Mike Richards.Photo: Carol Kaelson/Jeopardy Productions
About nine months after belovedJeopardy!hostAlex Trebekdied, Sony Pictures Television announced Wednesday that hewould have two successors: executive producerMike Richards, for the daily syndicated show, andBig Bang TheoryalumMayim Bialik, for primetime and spinoff series.
“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to host the syndicated version ofJeopardy!,” Richards said in a statement. “Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined being chosen to step into a role of this magnitude. I am incredibly humbled to step behind the lectern and will work tirelessly to make sure our brilliant contestants shine in each and every episode.”
“Alex believed the game itself and the contestants are the most important aspects of the show,” he continued. “I was fortunate to witness his professionalism, intensity and kindness up close and that will serve as the ultimate blueprint as we continue to produce the show we love.”
The decision came after arotation of interim guest hosts— including Richards, 46, and Bialik, 45 — took over the podium while Sony searched for Trebek’s full-time replacement.
Richards' nomination has garneredmixed reactionsfrom viewers thus far. Here’s everything to know about the newJeopardy!host, from his experience with game shows to a past controversy.
Mike Richards, Mayim Bialik.Joe Scarnici/WireImage; Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
What has the response been to his hosting news?
After the news was announced, fans and celebrities were swift to react on social media. Though many were congratulatory of Richards — “Jeopardy made the right decision. Mike [Richards] was the best,” one Twitter userwrote— others expressed disappointment thatReading RainbowhostLeVar Burtonwas not chosen.
DirectorAva DuVernayshared a GIF ofDan LevyonSchitt’s Creekand wrote: “Me trying to create a show right in this moment for @levarburton to host and make an international hit.“CommunityalumYvette Nicole Brownsaid she was “very happy” for Bialik, but said “the way the search was handled did @levarburton dirty.”
Richards also made headlines in the days leading up to the announcement. Amid reports that he was in the running to be named the next host,allegations of discriminationfrom when he worked onThe Price Is Rightsurfaced.
How involved was he in the search for a new host?
Richards previously opened up about the search for Trebek’s replacement during an appearance onThe Wall Street Journalpodcastin April, saying at that time that he “studied” the late host’s time on the show to put together a job description for potential candidates.
He also noted that he and his team were hesitant to name someone right away, hence the various interim hosts.
“We were still reeling from the loss, and I mean theJeopardy!family, which is the fans, the country, the staff,” Richards said. “If on Friday it’s Alex’s last show and then Monday it’s a new person’s show, that would probably be unfair to the person stepping in to do it.”
Though he was involved in the search for the next permanent host, he said Sony would make the final call.
Mike Richards.Daytime Emmy Awards 2021 via Getty Images
“It’s going to come down to the heads of Sony to make that decision, ultimately, and it will come down to testing, and they’ve been a part of it,” he said. “They know what’s going on in the studio, they’re watching the feed, the tapings — it’s very extensive, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of in terms of testing in its size and scope. There’s some look at social media, there’s focus groups, there’s all kinds of things that we will rely on.”
He continued, “You want to make an informed decision — I mean in the end, we’re a pretty cerebral group, theJeopardy!team. We want to go at this with real analytics and real testing and not just go, ‘Hey, how about this guy?'”
In his internal memo earlier this week, Richards also recognized the complicated search process and Trebek’s contributions, saying, “I know I have mentioned this to you all before, but the choice on this is not my decision and never has been. Throughout this search, Sony’s top priority has always been to continue the incredible legacy you and Alex built.”
“As you know, Alex always believed the game itself and the contestants are the most important aspects of the show, and that will continue to be the guiding principle as the decision is finalized,” he continued.
And in his statement Wednesday, Ravi Ahuja, Chairman of Global Television Studios and Corporate Development for Sony Pictures, said a “tremendous amount of work and deliberation” went into the decision.
“A senior group of Sony Pictures Television executives pored over footage from every episode, reviewed research from multiple panels and focus groups, and got valuable input from our key partners andJeopardy!viewers,” Ahuja continued. “We knew early on that we wanted to divide the hosting responsibilities and it became very clear that Mike and Mayim were the undeniable choices. They were both at the top of our research and analysis. Mike is a unique talent, at ease behind the podium and a double threat as producer and host. Mayim has a wonderful energy, an innate sense of the game, and an authentic curiosity that naturally represents theJeopardy!brand.”
What’s his background onJeopardy!?
Richards first joinedJeopardy!as the executive producer in 2020, though his ties to the show go way back.
“I very distinctly remember watchingJeopardy!at 10, 11 — and you don’t get very many right when you watchJeopardy!when you’re that age,” he said inan interviewahead of his guest-hosting gig earlier this year. “I remember telling my mom I wanted to get a subscription toThe Wall Street Journal— I have no idea why, I thought that would make me smarter.”
“Then we had the Encyclopedia Britannica, and I started to read them from A — that was the quickest way to get smart. If you knew everything in there, could you then be onJeopardy!? The answer is probably yes,” he continued. “I didn’t get all the way through, full disclosure.”
Mike Richards and Alex trebek.Jason Kempin/Getty; David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty
When did he guest host?
In February, Richards became the second candidate to guest host the show after former championKen Jenningsconcluded his run. During that week, he receivedoverwhelming praise from viewers, though he admitted that his time at the podium was a “last-minute” decision.
“I stepped in to keep the show going because Ken had other duties. He’s done a great job for us but he’s been out promoting his ABC showThe Chase, so he wasn’t available,” Richards previously said in his interview with producers.
He continued, “We were trying to book other celebrity hosts and a lot of people are dying to do it, but because of where we’re shooting this and that [it’s] the week after the first of the year, people were concerned, people were out of town, so the celebrities that will come were reticent to come in — and we had great contestants lined up, the staff and crew were teed up, we’ve all had our COVID tests, we’re all here. Very literally at the last minute, the decision was made for me to step in and just keep the show going.”
Earlier in the interview, Richards reflected on the long-running show and Trebek’s legacy.
“Jeopardy!is an incredibly important American institution — it’s about making people that are smart the most important people in the room, and I just think it’s so important to keep that going and continue Alex’s legacy,” he said. “His ability to straddle that line of being super cool himself, super smart himself and everything that he was is really a part of this entire place, so it’s very important to keep it going.”
Has he hosted a game show before?
Richards has a long history of working on game shows. He was the second host of The WB’sBeauty and the Geekand later helmed the 2012 revival ofThe Pyramid.
He also produced a variety of competition shows prior to his current role as the executive producer ofJeopardy!and its sister show,Wheel of Fortune.
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In 2008, he was named a co-executive producer ofThe Price Is Rightbefore becoming the executive producer a year later. Also in 2009, he helped sellLet’s Make a Dealto CBS, according to hisbioon theJeopardy!website.
Richards remained an executive producer on both shows for over a decade, during which time he earned 17 Daytime Emmy Award nominations and three wins. In 2020, he also served as an executive producer of the revival ofWho Wants to Be a Millionaire,alongside Jimmy Kimmel and Michael Davies.
The 38th season ofJeopardy!, with Richards as host, is set to premiere Sep. 13.
source: people.com
