The very brief Mike Richards era on Jeopardy began on Monday as the beleaguered game show dealt with the embarrassment of opening its 38th season with a host that its fans already know is toast.
As the executive producer is ousted at Sony’s quiz show (and Wheel of Fortune), more than a dozen former staffers on the CBS and Fremantle show describe a “dismantling” of a workplace culture that preceded him.
Richards had signed an overall development deal with Sony in 2019, and became executive producer of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune in May 2020. He quickly became controversial when he went from behind-the-scenes to Sony’s pick for host of Jeopardy — even before his 2013-14 podcast comments demeaning women and making stereotypical comments about Asian, Jews and others surfaced.
Defying a backlash over sexist and crude comments, a top Sony TV executive told the show’s staff that the studio stood behind Richards as the executive producer.
How Journalism Saved ‘Jeopardy’ From An Unworthy Host After An Utter Failure Of Corporate Vetting
Reporter Claire McNear of the Ringer diligently did what Sony, the show’s parent company, failed to do. McNear vetted Alex Trebek successor Mike Richards with material that was out there in plain sight, finding many instances of sexist and offensive remarks he had made on a podcast. McNear’s story was published last Wednesday. By Friday, Richards had been bounced as new host, after only one day of filming and not much more than a week after his appointment had been announced.
Exclusives
Mike Richards ended his just-launched run as host of the syndicated Jeopardy after news surfaced of demeaning comments about women, the homeless and others that Richards had made on a 2013-14 podcast. He announced his exit in an internal memo and said the search for a new host will begin again, with guest hosts returning to continue production for the new season.
The newly appointed Jeopardy host disparaged women’s weight, called one model a “booth slut” and repeatedly praised “the average white-guy host.”
The search for new permanent host of Jeopardy is officially over. The show’s executive producer Mike Richards has been named the new permanent host of the the venerable syndicated game show,, succeeding the late Alex Trebek. Additionally, Sony Pictures Television announced that The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik will host Jeopardy’s primetime and spinoff series, including the upcoming Jeopardy National College Championship set to air on ABC next year.
The search for new permanent host of Jeopardy has come to an end. The show’s executive producer Mike Richards is finalizing a deal to succeed the late Alex Trebek as host of the venerable syndicated game show. No one would comment but Richards, who emerged as a frontrunner early in the search, was quietly appointed as the host a couple of weeks ago with the deal now in final negotiations. Sony Pictures Television is expected to make an official announcement in the next few days.
Jeopardy was short on guest hosts after Ken Jennings’ stint expired, so a chief showrunner had to take charge. Executive Producer Mike Richards stepped in Monday to serve as host of the quiz program, kicking off the broadcast by introducing himself and explaining to viewers at home why there wasn’t a more well-known face on their TV sets. COVID fears was the short answer.
The day after Trebek died at age 80 following a battle with cancer, the show’s executive producer, Mike Richards addressed viewers from the Jeopardy set in a taped introduction.
Sony Pictures TV, which produces both syndicated game shows, has named Mike Richards as the new executive producer for the two series. He’ll assume the role when the 72-year-old Harry Friedman steps aside after the 2019-20 season, his 25th at Sony.
