LeVar Burton Actively Working To Host America’s Most Beloved Game Show
LeVar Burton is trying to nab the best job in game show history.
This article is more than 2 years old
Alex Trebek died on November 8, 2020, and since then, the hunt for a new Jeopardy! host has been ongoing. Shortly after, former Jeopardy! champion Ken Jennings stepped in as the interim host, intending to be the first in a series of guest hosts. Now, there is a massive online push for LeVar Burton to be the next Jeopardy! host, and it is gaining even more traction astoundingly fast.
Prior to Trebek’s death, LeVar Burton tweeted about how much he would love to take over Jeopardy! after its longtime host retired. Here’s the original tweet, complete with an extended thread of adoring fans supporting him.
Now, Change.org has organized a petition titled, “Make LeVar Burton the next host of Jeopardy!” The petition already has hundreds of thousands of signatures, with more coming in nearly every minute. It seems that there is a ton of interest in having the actor/television host step behind the podium and do what Alex Trebek did for so many years.
LeVar Burton taking over for Trebek obviously would not happen under the best circumstances, but the best way he can honor the late Jeopardy! legend is by becoming a great host in his own right. And his style is different enough to make that happen.
LeVar Burton is perhaps best known for hosting the incredibly popular children’s television program Reading Rainbow, which premiered on July 11, 1983 and was broadcast until August 2009. However, Star Trek fans will know him as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge in the acclaimed Star Trek: The Next Generation television series from the late 1980s-early 1990s. He is also renowned for playing Kunta Kinte in the 1977 ABC miniseries Roots. Additionally, he has appeared in two episodes of Family Guy, as well as in three episodes of The Big Bang Theory and a 2010 episode of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! He has obviously been in countless shows, but his entire resume is too long to include here. I just included a few highlights.
In the world of film, LeVar Burton has reprised his role as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge in Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, and Star Trek: Insurrection, as well as portrayed Private Michael Osgood in 1986’s The Supernaturals, Dr. Franklin Carter in the 1994 film Parallel Lives, as well as Principal Healy in Practice Makes Perfect.
Jeopardy! originally aired in March 1964 before being revived several times. The current version began its run in September 1984, with Alex Trebek taking over for former host Art Fleming. Jeopardy! has aired over 8,000 episodes, won a stunning 39 Daytime Emmy Awards as well as a Peabody Award, and has entertained viewers for over 30 years. Hopefully, LeVar Burton will be able to honor its legacy and still make his own mark on the franchise.
What do you think of LeVar Burton possibly becoming the next host of Jeopardy!? Personally, I think he would be a great choice. He has the charisma and the personality to make a long-running gig on the show work really well, so I say bring it on.
