Alex Trebek’s contract to host “Jeopardy” is up in 2020, and he’s already thought of a possible replacement, legal analyst Laura Coates.
“I’ve mentioned to our producer not so long ago that the fellow who does play-by-play for the Los Angeles Kings, they should consider him,” Trebek told TMZ. “[Also], there is an attorney Laura Coates, she’s African-American and she appears on some of the cable news shows from time to time.”
Afterwards, Coates took to Twitter and expressed her gratitude for being considered, especially since she’s always been a fan of the show.
“Incredibly honored and humbled @JeopardyAlex Trebek 1) knows who I am, 2) thinks I’d be a great host of my fave game show ever that I grew up watching with my family and still watch with my own kids, who saw him say this and now think I’m a genius,” she wrote.
Incredibly honored & humbled @Jeopardy Alex Trebek 1) knows who I am 2) thinks I’d be a great host of my fave game show ever that I grew up watching w/ my family & still watch w/ my own kids (who saw him say this & now think I’m a genius) #Dying https://t.co/qdMxWc9g5e via @TMZ
— Laura Coates (@thelauracoates) July 30, 2018
Coates, who’s a native of St. Paul Minnesota, appears on CNN and also hosts “The Laura Coates Show” on SiriusXM — where she discusses various topics with entertainers, taste-makers, politicians and others.
She’s also a graduate of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public International Affairs, as well as the University of Minnesota Law School.
After she graduated, Coates started a private legal practice, then became a federal prosecutor for the United States Department of Justice. She was also a trial attorney in the DOJ’s civil rights division during George W. Bush and Barack Obama’s administrations.
But these days, Coates has a sizable fan base with over 40,000 Twitter followers and some were excited that she was mentioned for the “Jeopardy” position, however, others wanted her to stay at CNN.
“You do rock, Laura and this is special to come from a talk host, which means he watches you on CNN and sees that you don’t have to think about an answer. You know the path when you speak,” one person wrote.
“You’d be so good,” tweeted another. “But I’d really really miss your very needed legal commentary, and we need you to keep doing your @SXMUrbanView show.”
You can see other reactions to Trebek mentioning Coates for the “Jeopardy” hosting job below.
Hope you go for it Laura. I think you’d be great.
— Errol Edwards (@es_edwards) July 30, 2018
Great fit for Jeopardy, I would start watching again.
— aileen gilbert (@aileeneternal) July 30, 2018
I love this show. I used to watch with my Dad when it was Art Fleming as host. I have watched with my hubby all these years as Alex was hosting. I think you would do a marvelous job but we need you on CNN helping us to understand this craziness.
— Kathleen (@rays2ws) July 30, 2018
No, you have to keep providing us with the sound legal advice on @CNN pic.twitter.com/CSatU9ua5H
— M Darby (@firewashed) July 30, 2018
