LeVar Burton on his Jeopardy!-hosting campaign: "I don't believe there is anyone out there who is better suited for this job than me"

Entertainment Weekly

The former Star Trek: The Next Generation star and Reading Rainbow host is explaining why he's now publicly campaigning to replace Alex Trebek as Jeopardy! host. "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," he 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." He adds with a laugh: "I think my whole career is an advertisement for being the host of Jeopardy!"

ALSO:

• LeVar Burton emphasizes that, unlike some of the guest-hosts, he has the skills necessary to host Jeopardy!: The actor pointed out that he’s made knowledge, learning, and curiosity a cornerstone of his work, adding: “I’ve seen some of the guest hosts who are not as familiar with this particular type of communication... which is to say, dealing with the contestants and the mechanics of the game while including the audience at home. It’s not like everybody can do it.”
• Few people are better suited to host a format like that than Burton: "He's also appeared on the show before, winning his Celebrity Jeopardy appearance in 1995," says Adam Rosenberg. "He has the bona fides. He has the fandom. I never imagined myself getting worked up over who the next host should be, but here we are. Burton is the best choice, even if it's just to get in line with the rest of the guest hosts and shoot his shot. He clearly wants to. So make it happen, Jeopardy!"