The Jeopardy Hosting Saga
One of the current trends in journalism is digging up stories from the past of celebrities and bringing them to light. Some of the stories are gossipy in nature and yet are presented as hard news. As a result, a number of people have lost jobs and suffered career setbacks. One of the most recent examples of this trend is the story of the search for Alex Trebek’s replacement as the host of Jeopardy.
The Loss of a Legend
When pancreatic cancer claimed the life of legendary Jeopardy host, Alex Trebek in November of 2020, some huge shoes were left to fill. Executive producer, Mike Richards, led the search committee to find a replacement host. This was a big task and months were spent evaluating candidates with the help of focus groups. A diverse group of celebrities including Mayim Bialik, Anderson Cooper, Savannah Guthrie, Katie Couric and LeVar Burton were on the shortlist. Eventually, Richards himself was added to the list of candidates. He had certainly earned the opportunity.
The Journey of Mike Richards
Although not a household name at the time, Mike Richards was well-known and respected in the television industry. He had served as executive producer of the popular game shows The Price Is Right and Let’s Make a Deal. He had also produced The Weakest Link. Richards also had hosting experience on several shows, including Beauty and the Geek, The Pyramid and Divided. By 2020, he was named executive producer of the king of all game shows: Jeopardy. When Richards was named by the search committee as the new host of the beloved program, it seemed Jeopardy had found the best choice and Richards was on his way to becoming the new face of the show.
Richards as Host
When production of the new season of Jeopardy began in August 2020, Richards was at the podium in place of Alex Trebek and by all accounts was outstanding. He was polished, poised and confident. He displayed the presence and intellect necessary to host a show with a highbrow reputation. In his interactions with the contestants, Richards was warm and engaging, making them the center of focus, just as Trebek always had. It seemed like a win for everyone. While Richards was settling in, stories from his past surfaced.
The End of the Hosting Gig
While Mike Richards was beginning his new gig as the host of Jeopardy, elements of the media were at play, digging up stories to discredit him such as comments he made on a podcast nearly a decade before were brought to light. Instead of celebrating the beginning of a new era of Jeopardy, focus was placed on the past. Suddenly, Richards and Jeopardy were surrounded by controversy.
While shooting the first week of new episodes, the heat continued. Mike Richards, despite doing an excellent job hosting, apologizing for the past and offering to attend sensitivity training, decided to step down as host after the first week. He felt he was doing what was best for Jeopardy going forward. Shortly thereafter, he was let go as executive producer. The decision was made to have Mayim Bialik and all-time Jeopardy champ, Ken Jennings, split hosting duties.
It’s a shame things turned out during this time frame, Mike Richards will land on his feet and continue his television career in some capacity. Jeopardy will go on and further build on its legacy as one of the most popular game shows of all time. Perhaps one day, the mistakes of the past will stay in the past.
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