LeVar Burton: 'Jeopardy!' host gig began 'scary,' ended fun

LeVar Burton’s quest to become the new host of “Jeopardy!”

LOS ANGELES -- LeVar Burton’s quest to become the new host of “Jeopardy!” has been a confident, upbeat effort by the actor and those who rooted him on with a petition drive. But when the day came to tape the first of his week's share of episodes as one of a succession of guest hosts, the show's pace and the challenge of following in Alex Trebek's much-admired footsteps threw Burton off stride. It made for a rough start to the five back-to-back tapings that begin airing Monday, said the veteran actor known for “Roots," “Star Trek: The Next Generation" and ”Reading Rainbow." He turned for advice to wife Stephanie Cozart Burton, who as his makeup artist was on hand to play coach during a production break. “Being at home, it feels like a really relaxed half-hour, but it's not relaxed at all,” he said. “You can't let your focus drop for a nanosecond.”