What's the Deal with LeVar Burton's Jeopardy? It's a significant quest.

What's the Deal with LeVar Burton's Jeopardy? It's a significant quest.

America's favorite teacher is LeVar Burton. He's a perfect match for Alex Trebek's long-running game show, which has become a cultural icon. 

Game shows aren't known for producing a lot of "event television" viewership, but when LeVar Burton hosts Jeopardy! for five days starting July 26, he could just make an exception. That's because Burton's hosting gig is primarily the product of a huge social media effort to get him the job, and many people are hoping it'll be a stepping stone toward his taking over the post previously held by Alex Trebek on a full-time basis.

Burton, who won a Celebrity Jeopardy! episode in 1995, showed interest in hosting the game show at least a decade ago, long before Trebek announced in May 2019 that he had been diagnosed with severe pancreatic cancer. At the time, Burton appeared to be just speculating on the possibility of succeeding Trebek after the latter's retirement. Burton resumed the debate in 2020 when social media buzz about Burton hosting appeared a few months before Trebek's death.

Burton is the latest in a long line of guest hosts to take over the show this year. Beginning in January, celebrities and prominent Jeopardy! fans, such as all-time Jeopardy! champion Ken Jennings stepped in for weekly hosting stints that also served as tryouts for the permanent hosting position. Despite widespread public and media backing, Burton's chances of landing the position remain uncertain.

If Burton gets hired as the new host of Jeopardy!, it won't only be a dream come true for him as a long-time fan of the game show. It will also be a test of how far online culture may influence the broader culture.

Burton's unique and spectacular onscreen career, as well as his continuous second life as a cultural figure, would benefit from hosting Jeopardy! But, beyond allowing us to reconnect ourselves with a great TV presenter, Burton's Jeopardy! journey allows us to gain a better grasp of how we think about celebrity, persona, and nostalgia.