LeVar Burton Guest Hosts ‘Jeopardy!’

After much fan demand, the beloved actor and director is getting his shot.

After much fan demand, the beloved actor and director is getting his shot.

Ever since the unfortunate passing of Alex Trebek in November of 2020, ABC has been on the hunt for a new star to host their longtime daytime TV game show, Jeopardy! They’ve had a rotating stable of guest hosts, though so far, none of them have really set the crowd alight. In that time, however, fans have been clamoring for one classic actor and director to assume the mantle: LeVar Burton, former star of Star Trek: The Next Generation and host of Reading Rainbow. It’s thanks to the major fan support that ABC has finally given Burton his time on the podium.

Starting today, and until this Friday, Burton will be the guest host of Jeopardy! For the duration of Burton’s hosting stint, the show will be matching and donating the total contestant winnings to Reading is Fundamental, Burton’s favorite childhood literacy charity.

“Our goal has been to present a wide variety of guest hosts with different skill sets and backgrounds on our path to finding a permanent host,” said the show’s executive producer Mike Richards. “Our passionate fans are telling us what they like, and we are listening. All of the guest hosts have brought individualism, energy and an authentic love of our show to each of their episodes. We look forward to sharing the rest of the season with our viewers.”