Fans Campaign Hard With Petition For LeVar Burton To Be Permanent ‘Jeopardy!’ Host

LeVar Burton broke his silence on Monday about a fan petition that is calling for him to host “Jeopardy!” 

Burton addressed the petition, which has been signed by more than 257,000 people, during an interview with “Good Morning America.”

The former “Star Trek” and “Reading Rainbow” star responded to the petition by saying that he sees himself as the “beneficiary of amazing grace.” 

“I’ve been asked over the past couple of weeks, ‘what is this about?’” Burton explained, according to Fox News. “And I think it has something to do with the fact that this generation of adults that have grown up on ‘Reading Rainbow’ think I’ve made an investment in them and they are hoping to return the favor.”

Burton was then asked if “Jeopardy!” would fall into the category of educational TV that he’s become so famous for. 

“This is what I’ve been doing my entire career, for 45 years I’ve tried to use the medium of television to do more than just entertain,” he explained. “I know that we have the opportunity, when we do it with consciousness, to inform, to enlighten, to educate, to even uplift ourselves with the stories we tell one another. I see ‘Jeopardy!’ as absolutely in the sweet spot of that Venn diagram.”

Related: ‘Jeopardy’ Has Banned Certain Wagers Because They Are Deemed Racist, Satanic, And Sexual

Burton Honors Alex Trebek

Burton also made sure to pay tribute to Alex Trebek, who died in November at the age of 80 after hosting “Jeopardy!” for decades.

“For me, my standard of excellence is so intense that my initial approach was to try and be as good as Alex was,” Burton said. “Of course, I realized right away that was an impossibility. The man had 37 years to perfect his mastery.”

Burton is set to make his debut as a “Jeopardy!” guest host on Monday night.

“I have been a fan of ‘Jeopardy!’ for all of my life and when this opportunity came by, I could not pass it up,” he said in a video posted to the game show’s website.

Take a look:

Related: Jean Trebek Remembers Alex In First Interview Since ‘Jeopardy!’ Host’s Death

Burton Raising Money For Charity

CNN reported that during his time guest hosting the show, Burton will be raising money for Reading Is Fundamental (RIF). RIF is a literacy group that provides free books and reading resources to children.

Burton is the latest in a long line of guest hosts of “Jeopardy!” who have been filling in for Alex Trebek until a permanent replacement is found.

All eyes are on LeVar Burton at the helm of Jeopardy! tonight.