Tag: Mister Rogers

New Series ‘Donkey Hodie’ Headed to PBS Kids Prime Video Channel May 3

PBS Distribution May 3 will add the new series “Donkey Hodie” to the PBS Kids Prime Video Channel.

The subscription rate for the PBS Kids Prime Video Channel is $4.99 per month with an Amazon Prime or Prime Video subscription.

Following the adventures of Donkey Hodie, granddaughter of the original Donkey Hodie character from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” (now known as “Grampy Hodie”), the new preschool puppet series arrives with three volumes. Children follow Donkey and her pals as they go on music-filled adventures while learning valuable lessons about resilience, persistence and problem solving.

The series is produced by Fred Rogers Productions (“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”) and Spiffy Pictures (“Nature Cat”) and features original music along with reimagined versions of Rogers’ songs.

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In volume one, Donkey Hodie must wait until all her pals are together to open a present. She uses her imagination to help pass the time. Then, Harriett Elizabeth Cow wants Donkey and her pals to try her new invention, the Bounce-a-Rino, and they must decide who bounces first. Also, a scary monster appears during Donkey and Panda’s sleepover.

In volume two, Donkey gives her new flower too much water, and it grows so big that it disrupts her garden and her pals’ fun. Then, when the wind ruins Donkey and Panda’s Camp Buddy Buddy plan, they must change the plan. Plus, Donkey and Panda host King Friday for the day, but they don’t know what kings like to do.

In volume three, Donkey and Panda lose Bob Dog’s favorite ball in Spooky Shadow Swamp, and they must find their inner bravery to get it back. Then, a noisy penguin interrupts Donkey and Panda’s band practice. Plus, Donkey creates a sculpture for the Someplace Else art show, makes mistakes and feels ready to give up.

Also coming to the channel in May are volume 10 of “Pinkalicious & Peterrific” and volume 17 of “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”

‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ Coming to Digital Feb. 4, Disc — Including 4K — Feb. 18

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks as the venerable Fred Rogers, will debut on digital Feb. 4, and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD Feb. 18 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Hanks, who picked up an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the role, portrays children’s television icon Mister Rogers of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” in this film based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about kindness, love and forgiveness from America’s most beloved neighbor.

The film also stars Susan Kelechi Watson and Chris Cooper.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood made $60.9 million at the global box office, all but about $300,000 of it in U.S. and Canadian theaters.

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Bonus features on the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD include more than 15 minutes of additional scenes, a blooper reel, an all-new featurette starring Daniel Tiger, filmmaker commentary and a behind-the-scenes look at the film.

‘Mister Rogers and Making Mistakes’ Collection Due on DVD and Digital Dec. 3 From PBS

PBS Distribution will release Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: Mister Rogers and Making Mistakes on DVD and digital Dec. 3.

The 30-episode collection includes segments where Mister Rogers helps children understand that everyone make mistakes from time to time. Never afraid to tackle tough subjects, he speaks openly about the topics children silently wonder and worry about, but adults often struggled to discuss. World famous pianist Andre Watts performs for Mister Rogers in the collection, and together they talk about practicing and learning from mistakes.

A biopic on Fred Rogers, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks, is currently in theaters.

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PBS Releasing 50th Anniversary ‘Mister Rogers’ DVD Collection

PBS Distribution is commemorating the 50th anniversary of iconic children’s educational show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” with a special DVD release of 32 episodes from the series.

The four-disc Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: It’s A Beautiful Day Collection arrives March 27 and carries a list price of $19.99 (many online retailers are offering preorders for $14.99 or lower). Episodes of the program are available now for digital download.

The DVD set will include episodes from the 1979-2001 run of the show. As a bonus, the collection will include the series premiere in its original black-and-white format.

After some regional success with children’s programming, Fred Rogers broadcast his show to a national audience for the first time Feb. 19, 1968. Through his popular daily TV visits, generations of young children grew up with the kind and gentle Mister Rogers, who entertained with real-life guests, educational field trips and adventures into the land of make-believe. Episodes were produced until 2001, featuring such celebrity guest stars as Tony Bennett, Julia Child, Margaret Hamilton, Michael Keaton, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Rita Moreno and Bill Nye.

Outside the show, Rogers famously advocated for public funding of children’s programming during U.S. Senate hearings. He also provided court testimony in support of using videocassettes to record television programming for personal use, later cited by the U.S. Supreme Court in drafting the fair use exemption to copyright law.

Rogers died of stomach cancer in 2003, but the spirit of the show lives on in an animated spin-off, “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”

Episodes featured on the It’s A Beautiful Day DVD set include:

  • “Helping Children Know What to Expect at School”
  • “Creating with Friends is Different than Playing Alone”
  • “Play is the Work of Childhood”
  • “Respecting All Living Creatures”
  • “Opera Day”
  • “Ups and Downs of Friendship”
  • “Learning about Rules and Limits”
  • “Appreciating the People Who Came Before”
  • “Food and Love Go Hand in Hand”
  • “Music As a Way to Express Feelings”
  • “Families Come in Different Shapes and Sizes”
  • “Celebrating Big and Little Things”
  • “Lots of Different Things for Play and Pretending”
  • “Each Person is Unique – Yet We All Have Much in Common”
  • “Being Kind to Ourselves and Others”
  • “Nobody Knows What You’re Thinking Unless You Tell Them”
  • “Games Can Be Fun, But Not If You’re Left Out”
  • “Recycling and Other Ways to Care for Our Planet”
  • “Learning to Take Care of Yourself”
  • “Trying on Different Roles”
  • “We All Have Art Inside of Us”
  • “Understanding Concepts of Up and Down”
  • “The Strength of Love – Even Through Angry Times”
  • “Appreciating our Uniqueness”
  • “Some Things Change … Some Things Stay the Same”
  • “Needing Help and Giving Help”
  • “Feeling Good About Who We Are”
  • “Encouraging Generosity and Gratitude”
  • “Strengths and Limitations, Abilities and Disabilities”
  • “Wondering and Asking Questions”
  • “Enjoying Books and Recognizing Symbols”
  • “Valuing All Kinds of Art”