Levar Burton to be the next host of Jeopardy?

[Mojochi]

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

Right. Alex had the benefit of having become an icon, synonymous with the show. While I'm sure the new host will be involved with the daily development, just because the content is so interwoven into their performance, I too doubt they'll be as influential as Alex had been. He had real weight to push around there.

In fact, something tells me Alex really liked Jennings & perhaps that's the role Jennings was brought in to fill. He's Alex's heir apparent in influence perhaps, but as much a masterful host he shall never be, & it would be a fool's errand to even attempt it imho

 

[Owain Taggart]

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

It'd be hard to know though. I mean, if the show had been running with that procedure for as long as it did, maybe it would be something they would be keen on continuing. If something is working, you don't exactly want to break it.

 

[tomswift2002]

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

Actually, back in 1984 Alex wanted more money but Merv Griffin wouldn’t give it, so to get more money Trebek said he’d be host and a producer which Griffin agreed too. And it was because of that that Trebek had final say and so on with the show. (Jeopardy! DVD bonus features.)

 

[Owain Taggart]

That makes sense. Still, given that it seemed to be working quite well, maybe it's an arrangement they'd up up to continue.

 

[publiusr]

Levar always had such a sense of wonder. He would be perfect.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

They need a host that can make it sound like the contestants really should've known that answer the way Alex did.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Right. Alex had the benefit of having become an icon, synonymous with the show. While I'm sure the new host will be involved with the daily development, just because the content is so interwoven into their performance, I too doubt they'll be as influential as Alex had been. He had real weight to push around there.

In fact, something tells me Alex really liked Jennings & perhaps that's the role Jennings was brought in to fill. He's Alex's heir apparent in influence perhaps, but as much a masterful host he shall never be, & it would be a fool's errand to even attempt it imho

I believe there are a lot of people who honestly don't know there was Jeopardy before Alex Trebek. Alex made the show a piece of Americana the way Bob Barker did for The Price Is Right. It can continue, with the right replacement host.

 

[Mojochi]

I believe there are a lot of people who honestly don't know there was Jeopardy before Alex Trebek. Alex made the show a piece of Americana the way Bob Barker did for The Price Is Right. It can continue, with the right replacement host.

The problem is, even more so than Barker & The Price is Right, the kind of influence Alex had on the show, the next host will be expected to fill a role unlike most any other game show. When Pat Sajak finally leaves Wheel of Fortune, they can literally put anyone from Mellissa McCarthy to Dana Carvey in as host. Jeopardy, on the other hand, is not the kind of spot you can plug any old standup comedian or talk show host into, imho, without damaging or weakening the brand

They'll have to be seen as a likeable intellect. They'll have to have impeccable vocal performance skills, & a warm but almost formal charisma in comparison to most shows, unless they plan to reformat it to fit their new pick, which I believe would be ill advised. Alex had a better presence than most of today's news broadcasters do.

The difficulty is in the fact that most people who might fit that description are likely going to feel like hosting a game show is beneath them. Frankly, if I didn't feel like it would be an enormous waste of his abilities as a scientist, I'd want someone like Neil deGrasse Tyson to host a show like Jeopardy, but that is ultimately highly unrealistic.

Realistically, I'd be ok with LeVar Burton. He has the elements to make it work imho. I'd probably feel the same way about Dennis Haysbert. It would be a better use of his skills than Allstate commercials at least. A rather foreboding gut feeling of mine tells me that we'll get no one near as good as that though

 

[Mojochi]

I just had a very odd thought. Since Drew Carey & Wayne Brady already conquered the daytime game show landscape, what if some other Who's Line Is It Anyway? cast members did the same for night time game shows? Ryan Stiles replaces Pat Sajak, & Aisha Tyler replaces Alex Trebek? I.... almost.... don't... hate... that ...

 

[Kai "the spy"]

^What would Colin Mochrie get?

 

[Mojochi]

^What would Colin Mochrie get?

Reminded that he looks too old to get work?

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Reminded that he looks too old to get work?

 

[Owain Taggart]

He's someone who's actually much younger than he looks and has actually had a fair amount of work north of the border.^

 

[Mojochi]

Yeah, Mochrie is the same age as Drew Carey & only a year older than Ryan Stiles. They're all in their early 60s now, but Mochrie looks like an old guy now

Aisha Tyler & Wayne Brady are more my age, a dozen years younger or more

 

[JirinPanthosa]

It has to be someone smart, serious and personable. Burton checks all boxes.

Whereas someone like Steve Harvey who mugs the camera every time someone gives a dirty answer is great for Family Feud but not Jeopardy.

 

[Aragorn]

Ken Jennings will be the first guest host in the post-Trebek era, but a permanent host still hasn't been chosen.

https://tvline.com/2020/11/23/jeopardy-ken-jennings-new-guest-host-alex-trebek-replacement/

 

[Marc]

Ken Jennings will be the first guest host in the post-Trebek era, but a permanent host still hasn't been chosen.

https://tvline.com/2020/11/23/jeopardy-ken-jennings-new-guest-host-alex-trebek-replacement/

I wouldn't be suprised if the new permanent host is chosen from the interim hosts. Think this is really just the producers looking see how they go both in Alex's seat and if they resonate with the audience before making the decision.

So maybe we'll see Levar Burton up there after all even if just for a few weeks.

 

[Mojochi]

Yup. I do hope we get some other options before the final call is made

It has to be someone smart, serious and personable. Burton checks all boxes.

Whereas someone like Steve Harvey who mugs the camera every time someone gives a dirty answer is great for Family Feud but not Jeopardy.

Dude, Harvey has a hard time getting from the top to the bottom of a question card. I've seen him mess up so bad in the speed round that they have to give extra time, or go back.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I wouldn't be suprised if the new permanent host is chosen from the interim hosts. Think this is really just the producers looking see how they go both in Alex's seat and if they resonate with the audience before making the decision.

So maybe we'll see Levar Burton up there after all even if just for a few weeks.

Yeah, that makes sense. Here's hoping we'll LeVar if as just an interim host.

 

[Oddish]

I agree, Levar Burton would be perfect. As worthy a successor to the great Alex Trebek as can be found in this world.