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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!

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...
  1. Background image for Bea and Mr. Jones
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    #1 - Bea and Mr. Jones

    S1:E3

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  2. Background image for Louis the Fish
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    #2 - Louis the Fish

    S1:E5

    Louis the Fish

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  3. Background image for Digging Up Dinosaurs
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    #3 - Digging Up Dinosaurs

    S1:E6

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for Liang and the Magic Paintbrush
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    #4 - Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

    S1:E7

    Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport
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    #5 - Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport

    S1:E8

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  6. Background image for Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe
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    #6 - Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe

    S1:E9

    Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  8. Background image for The Gift of the Sacred Dog
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    #7 - The Gift of the Sacred Dog

    S1:E10

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for Gregory, the Terrible Eater
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    #8 - Gregory, the Terrible Eater

    S1:E11

    Today's subject is goats and what they eat.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for Three by the Sea
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    #9 - Three by the Sea

    S1:E12

    Three by the Sea

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for Arthur's Eyes
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    #10 - Arthur's Eyes

    S1:E13

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash
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    #11 - The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

    S1:E14

    The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for Ty's One Man Band
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    #12 - Ty's One Man Band

    S1:E15

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for Hot-Air Henry
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    #13 - Hot-Air Henry

    S2:E1

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for Simon's Book
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    #14 - Simon's Book

    S2:E2

    Simon's Book

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for Ox-Cart Man
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    #15 - Ox-Cart Man

    S2:E3

    Ox-Cart Man

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for Mystery on the Docks
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    #16 - Mystery on the Docks

    S2:E4

    Mystery on the Docks

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for A Chair for My Mother
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    #17 - A Chair for My Mother

    S2:E5

    A Chair for My Mother

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  19. Background image for Paul Bunyan
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    #18 - Paul Bunyan

    S3:E1

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

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  20. Background image for The Patchwork Quilt
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    #19 - The Patchwork Quilt

    S3:E2

    The Patchwork Quilt

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  21. Background image for Hill of Fire
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    #20 - Hill of Fire

    S3:E3

    Hill of Fire

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  22. Background image for The Tortoise and the Hare
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    #21 - The Tortoise and the Hare

    S3:E4

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  23. Background image for Perfect the Pig
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    #22 - Perfect the Pig

    S3:E5

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  24. Background image for Animal Cafe
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    #23 - Animal Cafe

    S4:E1

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  25. Background image for Alistair in Outer Space
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    #24 - Alistair in Outer Space

    S4:E2

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  26. Background image for Watch the Stars Come Out
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    #25 - Watch the Stars Come Out

    S4:E4

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

Worst Episodes Summary

"Bea and Mr. Jones" is the worst rated episode of "Reading Rainbow". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 6/8/1983. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Louis the Fish".