LeVar Burton To Guest Host ‘Jeopardy!’ After Fans Campaigned
Jeopardy! recently announced the list of the final group of guest hosts for this season. A name that most stood out was LeVar Burton.
We can finally tell you! Here is the final group of guest hosts to close out Season 37:
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) April 21, 2021
• Robin Roberts
• George Stephanopoulos
• David Faber
• Joe Buck
• LeVar Burton!https://t.co/iAPNyy29pu pic.twitter.com/Twgef7i6b5
Known for his roles as the host of Reading Rainbow, Geordi LaForge in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and as Kunta Kinte in Roots. Fans spent weeks campaigning for Burton on social media.
Burton tweeted, “THANK YOU… to all y’all for your passionate support! 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. YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE! Go ahead and take my word for it, this time.”
THANK YOU... to all y’all for your passionate support! 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. YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE! Go ahead and take my word for it, this time. https://t.co/C7mZWMok2X
— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) April 21, 2021
Though Burton has a lot of support to remain on as a permanent host, Jeopardy! hasn’t announced a selection yet to replace the late Alex Trebek.
Executive Producer Mike Richards 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. We look forward to sharing the rest of the season with our viewers.”
In addition to Burton, the group includes Good Morning America hosts Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos, former Celebrity Jeopardy champion David Faber and Fox sportscaster Joe Buck.
According to CNET, Burton has been candid about how much he wants the role, saying he feels “as strongly about my rightness for this as I did about Kunta and Geordi. And I’m that invested in getting the job.” Earlier this month, his name trended on social media platforms as fans and celebrities alike voiced their support for the idea.
I think LeVar Burton should host Jeopardy! As Geordi La Forge. And the buzzers should be phasers. And Data should be the judge. And it should be in space. And just be Star Trek.
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) April 7, 2021
Sony Pictures Entertainment: LeVar Burton should be the next host of Jeopardy! - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/h5ZuPZGICL via @Change
— Dick Van Dyke (@iammrvandy) April 7, 2021
Yaaasss, @LeVarBurton, I second that emotion! pic.twitter.com/gJN2uuYrnC
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) April 17, 2021
This has been a hard secret to keep, but it would mean the world to me and my family if y’all will watch his episodes and tweet your support of @levarburton to Jeopardy! If he lands the hosting position, I promise to post a super adorable photo of us from when I was a baby.
— Mica Burton (@MicaBurton) April 21, 2021
LeVar Burton will appear on Jeopardy! between July 26 and July 30.
