LeVar Burton has shared a petition calling for him to be named the next host of Jeopardy! Following Alex Trebek’s death from pancreatic cancer in November of 2020, the popular quiz show has featured a rotation of guest hosts, including former champion, Ken Jennings, talk show host, Dr. Oz, and Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. The guest hosts will continue indefinitely while the search for a new permanent host goes on.
It makes sense that the producers of Jeopardy! wouldn’t want to hire a new host too quickly. Trebek was arguably the most recognizable and well-respected face in the history of game shows – a genre he elevated significantly in the public consciousness during his time on Jeopardy! Trebek hosted the series for 37 seasons, beginning when it was first revived in 1984 and continuing until his death last year. He won seven Daytime Emmy Awards during that time frame for his work on the show.
Filling Trebek’s shoes is a nearly impossible task, but one name in particular has risen to the top of the discussion among Jeopardy! fans – LeVar Burton. An online petition to make Burton the next Jeopardy! host has recently circulated, and now Burton himself has shared the petition on Twitter. “Leaving this here in the event the powers that be are listening,” Burton wrote, making clear his own interest in hosting the show. Burton is best known for his role as Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed 1977 miniseries, Roots, as Lieutenant Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and as the host of PBS’s Reading Rainbow for 23 years.
As a major proponent of lifelong learning, a seasoned and respected TV host, and a beloved cultural icon, Burton seems as good a fit as anyone to step up to the Jeopardy! podium. Whatever version of the show takes shape in the wake of Trebek’s passing will inevitably be different from what came before, but the right host could still help create a strong future for Jeopardy! Burton could be that host, and both he and the Jeopardy! fans clearly want it to happen.
The new Jeopardy! host likely won’t be announced for some time, regardless of who it ends up being. An extensive slate of guest hosts has been announced in addition to those who’ve already appeared on the show, and there’s no reason to rush in selecting Trebek’s successor. Still, Burton seems like an ideal choice to be the next host of Jeopardy!
Source: LeVar Burton