A few names have been floated by “Jeopardy!” fans as Alex Trebek’s successor following the recent death of the game show’s longtime host.
One of those names is famed actor LeVar Burton, and an online petition championing him as the next host has more than 58,000 signatures as of Friday morning.
“LeVar Burton has inspired and shaped the minds of several generations of trivia-loving nerds,” the petition on Change.org stated. “This petition is to show Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. and producers Mike Richards and Harry Friedman just how much love the public has for Burton, and how much we’d all love to see him as the next host of Jeopardy!”
Burton, 63, best known for his roles in the “Roots” miniseries and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and as host of the educational program “Reading Rainbow,” expressed his gratitude Thursday on Twitter.
“Even if nothing comes from it, I can’t tell how much how I appreciate all y’alls love and support!” he tweeted.
“Of course while I’m very flattered by the petition, my thoughts are definitely with [Trebek’s] family and his millions of fans and the devastating loss of this irreplaceable legend. #LongLiveAlex,” Burton wrote in another post.
Trebek, the iconic face of the syndicated game show for 37 seasons, died Sunday at age 80 of pancreatic cancer.
His last day in the studio was Oct. 29, and the final episodes hosted by Trebek will air through Dec. 25, according to Sony Pictures.
“The show is not announcing plans for a new host at this time,” Sony Pictures said in a statement Sunday.