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June 28, 2021 4:27 PM Subscribe
A lovely New York Times Magazine interview with LeVar Burton, now a contender to be the next full-time host of "Jeopardy": "There are times when I experience my life as having been for a specific purpose. I look at Kunta. I look at Geordi. I’ve been able to express humanity as enslaved in the past and as free in the future and do it as a completely liberated Black man. It’s kind of mind-blowing."
It really is. I like the complementarity he describes between "Roots" and "Star Trek" in the quote I pulled above. And I can see a different kind of complementarity between "Reading Rainbow" and "Jeopardy".
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 6:35 PM on June 28, 2021 [11 favorites]
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 6:35 PM on June 28, 2021 [11 favorites]
Would be grateful to have a non paywalled link if anyone finds, thanks!
posted by tiny frying pan at 6:45 PM on June 28, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by tiny frying pan at 6:45 PM on June 28, 2021 [2 favorites]
Wow, great interview. I've always liked LeVar Burton and his perspectives on several things make me admire him even more. He still has to guest host and nail it, but I think he would be great. Although is he overstating the cultural significance of Jeopardy?
(And wouldn't he technically be the second Black Jeopardy host?)
posted by kirkaracha at 6:51 PM on June 28, 2021 [4 favorites]
(And wouldn't he technically be the second Black Jeopardy host?)
posted by kirkaracha at 6:51 PM on June 28, 2021 [4 favorites]
Also, the spelling of "jeopardy" is really weird.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:52 PM on June 28, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 6:52 PM on June 28, 2021 [8 favorites]
One of the ... I dunno, maybe three? Possibly six? Anyway, one of the not-very-many people I'd probably burst into tears upon meeting. Like I mean literally bursting into tears at the realization we're in the same room.
Well, maybe not tears. I can't say for sure. The alternative is a shitload of stunned swearing, and I'm not sure which is worse.
...would y'all rather encounter a guy who suddenly weeps to shake your hand, or a guy who can't stop saying profane gibberish ("jesus christ, it's you! You! Holy fuck! Holy fuck it's you! jesus fucking christ I can't believe it! ...")?
Uh, asking for a friend.
posted by aramaic at 7:18 PM on June 28, 2021 [9 favorites]
Well, maybe not tears. I can't say for sure. The alternative is a shitload of stunned swearing, and I'm not sure which is worse.
...would y'all rather encounter a guy who suddenly weeps to shake your hand, or a guy who can't stop saying profane gibberish ("jesus christ, it's you! You! Holy fuck! Holy fuck it's you! jesus fucking christ I can't believe it! ...")?
Uh, asking for a friend.
posted by aramaic at 7:18 PM on June 28, 2021 [9 favorites]
Anyway, one of the not-very-many people I'd probably burst into tears upon meeting. Like I mean literally bursting into tears at the realization we're in the same room.
“You can’t disappoint a picture!”
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:25 PM on June 28, 2021 [27 favorites]
“You can’t disappoint a picture!”
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:25 PM on June 28, 2021 [27 favorites]
The alternative is a shitload of stunned swearing, and I'm not sure which is worse.
The interview itself is quite sweaty (albeit censored). He might enjoy meeting another fucking potty mouth.
posted by hippybear at 8:16 PM on June 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
The interview itself is quite sweaty (albeit censored). He might enjoy meeting another fucking potty mouth.
posted by hippybear at 8:16 PM on June 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
I really enjoyed reading that. It feels more than a little insulting that the jeopardy people are dragging this out. Just be grateful anyone cares about your stupid show at all & give the people what they want. Like what's the alternative? Take a risk on some nobody? I thought we were supposed to worship these business geniuses & they deserve to take everything we have because they're so smart??? And this is their work output? Not knowing who should host jeopardy when levar burton wants the job??? It's enraging.
posted by bleep at 8:30 PM on June 28, 2021 [15 favorites]
posted by bleep at 8:30 PM on June 28, 2021 [15 favorites]
He mentions that feeling of “supposed to be” or “supposed to do” several times. It’s something that Jim Henson said a lot (and Williams and Ascher borrowed for a lyric in “The Rainbow Connection.”) I wish so much that I could feel that about my own life.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:48 PM on June 28, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:48 PM on June 28, 2021 [7 favorites]
It feels more than a little insulting that the jeopardy people are dragging this out.
It does feel a bit like they're mining this for ratings... "How will this person work out? Tune in and find out!"
