Drew Barrymore replaced by LeVar Burton as National Book Awards host

Actor LeVar Burton has replaced actress Drew Barrymore as the host for the 2023 National Book Awards.

Barrymore was originally slated to be the host, but she fell into disfavor when she initially announced last month in a since-deleted Instagram post that her talk show would start up its fourth season. Its third season ended before the Writers Guild of America strike started on May 2. The actress promised not to discuss or promote “film and television that is struck of any kind” and decided to pause the show’s production entirely, but she eventually reversed her decision to wait until the WGA strike was over to start up production again.

(AP Photos)

SAM BANKMAN-FRIED THOUGHT MESSY HAIR WAS KEY TO HIS SUCCESS, CAROLINE ELLISON CLAIMS

“The National Book Awards is an evening dedicated to celebrating the power of literature, and the incomparable contributions of writers to our culture,” the National Book Foundation said in a statement. “Our commitment is to ensure that the focus of the Awards remains on celebrating writers and books, and we are grateful to Ms. Barrymore and her team for their understanding in this situation.”

WGA writers would only be on strike for another eight days by the time Barrymore reversed her decision to film the fourth season of her show. Yet the controversy was enough to get Barrymore booted.

“It’s an honor to return as host of the biggest night for books, especially in a moment when the freedom to read is at risk,” Burton said in a statement, referring to the last time he hosted in 2019. The National Book Foundation expressed it was “delighted” at Burton’s return.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Burton was once the host of Reading Rainbow, a show that promoted literacy for children. He now hosts a podcast titled LeVar Burton Reads, which is, as it sounds, clips of him reading short stories.

This 74th awards ceremony is set for Nov. 15 in New York City, but there will also be a livestream. At the event, the winners of the National Book Award for young people’s literature, translated literature, poetry, nonfiction, and fiction will be announced. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey will also be a guest at the ceremony.