Alex Trebek’s Tragic Death Brings to Question: Who Will Continue the “Jeopardy!” Legacy?

Sony Pictures

“Jeopardy!” fan, Greg Brown, has been watching the game show since his early childhood. “Alex Trebek will definitely be hard to replace,” Brown said. “When I was young my mother and I had a tradition of watching the show together. Now that Trebek’s gone it just won’t feel the same anymore, and I really don’t think anyone will be able to match his greatness.”

“Jeopardy!” director, Kevin McCarthy has already begun the process for finding a new host. This task has proven to be extremely tedious, as McCarthy wants to find someone who is able to continue Trebek’s legacy. 

In the midst of all the chaos, “Jeopardy!” record-holder Ken Jennings will be replacing Trebek for a short time, until a permanent host is found. Jennings is a “Jeopardy!” superstar as he has won 74 games in a row and has won the show’s “Greatest of All Time” title. By bringing in Jennings, “Jeopardy!” producers are hoping to continue the familiar sense of community throughout the game show. 

For the time being, Trebek is going to continue to appear in shows that were shot before his death and Jennings is projected to serve as an interim host starting in January 2021. 

Besides Jennings, the long-term candidate with the highest potential for the job is Levar Burton, an American actor and Children’s television host well known for his role in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Reading Rainbow, and Roots. 

The “Jeopardy!” fan base already has their heart set on Burton and have even created a petition to show producers Mike Richards and Harry Friedman who they want as a host. Over 100,000 “Jeopardy!” fans have signed, and the numbers are constantly increasing. 

Along with Brown, “Jeopardy!” fan Alice Guilbert has been watching the game show since she was a young child. “Levar Burton would be an absolutely amazing candidate,” Guilbert said. “I loved his role in Star Trek and Roots and think he would be a great addition to the show. Trebek’s shoes will definitely be hard to fill, but I think so far Burton would be the best option as a new host.”

Burton would definitely be up for the challenge. “Not gonna lie, I feel like I’ve been preparing my whole life to occupy the @Jeopardy host podium when Alex retires,” he tweeted back in September 2020.