Skip to content
Search AI Powered
Human content, AI powered search.

Latest Stories

LeVar Burton Slams Journalist For Assuming He'd Take 'Jeopardy!' Gig 'In A Heartbeat'

LeVar Burton Slams Journalist For Assuming He'd Take 'Jeopardy!' Gig 'In A Heartbeat'
Tommaso Boddi/WireImage/Getty Images
Peter Karleby
By Peter KarlebySep 20, 2021
Peter Karleby
Peter Karleby is a writer, content producer and performer originally from Michigan. His writing has also appeared on YourTango, Delish and Medium, and he has produced content for NBC, The New York Times and The CW, among others. When not working, he can be found tripping over his own feet on a hiking trail while singing Madonna songs to ward off lurking bears.
See Full Bio

LeVar Burton has had it with the Jeopardy! hosting conversation, and he's putting anyone who doubts him on notice.

Burton has been the Jeopardy! fandom's #1 choice for new host since the moment iconic host Alex Trebek passed away last year, especially for people who grew up with him as the host of the children's show Reading Rainbow back in the day.

But in the wake of Burton being passed over in favor of the scandal-plagued Mike Richards, whose tenure lasted just one day due to multiple allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination, Burton has made it clear he is done with the show.

And when Los Angeles Times journalist Stephen Battaglio tweeted he believed Burton would take the gig "in a heartbeat" if asked, Burton set him straight immediately.

See the tweet below.


The exchange comes on the heels of an interview with The Daily Show's Trevor Noah in which Burton described how his feelings about the Jeopardy! hosting gig changed after he wasn't offered the job.
Burton told Noah:
"…[T]hey say be careful of what you wish for, because what I found out is that it wasn't the thing that I wanted after all..."
"The opportunities that have come my way as a result of not getting that gig, I couldn't have dreamt it up."

After being called out for presuming to know Burton's feelings toward the show, Battaglio apologized to Burton.

But when he responded tersely to a fan of Burton's who pushed back further, Burton came back to put him in his place again.


After telling him "No, Stephen... you don't get a pass," Burton went on to explain he'd prefer Battaglio keep his name out of his mouth.

"I have a perspective on this entire J! saga which I intend to share at a time of my choosing, probably my memoirs. As a journalist I hope you can appreciate that any and all speculation about my motives or intentions is simply uninformed."

Soon, the Burton-Battaglio back-and-forth was being screenshot and presented as a lesson for how not to conduct yourself on Twitter.


And Burton put the whole thing to bed once and for all with a perfect one-sentence clapback.


Burton's handling of Battaglio had people on Twitter cheering.










The producers of Jeopardy! have yet to find a new host for the show, which will be helmed by former champion Ken Jennings and Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik while they continue the search.

Latest News

People Share Their Best 'F*ck Around And Find Out' Stories
Trending

People Share Their Best 'F*ck Around And Find Out' Stories

More from Trending

Two people on a date
Photo by Anna Hecker on Unsplash

Things People's Significant Others Did That Changed The Way They See Them

When we're dating someone, we might like to think that we know everything about them that we need to know, but sometimes something comes up that totally surprises us.

Sometimes, it's something terrible and ugly, but sometimes, it's the sweetest thing.

Keep ReadingShow less
Woman painting a floral portrait
Tetiana SHYSHKINA/Unsplash

People Reveal How They Found Their True Passion In Life

Those who have found their true joys in life are the envy of those who are still in search of that one thing that can distract them from their daily woes.

For some, passion can be the simplest thing, like cooking and traveling, or something more profound like possessing strong beliefs in a cause that gives life meaning.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from Abby Cogan's TikTok video
@abby.cogan215/TikTok

Mom Sparks Debate With Her Negative Reaction To Daughter's New Hair Color

There's nothing quite like a mother's love...or her bluntly honest criticism.

Ready for a fresh start and a new look, TikToker Abby Cogan went to the hair salon, ready for a new cut, color, and style. She went for the viral Cherry Coco-Cola red that's currently going around with blunt ends and loose, wavy curls.

Keep ReadingShow less
Split screen of images of Samantha Greenstone and Jacob Hoff
@samanthawynngreenstone/Instagram; @samanthawynngreenstone/TikTok

Newlyweds Explain Why They Got Married Despite Groom Identifying As Gay In Viral TikTok

A man who identifies as gay just tied the knot with his girlfriend of seven years, and in a video posted to TikTok, the couple explained why it's not a "lavender marriage."

Newlyweds Jacob Hoff and Samantha Greenstone recently spoke with the New York Times about their "soulful connection," explaining that despite Hoff being gay, the two knew that their feelings for each other were something very special from the beginning.

Keep ReadingShow less
Two young women and one young man in line at a cafeteria
woman in red and white jacket beside man in gray crew neck t-shirt
Photo by Alex Lujan on Unsplash

Things People Wish They Knew When They Were 19-Years-Old

19, the last of our teenage years.

At this age, many people begin their higher education and begin to seriously contemplate how they plan to spend their adult years.

Keep ReadingShow less