'80s, '90s Educational Shows We Wish Would Come Back

May 30, 2014 — -- intro: If there's one thing the already successful Kickstarter campaign to bring "Reading Rainbow" back to the screen has proved, it's that fandom of educational TV shows runs deep.

Less than a day after launching the campaign to reboot "Reading Rainbow" as a web series, host LeVar Burton had already raised more than $1.7 million, easily surpassing his $1 million goal.

"I am overwhelmed. Thank you so much," the "Star Trek: Next Generation" star said in a video thanking the 30,000-plus donors just after reaching the $1 million mark Wednesday. "This is going to enable us to do a lot of good. ... We are literally changing the world, one children's book at a time."

LeVar Burton Reaches Kickstarter Goal for 'Reading Rainbow' Reboot in One Day

Millions of children grew up on the PBS literacy series, which ran from 1983 to 2006 and won 26 Emmys and a Peabody award. After launching the show in a tablet form in 2012, Burton plans to take the show online and into classrooms for free.

Now that "Reading Rainbow" will be returning to a screen near you, what are the chances of other educational shows from the '80s and '90s making a comeback? Here are few we would like to see come back.

quicklist:title: "3-2-1 Contact"text: Science was made cool in this PBS show with a catchy opening theme and a crew of teenagers who used science to solve mysteries and discuss everyday situations. In one memorable episode, the show's hosts learned about pyrotechnics from the band Kiss. Developed by the same creative team behind "The Electric Company," the series aired from 1980 to 1988.

quicklist:title: Slim Goodbodytext: In a world of superheroes, Slim Goodbody, the fictional character created and performed by John Burstein, was known as "the Superhero of Health." Wearing a flesh-colored unitard decorated with the internal organs, Burstein's alter ego appeared twice a week on the CBS show "Captain Kangaroo" from 1976 to 1980, before receiving his own PBS series, called "The Inside Story," in 1980. Through DVDs, Burstein continues to educate kids about health and anatomy and even appeared in a commercial for Radio Shack during this year's Super Bowl.

quicklist:title: 'Mr. Wizard's World'text: The Nickelodeon hit show, "Mr. Wizard's World" grew out of "Watch Mr. Wizard," one of the original science TV shows for children. The original "Wizard" aired from 1951 to 1965 and was revived for a third, successful run from 1983 to 1990 on Nick. "Mr. Wizard's World" was famous for its Ask Mr. Wizard segment, in which Mr. Wizard would answer questions sent in by viewers.

quicklist:title: 'Bill Nye the Science Guy'text: Inheriting the mantle from Mr. Wizard was William "Bill" Nye, who hosted the PBS show, "Bill Nye the Science Guy," 1993 to 1998. Wearing a blue lab coat and a bow-tie, Nye mixed serious science with fast-paced action and humor. More recently, he showed off his moves on "Dancing with the Stars."media: 23915401

quicklist:title: 'Schoolhouse Rock!'text: Not so much a show as animated shorts, the three-minute segments, which aired during Saturday morning kids' TV on ABC, featured lessons in grammar, science, economics, history, mathematics and civics set to music. Episodes aired from 1973 to 1985 and, later, 1993 to 1999. Fans of "Schoolhouse Rock!' can sing along with the 30th anniversary DVD, released in 2003, and a special election collection from 2008.media: 23917222

quicklist:title: 'Big Blue Marble'text: Featuring the famous photo of the Earth taken by the Apollo 17 crew, "Big Blue Marble" was a half-hour syndicated series about children around the world that focused on intercultural communication and ecology. The show, which ran from 1974 to 1983, featured a few kids who went on to high-profile careers, including actress Tisha Campbell-Martin, former Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash and Sarah Jessica Parker.