25+ years seemed worth of at least a mention:
The "Reading Rainbow" is at an end on PBS.
The program aired its final episode Friday, wrapping a more than two-decade run that began in 1983. "Reading Rainbow," hosted by LeVar Burton, was designed to spark a love for books in its young audience.
The once-popular show's ratings had slipped and production on new episodes stopped several years ago, PBS said. Along with the end of the broadcasts, the "Reading Rainbow" site at pbskids.org will be discontinued in December.
Liz Gannes at NewTeeVee reports that budget cuts were to blame for the series end and cites comments (and reminisces on her high school commencement ceremony where Burton spoke!) from host LeVar Burton on Twitter made last February 18 that he'd like the keep the some version of the show alive online:
Want y'all to know that I'm seriously moving forward with an idea for a new version of a Reading Rainbow like show. Webisodes for adults.
thats so sad
What a shame. My kids watched this show for 15 years; the only reason we stopped is our local OPB station stopped programming. It was a wholesome show with a lot of diverse offerings, and LeVar Burton is such a class act, you could tell he loved his work. The newer shows are flashier but have a lot of questionable content with unacceptable double “adult” meaning. But in the end, if you read to your kids , they will be readers. Why let TV take the credit for something that is so much fun and such an opportunity for bonding with your child?
Looking forward to seeing what Mr Burton will be doing next!
There are few if any cases where a show cancellation is qualifiable as a real public tragedy, but this may be one.
The cancellation isn’t the public tragedy, but rather the lack of public interest in the program that caused the cancellation is.
Goodbye
Another decision by PBS to not program and show some of their most iconic programs. The most ridiculous came when they decided to stop showing Mr. Rogers! They replace these class act shows that kids have watched for decades and would have continued to watch to replace them with these low budget cartoons that never create the buzz, loyalty or acclaim Rogers or Rainbow recieved.
Lets hope and pray for Sesame Street in a couple of years.
I still recall the tune as a kid.
Readinggggg Riiiinbooooowww……
A show about literacy and I misspell “rainbow.” Leave it to me to inject some tragic irony.
I loved this show.
im 17 and i remember have to watch about 10 episodes a year of this and Bill Nye the science guy at school
the last time i had to watch one at school was 9th grade and every one in class still new the chorus to it.
but to be honest the show ended in 2006, Now they are just nolonger running the reruns
Well, we shouldn’t be surprised. The American public’s standards have been questionable ever since the 90s when Jerry Springer surpassed Oprah in ratings. Unfortunately those people are allowing their 6 year olds to watch shows like Springer or the reality garbage on MTV rather than allowing more age appropriate and educational programs on PBS to shape their minds.
Sesame Street is in big, big trouble too (sliding ratings, budget cuts)…I think the end is pretty close for that show unfortunately.
Sesame Street makes it up in merchandise. It probably sells close to the billions.
Reading Rainbow doesn’t have that edge because it’s hard to market a show about books that kids won’t remember the name of when the show ends.