Author: Brooke Wehrle

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Warner Music Group’s Arts Music division has entered into a worldwide partnership with Fred Rogers Productions for its hit animated children’s television series, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. The Emmy-winning show is based on the fictional ‘Neighborhood of Make-Believe’ from the iconic Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and features beloved characters from the original program. New music from the show will soon be released under the deal while existing songs will be made immediately available across a broader set of digital services both in the United States and around the world.

Kevin Gore, President, Arts Music said: “I grew up watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and always admired the values of kindness, respect, learning, friendship, fun, and imagination that Fred Rogers conveyed to children in such a personal way. I’m thrilled to be able to be a part of continuing his legacy through our partnership with Fred Rogers Productions for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, a show that perfectly blends the nostalgic with the modern while emphasizing those timeless values. In the same way that Fred’s music helped amplify these positive messages in his original show, the songs from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood will delight, comfort and inspire children and families for many years to come.”

Paul Siefken, President and CEO, Fred Rogers Productions said: “Music has always been a key part of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. It’s what helps make the parenting strategies featured in each episode of the series so effective and useful for preschoolers and families in their everyday lives. We are excited about teaming up with Warner Music Group’s Arts Music division to help make these songs and prosocial lessons from the show accessible to even more young fans and their families in neighborhoods all across the globe.”

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood follows the daily adventures of 4-year-old Daniel Tiger (son of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’s Daniel Striped Tiger), and his friends, Katerina Kittycat (daughter of Henrietta Pussycat), Miss Elaina (daughter of Lady Elaine Fairchilde & Music Man Stan), O the Owl (nephew of X the Owl), and Prince Wednesday (King Friday & Queen Sara Saturday's youngest son). Through each adventure, children are taught valuable lessons and practical skills such as managing sibling rivalry and missing loved ones, tidying up, and coping with accidents, all with the help of strategy songs like, “Clean Up, Pick Up, Put Away” and “Use Your Words and Say How You Feel.”

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood was created by Blue’s Clues co-producer Angela C. Santomero in 2012 and is produced by Fred Rogers Productions and 9 Story Media Group. The show will return for its fifth season this summer on PBS KIDS.

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to work on children’s television shows as your career.

Since I was a kid, I had two loves: dance and film/tv. As an 8-year-old, you could either catch me watching the Marx Brothers movies on repeat, or going to dance classes after school. So, it was a no-brainer when it came time to graduate high school in my hometown of Windsor, Ontario, that I needed to move to Toronto to pursue my dreams. It's not a typical career path for a Sri Lankan-Canadian kid, but I was lucky enough to have support from my family. Hopefully, it will become a typical path for people like me 🙂

Anyways, I studied film in my undergrad, and came to realize that ultimately, I really wanted to be a screenwriter. So, I studied TV Writing in my post-grad, and worked serving jobs to pay bills while I tried to break into the industry. A showrunner on a kids’ show took a chance on me and read my work, liked it, and since then I've been pushing my way around the industry in full force.

Odd Squad is the crème de la crème of children’s’ television, as it combines the best things: learning and stellar comedy. So, I'm overjoyed to have landed here as a writer and producer, getting the opportunity to work with the amazingly talented creators, showrunner, and writers, as well as the incredible cast and crew!

What was your favorite television show growing up?

Without a doubt, Arthur was my favorite show! I used to wake up early just so I could watch Arthur before going to school, and then if I made it home on time after school, I could catch it again. I even convinced my teenage brother to watch it with me (it's THAT good). Honorable mention to The Simpsons, which I secretly watched at a young age when I wasn't supposed to (Sorry, Amma).

What are the steps that go into your role in making an episode of Odd Squad?

It all starts with us, which is an honor. As writers, we start with just an idea or a concept, and then we turn it into a big puzzle. A puzzle full of comedy, plot twists, and math! Figuring out what story to tell (since the options are infinite), how to incorporate learning opportunities for kids, and how to make kids and adults laugh are all steps we take in the writing room.

