Source: NPR
Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high,
Take a look, it's in a book — Reading Rainbow ...
Who will ever forget that?
A television program that will likely be remembered for generations to come will air for the last time today.
After 26 years on PBS, the 1980's LeVar Burton juggernaut known as Reading Rainbow bids farewell to its public broadcasting home.
According to NPR: "The show's run is ending because no one — not the station, not PBS, not the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — will put up the several hundred thousand dollars needed to renew the show's broadcast rights."
Often credited as one of the most important and educational childrens' programs in television history, Reading Rainbow changed much over the years, but its commitment to inspiring children to read and reach new heights with their imagination remained a consistently accomplished goal for more than a quarter-century.
Although Reading Rainbow leaves the air today, the memories (like of the famous 1980's opening montage) will never leave us.
Please leave your comments or favorite memories from Reading Rainbow below.
Comments
What a shame. My children grew up watching this program and because of it were exposed to many new books by several authors that we otherwise might not have ever heard about. With all the garbage on TV - 24/7 cartoon channels, the freakish Disney kids and the obnoxious Nickelodeon programming - Reading Rainbow was definitely one of the GOOD ONES that we always looked forward to watching and would record to see again and again. Thank you to those who worked on it for so many years - you did good and were a positive influence on many children throughout the past 26 years. You will be missed.
Where are all the wealthy liberal benefactors of our children, their cultural education and the funding of public programing for children? While this excellent educational and fun to watch program goes unsupported, billions a week are funneled into trash TV shows that brainwash children with corporate branding, vanity, envy, self serving pride and false hopes. Is there not one reasonably rich person or charitable trust in all of the so called 'liberal' east or west or the educational press or in Hollywood who will step up and keep LeVar Burton's timely reading show on the air?
It's a shame that our children's exposure to diverse material is suffering to a similar degree as the general public's. We're getting dumbed-down, to say the least. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is claiming that the station needs to focus on fostering children's knowledge of the basic mechanics of reading instead of excitement TO PICK UP THE BOOK in the first place and begin the journey. I put Reading Rainbow on par with independent media orgs. that give you the inside scoop on information/authors/material you probably won't hear about from the mainstream outlets. LeVar touched on everything from popular folk stories to socially relevant issues like slavery. He'll be missed....and you know what's coming for Christmas in our house (boxed sets)....
Reading Rainbow was my favorite show growing up. That show was one of the main reasons I grew into being such a big book lover. I loved the fact that it was still on for my niece to watch. How sad. There is still the show Between The Lions, which also teaches children the love of books, but it's still not the same. Bless you LeVar Burton, and thank you for many good years...
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!