LeVar Burton Backs Petition Calling For Him To Become New тАШJeopardy!тАЩ Host: тАШI Really Think IтАЩm The Right Person For The GigтАЩ
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Following the death of TV icon Alex Trebek last year, producers of тАЬJeopardy!тАЭ have been bringing in a rotating array of guest hosts until deciding on a permanent replacement.
While celebs ranging from Katie Couric to Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers have taken a turn behind the game showтАЩs lectern, a new petition is gaining steam for LeVar Burton to take over as permanent тАЬJeopardy!тАЭ host.
So far, the petition has garnered over 244,000 signatures.
RELATED: Petition Wants тАШStar Trek: TNGтАЩ/тАЩReading RainbowтАЩ Star LeVar Burton As Next тАШJeopardy!тАЩ Host
Burton himself is aware of the movement, and shared a link to the petition on Twitter.
Leaving this here in the event the powers that be are listeningтАж https://t.co/xB3x8atDCv
тАФ LeVar Burton (@levarburton) April 6, 2021
The former тАЬReading RainbowтАЭ host and тАЬStar Trek: The Next GenerationтАЭ star received the seal of approval from тАЬThe Late ShowтАЭ host Stephen Colbert,тАЩ who tweeted that heтАЩd love to see Burton host тАЬJeopardy!тАЭ тАФ but in character as his тАЬTrekтАЭ character, Geordi La Forge.
тАЬAnd the buzzers should be phasers,тАЭ Colbert continued. тАЬAnd Data should be the judge. And it should be in space. And just be тАШStar TrekтАЩ.тАЭ
тАФ LeVar Burton (@levarburton) April 7, 2021
Burton also did a digital double take when TV legend Dick Van Dyke likewise tweeted a link to the petition (which was seconded by Holly Robinson Peete).
тАЬOMG!тАЭ Burton wrote in his retweet, adding the hashtag #bydhttmwfi (which stands for тАЬbut you donтАЩt have to take my word for itтАЭ).
OMG! #bydhttmwfi https://t.co/QZ2FZSlkwz
тАФ LeVar Burton (@levarburton) April 7, 2021
?
тАФ Holly Robinson Peete?? (@hollyrpeete) April 7, 2021
Other celebs who are pulling for Burton to succeed Trebek include comedian Paul F. Tompkins, actors Yvette Nicole Brown and David Alan Grier, and several of BurtonтАЩs тАЬTNGтАЭ co-stars.
I also want тАШReading RainbowтАЩ legend Levar Burton to host тАШJeopardy!тАЩ https://t.co/ayPSL031G1
тАФ Paul F. Tompkins (@PFTompkins) April 7, 2021
The easiest! Please Listen?? To??Us?? @Jeopardy! @levarburton IS the choice! https://t.co/VOGySB4ong
тАФ yvette nicole brown (@YNB) April 7, 2021
U didnтАЩt know u wanted to do that?
тАФ David Alan Grier (@davidalangrier) April 7, 2021
When is Jeopardy going to get it? The public wants @levarburton to host the show!
тАФ Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) April 6, 2021
Sony Pictures Entertainment: LeVar Burton should be the next host of Jeopardy! тАУ Sign the Petition! https://t.co/Hl1VzYGr0M via @Change
тАФ Jonathan Frakes (@jonathansfrakes) April 6, 2021
Sony Pictures Entertainment: LeVar Burton should be the next host of Jeopardy! тАУ Sign the Petition! https://t.co/DMPp35Sgtu via @Change I WouldnтАЩt miss a show! ?
тАФ Terry Farrell (@4TerryFarrell) April 6, 2021
Burton then spoke about the possible тАЬJeopardy!тАЭ hosting job as he appeared as a guest on SiriusXM Urban ViewтАЩs тАЬThe Karen Hunter ShowтАЭ.
Hunter and co-host Don Calloway campaigned for Burton to be the new host with the hashtag #Levar4Jeopardy, with Hunter saying: тАЬHow can we get you hosting тАШJeopardy!тАЩ Please? I need to knowтАж I canтАЩt watch it right now. ItтАЩs unwatchable. And I know that you would bring, first of all, seriousness, we know you read and know stuff. YouтАЩre vocal delivery, amazing. You got the right amount of snark the way Alex Trebek did, because he trolled people because he knew a lot more than some of the contestants, which you do too. And you got all of this beautiful, gorgeous melanin. What can we do?тАЭ
Burton said, тАЬHold the energy, and if you are so inclined, say a little prayer for Kunta,тАЭ adding: тАЬI really think IтАЩm the right person for the gig.тАЭ