When Lloyd asks Rogers why, he responds, Someone who is suffering that much must be very close to God. While Rogers never said this about Junods father, in the original profile, he does ask a boy with cerebral palsy he visited in California to pray for him, saying, I asked him because I think that anyone who has gone through challenges like that must be very close to God.. The answer to: What did Fred want? Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is a heavily fictionalized and re-named version of journalist Tom Junod. TJ: Yeah, they have been. Still, the journalist didnt know what to make of the TV host. Do you love your wife? Simply watch his 1969 speech before congress asking for funding for public television and it's on its own enough to erase any doubt.In the end, while Lloyd's fictional storyline is effective and moving, we get a film in which Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks) is onscreen for only about half of the running time. Tom Junod, whose magazine article inspired the film, on the set of 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.' Lacey TerrellSony Pictures Before he was assigned to interview Rogers for an Esquire. He is the recipient of two National Magazine Awards from the American Society of Magazine Editors. Vogel is first assigned a puff piece on Rogers and their interview occurs over the phone, after which they meet at the WQED set in Pittsburghwhere Vogel is met with suspicions by one of Rogers handlers, Bill Isler. I disagree. Further, he had a controversial article about Kevin Spacey for Esquire that more or less outed the actor in 1997. Tom Junod does credit Fred Rogers with giving his wife Janet and him the courage to adopt their daughter. Simple: You fight about what you always fight about. He wanted us to pray. On the set of "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," Tom Hanks (who portrays Fred Rogers) meets with reporter Tom Junod (center) and actor Matthew Rhys, who plays Junod in the movie. And when I read that, I realized that what I was looking for was really unavoidable and obvious. Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media. And, its definitely one of the reasons that changing the name to Lloyd Vogel worked, because I think that things sort of drift towards magical realism at that time. Not exactly. Now a senior writer at ESPN, Junod is working on a 10,000-word story. You are always fighting because you are fighting about always, which is to say about the permanence that you, as a married man, aspire to and at the same time dread. In 2011 he receved the James Beard Award for his essay My Mom Couldnt Cook, published in Esquire in September 2010. TJ: I grew up Roman Catholic too. And in a lot of ways, things that couldnt happen on a person by person level could happen on media, because its mob versus invisible person. Fred was all person by person. The movie tells the story of Fred's relationship with Tom Junod, a journalist who was assigned to profile the television host for Esquire magazine in 1998. They sang, all at once, all together, the song he sings at the start of his program, Wont You Be My Neighbor? and turned the clattering train into a single soft, runaway choir. Perhaps it's because I grew up in Pittsburgh, where Fred Rogers lived and his show was created, but no one I know has ever questioned his sincerity. I had a lot to learn when I first met Fred.. In the movie, Joanne reveals to Vogel that her husband begins every morning by swimming and praying for people by name, and at one point, Rogers discloses that hes a vegetarian. He clearly believed in prayer as a way of life. Finally, as in the movie, Rogers really was rumored to have been a Navy SEAL, though as the movie suggests, this was a myth. Toms salary is $83,540 annually. Infidelity is the final measure of victory and defeat; it is the logical consequence of keeping score, and the ultimate extension of the dictum that if you have found a fight worth winning, you have found a marriage worth losing. It came out at a time when I had achieved a lot of success out of nowhere and fairly quickly, and that was the thing that really put the brakes on my ascent for a while., Public reaction wasnt the only thing that gave Junod pause. Joanne Rogers, Fred's wife, and Bill Isler, former president and CEO of The. Co-screenwriter Micah Fitzerman-Blue said that while the personal struggles the journalist experiences in the movie are fictional, his relationship with Fred Rogers is "very accurate," which appears to be true (minus the moments when Rogers is helping him with his personal conflicts). The real journalist, Tom Junod, says that his father, Lou Junod, was in fact an eccentric, boozy philanderer, but he "had never rejected him or his message." Below, we break it all down. Or do you take elements of what you see of the best men in your life, and try and put it together into one person? [1] Early life [ edit] In 1980, Junod graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the State University of New York at Albany. Fights are not just arguments that don't end. Mr Rogers Changed Tom Junod's Life. I think that that was a lesson that stood me in good stead for the rest of my time as a journalist, says Junod. But in answer to your question, I mean there are all sorts of ways to be helpful and be of service. What do you fight about? Tom Hanks' mannerisms seem very accurate as well, including his slow way of speaking and use of silence, considering each word carefully and giving his audience time to ponder them. And the fact that Im talking to you at a fashion show with a turtleneck on, you know, the irony is not lost on me. A story that tells more of Rogers and his television series. That bad people dont deserve kindness, and that you, when you you literally call them a piece of shit on Twitter, that you are somehow striking a moral blow, that you are somehow being part of the