Jack’s Takes: How do you replace a legend?
As a longtime “Jeopardy!” fan, I was shocked to hear of the passing of the beloved host Alex Trebek. His gracious, cordial manner is so synonymous with the show that one struggles to think of a candidate worthy enough to take up the mantle. Nor should they; after 37 years at the show’s helm, it seems wrong to immediately rush to find his successor, a mere week after his death. Rather, like Marie Kondo would advise, we should spend this period thanking Alex Trebek for his time, before addressing the future of the show.
However, some fans are already looking forward to a possible “Jeopardy!” future, having put together a petition to make known their wishes. And, if I do say so myself, the future looks bright. As in, bright like a rainbow.
That’s right: host of “Reading Rainbow”, LeVar Burton!
“Between hosting 21 seasons of the educational Reading Rainbow,” the petition states, “playing the brainiac engineer Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: the Next Generation, and filling the roll [sic] of Kunta Kinte in the ever important mini-series Roots, LeVar Burton has inspired and shaped the minds of several generations of trivia-loving nerds.”
LeVar Burton has seen the calls for him to take over as host, and is flattered, releasing this tweet:
Do I think he’ll actually take over the show? Personally, I doubt he will. The tweet seemed too vague as to be a promise. Furthermore, I believe the new host should be someone longtime fans are already well acquainted with, like former contestant Ken Jennings, who holds the record for most consecutive wins, at 74. I believe either one would do a good job hosting, nonetheless.
Regardless of who I believe should take over, there is one contender who looms over the others, like an albatross in the night sky, who has been conspicuously absent from the conversation…
