LeVar Burton To Guest Host ‘Jeopardy!’ After Fans Campaigned

Jeopardy! recently announced the list of the final group of guest hosts for this season. A name that most stood out was LeVar Burton.

Known for his roles as the host of Reading Rainbow, Geordi LaForge in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and as Kunta Kinte in Roots. Fans spent weeks campaigning for Burton on social media.

Burton tweeted, "THANK YOU... to all y’all for your passionate support! I am overjoyed, excited, and eager to be guest-hosting Jeopardy!, and will do my utmost best to live up to your faith you in me. YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE! Go ahead and take my word for it, this time."

Though Burton has a lot of support to remain on as a permanent host, Jeopardy! hasn't announced a selection yet to replace the late Alex Trebek.

Executive Producer Mike Richards said, "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. We look forward to sharing the rest of the season with our viewers."

In addition to Burton, the group includes Good Morning America hosts Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos, former Celebrity Jeopardy champion David Faber and Fox sportscaster Joe Buck.

According to CNET, Burton has been candid about how much he wants the role, saying he feels "as strongly about my rightness for this as I did about Kunta and Geordi. And I'm that invested in getting the job." Earlier this month, his name trended on social media platforms as fans and celebrities alike voiced their support for the idea.

LeVar Burton will appear on Jeopardy! between July 26 and July 30.