resistance. Tom Junod (born April 9, 1958) is an American journalist. That mystery ended up paving the way for a compelling story, as Junod sought to understand how Mister Rogers could be so good. Moreover, he has also served for Atlanta magazine, Life, and Sports Illustrated. Matthew McConaughey and his wife, Camila Alves, stepped out at his annual Mack, Jack & McConaughey Gala alongside their son Levi. Junod was in town on Thursday afternoon, talking about his experience with Fred Rogers at the Heinz History Center. . There's not a whole lot of information about Junod's wife, Janet, in either of his pieces. He was born on April 9, 1958, in Wantagh, New York, in the United States of America. He never asked this of the real-life journalist, Tom Junod. UNTOLD scroll BY Tom Junod and Paula Lavigne Editor's note: This story contains explicit language and graphic descriptions of sexual. Write to Rachel E. Greenspan at rachel.greenspan@time.com. And I dont know which take they use, but it was hard for Tom to do that. He prayed every day of his life. "My sister didn't have a wedding. [10], In 2011, Junod won the James Beard Award for his essay "My Mom Couldn't Cook", published in Esquire in September 2010. In, I keep telling myself that I dont know how to answer Theresas question, that I dont know what to do next, because Fred never asked anything of me, Junod wrote. (Which, in journalism these days, is quite long. Dave Meltzer WWE, Bio, Wiki, Age, Wife, Ratings, 5 Star Matches, Salary, and Net Worth, David Axelrod CNN, Bio, Wiki, Age, Height, Family, Wife, Daughter, Campaigns, Salary, and Net Worth, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes, List of States in the US, Alphabetical list of States in the U.S., and Abbreviation of States in United States. Mister Rogers' widow talks about her husband's life of faith, love of routine and view on death By Adelle M. Banks November 22, 2019 at 5:47 p.m. EST Gift Article At "91 and a half," Joanne. by Tom Junod, published in Esquire. The transformation is more dramatic in the Hollywood version, naturally, but it was also profound in real life. His editor at Esquire asked him to profile Fred Rogers, the beloved television personality and Presbyterian minister. ESQ: So its like we dont knowwith the popular mediums we have nowhow to show kindness or come up to each other. He has served as a professional writer for over two decades and through his sucess and hard work he has gathered a decent fortune. But at the same time, we dont know what to do with the lessons that Mister Rogers gave us. Tom Junod and Fred Rogers really did become that close. And a lot of times conversations go to places that I dont expect them to go. Confronting Satan in a Dark Spanish Castle, Whats Fact and Whats Fiction in Ben Afflecks Air Jordans Movie, A New Biopic Reduces One of Historys Greatest Writers to a Cottagecore Emo Girl, How Steven Spielbergs Autobiographical New Movie Rewrites His Story, writes in a recent piece for the Atlantic. Hes like Batman. In cinemas now is A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, inspired by the real-life meeting between Esquire journalist Tom Junod and Fred Rogers (played in the movie by Tom Hanks), whom Junod wrote a . And that always struck me as perverse. For instance, one that delves into his childhood, the creation of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, how he spent his three-year retirement before deciding to bring back his beloved TV show. The things themselves are not important; what's important is that you both always do them. By . When he met Mr. Rogers, he was married, but had no children. Your children understand that there are no trivial fights, because each fight has the potential to grow into the kind of fight that ends your marriage. That story was a product of my relationship with Fred because I was able to bring a sense of theological doubt and simultaneous wonder to my work that I wasnt quite able to do before, he said. In fact, people know a lot more about your fighting than you think they do, and it's through your fights that you afford the world a glimpse of the secret world that you and your wife have made. It went down as park-goers were enjoying the Fantasmic light show on Tom Sawyer Island . He woke up in the morning and prayed, and wrote, and prayed for people. Junod and Rogers exchanged dozens of emails that would . I think he did the scales every day., If Mister Rogers were alive today to see A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Junod is pretty sure that he would enjoy the film. Junod worked as a writer for Esquire magazine beginning in 1997, after following editor David Granger to the magazine from GQ. Correction, Dec. 3, 2019: This article originally misstated how long the moment of silence in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood lasts. Some of Toms colleagues at ESPN Include: Marly Rivera Reporter and National Baseball Writer, Sebastian Salazar Reporter, Host, and Play-by-play. [Junod gets up, alerts others to the now-smoking lightbulb, and returns with potato chips to share.]