Once we've crafted the best story possible, then it's time to film it. As a producer, this means making sure all the things on paper get translated on screen. Does it look like how we imagined it? Or even better? This becomes my main objective once we move past the writing room and actually film the episode. It's hard work, with a lot of details to care for, but it's soooooo worth it. Also, it's really fun.

What is your favorite episode of this season of Odd Squad (without giving away spoilers!)?

This is nearly impossible to answer, but I'll try. I would say, from Season 3, the episode “16 and a Half Blocks.” It's part of the finale, and it really features our beloved Toronto! I won't say anything else...you'll just have to watch and see.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

When I'm not working, I'm probably training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with my husband (I'm a purple belt, thank you very much), doing an escape room with my friends, catching the occasional dance class, travelling with family, or...believe it or not... watching TV!

Since March is Women’s History Month, could you share a little bit about women who inspire you?

There are so many incredible women in my life who inspire me every day. I'm surrounded by friends and family that I look up to, and, if I could, I would do a write-up on all of them. But I've chosen one and I don't care if this is a cliched answer—it's true, and here's why:

My Amma (Mom) is one of the most inspirational people in my life, and if you've met her, you'd say the same. She was a Montessori teacher for 30 years, and is STILL dedicated to learning and teaching every day. She always has a creative way to make everything fun, and also a learning opportunity. Every road trip was accompanied by a travel journal that we had to make, which included historical facts/maps/pictures, the whole shebang.

Every birthday, my Amma creates a photo timeline of you and puts it up on the wall as an opportunity to look back and review your own wonderful life. Every holiday was filled with craft-making, talent shows, and roaring laughter as you listen to Amma tell a story. Everything she does is with joy! You're guaranteed to have fun if you're with Kumari, and you might learn something without even realizing it. That's her magic. And that's what I hope to do when I'm an Amma myself.

Watch Odd Squad weekdays on PBS KIDS (check local listings).

 

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Families around the world are practicing social distancing and spending increased amounts of time at home in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

While these measures are important steps towards flattening the curve and slowing the spread of disease, the drastic changes can leave children feeling uneasy and confused. Thankfully, though, there are many Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood clips and resources to help kids with their COVID-19 questions and concerns.

Read more from Romper.

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

In 2019, Chris Loggins, Senior Producer at Fred Rogers Productions, was featured in a PBS KIDS Instagram takeover for Black History Month. We are sharing it again for February's edition of Meet Our Neighbors.

We caught up with him in 2020 to answer some questions, too.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to produce children’s shows as your career.

I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to do something that is useful in the lives of children and families. My mom is a teacher and I think that was a big influence. One of my first jobs out of school was working with an organization in Pittsburgh called “Beginning with Books.” It was an early literacy outreach group. I coordinated volunteer programming there and I also got to drive the Storymobile, which is like a mobile library. After Beginning with Books, I was able to continue working with children and families in a role with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in the Children’s Department.

An interest in media and media production also led to a position with WQED, Pittsburgh’s public television station. The company that made Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, known as The Fred Rogers Company at the time (Family Communications Inc. before that), was in the same building as WQED.

I got to know some of the people at The Fred Rogers Company and shared my interests with them. I am so fortunate they offered me a position right around the time Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood went into production. Now I’m able to marry my interests and background in a job I love!

What was your favorite television show growing up?

I really liked Fraggle Rock. The theme song makes me happy to this day.

I was a big Nickelodeon fan. I still remember the jingle for Stick Stickly, the popsicle stick that hosted the afternoon block. “Write to me, Stick Stickly, PO Box 963, New York City, New York State, 10108.” I loved shows like Doug, My Brother and Me, Eureka’s Castle, and Rugrats. I dreamed of being on the game shows: Double Dare, Nick Arcade, Wild and Crazy Kids, Legends of the Hidden Temple, and Guts (Do, do, do, do you have it?).

Some other early favorites were The Elephant Show, Under the Umbrella Tree, and Shining Time Station.

