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Reading Rainbow is an acclaimed American children's television series aired by PBS since 1983 that encourages reading among children. Each episode centers on a theme from a book or other children's literature which is explored through a number of segments or stories. The show also provides book recommendations for kids to look for when they go to the library.
Show details
Reading Rainbow is hosted by actor and executive producer LeVar Burton, who is also known for his roles in Roots and The Next Generation. It is produced by On-Screen Entertainment for executive producers WNED and Great Plains National.
A regular feature is a children's book narrated by a noted celebrity. Some of the celebrities who have read on the show include Hulk Hogan, Flava Flav, Will Smith, and Bill Cosby. Another segment of the show features LeVar in different places talking to different people about their work and other contributions, focusing on the theme of each episode. The final segment of each show, called Book Reviews which starts after "But...you don't have to take my word for it" (from Levar Burton's introductory phrase), has children giving capsule reviews of books they recommend.
The show's original theme song was recorded by singer Tina Fabrik. It was used up till to 1998. Classic episodes with the original theme song and some of the original sponsor tags, were shown on some local PBS stations between 1999 and 2002. The a new version of the theme song by R&B legend Chaka Kahn has been used since 2000.
In recent years it has tackled issues that other children's programs have historically avoided, such as poverty in U.S. inner cities, the September 11 attacks, childbirth and its impact on the family, and prison, all from a child's point of view.
LeVar Burton and Star Trek
For seven seasons, LeVar Burton hosted this series concurrently with his regular role as Geordi La Forge on The Next Generation (1987-1994). The 1988 episode of Reading Rainbow entitled The Bionic Bunny Show dealt with science fiction and included behind-the-scenes footage of TNG as well as the only (to date) authorized broadcast of bloopers from that series. He also mentioned Star Trek occasionally, and during a segment when he was cloudwatching he remarked one cloud reminded him of "the Starship Enterprise."
Animation producers
Feature Book filming
The photographing of the Feature Book segments were by:- Centron Films (1983-1987; renamed in 1986 to "Centron Productions Inc.")
- Loren Dolezal (1988-1998; renamed in 1995 to "Dolezal Animation")
- Take Ten Animation (1995-present; Take Ten teamed up with Dolezal from 1995-1998)
Opening titles filming
"Today's Reading Rainbow Books are..." bumper
For the second season in September 1984, a bumper was introduced at the end of every episode of the program called "Today's Reading Rainbow books are..."'. Rather than pausing a video-tape to the book information at the credits on 1983 episodes, viewers can hear a rundown of the books that were used on that episode of Reading Rainbow. LeVar Burton, the host of the program, or another presenter, will say the title of the book, the author, the illustrator, then the publisher.
Critical acclaim
Reading Rainbow has won 7 Emmy awards for Outstanding Children's Series over the last 10 years. The series was nominated for 6 more Daytime Emmy Awards in 2005. On May 20, 2005, the series was honored with another Emmy for Outstanding Children's Series. It also won 3 more Emmy's for Writing, Photography and Editing - for a total of four Emmy's. It was the most honored children's series of 2005, one of a few U.S. children's shows also watched regularly by adults (other examples are generally limited to Sesame Street, Scooby Doo, and Spongebob Squarepants), and overall, one of the most acclaimed shows in all of television. Today, Reading Rainbow appears on many PBS stations across the United States. Original production was to have ended in 2005, with the show continuing to air in reruns, but host LeVar Burton said on February 7, 2006 that five new episodes of the show will be shot in 2006 despite the continuing financial troubles of PBS. *
On March 7, 2006, Baltimore, Maryland-based Educate Inc. announced that they will become a co-producer for Reading Rainbow, replacing GPN as producer after The University of Nebraska Regents (the owners of GPN and NET) recently sold its long-time production interest to WNED, with WNED and Educate Inc. signing a co-production agreement. WNED's CEO confirmed that the agreement will allow the securing of needed funding to continue production of Reading Rainbow. *,*
Funding
Corporate funding for Reading Rainbow is/was provided by the following:
- National Science Foundation (1987-2002)
- The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations (1992-2002)
- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (1983-2005)
- "The annual financial support of Viewers Like You" / "Contributions to your PBS station from Viewers Like You" (1989-2005)
- Barnes and Noble (1985, 2000-2002)
- The Children's Place (2004-2005)
- Ready To Learn grants (2004-2005)
- United States Department of Education (2004-2005)
- Dayton-Hudson Corporation (1987)
- Kellogg's1 (1983-1998)
- Pew Charitable Trust (1993-1998)
- RCN Telecom Services (1989-1998)
1 -- During the years Kellogg's was sponsor, Reading Rainbow would get promoted on the boxes of Kellogg's cereals, generally at the start of each season.
External links
PBS network shows | 1980s TV shows in the United States | 1990s TV shows in the United States | 2000s TV shows in the United States
"Reading Rainbow"