Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood – “Season 21, Episode 8”

Original Air Date: February 27, 1991
Directed by: Bob Walsh

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: Mr. Rogers (Fred Rogers) spends the episode talking about growing.

Reality Cat: At the beginning of the episode Mr. Rogers steps outside for a moment and returns with a tabby cat.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Fred Rogers carrying Jimmy tabby cat into house

Mr. Rogers introduces the cat as Jimmy and tries to hold him up for the kids at home to see, but Jimmy is fidgety and wants to crawl under the railing behind them.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Fred Rogers holding Jimmy tabby cat
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Fred Rogers holding Jimmy tabby cat

After retrieving Jimmy, Mr. Rogers recalls how Jimmy visited the neighborhood as a kitten in the same place. This happened back in 1986, some five years before (Season 16, Episode 9). They fade into a flashback of Jimmy’s previous visit.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Fred Rogers holding Jimmy tabby cat
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Fred Rogers holding Jimmy tabby cat

Jimmy was fidgety as a kitten and continues to be fidgety as an adult, trying to wriggle out of Mr. Rogers’ arms. Mr. Rogers then sets Jimmy down to show the audience a book of baby photos.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Fred Rogers holding Jimmy tabby cat
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Fred Rogers holding Jimmy tabby cat

Once again Mr. McFeely shows up to pick up Jimmy and collects him at the door.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Fred Rogers carrying Jimmy tabby cat to door
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Fred Rogers holding Jimmy tabby cat at door with Mr. McFeely

Mr. McFeely gives Mr. Rogers a bouquet of flowers and there is an awkward moment where they try to exchange the fidgety Jimmy for the flowers.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Fred Rogers holding Jimmy tabby cat at door with Mr. McFeely handing him flowers
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Fred Rogers fumbles with Jimmy tabby cat at door trying to put down flowers given to him by Mr. McFeely
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Fred Rogers with Mr. McFeely holding Jimmy tabby cat at door

Final Mewsings: Even cats grew up with Mister Rogers!

Many thanks to Erin T. Aardvark for letting us know about Jimmy the kitty and the cat!

Relevant Links:

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