Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards is stepping down from his position as the new host of the series amidst recent conduct scandals. First created by Merv Griffin for NBC, the quiz show has been one of the most iconic of its genre for nearly 60 years. The series found true popularity in 1984 when a daily syndicated version premiered with Alex Trebek acting as the host of the show.
Trebek would remain the host all the way up to 2020, when he would lose his battle to stage IV pancreatic cancer. Jeopardy! would forge on with a variety of guest hosts while conducting a search for a new permanent host, some of whom included Mayim Bialik, Aaron Rodgers and LeVar Burton, who proved to be the fan favorite choice to take over the position. Many were left disappointed when it was announced that executive producer Richards would be taking over as the permanent host for the series while Bialik would go on to host primetime specials on ABC and potential spin-offs, though a new change is already in the works for the series.
Nine days after taking over the hosting position for the series, Richards has stepped down from Jeopardy! (via Variety) following sexist and racist comments resurfacing from a deleted podcast in the wake of his taking over the role. Sony Pictures Television will begin their search for a new host in the meantime. Richards wrote the following statement to the staff of the series:
Dear Team,
It pains me that these past incidents and comments have cast such a shadow on Jeopardy! as we look to start a new chapter.
As I mentioned last week, I was deeply honored to be asked to host the syndicated show and was thrilled by the opportunity to expand my role. However, over the last several days it has become clear that moving forward as host would be too much of a distraction for our fans and not the right move for the show. As such, I will be stepping down as host effective immediately. As a result, we will be canceling production today.
SPT will now resume the search for a permanent syndicated host. In the meantime, we will be bringing back guest hosts to continue production for the new season, details of which will be announced next week.
I want to apologize to each of you for the unwanted negative attention that has come to Jeopardy! over the last few weeks and for the confusion and delays this is now causing. I know I have a lot of work to do to regain your trust and confidence.
Mike
The decision for Richards to take over as the permanent host of Jeopardy! was met with a lot of criticism from fans of the series for a multitude of reasons. Aside from their desire to see Reading Rainbow's Burton become the lead of the show, many believed that Richards' position as an executive producer on the series and his ability to hold final say on the guest-hosted episodes was unfair in conducting the search for a new host when he ultimately decided upon himself. Upon revelation of his past comments, however, fan fervor skyrocketed for his offensive comments, especially in comparison to that of the generally wholesome Trebek.
The announcement of Richards' departure as host of Jeopardy! will come as both good and bad news for fans, with a new search opening the door back up for Burton to come in, but Richards remaining on as an EP for the series. That being said, however, Sony's assurance of speaking with Richards about their "concerns and expectations moving forward" should hopefully send a message of timeliness and consequences for any similar behavior behind the scenes. Only time will tell who will take the helm of Jeopardy! in the coming weeks.
Source: Variety