, or not had a debut between February and November. And also it's similar to the much crazier 1376 - 1390 rearing after just a 5-week interval rather than just go from 1375 to 1391. Yes, that'd mean interrupting for the post-75 run between 1425 and 1426, which is really a bad place to interrupt, but they could have easily finagled the schedule similar to what they did in 1988 - 89 (maybe, since 1415/1416 is also a carryover, aired 1391 - 1410 after 1375, then 1421 - 1440 after 1410 (not dissimilar from July 1993), then after the post-75 run aired 1411 - 1420 and then 1441.

It seems that, for whatever reason, they wanted the May debut to be during the first week of May (except in 1985).

Also, all of the Mr. Allmine weeks were skipped, except 1421-1425 (where he played a character in the opera, rather than his usual Mr. Allmine character).

That makes sense, although he was his usual Mr. Allmine character in all the 1421 - 1424 episodes he was in. Or was he not in any of 1421 - 1424? I can't imagine him not being in any of them. And he was also very front burner in 1336 - 1340, which could easily explain the 1992 post-75 run not starting with 1336.

I don't think he stole anything; he was no different than Reardon or Yoshi Ito or anyone else who appeared only for operas.

Also, remember, 1336 maybe has the Tomorrow song.

12/26 - 12/30/88: 1496 - 1500 (Pets) (That explanation could maybe be because Ana's birthday episode, 1500, would air on Betty Aberlin's birthday)

That is the most likely reason.  Since this week is entirely after Christmas, it's unlikely that it aired then due to Christmas, unlike 1984 and 1985.  Betty's birthday seems the most likely scenario.  

I still think it makes no sense.

And, 1500 did not air on Betty's birthday in 1994 or 2005 (other years her birthday fell on a Friday).  

Or 1983.

And, they did air 1564 (Henrietta's birthday episode) on Betty's birthday in 2004, but not in 1993 or 1999 (other years her birthday fell on a Thursday).

And that would have been significant for other reasons!

How so?

First of all, Josephine has nothing to do with Mother's Day.  

Although there are mothers in it, but that's not what I was thinking. It's no more about Mother's Day than Grandparents or Celebrations (and even in Grandparents, it's more about a grandfather than grandmother).

But kids might see their grandparents for Mothers Day.  And Mothers Day is a celebration.  But the first week of May debuts I don't think had anything to do with Mothers Day.

Secondly, at the time the schedule was created, they probably didn't realize 1608-1610 would be an opera.  1425, which actually did air the Friday before Mothers Day, has nothing to do with Mother's Day either.

Although there is also a mother in 1425!

But she wasn't a major character.  The 4 main characters in 1425 were Betty (Lady Aberlin), Mr. Swan (Reardon), Loyd (Mr. Allmine), and the witch (Lady Elaine), none of whom were a mother in that opera.

[mitsguy2001]

12/31/79 - 1/4/80: 1101 - 1105 (appropriately, the episode about death would air when kids don't have school, and a lot of people don't have work since some offices are closed the week b between Christmas and New Year's, and for those that don't, it'd mean a broken 4-day weekend otherwise)

I really don't think that New Years Eve, a fun, happy holiday, is the right time to air 1101, an episode about death.

But it could be appropriate because it's a time that kids are home from school and parents are home from work. In fact that's why Sesame Street episode 1839, which also deals with death, aired on Thanksgiving, which is also a fun, happy holiday.

And I've always thought that was a lousy time to have aired it.

Interestingly, on the day that Sesame Street episode 1839 aired, MRN episode 1454, the Festival of Rememberance, aired.  That seems appropriate!

I won't comment any further on the 1979-84 schedules, since they are just speculation, and we have so many conflicting sources.