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The Worst Episodes of Reading Rainbow

Every episode of Reading Rainbow ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Reading Rainbow!

Journey to exciting places and build a lasting connection with your favorite books. Each episode centers on a theme from a book, or other children's...
Genre:Kids
Network:PBS

Worst Episodes Summary

"Bea and Mr. Jones" is the worst rated episode of "Reading Rainbow". It scored N/A/10 based on 0 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 6/8/1983. This episode scored NaN points lower than the second lowest rated, "Louis the Fish".

  • Bea and Mr. Jones
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    #1 - Bea and Mr. Jones

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 6/8/1983

    LeVar is already worn out after working on several scenes all day long on the production of the series. He feels he needs to take on another identity, segueing into introducing the featured book, Bea and Mr. Jones. Madeline Kahn reads the book about a kindergarten student and her father who get so bored with their jobs that they decide to experiment by switching places for the day.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Louis the Fish
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    #2 - Louis the Fish

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 6/10/1983

    Louis the Fish

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Digging Up Dinosaurs
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    #3 - Digging Up Dinosaurs

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 6/13/1983

    Technically not the first science-related show in its history, LeVar seeks a place where archaeologists retrieve dinosaur bones. At the end of the program, LeVar buries a time capsule, containing (among other things) a can of old Coke and his picture. Linda Gilman reads Digging Up Dinosaurs, a story about how paleontologists unearth dinosaurs skeletons and preserve them in museum exhibits.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Liang and the Magic Paintbrush
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    #4 - Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 6/14/1983

    Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport
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    #5 - Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 6/15/1983

    In the featured book, a young boy and his family move from New York City to the Southwest and he has many misconceptions about what his new home is like.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe
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    #6 - Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 6/16/1983

    Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Gift of the Sacred Dog
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    #7 - The Gift of the Sacred Dog

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 6/17/1983

    The first of many programs favoring Native Americans. In this instance, a Midwestern legend suggests how horses arrived to the tribe. Later in this episode is the song "Ancient Places, Sacred Lands" which lists several words originating from various locations of the United States and the tribal meaning of their names.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Gregory, the Terrible Eater
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    #8 - Gregory, the Terrible Eater

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 6/20/1983

    Today's subject is goats and what they eat.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Three by the Sea
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    #9 - Three by the Sea

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 6/21/1983

    Three by the Sea

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Arthur's Eyes
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    #10 - Arthur's Eyes

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 6/22/1983

    LaVar explores seeing and our other senses, as Bill Cosby tells the story of how the young aardvark, Arthur Read acquired his pair of glasses.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash
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    #11 - The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 6/22/1983

    The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Ty's One Man Band
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    #12 - Ty's One Man Band

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 6/23/1983

    LeVar is ready to find music everywhere, and he does. This show includes the animation Onomatopoeia. Lou Rawls reads the story of Ty's One-Man Band, about a man who teaches a boy how to make music using household items.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Hot-Air Henry
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    #13 - Hot-Air Henry

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 1/1/1984

    LeVar goes to South Carolina to ride a hot-air balloon. In another study of how air travel has advanced, schoolchildren visit the Space Camp for Aspiring Young Astronauts. William Windom reads the story of Hot-Air Henry, the misadventures of a cat who sneaks on board his family's hot air balloon and how he gets back down again.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Simon's Book
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    #14 - Simon's Book

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 1/1/1984

    Simon's Book

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Ox-Cart Man
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    #15 - Ox-Cart Man

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 1/1/1984

    Ox-Cart Man

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Mystery on the Docks
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    #16 - Mystery on the Docks

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 1/1/1984

    Mystery on the Docks

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • A Chair for My Mother
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    #17 - A Chair for My Mother

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 1/1/1984

    A Chair for My Mother

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Paul Bunyan
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    #18 - Paul Bunyan

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 7/1/1985

    Lavar visits a lumberjack camp in the forest. Today's featured book is based on the legend of Paul Bunyan, the giant woodsman.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Patchwork Quilt
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    #19 - The Patchwork Quilt

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 7/2/1985

    The Patchwork Quilt

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Hill of Fire
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    #20 - Hill of Fire

    Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 7/3/1985

    Hill of Fire

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Tortoise and the Hare
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    #21 - The Tortoise and the Hare

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 7/5/1985

    LeVar has entered a bicycle race. He's in competition not just with the other bikers, but with himself as well. This program also includes a lengthy piece on a karate class. Comedienne Gilda Radner reads the Aesop's tale of "The Tortoise and the Hare," about an arrogant rabbit that's over confident that he can beat a determined turtle in a foot race.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Perfect the Pig
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    #22 - Perfect the Pig

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 7/22/1985

    LeVar visits a pig farm in Hawaii to find out why pigs are so popular. He also interviews Kermit the Frog to ask him about his famous girlfriend, Miss Piggy.James Coco reads the story of Perfect the Pig, about a little runt pig who makes a wish to have wings in order to be special, and how he found a special person to be his friend and companion.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Animal Cafe
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    #23 - Animal Cafe

    Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 6/23/1986

    LeVar goes to a 24-hour diner to look into night jobs, and profiles people who have occupations in the evening and early morning hours, like radio DJ's, bakers, cab drivers, and police officers. In a separate story, a man ventures into a cave to see bats and other nocturnal animals. Martin Short narrates the story of "Animal Cafe," about a cat and dog who operate a third shift restaurant for all the animals in their neighborhood while keeping it a secret from their human owner.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Alistair in Outer Space
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    #24 - Alistair in Outer Space

    Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 6/24/1986

    Alistair is on his way to return library books when he is captured in a spaceship by two creatures called Goots. Also includes Library of Congress, Maps and Globes, Conan the Librarian, Book Care and Repair and book reviews for Check it Out! The Book about Libraries, Commander Toad and Maps and Toads.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Watch the Stars Come Out
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    #25 - Watch the Stars Come Out

    Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 6/26/1986

    LeVar visits a pig farm in Hawaii to find out why pigs are so popular. He also interviews Kermit the Frog to ask him about his famous girlfriend, Miss Piggy.James Coco reads the story of Perfect the Pig, about a little runt pig who makes a wish to have wings in order to be special, and how he found a special person to be his friend and companion.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A