Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
LeVar Burton found fame for portraying the role of Geordi La Forge in theStar Trekfranchise for quite many years. Alongside the role, Burton also became the host of a children’s show calledReading Rainbow.
The concept wasn’t something grandiose or game-changing. It was simply Burton reading kids’ books and giving the children stories that taught morals and fun. However, LeVar Burton had an immense love for the show.
LeVar Burton And TheReading Rainbow
The proposition to have a narrator read children’s books to kids wasn’t that endearing for actors. However, this was a crucial step in history since the show encouraged kids to read alongside the host.
LeVar Burton was on the six o’clock news at the time while the crew behindReading Rainbowwas busy with the ideation of the series. Something sparked and writer Lynne Ganek brought in the proposition ofLeVar Burtonnarrating stories.
In an interview, producer Larry Lancit revealed toMental Flossthatthe idea of casting Burtonin the series was something quite iconic.
I remember [writer] Lynne [Ganek] called us and said, ‘You really need to see this guy. He’ll be on the six o’clock news.’
Co-producer Cecily Truett added,
Lynne called [Burton’s manager] when LeVar was doing ‘ABC’s Wide World of Sports’ on the Zimbabwe River. [The agent for Burton replied] He’s not even in the country, but he’ll do it.
That is how LeVar Burton was brought in for the iconic showReading Rainbow.However, Burton’s love for the show didn’t stop there. As per reports, Burton had something better in his mind.
“I don’t have to put on that VISOR”: The Next Generation Was So Grueling LeVar Burton Was Happy Just Directing the Next Star Trek Show
With the changing world and modern trends affecting people’s love for reading, Burton wanted to showcase the so-called ‘internet generation’ the perks of reading books. That’s when he thought of a campaign.
LeVar Burton’s Campaign Gathered $5 Million!
It was the year 2006 whenReading Rainbowaired its last episode. However, LeVar Burton wanted to share the joy of reading with children and that’s when the thought of reading for the internet generation became an idea.
Although Burton tried to bring organic finance to the project, it didn’t quite work. So, Burton started a campaign on Kickstarter (which was quite new at the time). The end result got him $5 million for his project!
The money went to an app called Skybrary that gave kids access to thousands of lessons and an online library to pick a book and read it. However, Burton’s passion for reading didn’t stop there.
“I didn’t get it… Maybe I wasn’t smart enough”: Hardcore Star Trek Fans Will Never Forgive J. J. Abrams for What He Said About The Original Series
In 2017, Burton created a podcast calledLeVar Burton Readsand instead of children, the podcast was meant for adults to hear stories. The episodes are still continuing and have thousands of people turning up to listen to the stories.
In 2022, a documentary was released on Netflix titledButterfly in the Sky.The documentary showcased the journey ofReading Rainbowand had Burton talking about his experience while working on the show.
“Geordi was actually half alien”: Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Plan to Make LeVar Burton’s Geordi La Forge an Alien Was Totally Bonkers
Reading Rainbowreceived a rating of 8.4/10 on IMDB and 16 seasons of the show are available to buy on Apple TV+ in the U.S.Meanwhile, his podcast,LeVar Burton Readsis available on Spotify.
Visarg Acharya
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3265
Visarg Acharya is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on movies, with over 3000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past three years and a copywriter at a corporation. Visarg usually covers news and theories on the MCU and the DCU, with an emphasis on Avengers and Superman; Game of Thrones, and more.A Tarantino fan, Visarg, spends his time critiquing various directors’ filmographies and watching them with curiosity. Medieval fantasy like The Lord of the Rings or sci-fi movies like Interstellar, watching the latest horror movies, and listening to Hans Zimmer become his comfort zone. When idle, he can be found reading fantasy novels with a terrible cup of coffee in hand.
