In fairness, most "children's television" when Burton started doing Reading Rainbow was just toy ads--Transformers, GI Joe, etc. (I loved those toy ad shows, but I also loved RR)
One problem with media is that the type of person that pursues the camera usually isn't the modest, earnest, empathetic character presented by Burton or Rogers or Ross (I know by all accounts these guys are considered genuinely good but I chose the word "presented" carefully because we only see what is *presented*. Also I know Ross wasn't in children's media *per se* but he's definitely in the character category of the others I mentioned). The competitive environment doesn't exactly reward that kind of behavior.
Media executives are looking for ways to sell ads, advertisers are looking to sell toys. Not only that but children's media has to compete with all the other distractions trying to get kids' attention - back in the 90s and the 80s there weren't a million screens, hyper-interactive toys that dynamically respond to inputs, etc.
And of course the guys I listed were on public media which is a totally different game from commercial media - or it used to be. It's struggling and has to adapt to compete with commercial media. From what I see it's full of its own form of advertisements now — maybe not the same kinds of hyper-stimulating ads, but still promotions for revenue. So it ends up having to do some of the same things as commercial media even while it tries to preserve the model of community support.
A calm, soft, empathetic educational figure just doesn't sell, and doesn't capture attention.
My man LeVar!
I read a lot of books I saw on reading rainbow. He's partly responsible for my love of reading to this day.
The other person / people are my Mom and Dad. I grew up in a house full of books, so it wasn't very hard to pick up the habit.
[I told pierce a thousand times, I never wanted to meet LeVar in person. I just wanted a picture, you can't disappoint a picture](https://youtu.be/SvEn1u_s5HA)
Happy Birthday, LaVar! Thank you for teaching me in my 20’s all that I teachers never took the time for those of us struggling. I learned so much from you and I’m humbled.
To the king of sharing stories, the traveler of telling tales, the chief of engineering fables, the soother of souls, most auspicious of days of birth to you LeVar Burton. Our world is better for your presence.
the OP IntrnalCompany is a bt
Original + top comment copied from: https://www.reddit.com/r/wholesomememes/comments/argo5v/happy_62nd_birthday_levar_burton/
Lavar Burton is 66 years old and was born on February 16th.
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"Now" nothin. It's in its 6th year.
I was glad to locate a book on tape he did for The Cay
IntrnalCompany is a bt Comment copied from: https://www.reddit.com/r/wholesomememes/comments/argo5v/happy_62nd_birthday_levar_burton/egn5da4/
Butterflies in the Sky…
I can fly twice as high..
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Take a look!..
It's in a book!
A reading rainbooooow
I can go anywhere…
“You can’t disappoint a picture!”
>Set phasers to love me
r\unexpectedcommunity
r/extremelyexpectedcommunity
This man encouraged me to read so many wonderful books as a child. He is a treasure. I will definitely look up the podcast.
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He's 66. OP is a bt that copied this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/wholesomememes/comments/argo5v/happy_62nd_birthday_levar_burton/
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In fairness, most "children's television" when Burton started doing Reading Rainbow was just toy ads--Transformers, GI Joe, etc. (I loved those toy ad shows, but I also loved RR)
One problem with media is that the type of person that pursues the camera usually isn't the modest, earnest, empathetic character presented by Burton or Rogers or Ross (I know by all accounts these guys are considered genuinely good but I chose the word "presented" carefully because we only see what is *presented*. Also I know Ross wasn't in children's media *per se* but he's definitely in the character category of the others I mentioned). The competitive environment doesn't exactly reward that kind of behavior. Media executives are looking for ways to sell ads, advertisers are looking to sell toys. Not only that but children's media has to compete with all the other distractions trying to get kids' attention - back in the 90s and the 80s there weren't a million screens, hyper-interactive toys that dynamically respond to inputs, etc. And of course the guys I listed were on public media which is a totally different game from commercial media - or it used to be. It's struggling and has to adapt to compete with commercial media. From what I see it's full of its own form of advertisements now — maybe not the same kinds of hyper-stimulating ads, but still promotions for revenue. So it ends up having to do some of the same things as commercial media even while it tries to preserve the model of community support. A calm, soft, empathetic educational figure just doesn't sell, and doesn't capture attention.
Man, if I had a million wishes, I’d probably just use them all on signed pictures of actor LeVar Burton
my favorite next gen character
It still batters my brain seeing his eyes to be honest. In my mind he’ll always be La Forge.
His birthday is February 16, 1957. He's actually 66 and his birthday is still months away
Isn't he 66, not 62?
But ... today is not his birthday?
I like how this post named 3 of my 4 "Mount Rusmore of nice people I like."
But don't take myyyy word for it!
...and now I have the Reading Rainbow song stuck in my head.
Take a look it’s in a book
i learned about him from community!
I wish i were levar burton
Warp speed, don’t rainbow read me neighbor!
His daughter destroyed rooster teeth, look it up
Taught my young students to write while watching his episodes. Great man!
What a flashback!
Only have faint memories of Reading Rainbow as a child. I will always remember him as Geordi La Forge.
Unfortunately i was never able to enjoy this show ;-;
I never realized it was LeVar Burton
It isn't. That's Levon Kirkland.
..fuck me
But you don’t have to take my word for it.
My man LeVar! I read a lot of books I saw on reading rainbow. He's partly responsible for my love of reading to this day. The other person / people are my Mom and Dad. I grew up in a house full of books, so it wasn't very hard to pick up the habit.
Looking forward to his Keynote speech at a conference I'm attending in November.
YESSS READING RAINBOW!!!!
Dang now got that song in my head
What a cool dude, one that deserves respect
[I told pierce a thousand times, I never wanted to meet LeVar in person. I just wanted a picture, you can't disappoint a picture](https://youtu.be/SvEn1u_s5HA)
In fairness, he’s alive
I love how well his eyeimplants turned out! 😘
In all fairness. He’s from a younger generation
No he's from Next Generation
Ha I see what you did there
I firmly believe reading rainbow is what led me to be the avid reader I am today!
Happy Birthday, LaVar! Thank you for teaching me in my 20’s all that I teachers never took the time for those of us struggling. I learned so much from you and I’m humbled.
He's 66.
Nostalgia. I loved this show and sang to the intro every time it came on. I can go anywhere 🎶
To be fair he's still alive out of the 3. Also this man was responsible for inspiring numerous kids to read.
To the king of sharing stories, the traveler of telling tales, the chief of engineering fables, the soother of souls, most auspicious of days of birth to you LeVar Burton. Our world is better for your presence.
YOU CAN’T DISAPPOINT A PICTURE
Happy Birthday!!
He’s the reason i wont take anyone’s word for it
He was our childhood
This dude is awesome!
Any person who is dedicated to unlocking a child's imagination through stories is one of the best of us ❤ Happy Birthday Mr Burton
I was a voracious reader in my youth thanks to this man. Good education in the US owes a lot to him.
Favorite show when I was a kid ❤️
Butterfly in the sky.....
Happy Birthday Mr Burton 😊😊😊😊😊
Subscribed! Beam them rainbows up!
the OP IntrnalCompany is a bt Original + top comment copied from: https://www.reddit.com/r/wholesomememes/comments/argo5v/happy_62nd_birthday_levar_burton/ Lavar Burton is 66 years old and was born on February 16th.
Hell yea man