CNN Analyst Laura Coates Revealed She Was "Told No" After Being Named By Alex Trebek As A Potential "Jeopardy" Host
BuzzFeed
3 min read
The late Alex Trebek — beloved host of Jeopardy — had a thought or two about who should be his successor. Despite this, one of his named candidates was completely barred from the opportunity.
The amount of sense being made by Jeopardy producers with this decision = zero.
Back in 2018, the TV personality told TMZ that Laura Coates — a CNN legal analyst — would be a great fit for the role, calling her "very bright, very personable."
He also named Alex Faust — a TV sportscaster — as a potential successor.
In a new interview with the Tamron Hall Show, Laura opened up about how she was snubbed by the game show's producers and didn't even make it onto the roster of six frontrunners.
"I actually was as shocked as anyone else was when he first said it," Laura said of first being named, despite not knowing Alex personally. "I was thrilled when he said my name and I thought, 'Oh, my God, this person that I have watched my whole life, really, even knows my name — let alone thinks that I would be worthy enough to fill his shoes, which frankly can’t be filled.'"
"I asked for the opportunity when it came time when they were looking for people to possibly fill in. I certainly raised my hand and knocked on doors and found them closed," she explained. "I was told ‘no,’ which is one of those moments when you have to remember to wear your own jersey."
"You have to remember to continue to be your own champion in other respects and sometimes the vision that you have for yourself — or those that surprise you, other people — don’t align with what happens, and that happened there," Laura continued.
If you'll recall, the search for a new Jeopardy host is still not over and has been continually marked by controversy. Much to the dismay of fans (who floated names like Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton), the show picked executive producer Mike Richards, who eventually stepped down when previous discrimination lawsuits and offensive comments resurfaced.
Richards was supposed to cohost with Big Bang Theory alum Mayim Bialik, who has remained as a host — alongside former contestant Ken Jennings — for Season 38. However, she's also a controversial pick: In November 2021, she refuted rumors that she was an anti-vaxxer.
A permanent replacement for the show won't be decided on until Season 39, Sony previously said. In the meantime, I will continue to be angry at this snub!
Jeopardy / Sony Pictures Television