Longtime Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek lost his battle against pancreatic cancer on November 7 of last year, leaving America's favorite syndicated quiz show without an emcee for the first time since 1984. As Trebek's final five episodes air this week, fans of LeVar Burton are campaigning to make the actor the new face of Jeopardy!, and they are absolutely right in choosing him.
After news of Trebek's passing broke, executive producers announced Jeopardy! will employ a series of interim hosts to wrap up the show's 37th season. Recording-breaking champion Ken Jennings, currently caught up in a scandal related to inappropriate Tweets, is set to guest host first. With no permanent replacement lined up, Burton's supporters are taking to the Internet in hopes of making him a serious contender.
According to the Change.org petition created by Joshua Sanders, Burton "has inspired and shaped the minds of several generations of trivia-loving nerds." The Reading Rainbow host and Star Trek actor has the voice, professional demeanor, and sense of humor to carry the Jeopardy! torch. So far, the petition boasts over 111,000 signatures, but Sanders hopes to reach at least 150,000. When Burton found out about the campaign, he thanked his fans on Twitter while paying homage to Trebek.
Burton's breakout role was young Kunta Kinte in ABC's 1977 Roots miniseries. From 1983 until 2006, Burton hosted PBS's beloved children's program Reading Rainbow, which explores the joy and fun of reading books. When he wasn't hanging out in libraries and bookstores, Burton brought Lt. Junior Grade Geordi LaForge to life in various Star Trek series and movies; he even directed multiple episodes over the decades. These days, Burton continues to explore his love for literacy and the written word via his popular podcast LeVar Burton Reads.
Picking Burton as Trebek's successor makes perfect sense. Aside from being a familiar face, Burton's curiosity knows no bounds. The actor's thirst for knowledge is well-documented, so Burton is fully equipped to maintain the respectful, intellectual tone established by Trebek during his 36-year tenure on Jeopardy!. Prime time television is also in desperate need of more inclusive practices and diversity. The next host of Jeopardy! should be a person of color, and who better than LeVar Burton to bring the series to whole new generations of potential game show watchers?
Jeopardy! enthusiasts have very strong opinions about who should be the next long-term host. Some are in favor of former champions like Ken Jennings and James Holzhauer. Others want to see a seasoned competition show celebrity step up to the plate, whether it be Tom Bergeron or even Betty White. Still, more have journalists such as Alex Faust and Laura Coates in mind. Whoever the new host turns out to be, Jeopardy will never be exactly the same without Trebek.
Jeopardy! will air Alex Trebek's last episodes between January 4 and January 8, 2021.