Episode 1746

Topic: When Things Get Broken
Air Date: March 23, 1999
Previous Episode: 1745 - Go Stop Go
Next Episode: 1747 - When Things Get Broken
Purchase/Stream: Amazon

Mister Rogers arrives with a computer mouse and demonstrates how to use it in his computer room as he introduces viewers to the "online neighborhood." After exploring the Neighborhood website, Mister Rogers reminds viewers that "your imagination is far more wonderful than any computer could ever be." Before make-believe, Mister Rogers sets up his models and talks about making your own Neighborhood of Make-Believe set.

In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, the King and Queen are searching for the "royal mouse." While helping in the search for the mouse, Mayor Maggie sings You Are Pretty to Henrietta Pussycat. Neighbor Aber joins the search for the mouse and finds that the "Hula Mouse" has been at the Museum-Go-Round planning a surprise with Lady Elaine.

Back at the house, Mister Rogers sings You Are Special before he does a little more computer work. Mr. McFeely stops by with a film on how to fix a computer mouse and a Funny Fast Film of him mowing his yard. Before he leaves, Mr. McFeely and Mister Rogers try to sing the Speedy Delivery song as fast as they can. Lastly, Mister Rogers shows a book he brought that he will save for next time.

Notes

In this episode, viewers get a glimpse of a rarely-seen room in Mister Rogers' television house where he keeps his computer. According to Mister Rogers it is a "little room over by the bathroom where [he does his] writing."

The film of Mr. McFeely mowing the grass can also be seen in Episode 1250 and Episode 1439.

Mister Rogers reminisces about the creation of the models nearly 30 years earlier as he sets them on the table, “I remember Bob Trow helping us to make these models.” This comment is particularly poignant when you understand that Bob Trow died November 2, 1998, a few days after filming the Noisy and Quiet week episodes, which aired February 1999. Based on the original air date of Episode 1746 -- March 23, 1999 -- the television house segments of this episode were likely shot within months or weeks of Bob Trow’s passing; hence prompting Mister Rogers’ reminiscence about his dear friend.

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

Appearing In This Episode

• Henrietta Pussycat
• King Friday XIII
• Lady Elaine Fairchilde
• Mayor Maggie
• Mister Rogers
• Mr. McFeely
• Neighbor Aber
• Queen Sara Saturday

Songs

• It's Such a Good Feeling
• Speedy Delivery (v2)
• The Weekend Song
• Won't You Be My Neighbor?
• You Are Pretty
• You Are Special

Images

Episode Credits

With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Chuck Aber, David Newell, Maggie Stewart
Special thanks to: Data Processing Depot, Pittsburgh Computer Store, Premio Computer Incorporated
Executive Producer: Fred Rogers
Producer: Margaret Whitmer
Director: Bob Walsh
Editor: Susan Howard
Associate Producer: Michael Johnson
Location Production: Bob Chamberlin, Dave Meek, Joe Seamans
Music Directors: John Costa, Michael Moricz

Produced in association with WQED/Pittsburgh
A production of Family Communications
© 1999 Family Communications, Inc.