Sony Orders 24 Episodes Of 'Reading Rainbow' Reboot

TV & Film

Feb 26

The Reading Rainbow — Image Source: WPSU.org

Sony Pictures Television has ordered 24 Episodes of Reading Rainbow, a children’s program which ran on PBS and PBS Kids from 1983 to 2006. The original series, hosted by LeVar Burton, will return with host Mychal Threets, in partnership with Sesame Streetand Ms. Rachel’s Kristen McGregor as the showrunner and executive producer. Reading Rainbow was one of the most successful educational children’s programs on PBS, known for several hit children’s shows, including Arthur, Sesame Street, and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Reading Rainbow won several prestigious accolades, including the Peabody Award and 26 Emmy Awards. The series was relaunched with host Mychal Threets for KidZuko, Sony Pictures’ YouTube channel for kids.

The revival included 4 new digital episodes, which earned nearly 5 million views. KidZuko will continue to release condensed episodes of Reading Rainbow for its channel; however, Sony Pictures Television confirms that talks are underway to secure a deal for their 24-episode reboot with a TV Network or a streaming service. The series featured many famous narrators over the years as guests, with the KidZuko episodes featuring appearances from Rylee Arnold, Ezra Sosa, Bellen Woodard, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. It also featured Jamie Chung, Gabrielle Union, Adam DeVine, John Legend, and Chrissy Teigen among the celebrity narrators, and SPT says the new episodes will bring many more celebrities and books. This revival also marks a major victory for PBS, following the current administration's cut in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 2025. Michael Davies, who’s the executive producer for Sony’s Embassy Row, says that the revival proved that there’s a demand for educational programming for children. Davies says, “This series offers more than entertainment—it empowers viewers through reading, which feels especially critical at a time when literacy rates are in historic decline.

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