"Jeopardy!" govt producer Mike Richards will now not function the following host of the long-running trivia present after controversial feedback he
“Jeopardy!” govt producer Mike Richards will now not function the following host of the long-running trivia present after controversial feedback he made surfaced earlier this week.
The Ringer reported Richards made offensive feedback about girls, Jewish folks and other people with psychological disabilities on a podcast he hosted from 2013 to 2014.
Deliberate manufacturing of the following season of “Jeopardy!” has been quickly canceled, and the seek for a everlasting substitute for the late Alex Trebek will resume. Richards stated visitor hosts will return to ensure that manufacturing on the present season to proceed.
“I wish to apologize to every of you for the undesirable unfavourable consideration that has come to Jeopardy! over the previous few weeks and for the confusion and delays that is now inflicting,” Richards stated Friday in a memo to workers members of the present. “I do know I’ve loads of work to do to regain your belief and confidence.”
Sony confirmed that Richards will stay govt producer of the collection.
Mike Richards accepts the award for Excellent Recreation Present for Jeopardy! in the course of the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards broadcast on June 25, 2021.
Daytime Emmy Awards 2021 | Getty Photographs Leisure | Getty Photographs
“We assist Mike’s choice to step down as host,” the corporate stated in a press release Friday. “We’ve spoken with him about our considerations and our expectations shifting ahead.”
Mayim Bialik, who was named alongside Richards final week, will proceed in her function because the host of “Jeopardy!” prime-time and spinoff collection.
The Ringer earlier this week detailed derogatory statements made by Richards on “The Randumb Present.” The podcast, which had 41 episodes, was taken offline Tuesday after he was contacted by The Ringer for remark in regards to the present.
On Thursday, Richards, 46, admitted to “thoughtlessness” and “insensitivity.”
This isn’t the primary time the manager producer has come underneath scrutiny since rumors circulated earlier this month that he may turn into the brand new “Jeopardy!” host.
Throughout Richards’ tenure as an govt producer of “The Worth is Proper,” a discrimination lawsuit was filed by Brandi Cochran in 2010 towards CBS and FremantleMedia. The go well with claimed that the mannequin was not invited again to the present after she took day off for her being pregnant. The case was in the end settled, however Richards confronted extra being pregnant discrimination claims past Cochran, which weren’t profitable.
Moreover, many known as into query Richards’ {qualifications} for the internet hosting gig, in addition to his affect over the method in choosing Trebek’s substitute.
“Jeopardy!” cycled by means of numerous visitor hosts since Trebek died in November. The would-be everlasting replacements for Trebek included Ken Jennings, an creator with the longest profitable streak in “Jeopardy!” historical past; journalist Katie Couric, skilled soccer star Aaron Rodgers, information anchor Anderson Cooper, CNBC monetary journalist David Faber and actor LeVar Burton.
The Ringer reported that Richards, because the present’s EP, had management over virtually each facet of the latest season of “Jeopardy!”, together with giving course to visitor hosts, influencing the promotion of episodes of the present and selecting which exhibits have been despatched to check teams for analysis.
Right here is the assertion supplied to CNBC that Richards shared with the “Jeopardy” workers Friday morning:
It pains me that these previous incidents and feedback have solid such a shadow on Jeopardy! as we glance to start out a brand new chapter.
As I discussed final week, I used to be deeply honored to be requested to host the syndicated present and was thrilled by the chance to broaden my function. Nevertheless, over the past a number of days it has turn into clear that shifting ahead as host can be an excessive amount of of a distraction for our followers and never the best transfer for the present. As such, I might be stepping down as host efficient instantly. In consequence, we might be canceling manufacturing as we speak.
SPT will now resume the seek for a everlasting syndicated host. Within the meantime, we might be bringing again visitor hosts to proceed manufacturing for the brand new season, particulars of which might be introduced subsequent week.
I wish to apologize to every of you for the undesirable unfavourable consideration that has come to Jeopardy! over the previous few weeks and for the confusion and delays that is now inflicting. I do know I’ve loads of work to do to regain your belief and confidence.