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LeVar Burtonis returning to the game show scene!
The 64-year-old actor’s entertainment company hasinked a dealwith Hasbro’s content studio Entertainment One to produce a game show based on the classic game Trivial Pursuit.
Tara Long, President of Global Unscripted Television at eOne, said the company is looking forward to working with Burton as “an iconic member of American pop culture.”
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“His love for intellectual curiosity paired with his ability to connect with audiences worldwide make him the perfect partner to bring Hasbro’s beloved trivia game to households in a new and exciting way,” Long said in the statement.
Burton was previously in the running to take over forAlex TrebekonJeopardy!after the famed game-show hostdied in November 2020. Later that fall, nearly 300,000 of theReading Rainbowstar’s supporters signeda petition on Change.orgrequesting he be named host of the popular game show.
Jeopardy!producerMike Richardswas originally named as the permanent host in August butstepped downamid a series of scandals.Mayim BialikandJeopardy!champKen Jenningsare splitting hosting duties for the remainder of season 38.
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During an appearance onThe Daily Show with Trevor Noahin September, Burton explained why missing out on theJeopardy!gig wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“The crazy thing is is that when you set your sights on something, they 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,” he said.
Burton later said that he “couldn’t have dreamt it up” the opportunities he received as a result of not hostingJeopardy!before hinting at hosting another game show.
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“The thing is, I never thought about hosting any other game show outside ofJeopardy!” theRootsstar confessed. “But now, having that they went in a different direction with their show, which is their right, and now I’m thinking, well, it does kind of make sense. Let me see what I can do.”
A timeline was not announced regarding a release date for the new project.
source: people.com
