Four videos to brighten your spirits
Sure, we’re sequestered in Portland, unable to spend Christmas with the family in Southern California, but that’s no reason to be gloomy! Here are four videos that will spread good cheer throughout the land.
First of all, while I was disappointed by Mother Nature’s recent treasonous acts, at least I wasn’t quite as devastated as these girls were when David Archuleta lost on “American Idol”:
Next, did you know that if you take a video of Jeff Goldblum and slow it down to half-speed, he sounds totally drunk? Here is the evidence. Imagine getting this phone call at 2 a.m. some Saturday night:
We’ve all seen the cute video of the hamster on the piano, eating a piece of popcorn. But have you heard the cute song that someone wrote to accompany it?
Finally, in 1969, President Nixon proposed slashing funding for the newly formed Corporation for Public Broadcasting from $20 million to $10 million. Mr. Rogers appeared before the senate subcommittee deciding the issue and basically saved the funding single-handedly.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Those David Archuleta fans are insane. I’m glad he lost.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
That Mr. Rogers video is fantastic. By posting it, you are the first person to make me joyfully cry during the holidays. Thank you, sir.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I think the first video needed to watch more of the last one. Merry Christmas Eric, sorry you are stuck.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
God Bless Mr Rogers. We miss him.
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Wow. When Mr. Rogers began quoting what he says at the end of each episode, I just broke down in tears. It’s hard to believe that anyone in the TV business would ever really care about what children are watching. I don’t think there’s a children’s program today that isn’t specifically designed to just sell merchandise. This world needs more people like Mr. Rogers.
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
That first video was AWESOME! It made me cackle so loudly.
Mr. Rogers was such an amazing person. I love him. That was wonderful to see.
I’m sorry you’re stuck in Portland. I hope the weather cooperates long enough for me to fly home to Louisiana and be with my family for 17 hours before I have to fly back and probably be stuck in Houston for who-knows-how-long because the snow storm in Salt Lake on Christmas is supposed to be a doozy.
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I like Mr. Rogers and all, but I didn’t expect him to use his Mr rogers voice for real people…I thought that was his kid voice the cute little voice, not his actual speaking voice.
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I cried a little during the Mr. Rogers video too. What a great man.
No one in children’s programming today comes close to Mr. Roger’s positive messages. He was a huge influence in my young life, and it wonderful to see what an influence he made in the adult world.
I listen to him speak the lyrics, and I intuitively remember the tune and words, but my adult mind sees what a very important, positive message it portrayed. Humanity must be doing okay if Mr. Rogers and his message were embraced by our society. He is one of our best.
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Mr. Rogers also saved the VCR when the MPAA and its thugs were trying to shut down time shifting. Mr. Rogers testified that it would be okay with him if people recorded his show and watched it later, because then parents could watch it with their children. The media goons’ argument of “we want more money” just didn’t play as well after that.
So next time you watch a Tivoed episode of Law & Order, say a little prayer of gratitude for Fred Rogers.
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Thanks for that, Eric. Hope you are staying warm!
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Wow. Fred Rogers rocks.
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:38 pm
girls that age are really like that. so crazy.
he really does sound drunk.
i hope they disinfected the piano.
And, Mr Rogers always was awesome.
Thanks for sharing. Hope you have happy holidays even if you’re stuck.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:01 am
You need to add this Twilight spoof to your sequestered video repertoire.
http://www.take180.com/s/ep5l7
December 24th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Thanks so much for the Mr. Rogers video. It’s beautiful. What an inspirational man. He really cared and found a way to make a difference in the lives of millions of kids.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Mommy’s comment about how Mr. Rogers talked reminded me of something. I knew the former head of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He used to talk about being at a large dinner event one year where he was seated at a table with Mr. Rogers. During the evening, a man approached the table and struck up a conversation. The man, who had been drinking, said to Mr. Rogers, who never did, “It must be tough always talking down to those kids.” Mr. Rogers stood up and very seriously said, “I never talk down to a child.” His on-air persona was his real, honest-to-goodness everyday persona too.
December 26th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I think Mr. Rogers was every kids first friend. I remember watching him every morning before I went to kindergarten, & how much I wanted to be Lady Aberlaine & live with King Friday. What an amazing man & what he did for the past few generations. I too got goosebumps listening to him.
I’m still laughing at the girls in the first video. You so have to love 12-13 year old girls!!!
January 12th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Mr. Rogers, with his trademark voice and what looked like elfin ears here, was not an ordinary human. I think he was a super smart being–alien, fairy or elf–sent to speak the language of children, so he can communicate with them and save the future of humanity.