A new host for Jeopardy may have been selected, and it’s not LeVar Burton.

In an exclusive report from Variety, Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards is in advanced negotiations to replace Alex Trebek as the official host for the long-running trivia game show. A source that spoke to Variety said although other candidates are being considered, Richards is the front-runner.

The news came as quite a snag to many on social media, as many fans of Jeopardy expressed interest in seeing Levar Burton be Trebek’s successor. Burton, who recently assumed temporary hosting gigs on Jeopardy, was heavily touted as the frontrunner, with a Change.org petition to make him the next host garnering over 200,000 signatures.

Burton has fervently expressed interest in assuming Alex Trebek’s role as the host of Jeopardy.

“There’s something inside me that says this makes sense. I feel like this is what I’m supposed to do,” Burton said to The New York Times Magazine. “Jeopardy! is a cultural touchstone and for a Black man to occupy that podium is significant.”

In an interview with The View, the Roots actor and former host of Reading Rainbow was excited to take over as temporary co-host.

“More than anything, I am eager to put my skills up against those of anyone else in contention and then let the chips fall where they may,” Burton said on The View. “The important thing for me is I have an opportunity to compete for the job, and that’s all I ever really wanted.

Many on social media reacted not too kindly to the news that Burton wasn’t the frontrunner.

An official announcement will likely come down soon.

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