'Reading Rainbow' Ends on PBS

Reading Rainbow came to an end after its final episode aired on PBS on Friday.

According to the Associated Press, the show, which was created to encourage children to read, lasted for more than two decades after first airing in 1983. The series, hosted by LeVar Burton, fell in ratings, resulting in the halt of production for new episodes several years ago. The show's official Web site will also be discontinued in December.

New York Daily News reports that the show, which won more than two dozen Emmys, was cancelled because the several hundred thousand dollars required to renew broadcast rights were not paid for. John Grant, head of PBS content, said he blames the recession for impacting the show's funding.

In honor of the show, Annie Barrett of Entertainment Weekly gave her opinion on the opening credits for "Reading Rainbow": "I'd like to issue both a tip of my hat and a wag of my finger to singer Tina Fabrique for ensuring that the theme song will soothe/haunt me all weekend," Barrett said.