Pittsburgh Pop podcast: Talking Trolley from ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ on ‘Donkey Hodie’
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In this episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment, including the arrival of Trolley, a “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” character, on Fred Rogers’ Productions’ “Donkey Hodie.”
In its second season premiering Aug. 14 (11 a.m. weekdays, WQED-TV), Trolley arrives on “Donkey Hodie” to help transport Donkey and friends around Someplace Else. FRP chief creative officer Ellen Doherty said the decision to have Trolley trundle into “Donkey Hodie” – with Trolley’s distinct piano music along for the ride – was another way to build up the “Donkey Hodie” world with the judicious use of existing “MRN” characters.
“It’s not about just putting everything everywhere, that’s no good,” she said. “One of the things that unifies the Mister Rogers Universe in the design of Someplace Else is the cobblestone path [which was also seen in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe on ‘MRN’]. It just seemed really natural to me that someone who would come visit is Trolley and Trolley travels the cobblestone path. It’s just such a great character to bring into this world, this vehicle who’s a friend and isn’t just a vehicle, it’s anthropomorphized.”
For Trolley’s ding-ding “voice,” producers turned to the same celeste, a mini-piano-like instrument, that Fred Rogers used on the “Neighborhood.” Producers recorded the sounds from the instrument at the Fred Rogers Institute in Latrobe where the celeste is kept in the archives.
Trolley, who will appear in three episodes this season, isn’t the only “MRN”-inspired addition to “Donkey Hodie” this season. On Aug. 16 (11 a.m., WQED) the new character Turtle-Lou, who makes a Speedy Delivery while wearing a bowtie and has tufts of hair peeking out from under his cap. Turtle-Lou bears a distinct, purposeful resemblance to Mr. McFeely (David Newell), the Speedy Delivery person on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Doherty said the new character is a deep homage to Newell’s Mr. McFeely
“[Puppeteer] Frankie Cordero who plays Purple Panda also plays Turtle-Lou, and as a child was such a big fan of ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,’ so he was really excited to have Turtle-Lou do the speedy delivery-like gesture that Mr. McFeely does,” Doherty said. “I know that he has really enjoyed being able to bring that character to life and take all the references from Mr. McFeely.”
As for future “MRN” characters that might turn up on a future season of “Donkey Hodie,” Doherty said she’s considered bringing on Cornflake S. Pecially, who manufactured rocking chairs in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
“We talk about Cornflake as a character that is just perky and funny and how it could really be interesting to see how they translate to Someplace Else,” Doherty said. “We’re definitely thinking about what we can do for future seasons.”
Other Easter eggs in the new season include the return of a pet fish named Rogers, after Fred Rogers of course. New episodes of “Donkey Hodie” debut all next week along with new episodes of FRP’s “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” (9 a.m. weekdays, WQED).
Benz and Owen also discuss a new documentary film on Steelers Hall of Famer Mel Blount that is currently seeking a distributor.
The pair also share their reactions to the summer blockbusters “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.”
Listen to Pittsburgh Pop on the TRIBLive Podcast Network or on iTunes.