My first television memory, however, was watching Mister Rogers and Mr. McFeely show a video about how people make peanut butter on Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. I was mesmerized watching the peanut butter be put into the jars!

So yeah…hard to choose just one.

What are the steps that go into your role in making an episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood?

Wow! Where do I begin? As Senior Producer for Fred Rogers Productions, I’m lucky enough to be involved in all aspects of the production, from scripting through final delivery and broadcast.

I work closely with our production partners at 9 Story Media Group to decide the types of stories we want to tell each season. One of the really interesting things I get to do is meet with a group of child development experts, many of whom worked with Fred Rogers, to review every Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood script to make sure it works for today’s children while also staying true to Mister Rogers’ approach to child development and social emotional learning. Sometimes I will consult with experts in specific fields given the needs of any particular episode. We see several drafts of each story and I am responsible for providing feedback to the writing team. You’d be surprised at how much careful thought and attention goes into every one of the “strategy songs” you hear in the final episodes!

Once a script is completed, I provide input on everything from music to character designs to storyboards.

I also help make the live action segments that appear in every episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. I’ve been in several and have even directed a few!

It takes a lot of people to make Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. The show really is the result of the talent and dedication of every member of our team.

What is your favorite episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood?

“Stop think and choose” is a song from the show, but it’s really not helping me right now. There are so many good episodes and it’s too hard to choose. One of the most rewarding things about my job is hearing from people about what their favorite episodes are and which songs have helped the children (and grownups!) in their lives.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

I love to take road trips. I often find that some of the best memories are made during the journey, traveling between home and the destination. I also like building with Lego® and playing board games.

Fred Rogers said, “play is the work of childhood.” I think it’s important to make it a part of adulthood, too!

Since February is Black History month, could you share a little bit about representation in children’s television?

One of my personal mantras is that all children should be able to see themselves positively represented in their media…whether it’s books, games, film, television shows or other. I actually picked that up from Beginning with Books. Books are often one of the first representations of the surrounding world for really little babies.

Representation is so important. Anyone that makes content for children has a real responsibility to be mindful about what they are putting out into the world, and it’s one that I don’t take lightly.

Watch the video below to learn what a day in the life is like at Fred Rogers' Productions!

 

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Fred Rogers Productions is thrilled to announce that Kristin DiQuollo has joined the company as Supervising Producer for the highly-anticipated puppet series, Donkey Hodie, set to debut in winter 2021 on PBS KIDS. In her new role, Kristin will oversee all phases of scripting and production, serve as liaison with the company’s co-production partners and broadcasters, and direct its educational advisors, among other responsibilities.

Donkey Hodie is a new multiplatform, social-emotional series for children ages 3-5 created by Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures. The series centers on the character Donkey Hodie, the granddaughter of the original Donkey Hodie (now known as “Grampy Hodie”), a puppet from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Kristin was most recently Executive Producer and Story Editor of Cyberchase, the hit Emmy-winning animated PBS KIDS series from WNET New York. She led production on broadcast and digital content, helping to spearhead the series’ expansion on digital platforms, including strategies for accessibility, as well as the show’s evolution as a series focusing on math and environmental themes for kids ages 6-8.

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Tell us about yourself and how you came to produce and write television shows as a career.
Through a very long, winding, twisted road. I graduated University with a degree in political studies, and since I didn’t know where to line up for a job in “political studies,” I turned to the thing I always got the most joy out of while in school… drama and theatre. I managed to land some television and theatre jobs as an actor, but what really brought me the most satisfaction was writing/performing sketch comedy. It completely hooked me into wanting to write more; specifically half-hour comedies.

And so, with zero television experience, I started at the bottom as a production assistant and slowly worked my way up the ladder, gaining experience along the way (I would also tell anyone who would listen that what I really wanted to do was write). Eventually, I got a crack at a small writing job, and that went well enough that I got a slightly bigger writing job, and on and on it goes until you find yourself writing/producing television as a career. Note: I intentionally left out the part about sleepless nights and countless anxiety attacks.