Like, is there anyone else that anyone is rooting for to get the job? Maybe Ken Jennings, which would IMO also be acceptable. But Burton would be the perfect choice, and everyone seems to know it.
If there are other potential hosts people are rooting for, the rooting is entirely outside of my radar.
posted by hippybear at 8:52 PM on June 28, 2021 [2 favorites]
It does feel a bit like they're mining this for ratings... "How will this person work out? Tune in and find out!"
Like, is there anyone else that anyone is rooting for to get the job? Maybe Ken Jennings, which would IMO also be acceptable. But Burton would be the perfect choice, and everyone seems to know it.
If there are other potential hosts people are rooting for, the rooting is entirely outside of my radar.
posted by hippybear at 8:52 PM on June 28, 2021 [2 favorites]
It feels more than a little insulting that the jeopardy people are dragging this out.
They really aren't. By the time the "LeVar Burton should host Jeopardy" campaign started, they'd already taped three months' worth of guest host episodes. He was brought in for the taping of the second batch of guest host episodes, by which point the show will have aired at least half a dozen people who are serious candidates for the job (Jennings, Burton, Buzzy Cohen, Mayim Bialik, Aaron Rodgers and Joe Buck, all of whom have said they'd love to be the permanent host and all of whom so far have produced excellent runs as host).
They're not going to announce Burton until they survey reaction to him as host, at minimum.
posted by mightygodking at 10:23 PM on June 28, 2021 [10 favorites]
They really aren't. By the time the "LeVar Burton should host Jeopardy" campaign started, they'd already taped three months' worth of guest host episodes. He was brought in for the taping of the second batch of guest host episodes, by which point the show will have aired at least half a dozen people who are serious candidates for the job (Jennings, Burton, Buzzy Cohen, Mayim Bialik, Aaron Rodgers and Joe Buck, all of whom have said they'd love to be the permanent host and all of whom so far have produced excellent runs as host).
They're not going to announce Burton until they survey reaction to him as host, at minimum.
posted by mightygodking at 10:23 PM on June 28, 2021 [10 favorites]
Many Vikings fans are pulling for Aaron Rodgers.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:33 PM on June 28, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 10:33 PM on June 28, 2021 [3 favorites]
This is a good interview! Props to David Marchese for interviewing and to LeVar Burton for intervieweeing.
posted by away for regrooving at 1:16 AM on June 29, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by away for regrooving at 1:16 AM on June 29, 2021 [2 favorites]
It is a good interview, but I hope he's not making a strategic mistake by lobbying so publicly for the job. In my experience, television producers generally don't like to be told what to do.
posted by Optamystic at 2:06 AM on June 29, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Optamystic at 2:06 AM on June 29, 2021 [1 favorite]
Are the guest hosts actually vying for the job of perma-host? Especially the ones with high-profile day jobs? I was under the impression that this was more of an opportunity for celebrity fans to fill-in and make money for their charities. I assumed the real host search was going on behind the scenes.
FWIW, I haven't been too impressed by any of the guest hosts. I've enjoyed them well enough, but I have a hard time seeing them as anything other than celebrities. The only exception for me was, in fact, Aaron Rodgers. He was nicely low-key, had no celebrity affectation, and has a warm, mellow voice that worked really well. He was a bit awkward at the beginning of his stint, but grew into the job really well.
And, please, not Joe Buck. I would never watch Jeopardy again if that became the voice of the show.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:02 AM on June 29, 2021 [1 favorite]
FWIW, I haven't been too impressed by any of the guest hosts. I've enjoyed them well enough, but I have a hard time seeing them as anything other than celebrities. The only exception for me was, in fact, Aaron Rodgers. He was nicely low-key, had no celebrity affectation, and has a warm, mellow voice that worked really well. He was a bit awkward at the beginning of his stint, but grew into the job really well.
