Last year, Mychal Threets, a dedicated librarian, was astonished to receive an email about hosting a new version of the children’s show “Reading Rainbow.” He initially suspected it was a prank.
Mychal, widely known as “Mychal the Librarian” on social media, shared his disbelief in an interview, recounting, “I honestly thought they were lying when they first reached out to me, that it was all a trick. I was like, ‘Okay, I’ll play along.’”
But it was no trick at all.
After nearly two decades off-air, the beloved and critically acclaimed show is making its comeback today. Mychal Threets will helm the series, which is a collaboration between Embassy Row and Buffalo Toronto Public Media, the original creators. Instead of its traditional home on PBS, the new series will stream on KidZuko, a children’s YouTube channel from Sony Pictures.
Alongside Mychal, the reboot will also welcome a stellar lineup of celebrity guests, including John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Gabrielle Union.
A captivating image shows Mychal Threets, a librarian and social media sensation, seated on a stool in a grassy field, wearing a maroon shirt and brown pants, embodying his new role as the host of “Reading Rainbow.”
Mychal expressed his immense admiration for past PBS legends, including original “Reading Rainbow” host LeVar Burton, Mr. Rogers, Steve Irwin, and Bob Ross. “I’m the biggest fan of all the wholesome people in the world,” he stated, adding, “Just to have been considered blew my mind.”
Michael Davies, the executive producer behind “Jeopardy!” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” started developing the “Reading Rainbow” revival in 2020. Initially, his pitches to major streaming services and broadcast networks met with little enthusiasm.
Despite the initial lukewarm reception, Davies remained confident in the show’s timeless charm.
An image shows Mychal Threets, in a blue shirt, standing in a library. A rainbow graphic with the words “Follow the Rainbow!” is stretched across a screen, highlighting his aim to revive the original show’s essence.
Another image features Ebon Moss-Bachrach, from FX’s “The Bear,” sitting on the floor with two young girls, holding a book, demonstrating the inclusion of celebrity guests in the new series.
However, everything shifted dramatically this week with the release of the show’s trailer on YouTube and social media. It quickly garnered over two million views on Instagram alone, prompting a flood of inquiries, as Davies noted: “Now we’re getting incoming calls.”
In contrast to Buffalo Toronto Public Media’s 2022 attempt — a single live event with multiple singing and dancing co-hosts — Mychal’s iteration will largely retain the original show’s beloved format, enhanced with some contemporary additions. This includes a newly recorded version of the iconic theme song and the introduction of a fun trivia segment.
Nevertheless, with Mychal Threets leading the way, the core mission of fostering a love for reading remains paramount.
Mychal emphasized his dedication: “All I’ve ever sought to do is amplify library people and library kids. And remind them that every single one of them are readers, they’re all capable, they’re all worthy.”
This revival comes at a time of reduced government funding for public television. Nancy Hammond, an executive vice president and producer at Buffalo Toronto Public Media, stated that the show underscores public media’s “commitment to continuing to provide quality and educational content, and to ensuring that this programming is available, free of charge, to young learners.”
The original “Reading Rainbow,” partially funded by the Department of Education, aired from 1983 to 2006, with LeVar Burton as host. Its primary objective was to combat learning loss in children during summer breaks.
During its run, the show garnered over 250 awards, including 26 Emmy Awards and a George Foster Peabody Award. At its peak, it reached more than two million viewers weekly and became the most-watched program in elementary school classrooms, according to PBS.
An image depicts LeVar Burton, the original host of “Reading Rainbow,” wearing a blue suit and a medal on a red ribbon around his neck, symbolizing his long-standing dedication to childhood literacy. He was awarded the National Endowment for the Humanities medal in 2023.
LeVar Burton, celebrated for his roles in “Roots” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” became synonymous with “Reading Rainbow” and remains a powerful figure in children’s literacy. Mychal Threets playfully acknowledged this legacy on Instagram, joking to potential critics, “If you’re upset because I’m not LeVar Burton… GET BEHIND ME!”
His enduring influence was highlighted in 2023 when President Biden presented him with the National Endowment for the Humanities medal, and he was asked to sing the familiar “Reading Rainbow” theme song.
The torch of children’s literacy is now being passed to Mychal Threets, whose journey into the world of books began in 2013 as a librarian in Northern California.
During the 2020 pandemic, Mychal started sharing short TikTok videos featuring library anecdotes and book readings. These quickly went viral, attracting over 847,000 followers and with more than a dozen videos surpassing one million views.
Last March, Mychal faced severe personal mental health struggles and left his job with the intention of ending his life the following day. However, witnessing the pure joy of children in the library proved to be his lifeline, compelling him to stay.
Just a few months later, the “Reading Rainbow” offer came. Michael Davies confirmed there was no audition; his team immediately recognized Mychal as the ideal host for a show designed for social media.
Mychal reflected, “It wasn’t what saved me, but it helped me stay another day.”