Michael Kinsell says he's not the next "Mister Rogers," and the Public Broadcasting System and the production company representing the late children's television star heartily agree.

They don't even want to be in the same neighborhood as Kinsell.

The San Diego resident said he will honor Fred Rogers at a "gala" event he has produced and is hosting on Sunday at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

Publicity material for the event says Kinsell will be introduced at his "Children's Hero Awards" show as "the successor to Mr. Rogers," suggesting a blessing from PBS, which aired the "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" show for four decades.

Now, after getting cease-and-desist letters from PBS and Rogers' production company, Family Communications Inc., Kinsell acknowledged this week that any notion that he is succeeding Rogers is mistaken.

So was an earlier news release from his nonprofit corporation, the Children's Media Foundation that said his self-produced and as-yet-unsold show, "Michael's Enchanted Neighborhood," would air soon on public television, he said.

"I can understand how that could be seen as completely misleading," Kinsell said of the pre-show publicity. "That was used out of context."

He also said a statement on the gala's Web site www.childrensheroaward.com that "this new public television program continues to extend the concepts pioneered by Mister Rogers" does not mean it will air on PBS.

"At this point, it seems there is an enormous misunderstanding," Kinsell said. "PBS is not supporting us. If anything, we are trying to help them."

No thanks, says PBS.

"PBS is not affiliated with Michael Kinsell, the Children's Hero Award honoring Fred Rogers, the Children's Media Foundation, or the National Endowment for Children's Media," spokeswoman Jan McNamara said, the latter a reference to another of Kinsell's nonprofit businesses. "Any claim of association with PBS or that the event will be broadcast by PBS is false."

Kinsell, who says he is 18 and taking a break from early childhood education classes at Point Loma Nazarene University, won't say how many tickets have been sold.

He also won't guarantee appearances by stars such as Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Dick Van Dyke, Eddie Murphy, Bob Newhart or Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who are pictured on childrensheroaward.com and whom Kinsell says all support his efforts.

"We are expecting all of them to be there, but we do not want to publicize who just in case something comes up," Kinsell said Tuesday. "Their schedules are always subject to change."

As for the governor, Kinsell said he "has confirmation he will be at the event." But Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said Wednesday the invitation was declined.

Kinsell said he's spent about $100,000 producing the event. The 90-minute show, he said, will feature celebrities he refused to name and celebrity impersonators, with the proceeds going to his nonprofit group, which is listed as Michael's Enchanted Enterprise Inc. in state filings.

The heartburn with Kinsell at PBS and Family Communications was first reported Tuesday by Current, a biweekly newspaper that covers public broadcasting in the U.S.

Arts center spokeswoman Teresa Ramirez confirmed that Kinsell has rented the 1,523-seat main hall, but would not disclose how much he paid. Tickets, which until this week ranged from $75 to $300, are now set at $100 regardless of seat location. They remain on sale and are expected to be available right up to show time, Ramirez said.

The program is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and, according to the advertising, features a live symphony, the celebrity guests and a post-concert reception.

Kinsell said the show honors Rogers' life and long television career. Rogers died in 2003, and PBS will soon stop airing regular reruns of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."

Family Communications Inc. is being presented a $10,000 check in honor of Rogers, Kinsell said. But Family Communications Chief Operating Officer Kevin Morrison wants nothing to do with Kinsell. The company has told him to stop using its logos and trademarks.

"In the past, he has said the Rogers family would be present, which he then modified to say the Rogers family has been invited," Morrison said. "No one from the family will be there, and the whole thing has absolutely nothing to do with Family Communications or PBS."

And that's OK with Kinsell.

"Fred Rogers is just a recipient of this award," he said. "He was a very loved man and we will be giving him a great show."

Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529.