LeVar Burton, back again on reddit. AMA!

How does it feel to know that you were the standard pseudo substitute teacher for classrooms all over the place? You and Bill Nye were the best part about the teacher not being there. I just bought a reading rainbow shirt at Target, and it's my favorite thing. But above all thank you!

Hahahahaha!

And I thank you! I'm really most proud of our continuing efforts to be a part of the lives of kids.

Would you rather fix 100 plasma conduit sized warp coils, or 1 warp coil sized plasma conduit?

Yes.

The last thing we heard about you in Community was that the boat you and Troy were on got captured by pirates. If you were allowed to come up with a story of your escape, what would it be?

Out of their benevolence, the pirates dropped LeVar and Troy off in Tahiti.

And they sailed around for the rest of their lives in the South Pacific.

And published a coffee table book of their adventures.

Did you know Mr. Rogers? He was a childhood and still is a hero of mine and believe we need more people like him.

Yes, I did know Mr. Rogers.

Fred was both a friend, and a mentor, to me.

We met first at a PBS event in Crystal City many years ago. And over time, we became good friends. I went to Pittsburgh to do an episode of his show, and unfortunately he passed before he had a chance to come and do READING RAINBOW.

Hi LeVar! Can you tell us something about yourself that we may find surprising?

Well, let's see. I studied in the Catholic Seminary for the priesthood for four years.

Follow up: are you still a religious man?

I gave up organized religion many years ago. However, God plays a critically central role in my life.

Hey LeVar!

What would you say is your favourite moment with RoosterTeeth?

Hahahahaha!

Um... I love RoosterTeeth. And I suppose one of the things I love MOST about them is that the RoosterTeeth fandom is a place that my daughter Mica and I can connect.

Sorry if this has already been asked but can you explain Skybrary and how it will impact the reading, the learning, the education, and the fun of new generations of readers? I mean, isn't that what Reading Rainbow is all about?

Absolutely. That is exactly what Reading Rainbow is all about.

And here's how Skybrary works: when you log on, you are launched into the cockpit of your own hot air balloon.

Out in front of you, you will find islands in the sky that are themed.

This is where our content lives.

Our books, and our video field-trips.

This enables a child to have a self-directed experience that is about adventure and discovery of books and videos that they would themselves like to read.

1. As the 30th anniversary of TNG approaches in a few years, would you ever consider filming another TNG movie?

2. Do you have any special memories about Leonard Nimoy that you'd like to share?

3. Do you and Brent Spiner still talk? Data and Geordi were my favorite two characters from TNG.

Thanks for doing this AMA!

1.) Only if all of my TNG castmates were involved.

2.) Sure! Leonard was a very kind and generous man. Some of my favorite memories of Leonard were evenings out, eating, drinking, and laughing.

3.) Who's he? HA HA HA HA! Brent Spiner, I'm not familiar! HA HA HA HA! Brent and I talk all the time! No, we all keep in touch, the Next Gen cast. When I got married many years ago, Brent was my best man, and my groomsmen were Jonathan Frakes, Michael Dorn, and Patrick Stewart. It made for a pretty kick-ass wedding photo.

You're welcome!

Hi LeVar!

Which author has had the greatest impact on your life?

Wow.

That's a pretty big question.

There have been so many - from Isaac Asimov, to Carl Sagan, to Alex Haley, to Gene Roddenberry... writers who've had a tremendously profound impact on my life.

It's impossible for me to choose just one.

Do you have a favourite TNG moment?

Wow.

So many.

So many moments!

I'd have to say in "Nemesis" when Geordi sees sunrise through human eyes. That's a pretty good moment.

What was it like doing voice work on Adventure Time? Do you watch the show?

Hahaha!

I love Pendleton Ward, and his wacky sense of humor. And yes, I was a fan before voicing Bubble.

Did you know Michael Dorn is Vegan? Are you Vegan?

I did indeed know that Michael Dorn is vegan.

I am not vegan.

However, Brent Spiner is vegetarian.

If you had a holodeck of your own, where and when would you want to go first?

Nice question.

I would create a Holodeck program where I could fly without any apparatus whatsoever.

And I'd spend hours touring the sky.

How uncomfortable was that visor in The Next Generation?

Ha!

The visor was... very uncomfortable. People don't believe me when I say that we literally screwed it into my head.

However, it's true.

