LeVar Burton is all set to take over as a guest host for Jeopardy!, and says he believes in his heart that he was destined to succeed Alex Trebek. In an interview with New York Times Magazine, he said “There’s something inside me that says this makes sense. I feel like this is what I’m supposed to do. ” He added that “Jeopardy! is a cultural touchstone, and for a Black man to occupy that podium is significant.”
The Actor-Director, who has many awards to his name as well as iconic characters and movies under his belt, received huge support from fans. Burton has expressed his willingness to be a permanent host, stating:
It will hurt. I’m not going to lie. But if that happens, I will get over it. I will be fine. Remember: Everything happens perfectly and for a reason. That is my default. It’s all going to be OK. Because it always is.”
Alex Trebek, who was the previous host of the beloved TV show, passed away in November 2020, after a long battle with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. He hosted Jeopardy! for 37 seasons from its revival in 1984 until his death in 2020. He also hosted a number of other game shows, including The Wizard of Odds, Double Dare, High Rollers, Battlestars, Classic Concentration, and To Tell the Truth. Trebek also made appearances in numerous television series, in which he usually played himself. He received the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host eight times for his work on Jeopardy!.
Executive Producer, Mike Richards, who served as a guest host on Jeopardy! himself said, “Our goal has been to present a wide variety of guest hosts with different skill sets and backgrounds on our path to finding a permanent host,”. A permanent guest for Jeopardy! has not been announced yet. Do you think that LeVar Burton should take on a permanent role as Jeopardy! host? If not him, then who do you think would fit best? Let us know!
