Last year, when Mychal Threets, a dedicated librarian, received an email proposing he host a revitalized ‘Reading Rainbow,’ he initially dismissed it as a prank.
“I genuinely believed it was a trick when they first contacted me,” shared Threets, widely recognized on social media as Mychal the Librarian. “I decided to humor them and play along.”
It was, in fact, very real.
This critically acclaimed children’s series is making its grand return today after a nearly two-decade break, with Mychal Threets at the helm. Produced by Embassy Row in collaboration with Buffalo Toronto Public Media (the original creators), the show will now be available on KidZuko, Sony Pictures’ children’s YouTube channel, diverging from its traditional home on PBS and PBS Kids.
Beyond Threets, the new season will boast a lineup of celebrity guests, including John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Gabrielle Union.
Threets expressed his immense admiration for past PBS icons, including the original ‘Reading Rainbow’ host LeVar Burton, stating, “I’m a huge fan of LeVar Burton, Mr. Rogers, Steve Irwin, Bob Ross — truly all the wonderfully wholesome figures out there. The thought of even being considered for this role was mind-blowing.”
Michael Davies, an executive producer renowned for ‘Jeopardy!’ and for bringing ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ to American television, initiated the ‘Reading Rainbow’ revival in 2020. Initially, his pitches to various streaming services and broadcast networks met with little enthusiasm.
However, Davies remained steadfast in his belief in the show’s lasting charm.
Mychal Threets, a librarian who cultivated a substantial social media following, is the new host. His vision for ‘Reading Rainbow’ is to lovingly recreate the cherished atmosphere of the original program. (Image Credit: Marissa Leshnov for The New York Times, Embassy Row)
The new ‘Reading Rainbow’ will feature an array of celebrity guests, including actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach, known for his role in the FX series ‘The Bear.’ (Image Credit: Embassy Row)
The recent release of the show’s trailer this week dramatically shifted perceptions. It amassed over two million views on Instagram alone, prompting a surge of interest and inbound calls, according to Mr. Davies.
In contrast to a 2022 reboot attempt by Buffalo Toronto Public Media—a singular live event with multiple co-hosts, singing, and dancing—Mychal Threets’s rendition will largely retain the core elements of the original series, enhanced with contemporary updates. This includes a fresh recording of the iconic theme song and the introduction of a new trivia segment.
Despite the updates, Threets assures that the show’s fundamental dedication to fostering a love for reading remains unwavering.
“My primary goal has always been to champion librarians and young readers,” Threets affirmed. “I want to reassure every child that they are inherently readers, fully capable, and absolutely worthy.”
This revival emerges at a sensitive political juncture, marked by reductions in government funding for public television. Nancy Hammond, an executive vice president at Buffalo Toronto Public Media and a producer of the reboot, emphasized that the show underscores public media’s commitment to delivering high-quality, free educational content to young audiences.
From 1983 to 2006, the original ‘Reading Rainbow,’ partially funded by the Department of Education, was hosted by LeVar Burton. Its core mission was to combat summer learning loss in children.
The show garnered over 250 awards, including 26 Emmy Awards and the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. At its peak, it reached more than two million weekly viewers, establishing itself as the most-watched program in elementary school classrooms, as reported by PBS.
LeVar Burton, the iconic original host of ‘Reading Rainbow,’ remains a powerful symbol of childhood literacy. In 2023, he was awarded the National Endowment for the Humanities medal. (Image Credit: Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press)
LeVar Burton, famed for his roles as Kunta Kinte in ‘Roots’ and Geordi La Forge in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation,’ became synonymous with ‘Reading Rainbow’ and childhood literacy. Threets humorously acknowledged this legacy on Instagram, quipping, “If you’re upset because I’m not LeVar Burton… GET BEHIND ME!”
In a testament to his enduring influence, President Biden requested Burton sing the opening lines of the ‘Reading Rainbow’ theme when presenting him with the National Endowment for the Humanities medal in 2023.
The torch of childhood literacy is now passed to Mychal Threets, whose own journey with children’s books began in 2013 at a Northern California library.
During the 2020 pandemic, Threets started sharing short videos on TikTok, featuring library anecdotes and book readings. His unique content quickly captivated audiences, leading his account to accumulate over 847,000 followers, with more than a dozen videos surpassing one million views each.
Tragically, last March, after enduring significant personal mental health struggles, Threets resigned from his position with the intention of ending his life the following day. However, it was the sheer joy he witnessed in the children at the library that compelled him to continue living.
Just a few months later, the offer to host ‘Reading Rainbow’ came his way. Mr. Davies revealed there was no formal audition; Threets was the immediate and obvious choice for a show designed for social media. His authentic presence made him an ideal fit.
“While it wasn’t the sole factor that saved me, it certainly helped me persevere for another day,” Threets reflected.