‘Jeopardy!’ LeVar Burton Breaks Silence On Devastating Loss

Jeopardy! alum LeVar Burton broke his silence on his devastating loss. The Reading Rainbow host was “wrecked” when he didn’t get the coveted job. He wanted to be the host of his favorite game show. Even viewers were rooting for Burton to get the position.

He thinks it was “fixed” from the start. LeVar suggested that production knew who they had in mind. He doesn’t think he was “their choice for host.” For the past few months, the viewers were on board with the idea of the classic children’s star could bring his warmth and knowledge to the popular quiz show following Alex Trebek’s death in 2020.

Jeopardy! tested many celebrity guest hosts

At the time, Jeopardy! tested many celebrity guest hosts for the position. Among the guest hosts were Ken Jennings, Mayim Bialik, Katie Couric, Aaron Rodgers, and LeVar Burton himself. Unfortunately, he didn’t end up as the full-time host. Mike Richards ended up with the position.

Just weeks later, Richards’ stint came to an end. A report exposed the 46-year-old for his inappropriate behavior with women and his anti-Semitic remarks on his Randumb Show podcast. It was also revealed that Richards was gunning for the position from the beginning. The position went to Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings, who share hosting duties.

Burton is speaking out about that time when he tried out for the Jeopardy! role. He admits he was “not just disappointed, but wrecked” by what happened. However, Burton is remaining positive even if he didn’t get the position. He also had the feeling that he “would not be their choice for host.”

“And what I learned from the experience, really, is that it reinforced my belief that everything happens for a reason, even if you cannot discern the reason at the moment,” LeVar Burton said on Newsy’s In The Loop. “In the fullness of time, everything will be revealed.”

LeVar Burton wanted to succeed Alex Trebek

LeVar Burton dreamed about this position forever. Even fans rooted for him to get it. It was because of them that he was able to try out for the position in the first place. Burton filmed his one-week stint as a Jeopardy! guest host last summer.

“I honestly thought that I was well-suited for it,” LeVar Burton admitted. “As it turns out, it really wasn’t a competition, after all, the fix was in.”

The television personality learned a lot from that experience. Burton sat “in the discomfort long enough” to figure out “what was really supposed to happen for me around this game show thing.” Now, he’s hosting the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, June 2. He shared some wisdom with others who have lost out on opportunities.

“I’m a firm believer in betting on myself, and I would encourage anyone and everyone out there to believe similarly in themselves,” Burton advised. “I’m always going to bet on me.”

Do you think LeVar Burton was the perfect host for Jeopardy? Who do you think should get the position? Sound off below in the comment section.

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