The world is still mourning the passing of Alex Trebek, who hosted the daily syndicated game show Jeopardy! since 1984, when it debuted in syndication. There has been no announcement on a replacement for Trebek, but one name in the mix is especially familiar to Star Trek fans: LeVar Burton.
Who is LeVar Burton?
LeVar Burton was famous before he boarded the USS Enterprise-D in 1987, where he spent seven seasons and four feature films playing engineer Geordi La Forge. In addition to starring in the landmark 1977 mini-series Roots, Burton is also known to anyone who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s as the host of the PBS educational series Reading Rainbow. And he is still reading through his popular LeVar Burton Reads podcast.
Burton has made no secret that he is interested in the hosting gig on Jeopardy! In 2018 after Trebek first indicated he may be retiring, Burton told a crowd in STLV “I’ve made it very clear… when Alex Trebek retires in two years, I want that job!” He has expressed interest in the job a few times on social media in the last two years, including in September of this year when he tweeted “Not gonna lie, I feel like I’ve been preparing my whole life to occupy the Jeopardy! host podium when Alex retires.”
After Trebek’s passing, an online fan petition was started for Burton to host Jeopardy! and it has already garnered over 60,000 signatures. And Burton himself responded to express his appreciation for those supporting the petition.
Even if nothing comes from it, I can’t tell how much how I appreciate all y’alls love and support! 🙏🏾♥️
Petition · Make LeVar Burton the next host of Jeopardy! · https://t.co/60lC1WCD61 https://t.co/QFxedpuWpU
— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) November 12, 2020
But he also wanted to make it clear he is not lobbying for the job during this mourning period.
Of course while I’m very flattered by the petition, my thoughts are definitely with Alex Trebeck’s family and his millions of fans and the devastating loss of this irreplaceable legend. #LongLiveAlex
— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) November 12, 2020
Coming on as host would be a bit of a return for Burton. In 1995 he was a contestant on a celebrity edition of Jeopardy! and he won.
Oddsmakers put Burton in the top 5 to replace Trebek
Burton’s name is just one being bandied about as a possible new host for Jeopardy! Former mega-champion Ken Jennings is considered the odds-on favorite for the job. He recently joined the show as a consulting producer and it has been reported that he was Trebek’s choice as a replacement.
Betting sites are paying even money for Jennings, but Burton is considered third most likely, paying 9-1 odds. Burton’s odds rank him third, behind Good Morning America co-host George Stephanopoulos, but ahead of scientist and Cosmos host Neil deGrasse Tyson and Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak.
Keep up with the Star Trek celebrity news at TrekMovie.com.