LeVar Burton will guest host Jeopardy! after fans demand he take over as the next Jeopardy! host. Back in November, after a battle with pancreatic cancer, longtime host, Alex Trebek, passed away peacefully at the age of 80. Trebek’s impeccable hosting skills graced the trivia game show for 37 seasons and more than 8,200 episodes. Earlier this year, Jeopardy! aired Trebek’s final episodes.
Following the passing of the iconic host, the trivia show announced that a string of celebrities, such as Aaron Rodgers, Katie Couric, Anderson Cooper, and Dr. Oz would guest host the series until a permanent host was named. Since former Jeopardy! champion, Ken Jennings, kicked off the roster of guest hosts back in January, ratings for the game show have fluctuated, and certain guest hosts, such as Dr. Oz, haven’t lived up to fans' standards. Recently, an online petition garnered support from celebrities and fans alike that stated Reading Rainbow and Star Trek: The Next Generation star Burton should permanently host Jeopardy!. Now it appears Jeopardy! has finally responded.
Burton took to Twitter to announce he will serve as a guest host on Jeopardy!. Burton thanked his slew of supporters for signing the petition and stated, “I am overjoyed, excited, and eager to be guest-hosting Jeopardy!, and will do my utmost best to live up to your faith you in me.” Reportedly, Burton will guest host Jeopardy! for a two-week stint, with his episodes slated to air this July.
Speaking on Jeopardy! producers noticing the public outcry for Burton to stand behind the podium, Jeopardy! executive producer, Mike Richards, stated, “Our passionate fans are telling us what they like, and we are listening. All of the guest hosts have brought individuals, energy, and an authentic love of our show to each of their episodes.” As it stands, Burton will be joined by Mayim Bialik (Big Bang Theory), Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Joe Buck, and Savannah Guthrie to close out season 37.
Of course, it’s still unclear who will permanently fill Trebek’s large shoes as the permanent host of Jeopardy!. Indeed, Trebek had a profound impact on audience members, contests, and fans, and locking down his successor is no easy feat. However, over the course of his formidable career, Burton has long resonated with his audience for being an excellent role model. Burton’s upcoming Jeopardy! episodes will certainly be a must-see and could solidify his place as the next host of the trivia game show.
Source: LeVar Burton