By Kaitlin Barr
February 11, 2008

Michael Kinsell, a PLNU student, is starring in television show Michael's Enchanted Neighborhood  on KPBS. The show is modeled after Mister's Rogers' Neighborhood.

Beautiful days are not the only thing PLNU and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood have in common.

Michael Kinsell, a 16-year-old student at PLNU, is filming Michael’s Enchanted Neighborhood, a children’s program that seeks to follow Mister Rogers’ format of educational entertainment for young viewers.

“Ever since I was very little, I used to pretend my bedroom was a land of make-believe,” said Kinsell.

Kinsell is a high school student attending the university under a special student status, according to his faculty adviser, Susan Rogers. He is taking courses in child development and music, both of which he hopes will increase his effectiveness as a television figure for children.

He first watched Mister Rogers as a child.

“One day I saw this very friendly face on the television and it made me feel very good, and I thought, I had to contact this family,” Kinsell said.

Kinsell met Hugh Glenn, a longtime friend of the pianist Johnny Costa, who played for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

“One day the phone rang, and there was Michael,” said Glenn. He was impressed with Kinsell.

“He’s got a lot of talent,” said Glenn. “He’s like a little Fred [Rogers].”
Glenn agreed to help Kinsell create his television show.

“The show is not a duplicate of Fred’s, but there’s a similar spirit,” Glenn said.
Kinsell agreed, emphasizing the legacy that he wishes to carry on.

“Mister Rogers worked very hard to improve what was on the airwaves,” said Kinsell. “This [is] a very personal medium, the television … Why can’t we use it for the broadcasting of grace across the land?”

With puppet characters like King Kindly, Queen Abigail and Prince Nicely, Kinsell hopes his show “brings [the viewers] a one-to-one affirmation of their self-worth and offers them a place where they feel accepted and understood.”

Each show will begin much as Mr. Rogers’ did, with Kinsell singing a song, “It’s a Lovely Day Today to Play,” as he puts on a sweater and sneakers. Then a “neighbor,” such as an artist or plumber, will drop by to discuss his or her profession. Later, Michael tours a factory to discover how “familiar childhood things” are made. He also makes sure to visit the Enchanted Neighborhood to join the puppets and humans there for “whimsical fun and celebrations.”
Glenn is assisting Kinsell with writing letters for grants, crafting music for the show and establishing a Web site. It was Glenn who suggested that Kinsell enroll at PLNU so that he might develop the skills necessary for such a large-scale production.

Rogers characterized Kinsell as a “very gifted, talented young man—very ambitious, bright.

“The whole department is excited to see how the show is going to turn out.”
Kinsell’s piano teacher, Brenda Martin, described him as “a delightful person” with “good values.” In the classroom, she said, she was the one who mentioned his television show to the other students.

“He doesn’t flaunt it. He didn’t stand up and say, ‘I’m Mister Rogers.’”
According to Glenn, 80 PBS stations have committed to airing the show. The funding is the final step before filming begins.

The production of the show is being funded through Kinsell’s organizations, Family Entertainment, Inc., and Michael’s Enchanted Enterprise, Inc., said Liz Kinsell, executive manager and Kinsell’s mother, in an e-mail. The two nonprofits are 501(c)(3) organizations, meaning they are religious or educational charitable organizations exempt from federal income tax.

Despite so many responsibilities, Kinsell is able to stay on top of things.

“He’s balancing it all kind of like an acrobat,” said Rogers.
The show will air in San Diego in March or April, according to Kinsell. Ena Newell, the show’s production manager at KPBS, could not confirm an air date.
Kinsell said, “It’s so much work. People often underestimate it because it’s just a fish tank and real neighborhood, but it takes so much to make it look so simple.”