LeVar Burton – News Stories About LeVar Burton - Page 1

LeVar Burton Learns Ancestor Served With the Confederacy

LeVar Burton Gets a Shock
From His Family Tree

Jan 19, 2024 9:14 AM CST

LeVar Burton Gets a Shock From His Family Tree

'Reading Rainbow' host learns of a white ancestor, who served with the Confederacy

(Newser) - In unraveling celebrities' family trees, PBS' Finding Your Roots brings surprising discoveries, some welcome, some not so welcome. For former Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton, it appears to have been a bit of both. In an episode aired Tuesday, host Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. informed the Roots star that...

Scripps Spelling Bee Recruits 'Perfect Match' as Host

After Jeopardy! Rejection,
LeVar Burton Gets New Gig

Dec 17, 2021 3:45 PM CST

After Jeopardy! Rejection, LeVar Burton Gets New Gig

'Reading Rainbow,' 'Roots' star will host Scripps National Spelling Bee in June

(Newser) - "Happy Friday, y'all!" was LeVar Burton's cheerful greeting on Twitter this morning, before the announcement likely contributing to his good mood was made. That revelation, per a release cited by NPR : The Emmy- and Grammy-winning actor and former host of PBS' Reading Rainbow has a new...

Thanks to
Online Petition,
LeVar Burton
Lands Jeopardy Gig

Apr 22, 2021 2:15 AM CDT

Thanks to Online Petition, LeVar Burton Lands Jeopardy Gig

He'll be one of the final guest hosts for this season

(Newser) - From Reading Rainbow host to Jeopardy! host, at least for a bit: LeVar Burton snagged the gig after making his desire to guest-host the iconic game show clear on social media. On April 5, the beloved Star Trek star shared a Change.org petition on Twitter calling for him to...

Massive Dispute Between
LeVar Burton and
Reading Rainbow Owner

Aug 8, 2017 6:22 PM CDT

Massive Dispute Between LeVar Burton and Reading Rainbow Owner

This is the second time the show's co-creator has sued Burton

(Newser) - Those who grew up with Reading Rainbow will likely be dismayed to learn that there's a big fight between the owners of the show and the celebrity with whom it's most closely associated—LeVar Burton. Burton hosted the show on PBS from 1983 to 2006, and starting in...

Snoop Dogg:
Don't Watch
Roots

May 31, 2016 4:41 AM CDT

Snoop Dogg: Don't Watch Roots

He's sick of seeing depictions of slavery

(Newser) - To Snoop Dogg, Roots, 12 Years a Slave, Underground, and other depictions of slavery apparently aren't important history lessons, but attempts to rub black people's faces in the oppression they suffered centuries ago. In an expletive-filled Instagram video , the rapper urges fans to steer clear of the History...

Seth MacFarlane
Donates $1M to
Reading Rainbow
Kickstarter

Jun 27, 2014 1:16 PM CDT

Seth MacFarlane Donates $1M to Reading Rainbow Kickstarter

He'll match pledges on Kickstarter for new web series

(Newser) - Actor LeVar Burton's campaign to make Reading Rainbow available in classrooms has gotten a big push from Seth MacFarlane. The Family Guy creator has pledged to match donations up to $1 million on Burton's Kickstarter page , reports AP . Burton hosted the beloved PBS show until its cancellation in...