“This beloved Reading Rainbow and Star Trek alum is the new host of a game show with a famous title.”
Who is LeVar Burton?
Correct! Just not for the series anyone expected. Despite many viewers’ hopes and wishes, Burton is not taking over hosting duties on Jeopardy. Instead he will lead an entirely new competitor with a game show based on the iconic board game Trivial Pursuit.
Hasbro’s content studio Entertainment One has announced (in news we first heard at The Hollywood Reporter) it has reached an agreement with LeVar Burton Entertainment in a deal that will bring the kid’s show host back to television. They’ll partner to turn Hasbro’s classic Trivial Pursuit into a game show format. Burton will serve as both host and executive producer on the series. eOne’s Tara Long and Geno McDermott will join him as producers, as will LBE’s Sangita Patel.
“Trivial Pursuit is one of the best-known brands in the gaming universe. I am thrilled to have partnered with Hasbro and eOne to bring this beloved game to market as a premium show for television,” said Burton in a statement.
An entirely new game show has a huge uphill climb to compete with Jeopardy. But basing the show on Trivial Pursuit is a brilliant move. The game is wildly popular. It’s available in more than 26 countries and 17 languages. And Hasbro has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Now it has the ideal host to bring it to television.
“LeVar Burton has been an iconic member of American pop culture for decades from Roots to Reading Rainbow to Star Trek and beyond,” said Strong, who is also eOne’s President of Global Unscripted Television, in a statement. “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.”
We bet the show becomes a big hit. If it does, LeVar Burton will be the answer to an infamous Jeopardy question.
Which obviously perfect new host who wasn’t hired by Jeopardy went on to lead a successful competitor?
