LeVar Burton.Photo: Carol Kaelson/Jeopardy Productions
LeVar Burton will be happy no matter who gets theJeopardy!hosting gig.
TheReading Rainbowstar, who guest hosted the long-running syndicated game show from July 26 to July 30, has openly talked aboutJeopardy!being his dream job. But on Thursday, he spoke out about fan’s disappointment that he might not land the role, after aVarietyreport stated thatJeopardy!executive producer Mike Richards is production’s top contender to step into the lateAlex Trebek’s shoes.
“I have said many times over these past weeks that no matter the outcome,I’ve won,” Burton, 64, tweeted.
“The outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and fans alike has been incredible!” he added. “If love is the ultimate blessing and I believe that it is, I am truly blessed beyond measure. .”
Variety’sreport on Wednesday claimed that Richards is in advanced negotiations with Sony Pictures Television to become the new game host, although a spokesperson said other candidates are still in the running.
Burton has hosted PBS children’s seriesReading Rainbowfor more than 23 years, and has been campaigning to replace Trebek since the late star’s death.
Last November, hetweeted out a linkin support ofa Change.org campaignseeking to make him the nextJeopardy!host. The petition currently boasts more than 260,000 supporters,includingDick Van Dyke.
“It feels like, ‘Wow, they really are behind me,'” Burton toldEntertainment Weeklyin April of fans’ support. “They want this for me as much as I want it for me, I believe, because it makes so much sense to them too.”
LeVar Burton.Taylor Hill/Getty
Ahead of his guest-hosting debut episode, the Emmy winner spoke about the pressure he felt going into filming the hit trivia show.
“For me, my standard of excellence is so intense that my initial approach was to try and be as good as Alex was. Of course, I realized right away that that was an impossibility,” Burton said onGood Morning America. “The man had 37 years to perfect his mastery.”
“This is what I’ve been doing my entire career. For 45 years, I’ve tried to use the medium of television to do more than simply entertain,” he continued. “I know that we have the opportunity when we do it with consciousness to inform, to enlighten, to educate, to even uplift ourselves with the stories we tell one another. And I seeJeopardy!as absolutely [being] in the sweet spot of that Venn diagram.”
Burton admitted that initially, he tried to take on Trebek’s persona before his wife critiqued him for not being himself.
“I got the heads up from Steph, I just went out there and tried to bring as much LeVar to the moment as a possibly could,” he said onGood Morning America. “And I’m hoping that that worked out better.”
In June, Burton toldThe New York Timeshe felt like becoming the full-time host ofJeopardy!is something he feels he’s “supposed to do.”
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
“I have been watchingJeopardy!more or less every night of my life since Art Fleming was host.Jeopardy!is a cultural touchstone, and for a Black man to occupy that podium is significant,” the superfan said.
The longtime television personality added, “Look, I have had a career for the [expletive] ages.Roots,Star Trek,Reading Rainbow. Won a Grammy. Got a shelf full of Emmys. I’m a storyteller, and game shows are tremendous stories. There’s a contest, there’s comedy, there’s drama. If you don’t know your [expletive] onJeopardy!, you’re sunk in full view of the entire nation. The stakes are high. I love that.”
He also admitted at the time that he would be a bit “hurt” if he did not receive the offer.
“It will hurt. I’m not going to lie,” Burton said. “But if that happens, I will get over it. I will be fine. Remember: Everything happens perfectly and for a reason. That is my default. It’s all going to be OK. Because it always is.”
Alex Trebek.Amanda Edwards/Getty
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Currently, CNBC journalist David Faber is guest-hostingJeopardy!and next week, sportscaster Joe Buck takes the podium.
source: people.com
