Finding Out That Tom Hanks Is Related To Mr. Rogers Has To Be The Least Surprising News Ever
I remember when "A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood" was announced with Tom Hanks starring as Mister Rogers and for the first time in the history of the world, everyone on the internet agreed with a decision, which considering the current state of the World Wide Web, may be the most impressive feat ever accomplished. Then the first picture of the current most beloved entertainer on the planet dressed up as the former most beloved entertainer on the planet was released and the internet's collective black heart grew three sizes then melted all over millions of keyboards.
However, it turns out Tom Hanks wasn't the perfect choice to play Mr. Rogers simply because he is a goddamn delight like Fred Rogers was and looks just like him after a short trip to Makeup.
It's because they are actually blood relatives.
CBS News- Tom Hanks bears a shocking resemblance to children's television star Fred Rogers, who he plays in the upcoming film "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood." But the similarities are more than just good casting — the performers are actually related, according to a discovery made by Ancestry.com.
Hanks is sixth cousins with Rogers, and they share the same great-great-great-great-great grandfather, Johannes Mefford, a company representative told CBS News. The company utilized its database of over 20 billion online historical records to form Hanks' family tree, the representative said.
I've been told that I am a friendly guy. But there is no doubt in my mind that Johannes Mefford would make me look like a vile piece of shit by comparison. Even Jesus Christ would have a tough time winning a Nice Off against the tree trunk at the base of the Family Tree shared by Mr. Rogers and Tom Hanks. I would love to know who else Mefford is related to, because I feel like he's the Secretariat of being a good person and every Saint, nurse, and person voted Most Friendliest in their high school has to be an acorn on Mefford's Coaching Tree of Niceness (I unfortunately came in 2nd place in the Most Friendliest vote to an extremely friendly person that completely deserved winning the award. Does admitting this on a platform as big as Barstool make me even friendlier than he is? That's for you to decide).
Obligatory incredible video of Mr. Rogers putting congress in a (proverbial emotional) full nelson in order to get support for public access television:
As well as obligatory heartwarming thread by Anthony Breznican about Johannes Mefford's great great great great great grandson being just as awesome in real life as he appeared on his show.
In case you are crying, here's something to make you feel better.
Fuck, now I'm crying even more. I gotta pull the plug here. END OF BLOG.
TL;DR - I fucking love those two gentlemen (as well as their great great great great great grandpappy Johannes who probably would love me and you too) and I cannot WAIT to see this movie in between helpings of Thanksgiving leftovers next weekend. Play us out Mister R!