Who will be the next host of Jeopardy! This has been the question on the minds of the show viewers and creators alike. After the sudden demise of Alex Trebek in November 2020, the show creators had a big question and that was who has the capability to fill the big shoes of such a great host. Initially, the show producers held off the immediate decision to choose someone as the show host. Instead, they had several guest hosts take over the remaining episodes of Season 37th. These guest hosts included well-known figures such as media personalities Anderson Cooper and Katie Couric, actors Mayim Bialik and LeVar Burton, and more. USA Today interviewed the executive producer, Mike Richards. The show producer said that there are not in a hurry to find a show host as they want someone worth taking the space left by the legendary Alex Trebek.
Several fans of the show advocated that LeVar Burton and Mayim Bialik take over as the show host. While these demands from fans were afloat, it was announced that Mike Richards will take over as the show host. This decision was taken due to the higher ratings during producing the show episodes. But this decision is controversial!
Mike Richards is a relatively lesser-known figure and has a shady past. He has made inappropriate podcast comments and sexual harassment lawsuits. This decision met with major pushback from the audience. Amidst this, Mike Richards stated on August 20 that he is stepping down from hosting the show.
Mayim Bialik will take over as host for spinoffs and primetime specials as soon as Mike Richards will take over as show host. But when Richards stepped down as show host, several fans wanted Mayim Bialik and LeVar Burton to team up and host Jeopardy!
This does seem like a great idea! Mayim Bialik was a great guest host, and everybody loves her from TBBT’s days. And LeVar Burton, everybody from different generations loves him from his time as hosting children’s show Reading Rainbow. Fans also saw him work as Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
And what’s more! Burton has already expressed his interest in hosting Jeopardy! on Twitter calling it his “dream job”. Apart from his marvelous acting career, he is also known for his kind demeanor, open schedule, and positive history with the audience. Moreover, it will be refreshing to see a host with an incredible voice that is not coming from a privileged white male. So, having him as the main host of the show with Mayim Bialik as second-in-command.
Mayim Bialik is a Ph.D. in neuroscience and has won awards for her performance in TBBT. However, having her as a full-time show host might not be a great idea. Especially after her controversial comments on vaccination and Weinstein victims.
Before he passed away, Trebek gave an interview to 92nd Street Y where he said about his successor, “a woman, and she’ll have to be bright. She’ll have to have a good sense of humor.” So, Mayim Bialik certainly fits the bill! And her being a co-host will also suit her career as a lead actress. She is the lead of the show Call Me Kat. The show has got the second season.
All these reasons make the pair of LeVar Burton and Mayim Bialik as the best hosts for Jeopardy!
