LeVar Burton says guest-hosting 'Jeopardy!' made him realize he doesn't want the gig

LeVar Burton appeared on The Daily Show With Trevor Noah Thursday night, where the actor shared how he felt about all the support he received from his fans during his recent Jeopardy! guest host stint.

Burton shared, "I discovered then that the generation of adults now, who grew up on Reading Rainbow, they were down with whatever it is I wanted to do, and the same was true with this Jeopardy! thing. I made it public that I wanted it for myself, that it made sense to me, and they were all about it. It made as much sense to them as it did to me. And, so, they wanted it for me as much as I wanted it."

Burton has been an overwhelming fan-favorite to succeed Alex Trebek. In fact, there's even a change.org petition with nearly 300,000 signatures on it to make him the new host and an endorsement from movie star Ryan Reynolds following Mike Richards's exit. However, while TMZ reported that Sony never seriously considered Burton as a full-time host, on Thursday, the actor revealed that he doesn't want the job anyway.

"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," revealed Burton. "What I wanted was to compete. I mean, I wanted the job, right, but then, when I didn't get it, it was, like, well, okay, what's next? And, so, the opportunities that have come my way as a result of not getting that gig, I couldn't have dreamt it up." Noah then described it as "the shipwreck that leads you to the magical island," and Burton agreed.

"I never thought about hosting any other game show outside of Jeopardy! But now, 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. So we're trying to figure out what the right game show for LeVar Burton would be."

Video transcript

LEVAR BURTON: A generation of adults now who grew up on "Reading Rainbow," they were down with whatever it is I wanted to do. And the same was true with this "Jeopardy" thing.

KYLIE MAR: Legendary actor, LeVar Burton, sat down with Trevor Noah on "The Daily Show" Thursday night, where he shared how he felt about all the support he received from his fans while recently guest-hosting "Jeopardy."

LEVAR BURTON: I made it public that I wanted it for myself, that it made sense to me, and they were all about it. Well, and it made sense it made as much sense to them as it did to me.

KYLIE MAR: LeVar has been an overwhelming fan favorite to succeed Alex Trebek. In fact, there's even a change.org petition to make him the new host, and an endorsement from Ryan Reynolds following Mike Richards exit. And while TMZ has reported that Sony never seriously considered LaVar as a full time host, on Thursday the actor revealed that he doesn't want the job anyway.

LEVAR BURTON: What I found out is that it wasn't the thing that I wanted after all. What I wanted was-- what I wanted was to compete. I mean, I wanted the job, right. But then when I didn't get it, it was like, well, OK. Well, what's next?

KYLIE MAR: And LaVar went on to say that opportunities have since come his way as a result of not getting the gig, which has led to him setting his sights on a new dream.

LEVAR BURTON: 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. So we're trying to figure out what the right game show for LeVar Burton would be.