. ESQ: Thats where Im at right now. For Junod, theres always been a bit of a misconception about Rogers. The film comes to theatres across North America November 22. At first skeptical of Rogers, his perspective begins to change as Rogers helps him explore his own feelings, including his troubled home life and fractured relationship with his father. It depicts Lloyd Vogel (Rhys), a troubled journalist for Esquire who is assigned to profile television icon Fred Rogers (Hanks). Its like if you dont do it, maybe it wont happen. All contents And what did Fred want from me? Within the first few mom, My expectations for this years Oscar Awards were low. The new Mr. Rogers biopic A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, directed by Marielle Heller (Diary of a Teenage Girl, Can You Ever Forgive Me?) ), It was at that juncture that an editor at Esquire thought giving Junod a chance to interview Rogerswidely considered the nicest guy in the worldcould be the key to redeeming himself. With the emotional adventure of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever closing out the controversial fourth, Joseph Bologne Could Have Been As Big As Beethoven In, Angela Bassett Doesnt Owe The Oscars A Thing Not Even A Smile, Tessa Thompson Talks Going To Couples Therapy With Michael B. Jordan, now, Mr. Rogers' journalist friend Tom Junod, Mr. Rogers didnt just serve as an interview. The movie is loosely framed as an episode of Mister Rogers Neighborhood, opening with the character of Fred Rogers speaking directly to the audience about the story of Lloyd Vogel. When you were contemplating asking your wife to marry you, you asked yourself the same question that most men in your position ask themselves: Can I have sex with this woman, and only this woman, for the rest of my life? Won't You Be My Neighbor? You are fighting as a way of voicing your objections to the person you have chosen to live your life with but if your marriage is healthy, the fight will end in surrender rather than loss. Perhaps the film's biggest error is one of omission. And you don't say what can't be unsaid. After I watched the walkthroughand was somehow briefly enlisted in fashion-show-planning service as the only idle body in sightwe sat down on a couch in the middle of all the swirling fashion-show-planners, and talked about Fred Rogers, what he left behind, and what we do now. His journalism career kicked off in 1997 working as a writer for Esquire magazine. In the middle of their conversation, a group of children begin to sing Wont You be My Neighbor? This, implausibly, seems to actually have happenedthough while the movie might leave the viewer with the sense that Rogers regularly took the subway, the circumstances in the profile suggest this wasnt so routine. They are parents to Antonia Li Junod. And I wasnt entirely convinced that he was an American hero, says Junod. Many times my wife and I ask each other, What would Fred Rogers do? And Im not kidding, Junod said. ", "Writer Comes Clean On Fake Stipe Profile", "How Mister Rogers changed the life of Atlanta writer Tom Junod", "Mr. Rogers doc 'Wont You Be My Neighbor?' Cast your vote in the reader poll. He made connections everywhere he wentwith a young fan with cerebral palsy, with the famed gorilla Koko (also an ardent fan). Mr Rogers is an American television host, author, producer, and Presbyterian minister. In fact, Rogers helped give them the courage to adopt in the first place. At a pivotal moment in Vogels journey from skeptic to believer, Rogers asks Vogel to sit with him in silence in a crowded restaurant for a full minute to think of the people who have loved us into being.* Similar to the train scene, this actually happened but in a different and perhaps even more surprising context. These are only escalated when the small family attends Lloyds sisters wedding. like any other marital temptation, is always there. ESQ: In both pieces, the original and The Atlantic piece, prayer comes up. Magazines, October 1997 cover story titled Kevin Spacey Has a Secret, Or create a free account to access more articles, Inside the Unlikely Friendship That Inspired. Thats where I was when I first met Fred.. ESQ: I mean, you said that if he grew up in the age of Twitter, you can expect what he would have done. As Lloyd does in the movie, Junod became close with Rogers after the childrens TV host saw something special in him. Tom Junod, whose magazine article inspired the film, on the set of 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.'. And then there's the enormous influence of religion on Fred Rogers' life and career (he was an ordained Presbyterian minister but thought he could better spread a positive message to young people through public television).Christianity provided the foundation for Fred Rogers' message and it was the bedrock of his life. A distraction itself was dangerous. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. He never stooped to proselytizing. Just as in the movie, he did often say he wouldnt eat anything that had a mother, though it doesnt seem like he ever used that line with Junod. He not only looked the part, with his pinkie ring and French cuffs and blue dress shirts white at the collar, he played it, cultivating an air of. This is not true, though it was Fred Rogers' optimism and unshakeable encouragement that led to Junod and Janet adopting their daughter later on in life. Ive had people say, I know a lot of people who are really kind, but theyre just not media people, so no one knows about their kindness. I mean, the point is that Fred was a media person, and he did have a platform, and he spoke to an extremely large audience that he made into an even larger audience. And I called Joanne [Rogers] after that and said, What do you think about that? And she was like, You know, Fred would never represent that. That seems so obvious, but I think to a lot of people its not obvious because I think that the temptation of being able to think that yelling at somebody on the street, youre somehow striking a blow. He wanted to make a sacred space out of what he regarded as a rich but toxic medium, which is television. Really, I think its just that Tom Junod is a guy who stands out in a crowd. Like in the movie, the subway car was crowded with schoolchildren, none of whom approached Mister Rogers. I just try to ask for some sort of affirmation, you know? I n early 1998, Tom Junod received an assignment that was outside his wheelhouse. His son John said that his dad had probably seenForrest Gump100 times. Junod lives with his wife and their daughter, Nia, 12, in Marietta in suburban Atlanta. But the kind of fight that doesn't end is this: the kind of fight you win.
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