Reading Rainbow: Difference between revisions
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1983: "Funding For Reading Rainbow was made possible by a grant from [[Kellogg's]]; who urges you to explore the joys of reading. Funding for the series was also provided by the [[ Corporation For Public Broadcasting]]" |
1983: "Funding For Reading Rainbow was made possible by a grant from [[Kellogg's]]; who urges you to explore the joys of reading. Funding for the series was also provided by the [[ Corporation For Public Broadcasting]]" |
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1985: "Reading Rainbow is made possible by grants from B. Dalton bookseller who urges children and parents everywhere to follow the Reading Rainbow. B. Dalton is commited to literacy and hopes that in your home, reading is a family affair. The Corporation For Public Broadcasting, This Station and other Public |
1985: "Reading Rainbow is made possible by grants from B. Dalton bookseller who urges children and parents everywhere to follow the Reading Rainbow. B. Dalton is commited to literacy and hopes that in your home, reading is a family affair. The Corporation For Public Broadcasting, This Station and other Public Television Stations and the [[Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation]]" |
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1987: "Reaing Rainbow is made possible by a grant from [[Dayton Hudson Corporation]] on behalf of [[Target Corporation|Target]], [[Mervyn's]], [[Dayton Hudson Department Store Company]] and [[Lechmere]] and by the Corporation For Public Broadcasting, this station and other Public Television Stations, The [[Carnegie Corporation of New York]] and The [[National Science Foundation]]. |
1987: "Reaing Rainbow is made possible by a grant from [[Dayton Hudson Corporation]] on behalf of [[Target Corporation|Target]], [[Mervyn's]], [[Dayton Hudson Department Store Company]] and [[Lechmere]] and by the Corporation For Public Broadcasting, this station and other Public Television Stations, The [[Carnegie Corporation of New York]] and The [[National Science Foundation]]. |
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Revision as of 17:04, 15 April 2007
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 Star Trek: 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, Ed Harris, Will Smith, Freddie Prinze, Jr., 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. LeVar ended every show with his famous sign-off: "I'll see you next time."
The series' pilot, which aired as the show's 8th episode in 1983, featured the book Gila Monsters Meet You At The Airport. It was created and produced in 1981 by Twila Ligget (GPN), Tony Buttino (WNED), and from LANCIT MEDIA PRODUCTIONS, Larry Lancit, Cecily Truett and Lynne Brenner Ganek. LeVar was the host. Lancit Media produced the majority of the series' episodes until the past few years.
The show's original theme song was written by Steve Horelick ( the series music director and composer) and Janet Weir and was recorded by singer Tina Fabrik. It was used until 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. A new version of the theme song by R&B legend Chaka Khan 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 Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994). The 1988 episode of Reading Rainbow titled 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. (Both the behind-the-scenes footage and bloopers come from the production of "Symbiosis.") 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- 2007; 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 at the book information during 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.
In 1983 episodes, when you turn on the secondary-audio-program channel, you can hear the book information.
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 Emmys for Writing, Photography and Editing - for a total of four Emmys. It was the most honored children's series of 2005, one of a few U.S. children's shows also watched regularly by adults, and overall, one of the most acclaimed shows in all of television. In March 2007, Steve Horelick, received an EMMY nomination for Outstanding Music Direction and Composition. 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. [1]
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. [2] [3]
However, in a presentation at the Pennsylvania State University on January 29, 2007, Burton again announced that he had recently shot his last episode of Reading Rainbow and was retiring, citing differences with the new owners. [4]
Funding
Corporate funding for Reading Rainbow is/was provided by the following:
- National Science Foundation (1987-2002)
- The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations (1992-2002), (2006-2007)
- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (1983-2007)
- "This station and other Public Television Stations" (1983-1988)/ "The annual financial support of Viewers Like You" (1988-1999)/ "Contributions to your PBS station from Viewers Like You Thank You" (1999-2007)
- Carnegie Corporation of New York (1987-1991)
- 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's (1983-1998) [5]
- Pew Charitable Trust (1993-1998)
- RCN Telecom Services (1989-1998)
To date, the only permanent sponsors for Reading Rainbow have been the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Viewers Like You, which have both funded the show for its entire run. There have been many others, however; From 1987 and until 2002, The National Science Foundation funded the show, and The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations funded the show from 1992 until 2002 and has resumed production during the 2006-07 season.
And kids even announced the funders of Reading Rainbow at the beginning and end of each show. Here's a sample of them...
1983: "Funding For Reading Rainbow was made possible by a grant from Kellogg's; who urges you to explore the joys of reading. Funding for the series was also provided by the Corporation For Public Broadcasting"
1985: "Reading Rainbow is made possible by grants from B. Dalton bookseller who urges children and parents everywhere to follow the Reading Rainbow. B. Dalton is commited to literacy and hopes that in your home, reading is a family affair. The Corporation For Public Broadcasting, This Station and other Public Television Stations and the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation"
1987: "Reaing Rainbow is made possible by a grant from Dayton Hudson Corporation on behalf of Target, Mervyn's, Dayton Hudson Department Store Company and Lechmere and by the Corporation For Public Broadcasting, this station and other Public Television Stations, The Carnegie Corporation of New York and The National Science Foundation.
1990: "Reading Rainbow is made possible by a grant from The Carnegie Corporation Of New York, The National Science Foundation, The Corporation For Public Broadcasting, the financial support of Viewers Like You and by a grant from Kellogg's who reminds you to take time each day for reading"
- The 1990 Quote was used in the 1992-1993 season but with a different background;its either an ocean background or a sandy background but the pink lines that move toward each other when the CPB comes in towards itself, shows the logo and then splits to reveal the Viewers Like You logo was also introduced.
And finally in 1995: " Reading Rainbow is made possible by a grant from the Corporation For Public Broadcasting, by the annual finacial support of Viwers Like You and by grants from the National Science Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations and a grant from Kellogg's who reminds you to take time each day for reading".
Notes
- ^ Burton Talks Drama, Diversity, Respect & 'Reading Rainbow'
- ^ Western New York Public Broadcasting Association and Educate, Inc. Announce New Reading Rainbow Partnership
- ^ Educate ventures into television with children's show
- ^ Owens, Alyssa (2007-01-30). "'Reading Rainbow' star encourages imagination". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved 2007-1-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ 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 Kids: Official Site
- Official site
- Director's Site
- Reading Rainbow at IMDb
- Jump The Shark - Reading Rainbow
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