Leverburton ‘Jeopardy!’ A fan favorite to host. Why it is obvious: NPR

Lever Burden, who showed up to speak in Los Angeles in 2016, says he feels like hosting Jeopardy! “That’s all I have to do.” This week, Alex Trebek gets his turn at the vacant host Lectern, where he died at the age of 80 last year.

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Lever Burden, who showed up to speak in Los Angeles in 2016, says he feels like hosting Jeopardy! “That’s all I have to do.” This week, Alex Trebek gets his turn at the vacant host Lectern, where he died at the age of 80 last year.

Kvork Johnson / Getty Images

Lots of people want to host Jeopardy!

For example, NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers. And actor Mayim Bialik. And Jeopardy! Champion Ken Jennings. All brilliant, captivating … and glorious show tries believers before naming a new host.

But they are not Lever Burden.

This week, Burton Will take his temporary place In the shimmering blue set ruled for 37 seasons by the beloved Alex Trebeck. Or, as some would say, his Perfect Location. There is no other viable alternative to Trebeck, Who died of pancreatic cancer In the objectively scary year of 2020, Burton has inspired a popular fantasy as well.

“If I were one of the others [potential] Hosts, I like, ‘I’m going to set it aside and give it to the man who gave children the love of reading.’ L. Lewis, 35-year-old who grew up watching Burton on PBS in Atlanta Reading the Rainbow. He loves to explore the back list with the actor and his father Star Trek: The Next Generation And pioneer 1977 mini-series Roots.

“If you’re a bookish person, a science fiction person, a historical person – he’s been important in creating our identities,” Lewis told NPR in a phone call. Black Specimen Fiction Magazine FIYAH, Where he is art director.

“We see vlevarburton in Jeopardy … as a family, right?” She asked. Lewis, it turns out, is not only a super fan, he also works as a researcher Burton’s short fiction podcast Kurt Wonegat, Neil Cayman, NK The actor reads the works of Gemicin and many other unknown writers.

Other colleagues enthusiastically support Burton Jeopardy! Ambitions include the former Star Trek Costmates were once known Captain Janway, Commander Riker And the second official of Android Information.

Those endorsements have been boosted by more than a quarter of a million fan signatures The Change.org petition, still active, began last November, Everyone is eager to see the actor permanently Jeopardy! Host.

Meanwhile, Burton is now actively campaigning for jobs, in online communities and the media. It’s worth wondering why he cares – or, why he even wants to.

64 years old A novelist, A Advocate for AIDS Research, Required actor and director (with latest credits) NCIS: New Orleans), And Emmys, a Grammy, a Peabody, Case Prize for ethics at Western Reserve University And Special tribute to PEN / Faulkner Foundation for improving literacy.

“It’s hard to explain, but there’s something inside of me that makes sense,” Burton said The New York Times In an interview Last June. “I feel like I have to do this. I’m watching Jeopardy! More or less every night of my life since I was an Art Fleming presenter. Jeopardy! It is noteworthy that a cultural touchstone, and a black man occupying that stage. “

Despite being “an industry for ages,” Burton said Times That would be a blow not available Jeopardy! Work. “It hurts. I’m not going to lie,” he said. “But if that happens, I’ll break it. I’ll be fine. Remember: everything happens for a reason and for a reason. That’s my default. It’s all going to be okay.”

It’s such a spirit – many fans compare it to another TV icon, Mr. Rogers – that it will keep fans playing this week. Burton said one of the many values ​​he shares with Fred Rogers is his commitment to service.

Like Rogers, L.D. Lewis also says Burton would bring in a presenter rather than a TV personality Jeopardy! He believes he can be a unifying force for compassion and thought in a time of political polarization.