Technology
‘May that godforsaken show burn in hell.’
One of my favorite things about The Onion is how often its content cleverly deals with books, reading, literature, authors, whatever. I think we’ve linked to a bunch of those stories/articles before, so I won’t do that now, but I did want to send you to this recent opinion bit by ‘LeVar Burton’ about his time hosting Reading Rainbow.
Look, Reading Rainbow was a television program. That should tell you something right there. What I should have done is hosted a show that taught children how to watch more television. I bet they would have come up with the funding to renew that show.
What I hadn’t realized is how long Reading Rainbow lasted. According to Wikipedia, “the show ceased airing reruns on PBS on Friday, August 28, 2009.” Damn.
RIP, Reading Rainbow. I have fond memories of tuning in to watch you as I sat on the floor in front of our television and sipped Kool-Aid from my sippy cup.
Tags: Reading Rainbow, The Onion
Now it only exists on the holodeck yo.
that article was a joke. wasn’t written by levar burton.
written by the onion writers. or am i missing that you already knew that?
that article was a joke. wasn’t written by levar burton.
written by the onion writers. or am i missing that you already knew that?
wait, it was a joke? a joke article at the onion? :)
wait, it was a joke? a joke article at the onion? :)
okay okay…egg on my face. sorry.
okay okay…egg on my face. sorry.
‘LeVar Burton’
missed the quotes…i’m an idiot. called in sick today. should have stayed in bed. ack.
‘LeVar Burton’
missed the quotes…i’m an idiot. called in sick today. should have stayed in bed. ack.
haha, no it was funny. dont feel stupid. feel better.
haha, no it was funny. dont feel stupid. feel better.
Nice one! I tried to compile a bunch of these recently
Nice one! I tried to compile a bunch of these recently
dang, i read “god foreskin” in the title of this post. my dyslexia is getting exciting.
dang, i read “god foreskin” in the title of this post. my dyslexia is getting exciting.
“god foreskin” is a great construction. I love it. I want to use it in a poem
“god foreskin” is a great construction. I love it. I want to use it in a poem
I actually think it sucks that Reading Rainbow was canceled because it focused on making kids excited about books instead of reading skills.
Funny piece, though.
I actually think it sucks that Reading Rainbow was canceled because it focused on making kids excited about books instead of reading skills.
Funny piece, though.
A very sad decision, but it was inevitable. American culture is moving to a point in which our relationship for books — at least as presented through the mainstream media — is either prescriptive (a blowhard writing a soporific essay in the New York Times Book Review), or dryly educational. We learned nothing from SESAME STREET’s early innovations, which merged the most cutting-edge and vibrant filmmaking techniques of the time with getting young kids fired up about what they were learning. You can’t have a smart and passionate place for books anywhere on the mainstream media. Guys like Michael Silverblatt barely get by and have to spend considerable time persuading NPR program directors to distribute his books program for free. Mellow and accessible interviewers like Jesse Thorn are told that they are too “crazy.” Oprah’s just about the last place left. But it’s designed to sell books instead of discuss books.
Reading Rainbow was one of the old school holdouts. It was a good thing because it told kids that reading was a place for discovery with numerous options. It simply wanted to celebrate the joys of reading (much as “Wishbone” did). But you can’t do this anymore because the “results” don’t translate into statistical test results or corporate profit. The whole dilemma upsets me so much that it makes me have savage fantasies of picking off some of these avaricious Wall Street baboons with a sniper rifle.
A very sad decision, but it was inevitable. American culture is moving to a point in which our relationship for books — at least as presented through the mainstream media — is either prescriptive (a blowhard writing a soporific essay in the New York Times Book Review), or dryly educational. We learned nothing from SESAME STREET’s early innovations, which merged the most cutting-edge and vibrant filmmaking techniques of the time with getting young kids fired up about what they were learning. You can’t have a smart and passionate place for books anywhere on the mainstream media. Guys like Michael Silverblatt barely get by and have to spend considerable time persuading NPR program directors to distribute his books program for free. Mellow and accessible interviewers like Jesse Thorn are told that they are too “crazy.” Oprah’s just about the last place left. But it’s designed to sell books instead of discuss books.
Reading Rainbow was one of the old school holdouts. It was a good thing because it told kids that reading was a place for discovery with numerous options. It simply wanted to celebrate the joys of reading (much as “Wishbone” did). But you can’t do this anymore because the “results” don’t translate into statistical test results or corporate profit. The whole dilemma upsets me so much that it makes me have savage fantasies of picking off some of these avaricious Wall Street baboons with a sniper rifle.
the kafka airport piece they did was funny funny funny.
the kafka airport piece they did was funny funny funny.