Levar Burton to be the next host of Jeopardy?

[TheMadCloner]

https://trekmovie.com/2020/11/14/le...-fans-suggesting-him-as-new-host-of-jeopardy/

Still saddened over the passing of Alex Trebek, but Burton seems like he would be a worthy successor.

 

[XCV330]

It's something he's wanted all these years, though not in this way, I know. I can't think of a better person to be the next host.

Except, I'd like Weird Al to get ONE time as a host.

 

[KennyB]

This all stems from a Charge.org petition. I doubt they go that direction.

 

[The Wormhole]

I seem to recall LeVar Burton's name as a replacement host of Jeopardy floating around a few years ago, before Alex Trebek's cancer diagnosis when there was a rumor he was considering retiring.

I personally don't care either way. I guess he's as good a selection as any other, I guess.

 

[Alexander Corrino]

I would be happy for LeVar if they chose him.

 

[auntiehill]

I'd love to see him get the gig, especially since he's talked about wanting it for some time, but I don't see it happening. That article describes him as being third on the list of possible options.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I agree, Burton would be a great host. And just because Ken Jennings became a champion doesn't automatically make him a good host. I feel he lacks the charisma that Burton has.

Except, I'd like Weird Al to get ONE time as a host.

It would be kind of neat to have a period of celeb host one-offs.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I like that idea a lot more than some of the other names floated. Jimmy Kimmel, Neil Patrick Harris. (Barf) Half the people on the betting list are comedians. Fine for other game shows, not for Jeopardy.

 

[Danny99]

I like that idea a lot more than some of the other names floated. Jimmy Kimmel, Neil Patrick Harris. (Barf) Half the people on the betting list are comedians. Fine for other game shows, not for Jeopardy.

That's what I've been saying whenever I hear Ken Jennings. Jeopardy has always been the mature game show. There isn't shouting, loud cheering. It needs a smart host that respects that.

 

[cardinal biggles]

^Not that I don't think most of the names on that list are something somebody pulled out of their ass, but yeah, someone with the gravitas of an Anderson Cooper or George Stephanopoulos strikes me as a better fit for Jeopardy! than Kimmel (even though he did host Win Ben Stein's Money ages ago) or NPH. (I think the chances of any of those people being the next host are about as great as my chances of being a contestant.)

 

[Owain Taggart]

Yeah, I tend to see the types of hosts falling into two categories. Stunt hosts, and genuine hosts, and it's why I think it would be fun to see them do a celebrity host one-off week or some such, and I could see those being as popular as celebrity Jeopardy. There are obviously people that wouldn't be as good a fit for it, but would still be fun to see just to get them out of our system. And then there are those I feel that could be genuinely good hosts.

I think Alex Trebek was a genuine geek, and would have been excited at the thought of LeVar Burton possibly replacing him.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I agree, Burton would be a great host. And just because Ken Jennings became a champion doesn't automatically make him a good host. I feel he lacks the charisma that Burton has.

It would be kind of neat to have a period of celeb host one-offs.

But don't drag it out too long ala: "Guest conductors" at Wrigley Field after Harry Caray passed.

 

[Owain Taggart]

But don't drag it out too long ala: "Guest conductors" at Wrigley Field after Harry Caray passed.

Yeah, I was thinking along the lines of a week or two, before going on to announce the new host.

 

[Mojochi]

My main worry is that they might be planning to put in Ken Jennings as the host, which I think would be an utter disaster for ratings. Ken may be a likeable guy, & very smart, but the show consists almost entirely of one man reading 60 intricately worded questions in a half hour, plus some hosting duties, & Ken Jennings has the speaking voice of Mike Teevee from Willy Wonka. The show needs a properly voice trained, public speaker television host

Burton has a wonderful speaking voice. I'd take him in a heartbeat over that outcome

 

[TheMadCloner]

My main worry is that they might be planning to put in Ken Jennings as the host, which I think would be an utter disaster for ratings. Ken may be a likeable guy, & very smart, but the show consists almost entirely of one man reading 60 intricately worded questions in a half hour, plus some hosting duties, & Ken Jennings has the speaking voice of Mike Teevee from Willy Wonka. The show needs a properly voice trained, public speaker television host

Burton has a wonderful speaking voice. I'd take him in a heartbeat over that outcome

I was watching some clips of Ken delivering clues, and I'd have to agree.

 

[Mojochi]

I got to thinking... I forgot about Final Jeopardy. So that's 61 intricately worded questions, & then it's probably more like 64, considering he usually asks each contestant at least one personal one each, during the interviews lol

Dude, they need bloody Benedict Cumberbatch level voice skills for that job.

 

[DarrenTR1970]

I don't think its going to be Ken Jennings because he, along with two other former Jeopardy champions, has already committed to being a Chaser on ABC's prime time version of the British quiz show 'The Chase'.

 

[UssGlenn]

I don't think its going to be Ken Jennings because he, along with two other former Jeopardy champions, has already committed to being a Chaser on ABC's prime time version of the British quiz show 'The Chase'.

It's not necessarily a deal breaker because of the massive gaps in the Jeopardy filming schedule, unless there is a non-complete thing. But as was mentioned earlier, while not bad, per se, his voice isn't particularly soothing.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Ken may be a likeable guy, & very smart, but the show consists almost entirely of one man reading 60 intricately worded questions in a half hour, plus some hosting duties, & Ken Jennings has the speaking voice of Mike Teevee from Willy Wonka. The show needs a properly voice trained, public speaker television host

Agreed. I mean, Ken is currently an consulting-producer for the show, and I don't have a problem having him stay on to help with the show, but as a host, he'd be terrible. I think a best-case scenario would be Ken Jennings behind the scenes with LeVar Burton as host.

According to an interview I saw, possibly 20/20, Trebek explained how for every episode, he and the staff would all sit at a table selecting the questions, with him having the final say, so he had a great amount of input on the direction the show went. So, let's keep in mind that whoever ends up being the next host won't just be there to host it, but would be the soul of the show for the foreseeable future.

 

[KennyB]

According to an interview I saw, possibly 20/20, Trebek explained how for every episode, he and the staff would all sit at a table selecting the questions, with him having the final say, so he had a great amount of input on the direction the show went. So, let's keep in mind that whoever ends up being the next host won't just be there to host it, but would be the soul of the show for the foreseeable future.

That was the deal Alex had after being there for 30 plus years. I doubt a new host would have that kind of input.