Welcome back, “Reading Rainbow.”
Almost two decades since the “Reading Rainbow” aired its final episode, the beloved PBS kids show is returning with a new host and a slew of celebrity guests — as well as a hope for renewed love of literacy.
“After nearly 20 years … ‘Reading Rainbow' is returning to motivate, help, and encourage kids to become avid readers with new episodes, new friends, new projects, and of course … new books!” says the show’s description.
Mychal Threets, a librarian and digital creator, will take the reins as host of the rebooted series, following in the footsteps of LeVar Burton, who hosted the original series from 1983 through 2006.
Threets, who goes by Mychal the Librarian, captivated viewers on TikTok, sharing his love of libraries and reading and his cheerful attitude.
Also joining the series are “Dancing With the Stars” pros Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa as well as “Fantastic Four” actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Books will be narrated by Adam Devine, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen.
The series will debut its first episode on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 8 a.m. MST on KidZuko, a YouTube channel operated by Sony Pictures Television featuring content curated for young kids. Subsequent episodes will air every following Saturday through Oct. 25, also on YouTube.
Episodes will also be available to stream on ReadingRainbow.org.
The resurrected series found its new home on YouTube, following the the Trump administration’s $1.1 billion cut in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which includes funding to PBS.
“Reading Rainbow” aired on PBS for 23 seasons, earning more than 250 accolades, including a George Foster Peabody Award in 1993 and 26 Emmy Awards.
On average, 670,000 people watched the show every week and roughly 10 million students watched “Reading Rainbow” at school, according to the show’s official website.
The series stopped airing new episodes in 2006 and the show’s broadcast run ended in August 2009. Previous “Reading Rainbow” episodes are available to stream for free on pbs.org and the PBS app.
Audiences react to ‘Reading Rainbow’ reboot
Audiences expressed enthusiasm over the upcoming return of “Reading Rainbow,” particularly over the show’s new host, Mychal Threets, who has a mega-following online.