E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for the UK Film Council
LeVar Burton
Before he donned those funky futuristic shades as Starfleet engineer Geordi LaForge, LeVar Burton was synonymous with "Reading Rainbow," and now he's taking charge in its latest iteration: He's started a multimedia company and wrested control of the dormant @ReadingRainbow Twitter account.
After repeatedly tweeting directly to @ReadingRainbow and receiving no response, Burton on Tuesday night decided to tweet this to Twitter itself instead:
Like a photon torpedo, that message hit its intended target and by Wednesday morning, Burton was captain of the @ReadingRainbow Twitter account:
Maybe Burton can port some of his 1.7 million followers over to @ReadingRainbow, which was still under 1,000 last we checked.
"Reading Rainbow" ran on PBS with Burton introducing generations of children to the joy of books as the show's host for 26 years, ending in August 2009. Many of my friends can still summon the theme song instantly. As NPR pointed out, its run on PBS was third only to "Sesame Street" and "Mister Rogers."
It's not the first time Burton has shown his tech savvy. In 2005, he established the Levar Burton Vision Enhancement Technology Center, which developed technology for the blind.
More stories:
- How to easily circumvent Twitter’s censorship
- Student receives free cocaine with Amazon textbook order
- Amazon: 295K Kindle e-books borrowed in December
On Twitter, follow Athima Chansanchai, who is also trying to keep her head above water in the Google+ stream.
Leave a Comment:
How many people are going to be aware of Reading Rainbow primarily from LeVar's appearance on Community? Hilarious stuff!
LeVar Burton is awesome! I grew up on Reading Rainbow AND Star Trek TNG.
Kudos to you Levar Burton for keeping America's children (and adults) developmentally inclined with creativity and learning!
Butterfly in the sky... I can go twice as high... Take a look... It's in a book... It's reading rainbow...
OK. I'm one of those who grew up on the show. Haven't seen it in probably 15-20 years, but I can sure summon the theme song like I heard it yesterday. Everybody sing with me now:
I can do anything... Friends to know... And ways to grow... Reading rainbow... Reading rainbow! :-)
He probably pooded his pants when he got control of the Twitter account.
LeVar Burton is a rude jerk!!! - He was so mean to my 6 yr old at a Star Trek convention center in phoenix AZ-She had no idea who 'jordie' was - He wanted $20 dollars to speak to her and confirm he was the reading rainbow guy- My child was crushed and hasnt watched the show since. And he was eating a hamburger and chewing with his mouth open, so disgusting- Very disappointing all around and he is not a nice guy.
I'm sorry for your bad experience. You have to think about it on the point of view of the actors though. If they allowed an audience with every fan, they would have a line out the building, and wouldn't have anytime at all. You're paying for their time.
yeah and fans shouldn't talk to these jerks. At least Tom Cruise would stop an pose for fans. Really? To charge $20 to say hi to a 6 year old??!?! geez
"Emily Aldan
I'm sorry for your bad experience. You have to think about it on the point of view of the actors though. If they allowed an audience with every fan, they would have a line out the building, and wouldn't have anytime at all. You're paying for their time."
sorry to disappoint you. they already get paid for their time. i used to work on staff at local bay area sci-fi cons (stop laughing) and these folks get paid generously for their time. there is NO reason to be so rude! i have also been to cons where the star was whisked away before the audience was able to even get pics. that's all discussed in contract before they go to those events. if he didn't want to spend time one on one, then that should have been in contract. it should have been a panel discussion only and no autograph lines. as far as eating while "on duty", they get meal times as well. nope, still can't think of one good reason to be so uncool especially to the very audience you cater to.
buganini
You should tweet him at @readingrainbow and call him on it. I would like to see his response, if you do please post it here.
im more of a New Zoo Review fan, has anyone else heard of the show? Some think its strange that a 45 year old physician still watches the show. But only before bedtime.
Oh! I miss that show! What happened to educational children's television? I wish this show was on for my son.
As a 31 year old who has been hardened by the world at this point...........just hearing the phrase "Reading Rainbow" takes me back to being 6 again and I must say that it brings a smile to my face!
I loved Reading Rainbow. I also miss Wishbone, that was a cool show too.
Wow, I'm kinda sad nobody else seems to have enjoyed his appearance on Community as much as I did. I'm going to chalk it up to far too people watching Community. Bring it back soon!!