In light of the sad loss of long-time host Alex Trebek, Sony Pictures Television has been trying out various guest hosts on Jeopardy! with hopes of finding a permanent replacement. Recently, beloved LeVar Burton had a chance at the podium, and Savannah Guthrie’s performance was well-received by many. However, one standout candidate is Mike Richards. Who is Mike Richards? He is the executive producer of Jeopardy! and has a background in hosting and producing other game shows like Beauty And The Geek, The Pyramid, and Divided. He also worked on shows like Let’s Make A Deal, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, and The Price is Right. While he did a brief stint as a guest host on Jeopardy!, some critics have compared his hosting to that of a “decent-enough substitute teacher.”
Sony Pictures spokespeople have mentioned that while Richards is a top contender, other candidates are also under consideration for the hosting role. Nevertheless, Richards is currently ahead in the negotiations compared to the other potential hosts.
Mike Richards in Advanced Negotiations to Become Permanent Host of ‘Jeopardy!’ (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/N9BkwH5vOM
— Variety (@Variety) August 4, 2021
Some Jeopardy! fans on Twitter have raised concerns about Richards potentially becoming the host, citing his dual role as the executive producer. They feel that Richards essentially selecting himself as the host could be perceived as a conflict of interest.
Former Colbert Report writer Frank Lesser humorously commented, “This guy might be the perfect pick because he’s already got everyone responding ‘Who is Mike Richards?'”
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