Burton: Anniversaries

For Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s LeVar Burton, 2012 and 2013 are years of anniversaries.

2012 is of course the 25th anniversary of The Next Generation. Due to the anniversary, the cast of The Next Generation have done some joint appearances and plan on doing more of them. “The TNG Reunion Tour,” said Burton, “otherwise known as Geezers Unite.

“They are the best. There’s nothing like it when we get together. We make each other laugh more than anybody else in our lives. We all have our other friends, but when we’re together…it’s hard to explain how much we make each other laugh.”

Next year will be the 30th anniversary of Reading Rainbow. While the show is no longer on the air, Burton is heavily involved in the Reading Rainbow app, which marries technology and reading for today’s generation of tech-savvy children. “What you’ll find on the App is the best translation of the television show that we could possibly create in this new and digital environment,” said Burton. “It’s books, a library of books, and videos, video field trips, just like we had on the original series. So it’s Video Field Trips with LeVar.”

Burton is proud of his work on Reading Rainbow, due to his own roots. “…Reading Rainbow...is so education-focused,” he said. “I’m the son of a teacher. We’re all teachers in my family…, my older sister, my son, nieces, nephews, cousins. It’s what we do in my family. So, for the son of a teacher, this is pretty big.”

Burton is still acting and has a recurring role on TNT’s Perception, which has just been renewed for a second season.