That's L-E-V-A-R. LeVar.
After signing on to host a Trivial Pursuit game show last month, the incomparable LeVar Burton has now been named as the host of next year's Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The 94th annual spelling competition is set to take place in June 2022 near Washington, DC, with Burton serving as the host for the televised semi-finals and finals. Having launched in 1925, the spelling bee is the longest-running and largest educational competition in the US — however, it was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
"To have such a prominent advocate for children's literacy involved in this special and unique competition is a perfect match," the bee's executive director said in a press release. "We have the same goals: to educate tomorrow's leaders and build reading competency in all young people."
"Hosting the Scripps National Spelling Bee will be an honour," Burton added. "Like a lot of folks, I look forward to the competition every year and am excited to be a part of this wonderful tradition that celebrates excellence."
Last year, the widely beloved Star Trek, Reading Rainbow and Roots star's fans campaigned for him to host Jeopardy! following the death of long-time host Alex Trebek. Burton guest-hosted the show this July 26 to 30, but the full-time gig went to executive producer Mike Richards prior to a series of scandals forcing his exit (GOAT contestant Ken Jennings and actor Mayim Bialik are now co-hosting).
As aforementioned, Burton is currently developing a game show version of the classic board game Trivial Pursuit for television with eOne. Between that and the bee, we can look forward to seeing him get more time on our screens in 2022.
N-i-c-e.
After signing on to host a Trivial Pursuit game show last month, the incomparable LeVar Burton has now been named as the host of next year's Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The 94th annual spelling competition is set to take place in June 2022 near Washington, DC, with Burton serving as the host for the televised semi-finals and finals. Having launched in 1925, the spelling bee is the longest-running and largest educational competition in the US — however, it was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
"To have such a prominent advocate for children's literacy involved in this special and unique competition is a perfect match," the bee's executive director said in a press release. "We have the same goals: to educate tomorrow's leaders and build reading competency in all young people."
"Hosting the Scripps National Spelling Bee will be an honour," Burton added. "Like a lot of folks, I look forward to the competition every year and am excited to be a part of this wonderful tradition that celebrates excellence."
Last year, the widely beloved Star Trek, Reading Rainbow and Roots star's fans campaigned for him to host Jeopardy! following the death of long-time host Alex Trebek. Burton guest-hosted the show this July 26 to 30, but the full-time gig went to executive producer Mike Richards prior to a series of scandals forcing his exit (GOAT contestant Ken Jennings and actor Mayim Bialik are now co-hosting).
As aforementioned, Burton is currently developing a game show version of the classic board game Trivial Pursuit for television with eOne. Between that and the bee, we can look forward to seeing him get more time on our screens in 2022.
N-i-c-e.