LeVar Burton has started his guest-hosting gig over at “Jeopardy!”
The “Reading Rainbow” host will appear on “Jeopardy!” from July 26 to July 30, 2021.
“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,” Mike Richards, Executive Producer of Jeopardy!, said. “Our passionate fans are telling us what they like, and we are listening. All of the guest hosts have brought individualism, energy and an authentic love of our show to each of their episodes. We look forward to sharing the rest of the season with our viewers.”
Burton shared during an interview over the weekend that he was nervous about taking on the role.
“I was more than nervous, I was absolutely petrified,” Burton said. “And I don’t know that that feeling ever went away.”
“I have been a fan of ‘Jeopardy!’ for all of my life and when this opportunity came by, I could not pass it up,” he said.
“I made it my business for the next four chances at bat to just be myself, to forget about the procedure, to forget the process, stop trying, stop focusing on the wrong thing,” Burton said. “You’re not going to be smooth as Alex, let go of that. But what you can bring to the table is you.”
Robin Roberts, Anderson Cooper, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Aaron Rodgers have been guest hosts on “Jeopardy!” David Faber and Joe Buck will take over the hosting spot once Burton raps up his week of hosting.
Despite the guest host opportunities, there is no official successor to the game show. Long-time host, Alex Trebek, died in November 2020 from pancreatic cancer. An online petition has over 257,000 signatures for Burton to be the permanent host of the classic game show.
“The most important thing is that I went for it and my passion was rewarded,” Burton said. “I got what I wanted, which was an opportunity to compete for the job. If I don’t get the gig, it’s not immaterial, but it certainly is secondary. I got what I was after. The chance — get me in the room.”
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