Ryan Reynolds takes to Twitter to rally support for LeVar Burton becoming next Jeopardy! host
Ryan Reynolds took to Twitter to rally support for LeVar Burton to fill the vacant hosting role on Jeopardy! by referencing his own Deadpool experience.
The 46-year-old actor tweeted Friday after Mike Richards, 46, stepped down as new Jeopardy! host effective immediately over crude comments he made on a 2014 podcast mocking women, Jews and Haiti.
‘Pretty consistently from 2013 to 2015 Deadpool would explode on Twitter with fans wanting me to play him. It was awkward because I agreed with them but the studio didn’t see it. Ultimately the fans won and the rest is glorious history. I’m forever grateful,’ Reynolds posted for his roughly 17.9 million followers on Twitter.
Jeopardy vacancy: Ryan Reynolds, shown earlier this month in New York City, took to Twitter to rally support for LeVar Burton to fill the vacant hosting role on Jeopardy! by referencing his own Deadpool experience
‘Hi @levarburton,’ he added tagging Burton, 64, who served as a guest host on Jeopardy! last month after a petition to the show’s producers was signed by more than 250,000 fans.
Alex Trebek hosted the game show for more than 8,000 episodes since 1984 and died last November from pancreatic cancer at age 80.
Burton, 64, responded to Reynolds’ tweet with prayer hands and a purple heart emoji.
Others who had guest hosting stints in auditioning for the role included: Buzzy Cohen, Katie Couric, Ken Jennings, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Savannah Guthrie, Robin Roberts, Aaron Rodgers, George Stephanopoulos and Bill Whitaker.
Fan favorite: Burton, shown in May in New York City as a guest hose on CBS This Morning, responded to Reynolds’ tweet with prayer hands and a purple heart emoji
Twitter power: ‘Pretty consistently from 2013 to 2015 Deadpool would explode on Twitter with fans wanting me to play him. It was awkward because I agreed with them but the studio didn’t see it. Ultimately the fans won and the rest is glorious history. I’m forever grateful,’ Reynolds posted for his roughly 17.9 million followers on Twitter
Jeopardy! announced earlier this month that Richards would be the new host while Mayim Bialik, 45, would be the host of primetime specials and spin-offs.
Many were disappointed when Burton wasn’t selected as host and took to social media to air their grievances at the choice.
Meghan McCain, 36, wrote: ‘Why couldn’t they just give it to @levarburton like literally everyone on the planet wanted?’
Longtime host: Alex Trebek, shown in June 2013, hosted the game show for more than 8,000 episodes since 1984 and died last November from pancreatic cancer at age 80
Stepped down: Mike Richards, shown in June, stepped down as new Jeopardy! host effective immediately over crude comments he made on a 2014 podcast mocking women, Jews and Haiti.
Selma director DuVernay used a Schitt’s Creek meme to show her disappointment, writing: ‘Me trying to create a show right in this moment for @levarburton to host and make an international hit.’
Richards’ bombshell announcement halted production of the new season of Jeopardy! on Friday, just one day after filming had begun.
As Sony resumes the search for a new permanent host, the show will be bringing back a parade of guest hosts who will be announced later.
Reynolds earned critical acclaim and commercial success with the 2016 R-rated film Deadpool, which had been in development as early as 2000.
Hit movie: Reynolds, shown in a still from the 2016 film Deadpool, earned critical acclaim and commercial success from the R-rated movie that had been in development as early as 2000
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