COULD LEVAR BURTON BE THE NEXT HOST OF “JEOPARDY?”
by Keka Araújo
Levar Burton stepped up to shoot his shot to be the next host of the popular game show Jeopardy.
Last week, Burton spoke to Entertainment Weekly about being the permanent replacement on the television show after beloved host Alex Trebek succumbed to pancreatic cancer in November last year at age 80. Trebek hosted the long-running game show for almost four decades.
“I’ve thought and thought and thought — I’ve asked friends and family to help me identify someone out there who’s more qualified for the job than I am,” the revered actor and host of widespread literacy show Reading Rainbow said. “I don’t believe there is anyone out there who is better suited for this job than me. And I will go to my grave believing that.”
“I think my whole career is an advertisement for being the host of Jeopardy,” he continued.
It’s no secret that Burton has had his eye on the prize since before Trebek’s passing.
The Star Trek: The Next Generation actor took to Twitter in September last year to express his feelings about what hosting the show meant to him.
“Not gonna lie, I feel like I’ve been preparing my whole life to occupy the @Jeopardy host podium when Alex retires. #Jeopardy,” he wrote.