LeVar Burton responds to requests to have him take over as host of Jeopardy following the passing of Alex Trebek.
Earlier this week, news broke that the beloved Jeopardy host, Alex Trebek died from pancreatic cancer after hosting the show for 37 seasons. While many of us are still mourning, some have set up a change.org petition supporting Levar Burton, becoming the iconic show’s new host. The petition now has more than 60,000 signatures.
“Between hosting 21 seasons of the educational Reading Rainbow, playing the brainiac engineer Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and filling the role of Kunta Kinté in the ever-important mini-series Roots, LeVar Burton has inspired and shaped the minds of several generations of trivia-loving nerds,” the petition’s description reads. “This petition is to show Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. and producers Mike Richards and Harry Friedman just how much love the public has for Burton, and how much we’d all love to see him as the next host of Jeopardy!”
The petition caught Burton’s attention, and he responded to fans’ desires on Twitter, saying that he loves everyone’s posts and seems to be interested in filling the position. “Even if nothing comes from it, I can’t tell how much how I appreciate all y’alls love and support!” he tweeted.
Some people have also thrown out other suggestions for the next host, including Champion of Champions Ken Jennings, UFC and podcast host Joe Rogan, ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos and Rosie Perez, BET reports.
