In the past year or so there was a documentary about Burton and Reading Rainbow. It was more interesting than I anticipated. He was talking about the various debates in the show. Like when he got an earring. "I was madly in love with someone. She thought earrings were pretty cool, so I got an earring." And a huge smile as he says it. But the production people basically thought a black guy with an earring was too bad ass and kids would be scared. And they didn't want him to have a beard either for same reason.

But basically he was a huge star, the show was insanely popular, so he got his way.

They also showed a clip of an episode, where he explains to children that in the United States it is actually criminal to be homeless and how it doesn't make any sense at all.