And, please, not Joe Buck. I would never watch Jeopardy again if that became the voice of the show.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:02 AM on June 29, 2021 [1 favorite]
If he doesn't wear the vizor and yellow pjs to do the show then I'm not interested.
posted by Space Coyote at 6:18 AM on June 29, 2021
posted by Space Coyote at 6:18 AM on June 29, 2021
mightygodking: “They really aren't. By the time the "LeVar Burton should host Jeopardy" campaign started, they'd already taped three months' worth of guest host episodes.”“LeVar Burton: An Icon Seeks a New Iconic Role,” Monique Madrid, Serial Optimist, 03 May 2013 [Previously]
posted by ob1quixote at 7:41 AM on June 29, 2021
I want Burton for the job, but what I want means nothing. The reddit Jeopardy board REALLY wants Jennings, who I viscerally do not.
posted by 41swans at 8:14 AM on June 29, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by 41swans at 8:14 AM on June 29, 2021 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I'm not a fan of Jennings taking over. He just doesn't have the presence or voice to anchor the show. He's already a Consulting Producer on the show, anyway.
If they want to go with former winners, I'd much rather see Austin Rogers or Brad Rutter. They both have a better, more enjoyable, presence than Ken, and are quicker wits, I think.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:16 AM on June 29, 2021 [3 favorites]
If they want to go with former winners, I'd much rather see Austin Rogers or Brad Rutter. They both have a better, more enjoyable, presence than Ken, and are quicker wits, I think.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:16 AM on June 29, 2021 [3 favorites]
>Also, the spelling of "jeopardy" is really weird.
It really is. Bastardized into English from the French "jeu parti," or divided game (I presume chess).
I haven't watched Jeopardy! since giving up on cable tv years ago, but Burton getting the gig might move me to research anew whether there's a streamy option. (Last I looked it was impossible to see J! without a local affiliate, and locast hasn't made it to central NY state yet.)
posted by aught at 2:19 PM on June 30, 2021
It really is. Bastardized into English from the French "jeu parti," or divided game (I presume chess).
I haven't watched Jeopardy! since giving up on cable tv years ago, but Burton getting the gig might move me to research anew whether there's a streamy option. (Last I looked it was impossible to see J! without a local affiliate, and locast hasn't made it to central NY state yet.)
posted by aught at 2:19 PM on June 30, 2021
Also, the spelling of "jeopardy" is really weird.
In my head I pronounce it “Jee-oh-par-dee” to remember the spelling.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:12 PM on June 30, 2021 [2 favorites]
In my head I pronounce it “Jee-oh-par-dee” to remember the spelling.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:12 PM on June 30, 2021 [2 favorites]
The other memory trick is leopardy.
Like, having a high population of leopards.
"Wanna come to the jungle with us?"
'Nah, too leopardy. I'll stay home.'
(also works for spelling your animal-print leopard leotard)
LeVar Burton. Anytime he wants a vacation, stunt cast some temporary guest hosts.
posted by bartleby at 8:59 PM on June 30, 2021 [2 favorites]
Like, having a high population of leopards.
"Wanna come to the jungle with us?"
'Nah, too leopardy. I'll stay home.'
(also works for spelling your animal-print leopard leotard)
LeVar Burton. Anytime he wants a vacation, stunt cast some temporary guest hosts.
posted by bartleby at 8:59 PM on June 30, 2021 [2 favorites]
Last I looked it was impossible to see J! without a local affiliate
It's not on an over-the-air channel? It's always been on some broadcast network anywhere I've lived.
posted by hippybear at 9:48 PM on June 30, 2021
It's not on an over-the-air channel? It's always been on some broadcast network anywhere I've lived.
posted by hippybear at 9:48 PM on June 30, 2021
yeah isn’t it on ABC affiliates around the US?
posted by DoctorFedora at 4:47 AM on July 1, 2021
posted by DoctorFedora at 4:47 AM on July 1, 2021
Like what's the alternative? Take a risk on some nobody?
Outside of game show fans, Trebek was a "nobody" when he took took the job.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:37 AM on July 1, 2021
Outside of game show fans, Trebek was a "nobody" when he took took the job.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:37 AM on July 1, 2021
how dare you diminish the accomplishments of the host of that beloved classic game show Classic Concentration
posted by DoctorFedora at 10:07 PM on July 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by DoctorFedora at 10:07 PM on July 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
How can he even THINK about hosting a TV show with the guy from Cameo still at large?
posted by MrBadExample at 10:42 PM on July 1, 2021
posted by MrBadExample at 10:42 PM on July 1, 2021
Word up!
posted by hippybear at 5:12 AM on July 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 5:12 AM on July 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
The other memory trick is leopardy.
I also pronounce "leopard" as "lee-oh-pard" in my head.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:30 PM on July 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
I also pronounce "leopard" as "lee-oh-pard" in my head.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:30 PM on July 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
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