BBC America moved the three episodes of STNG from 8 am to 12 pm and only show 2 episodes now. Can you talk to them for me?

I would like it back to the three episodes at 8 am. Thanks

Unfortunately I have no connections at BBC America.

I remember having my mom send you a letter when you were on Star Trek because Geordi was my favorite. You wrote back some inspiring thing that had nothing to do with my letter. Did you have just a blanket statement that you sent people back then?

BTW, I still have it.

In fact, I did have a blanket card that I used to send to fans back in the day. I'm trying to remember now what it said. It's just escaping me. It was a 5 x 7 card that had a picture on one side, and a note on the reverse, it was during a time when there was just no way for me to personally answer every request for an autograph. I didn't have the infrastructure. We were a two person shop! But I'm glad you still kept it!

LeVar - congrats on the new project (Skybrary)! I'm going to check it out for my nieces. Is this the next "phase" of Reading Rainbow?

THANK YOU for asking!

Hahahaha!

Yes! Skybrary is in fact our first post-Kickstarter product.

And Skybrary is actually our entire library service. All of our books and video field trips on the web! We've taken our number one educational app, and totally translated it for the web browser. Our target demographic is the entry-level reading age child - we like to think of it as being between 2-9 years of age.

I'm very proud of it.

What do you think the world is missing more, if you had to chose one: love or education?

In my view, education is love.

Hello LeVar! What is your spirit animal?

chuckles heartily

Donald Glover is my spirit animal!

I know you were born in Germany. Do you speak German?

Ein bissen ja.

Would you ever consider a return to 'Star Trek' with the cast from The Next Generation and the other series if it was done in an animation style similar to how 'Star Wars' did 'The Clone Wars'? Personally I would love to see some of the books like the Destiny Trilogy, The Typhon Pact and The Fall be done with the combined casts from over the years.

I would certainly consider it!

You starred with Steve McQueen in his final film. Can you share your thoughts on his approach to acting?

Steve did not believe that acting was something that could be taught. And I tend to agree with him, in the sense that i have a very difficult time explaining what I do. Which is absolutely be in the moment, be honest, tell the truth, and let the chips fall where they may.

what is your favorite current TV show? Movie?

Let's see... television or movie...

I'm pretty hooked on Game of Thrones. Some pretty quality storytelling going on right there. And in my queue, I've got Orange is the New Black, and House of Lies.

Thank you very much for your efforts at Reading Rainbow. I watched that show as a kid from ~1990-1995, both in school and out. Reading Rainbow allowed me to discover many worlds, without Star Trek.

What projects take up most of your time these days?

Most of my time these days is occupied by Reading Rainbow.

Our digital products for kids, and the growing thing that is the business of Reading Rainbow.

Hello, Mr. Burton.

Thanks for doing another AMA.

I have been a fan of your work since childhood. I just wanted to say that you are an amazing man! My question for you is this: Who was the best author you ever met, and who would you most like to meet? Thanks again, and keep up the great work!

Wow, the best author I've met?

Holy moly. At the risk of offending some pre-tty great authors... I will plead the Fifth on that question!

Would LOVE to have met John Updike. Would love to have met John Updike.

Hi. What are your favorite pizza toppings?

Pepperoni, sausage, jalapeno.

what technology surprised you that was inspired by star trek?

I continually marvel at a lot of the technology we currently enjoy that was inspired by Star Trek.

I'm convinced that there was some child who watched the original episodes of Star Trek... and kept seeing Kirk pull out a communicator, to call Scotty on the ship. That child grew up, became a scientist, an engineer, and designed a product more prevalent than the toaster. The cell phone.

What are your top five favourite books, or children's books? As a librarian, I must know!

I can pick a couple. I like recommending children's books are ENEMY PIE by Derek Munson and AMAZING GRACE, with illustrations by Caroline Binch and text by Mary Hoffman.

Did you always like Scifi or did you become a fan or bigger fan after star trek?

I was a fan of science fiction before I became a member of the cast of Star Trek. Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future was VERY important to me, when I was growing up. My family and I watched the original series faithfully.

What is your favorite charity?

Wow. My favorite charity?

I am a big fan of Shared Hope International. They do amazing work on the planet. And I'm a big supporter of First Book. And little free libraries.

Are you going to the Beach or BBQing today?

Today, I am neither going to the beach, nor am I barbecuing. Can I come over to your house?

I would love that. Anytime you are in NJ :)

chuckles

I'll be right over!