What was your favorite television show when you were growing up?
I loved such a wide range of shows. As a kid, I was a huge fan of The Muppet Show and Looney Tunes. I also watched a lot of sitcoms, like WKRP in Cincinnati, Happy Days, and Cheers. And of course, Star Trek.

What are the steps that go into your role in writing and producing an episode of Odd Squad?Everything starts in the writing room. We have such an amazing group of writers who work on Odd Squad, along with the insanely creative guidance of co-creators Tim McKeon and Adam Peltzman. As for the nuts and bolts of writing/producing an episode…

First, I like to hear story pitches from everyone in the room. What is the episode about? This could be a fully fleshed-out concept to the smallest nugget of an idea. Once I find a story idea I’m excited about, we get into the nitty gritty of breaking down the beginning, middle, and end of that story on a whiteboard. It’s a huge team effort, with everyone pitching ideas, jokes, story twists and turns, and of course, the math curriculum.

Generally speaking, we’ll spend an entire day planning out just one Odd Squad episode. From there, a writer will be assigned to write an outline for that story; generally speaking, it’s a 4-5 page document. This outline is shared with our curriculum advisers, Fred Rogers Productions, Sinking Ship Entertainment, and PBS for their thoughts/notes. After that, we move to writing the actual script. The entire process—from the start of an idea in the writing room to a first draft script—takes about a month.

Then, we start the process of sharing that script with our production team (from casting, to costume, to visual effects, to locations, and every other department you can imagine). Along the way, we make changes where necessary, and generally try to keep improving the script as we go. I don’t think you’re ever really finished writing a script until you hear the director yell, “Action!” …and even then, I like to come up with new ideas or jokes on the fly. In a nutshell, it is a very long process. Much like this long-winded answer.

What is your favorite episode of Odd Squad?
There are so many! The best I can do, under this intense pressure, is give you my Top Three:

1. “Drop, Gadget, Repeat”… an homage to the Tom Cruise film Live, Die, Repeat (aka, Edge of Tomorrow). It found our agents stuck in a time loop. Brilliantly written by Tim McKeon, skillfully directed by Stefan Scaini, and it probably has my favorite closing line of ANY Odd Squad episode ever. Which I won’t tell you. Go watch it.

2. “Odd Squad: The Movie”… this is technically four episodes, because it was a 1-hour movie, but I’m putting it in on the list. I was lucky enough to write this episode alongside Tim McKeon and Adam Peltzman, and it was directed by the insanely talented J.J. Johnson. We all had so much fun making this because everyone went all out to make it epic. With a guest appearance by Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), along with the one-and-only moment where the cast of seasons one and two come together to save the day. I may have also had a guest appearance as a villain named Rod, from the Rod Squad.

3. “Extreme Cake-Over” Probably one of the craziest episodes we’ve ever done. When a virus that turns people into cakes spreads through Headquarters, the agents try to contain the outbreak. I remember breaking this story in the room, and we all had so much fun coming up with jokes; you could really “feel” that it was going to be a special episode. Fantastically written by Charles Johnston, directed by the brilliant Warren P. Sonoda, and the kids put in a top-level performance throughout the episode. Fun fact: we originally wanted to set this episode on a plane and call it “Cakes on a Plane.”

4. I know, I know… I said ‘Top Three,’ and here I am, still writing. Buuuut I’m actually giving a nod to an episode that hasn’t aired yet, so think of this as a gift. I’m so incredibly proud of how the new season of Odd Squad—featuring the Odd Squad Mobile Unit—is turning out. Keep your eyes peeled for a half-hour episode titled “Slow Your Roll.” It’s our version of the movie Speed, with the agents trying to stop their out-of-control van after it has been taken over by a villain. Amazing performances.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I love to read, catch up on other TV shows, and spend time with my wonderful wife and two kids. Is this the most boring answer ever written? Yes. Yes it is.

