LeVar Burton is set to debut as a guest Jeopardy! host this week.
Monday marks the day that the LeVar Burton edition of Jeopardy! starts airing. Already filmed, Burton has been one of many celebrities who have participated in guest hosting the show after the passing of long-time host Alex Trebek. Burton was picked by the producers of the guest host in part due to an online petition urging the show to name him the new permanent host. Many fans grew up watching Burton on shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation and Reading Rainbow.
It’s because of those shows, among countless other works, that Burton has received such strong support for him to get the permanent hosting duties. Many believe that his time on Reading Rainbow, where he taught kids to not only read but to enjoy reading, would be a perfect entry point into Jeopardy!
After all, what’s Jeopardy! if not a fun way for adults to continue learning about obscure topics. The two shows are both “edutainment”, and Burton has already shown his chops at hosting such a show.
LeVar Burton seems to have enjoyed his time on Jeopardy!
Watching LeVar Buton talk about his love of Jeopardy! and hearing how long he’s been a fan of the product really shows you just how much this means to him. He speaks glowingly of the show, the staff, and the fans with such an earnest energy that it really makes it hard to root for anyone else but him.
There’s a reason fans want to see him get the role but there are others who also did well with their turn hosting the show, namely current (for now) Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is nearing the end of his time in the NFL and he took very well to the hosting duties of the show and were some of the most discussed on social media.
He may not be done playing so it’s unlikely that Rodgers would get the gig, but Burton is by no means a lock for it. We’ll have a better idea of how he does after this week, as his five-episode run starts Monday.