Roots! Reading Rainbow! Star Trek! Reading Rainbow again. Is there one thing you have done that makes you most proud? Is there one thing on your bucket list... something that you have dreamed of doing... that would match up to the good works you have done so far?

Had I been given an opportunity to dream up my career thus far, I would never have been able to imagine the things that I have had the chance to do in this life. From ROOTS to Star Trek to Reading Rainbow, I am enormously grateful that my work represents an effort to not simply entertain, but to educate as well.

Even perhaps enlighten a little, along the way.

The future? I can't wait to see what happens next.

What artists past and or present inspire you the most and why?

I'm a huge Van Morrison fan. For me, Van is the singer / songwriter / poet / sinner / saint / troubadour of my generation.

Hi LeVar! What is your favorite word or phrase?

Not safe for this conversation! chuckles heartily

Do you think social media has an overall positive or negative affect on children?

Well, depends on what age group you're talking about. I actually don't know many 9 year olds that are on social media. When you say "social media," I think of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, those kinds of things.

Weren't you captured by pirates with Troy Barnes?

Yes, I was.

Hey Levar, what's for lunch?

Hmmmm - well, now I'm pretty hungry for barbecue, since someone mentioned it earlier!

Good Morning LeVar! Thank you so much for Reading Rainbow when I was growing up. Now to share it with my children is really special. Also avid Star Trek fans, we love you for Geordi. I have been a since I can remember, what was your favorite project in your 30's? If there would have been a compelling story, would you have played Geordi as his own Starship Captain or Head of Starfleet Engineering? But just one more time, thank you so much for all you have done. You gave me a life long passion for reading as a child and I have never lost it.

Hahaha!

I think it would've been fun to have explored the character of Geordi as the captain of his own ship!

I don't read as much as I should... I mostly read biographies or only books of celebritys that I know and think are awesome... (I love Colin Mochries book "not quite the classics"... just plain awesome!)

I didn't read any important books in school, cause I was on a stupid school... (German Haupschule... If you even know our school system :) )

what books should I get myself and read or at least try to read (I might not finish it, if I stop reading and don't pick it up fast enough :/)? And do you have any other tips on how I can read more? I would really like to read more I just never want to buy a new book -.-'

also... sorry for my english (I'm german if that is a good excuse :P)

Oh, boy! I'm sorry to hear that you feel like you went to a stupid school, and takes no joy from reading. My suggestion might be to try audio literature - listening to books can be almost as enjoyable an experience as reading, or as enjoyable an experience. Maybe you just need to try a different way of enjoying literature!

What's your favorite line you delivered as a character?

chuckles heartily

The most memorable I think I've delivered, and certainly one of my favorites, is from Reading Rainbow - "But you don't have to take MY word for it."

Hi LeVar, today is my birthday. What was your best birthday ever?

Wow.

Well, at this point in my life, I've had quite a few! Usually I'm working on my birthday. However, this past February, I was kidnapped by my wife, and taken on a fun weekend in Santa Barbara.

She made all the arrangements, and paid for everything. It was really fun.

Do you think crowdfunding will have a bigger impact on media production in the future? I can see it working kind of like presales. Produce a trailer/script, then scale a project to the amount raised.

I think that crowdfunding has already had a major impact on production, and I can only expect that that impact will continue to grow.

Heya LeVar.

You've had an interesting career. Are there anything moments you wish you could change, opportunities you missed, or things you'd do differently if you had the chance?

Thanks.

I'm not the sort of person who looks back on my life with any amount of regret. Given the chance to do it all over again, I'd like to think I'd make the same choices for the most part.

If Star Trek came back to television in some form, do you think you and the other Star Trek actor/directors would be interested in directing for it again?

I don't see why not? It would really depend on the quality of the storytelling!

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I used to be a night owl when I was younger.

I think I'm a middle of the day person, currently! Ha ha ha! That's when I'm at my best.

If you could ask questions to anyone dead or alive on Reddit, who would it be?

Are there dead people on reddit? I'm just kidding!

Let's see...If I could ask questions of anybody, dead or alive, who would it be...

That's actually a pretty good question.

You know, I would love to have another conversation with Steve McQueen.

Do you believe in charter schools?

I believe in educating our children in the best way imaginable. Taking into account that different school districts have different needs, populations, and resources, I believe charter schools to be a valuable component in the mix.