The Internet is Furious LeVar Burton Won’t Be The Next ‘Jeopardy!’ Host

Despite the internet’s mobilizing efforts, LeVar Burton will not be the next permeant host of Jeopardy!

The person who will not be the permeant host of Jeopardy!, despite the fact everyone wants him to get the gig. Who is LeVar Burton?

On Wednesday, August 11th, Sony Pictures Television announced the next host of Jeopardy! Well, it’s actually the next two hosts. Mike Richards, who is already the show’s executive producer, and comedic actress Mayim Bialik (best known for Blossom and The Big Bang Theory) will be splitting the duties. Richards will be the host the majority of the time while Bialik will come in every once in a while to take over prime time specials.

This news was met with a level of disappointment on social media, mainly because there was someone else fans desperately wanted: Burton. 

Since the death of Alex Trebeck in November, there has been a movement to get Burton to become the next host. There have been online petitions and social media posts detailing how he would be perfect for the gig due to his history as the host of Reading Rainbow. Also helping was the fact that Burton, who once won Celebrity Jeopardy!, really wanted the job also.

Last month he gave an interview to the New York Times talking about it. He told the Paper of Record:

“It’s difficult to explain, but there’s something inside me that says this makes sense. I feel like this is what I’m supposed to do. I have been watching Jeopardy! 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.”

Burton would guest host the show from July 26 to the 30th. And despite a bumpy first show, Burton would go on to kill it. Even so — he will be the next jeopardy host, disappointing thousands of fans on social media. Not helping the matters is the fact that Richards is the executive producer and someone who has sexual harassment allegations in his background.

Still, there might be some good that comes out of this. Star director and producer Ava DuVernay sent out a tweet indicating she wanted to find a way to work with Burton.

Burton’s response” “Check your DMs.”