Without sharing spoilers, what are you most excited about for the Odd Squad Season 3?
It’s the first time we’ve had four main agents, rather than the traditional twosome, which has opened up a lot of interesting character dynamics. One of those agents happens to be 500 years old, and she’s becoming one of the most unique characters we’ve ever seen on Odd Squad. There’s also an incredibly mysterious and surprising villain this season.

I’ve already said too much.

Watch Odd Squad weekdays on PBS KIDS. Tune in to the two-part Season 3 premiere, "Odd Beginnings," February 17 on PBS KIDS (check local listings).

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

PBS KIDS today announced DONKEY HODIE, a new social-emotional series for children ages 3-5 created by Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures. DONKEY HODIE is slated to premiere nationwide on PBS stations, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and PBS KIDS digital platforms in winter 2021.

The imaginative puppet series follows the adventures of Donkey Hodie, the granddaughter of the original Donkey Hodie character (now known as “Grampy Hodie”), a puppet from MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD, who appeared in 59 episodes of the beloved classic children’s show from 1968-1993. The new multiplatform show is filmed at WTTW, the flagship PBS station in Chicago.

DONKEY HODIE is inspired by the quirky, funny side of children’s TV pioneer Fred Rogers and his mission to help young viewers navigate the frustrations and challenges of childhood. It is set in the land of Someplace Else, which was created by Rogers on MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD.

In every episode, Donkey Hodie, a sweet, yellow donkey with a magenta mohawk, along with her pals, Purple Panda, Duck Duck and Bob Dog, empower preschoolers to dream big and overcome obstacles in their own lives, to work hard and persevere in the face of failure, to be resourceful and discover they are capable of solving problems on their own—and to laugh themselves silly along the way.

New, original music will be featured in DONKEY HODIE—along with reimagined versions of Fred Rogers’ original songs—to reinforce and underscore each story’s positive message. Each episode of DONKEY HODIE will include two 11-minute, character-driven stories with accompanying short form content. The series is currently in production for 40 half-hour episodes.

Along with the television series, DONKEY HODIE will offer digital content for kids, parents and teachers, launching in tandem with the series. DONKEY HODIE games will be available on pbskids.org and on the free PBS KIDS Games App, along with clips and full episodes streaming across PBS KIDS’ video platforms, including the free PBS KIDS Video App. Parent resources, including tips and hands-on activities to extend the learning at home, will be available on the PBS KIDS for Parents site, and PBS LearningMedia will offer classroom-ready materials for teachers, including video excerpts, games, teaching tips and printable activities.

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Contacts:
Lubna Abuulbah, PBS KIDS; 703-739-8463; labuulbah@pbs.org
Alison Grand, Grand Communications; 212-584-1133; alison@grandcommunications.com
Gabrielle Torello, Grand Communications; 917-312-2832; gab@grandcommunications.com

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Common Sense Media has named Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Odd Squad two of the 10 Best Kids' TV Shows of the Decade (2010-2019).

The article noted that as the amount of children's programming exploded, the way kids watched TV also shifted with the advent of on-demand viewing services. The shows were picked based on their representation of positive role models, learning potential, and entertainment value.

We're grateful to share this honor with our partners at 9 Story Media Group, Brown Bag Films, Sinking Ship Entertainment, and PBS KIDS.

Click here to read the full list of shows named in the article.

Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century.

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

We are thrilled to announce that Fred Rogers Productions has been named #3 in Production for Kidscreen's annual Hot 50, which recognizes the leading children's media companies. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our industry peers who voted for us, as well as our production partners and viewers.

The ranking follows the 50th anniversary of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in 2018 and a rebrand that was implemented to better champion Fred Rogers’ growing production slate and expansion into digital distribution, games and apps.

“One of the great things about being part of the public media system is we not only produce the TV shows, we get to make the digital experiences, too, and engage with the community on the grounds of public TV stations across the country,” says Ellen Doherty, Chief Creative Officer.

Now in its sixth year, the Hot50 is determined by Kidscreen’s 16,500-plus print and digital subscribers through votes for the most happening companies in children’s entertainment.

A complete list of this year’s Hot50 companies can be found on Kidscreen’s dedicated microsite.