DVD Insider

Mrs. Rogers recalls her life with our favorite neighbor.

The show: Fred Rogers spent nearly 40 years making 900 episodes of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," the classic kids' TV show that taught everything from how to tie your shoes to how to deal with divorce. In the new DVD "Adventures in Friendship" -- two episodes of the series, plus bonus material -- Rogers covers cooperation, kindness and love.

Insider's credentials: Joanne Rogers was Fred's wife for 50 years, until his death in 2003. She was the inspiration for the show's sensible character Queen Sara, but Joanne says she often feels like the Lady Elaine character -- fun-loving and feisty.

Overview: "It's just crammed full of good stuff. It made me smile to hear X the Owl talk about 'OCS' and remember that was Owl Correspondence School. And to hear him say 'Nifty-galifty.' "

Extra feature: Teddy Bear Factory Tour -- We learn how the bears are sewn and stuffed.

"Fred was so curious about everything. He was always a student."

Mister Rogers' cardigan routine -- The episodes open with Rogers trading his sport coat for a sweater.

"It wasn't quite like that at home. He'd look at the mail and take a nap before dinner. He had about nine cardigans."

The Rogerses' neighborhood -- Rogers often visited friends in his TV neighborhood.

"Our apartment is practically on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. There was a Chinese restaurant Fred loved dearly. We always got the moo shoo vegetables. It was a place Fred could go and have a little privacy. He almost couldn't go to the grocery store because he got stopped so much. Now, people recognize me and give me a hug."

-- Melanie D.G. Kaplan