Levar Burton to be the next host of Jeopardy?

[JirinPanthosa]

Public apologies that only happen after public blowback are only meaningful if their ongoing actions suggest a real change in thinking.

Even if you can get past the anti-vax and victim blaming stuff, the third one, using her professional credentials to shill snake oil is almost as bad. Selling out her medical ethics to manipulate old people into spending their retirement money. Has she apologized for that?

Anyone with a modicum of rational self interest can pay attention to what people are mad at them for and make a public gesture. If she's still manipulating old people for money it still shows a lack of moral character.

 

[Timby]

That's not true. Go watch and/or read some of his recent interviews. He all but says exactly that.

I have, and he's said that he'd be very interested in the hosting job, but he has never intimated that it's a dream gig or anything for him. The Internet decided that he would be the perfect host, for whatever reason--because 30-somethings grew up on Reading Rainbow, I guess?--and then basically ascribed the projection to him.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

For some reason, that makes me think about Richard Dawson in "The Running Man"... the movie got mixed reviews, but his performance as an evil game show host was considered a standout.

Especially since that's pretty much how Dawson treated people IRL...

 

[Oddish]

Especially since that's pretty much how Dawson treated people IRL...

Ahh, the old conundrum... if you play a character who's totally like yourself... is it acting?

 

[Owain Taggart]

This feels like incredible projection. I mean, the outcry for Burton to get a guest-host spot on Jeopardy was already incredibly astroturfed, and, beyond that, he has never said that it's his dream job or anything of the sort, merely that he'd be interested if asked.

Well, it may be, but I could have sworn one of tweets had said something to the effect, if not before, then certainly after and any case, that's not so important, as I think anyone put in his position would react much the same when offered to host a legacy. Put simply, it's an incredibly daunting prospect, and he only had one day to film his episodes. Therefore, the deer-in-headlights effect. Point being that anyone, anywhere would be nervous to take on a job of this magnitude, and in this case, one which has been important to many for decades.

And yes, actually he did say it, back in 2013:
https://twitter.com/levarburton/status/316774267733815296?lang=en

So, if anything, that's where people picked up on it. Although ironically, I noticed he mispelled Jeopardy.

 

[KennyB]

Well Blossom will be filling in for at least 3 weeks worth of shows while they search.........

 

[XCV330]

I'm going to start a movement to get Matt Berry as host. I can hear it now.

 

[valkyrie013]

Bialik is going to guest host for this week, so translates to 3 weeks of Ms. Bialik after Mikey's end run.
Guess they had to scramble fast, and she was available this week.

edit: Ah someone beat me.. as usuall.

So they have a week to decide who's next in this Fair Ride.
And apparently Sony like Mayim ( For the moment .. in shadow the future is.. yes..no. yes..) and guess the current plan is to have her do it for now till her sitcom scheduale comes up. but it seems that her sitcom isn't going right away so she has time at the moment.

 

[KennyB]

edit: Ah someone beat me.. as usuall.

A for effort and style.......

 

[Starbreaker]

They should just have a rotating group of guests. It might be good for ratings. Pat Sajak did it once. Can't be worse than that.

 

[Oddish]

If LeVar Burton's play for the job was astroturfed, who were the astroturfers?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I have, and he's said that he'd be very interested in the hosting job, but he has never intimated that it's a dream gig or anything for him. The Internet decided that he would be the perfect host, for whatever reason--because 30-somethings grew up on Reading Rainbow, I guess?--and then basically ascribed the projection to him.

From LeVar himself:

"I've thought and thought and thought — I've asked friends and family to help me identify someone out there who's more qualified for the job than I am," the Roots and Star Trek actor tells EW. "I don't believe there is anyone out there who is better suited for this job than me. And I will go to my grave believing that.

"I think my whole career is an advertisement for being the host of Jeopardy," he adds with a laugh.

- Entertainment Weekly, April 9, 2021
​

Last fall, you tweeted that you feel as if you’ve been preparing your whole life for the “Jeopardy!” job. In what way? And also, why do you want the gig so badly?

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.

- The New York Times, June 28, 2021​

So, no, he didn't say didn't say "dream job," but it's also very clear that he has felt passionate about becoming the host and that his career felt like it was building up to that possibility. How is that not suggesting that this is a dream for him?

 

[Owain Taggart]

Pat Sajak did it once. Can't be worse than that.

Yeah, they had jokingly switched jobs temporarily for an April Fools prank one year, but I wonder if he'd be open up to coming back as a guest host? Then again, don't know if he'd have the time.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

On a different note, Mayim Bialik is going to be the temporary host following Mike Richards' departure.

Sony Pictures Television, which produces the long-running quiz show, announced that Bialik is scheduled to tape three weeks of episodes when production resumes this week for a total 15 episodes. Per Sony, additional guest hosts will be announced at a later date.​

 

[Smiley]

Age and the dignity of the program would prevent this, but it gives me a laugh inside picturing Levar Burton making an entrance as Jeopardy! host by rolling under a lowering door like he did a couple of times during engineering evacuations on TNG.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Age and the dignity of the program would prevent this, but it gives me a laugh inside picturing Levar Burton making an entrance as Jeopardy! host by rolling under a lowering door like he did a couple of times during engineering evacuations on TNG.

Complete with emergency Klaxxon and a booming voice that says, "Open the pod bay doors, HAL!"

 

[Oddish]

Age and the dignity of the program would prevent this, but it gives me a laugh inside picturing Levar Burton making an entrance as Jeopardy! host by rolling under a lowering door like he did a couple of times during engineering evacuations on TNG.

I'd settle for him wearing a Starfleet uniform.

 

[arch101]

Especially since that's pretty much how Dawson treated people IRL...

I didn't notice Dawson try to move in for an uninvited kiss from Arnold....

 

[Oddish]

It would have created a very 80's homophobic vibe, that's for sure.

 

[Marc]

They should just have a rotating group of guests. It might be good for ratings. Pat Sajak did it once. Can't be worse than that.

am I the only who finds sajak a bit slimey?