Fred Rogers: The Last Interview and Other Conversations
David Bianculli, Fred RogersFred Rogers’s gentle spirit and passion for children’s television take centre stage in this collection of interviews spanning his nearly forty-year career
“His advocacy for children was truly an advocacy for the human race.” - Yo-Yo Ma
Nearly twenty years after his death, Fred Rogers remains a source of comfort and fond memories for generations who grew up watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Over the course of his career, Rogers revolutionized children’s television and changed the way experts thought about the educational power of media. But perhaps his most lasting legacy was demonstrating the power of simply being nice to other people. In this collection of interviews including his fiery (for him) 1969 senate testimony that saved PBS and his final interview with Diane Rehm, Rogers’s gentle spirit and compassionate approach to life continue to be an inspiration.
“He wasn’t simply entertaining children or trying to turn them into consumers. He was gentle and kind and meant to soothe the fears of kids who don’t know how the world works.” - Tom Hanks
“Some people thought Mister Rogers was the biggest nerd on television. To me, he was one of the coolest men on the planet.” - Whoopi Goldberg
The Last Interview Series: Melville House has been publishing a popular series of books called The Last Interview and Other Conversations which celebrates the heroes and innovators of art, politics and literature with a collection of interviews and conversations that span their creative lives.