Buffalo, NY: After almost three years in broadcast syndication, as well as at least fifteen years in television limbo, but twenty-plus years on the air, the popular PBS book r
eview show, Reading Rainbow, officially went off the air this past Friday.
Reading Rainbow was an educational television show, hosted by Geordi La Forge from Star Trek: The Next Generation, known by his friends and loved ones as LeVar Burton. In the show, Mr. Burton gives a short review of random children’s books, yells, “But you don’t have to take MY word for it,” and then allows kids to give their take on the book, followed by the greatest “ta-da” sound clip ever made.
The majority of the show’s audience were male, aged 18-24, heavily into drugs and alcohol. “Yeah, I used to watch that show in college between classes. Sh*t was hilarious! I even went out a picked up a few of the books for sh*ts and giggles,” stated graphic designer Ted DeAngelo.
They didn’t stop at just watching it, either. The now confusing http://www.newgrounds.com/ had hosted four to five spin-off episodes of the Reading Raindow show, using Flash animation and soundbites of Sloth from The Goonies. (click for reference.)
A small minority of actual children would watch the program as well, while waiting for the next episode of Seasame Street.
Unfortunately, both college kids, and pre-pubescent kids will not be able to view the show, except on a slight circulation in grammar schools, due to financial hardships. “We originally took the show off the air because of the $210,000 per episode price tag, as well as LeVar Burton starting to look really cheesy with that earring. It was time to can it,” stated PR representative Nancy Dolquin.
In place of Reading Rainbow, PBS plans to air Colored, Blinking Lights in order to appease children’s lust for worthless programming.