Last August, we were all heartbroken when “Reading Rainbow” aired its final episode, marking the end of its 26-year run. But now, from LeVar Burton’s Twitter feed:

You heard it here first… Reading Rainbow 2.0 is in th works! Stay tuned for more info. But, you don’t have to…

Damn 140 characters! The Twitter format cut off his catchphrase!

Anyway, this is good news, but I hope they update it for the 21st century. Something a little more contemporary, like a Fox reality show. Maybe LeVar could throw a recommended book at any kid who struggles to read a sentence out loud, or, I don’t know, taser the children who use “lol” instead of a period to end sentences. I’m just spitballin’ here.

More like RACIAL Rainbow!

After a run of 26 years on PBS, the final episode of “Reading Rainbow” aired today. The only children’s television shows with longer runs are “Mister Rogers” and “Sesame Street.”  **plays “Taps” on the kazoo**

Each episode of Reading Rainbow had the same basic elements: There was a featured children’s book that inspired an adventure with Burton. Then, at the end of every show, kids gave their own book reviews, always prefaced by Burton’s trademark line: “But you don’t have to take my word for it …”

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. [NPR]

I don’t know if “Reading Rainbow” had any lasting effect on people who grew up in the ’90s, but if you were a nerdy little bookworm in the ’80s (guilty), this show OWNED YOUR SH*T.  Check out video of the original credits after the jump.  The catchy hook and the reverb on the synthesizer makes me want to go read the f*ck outta some Very Hungry Caterpillar.

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