Jeopardy!’s New Hosts: Who Are Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik?
UPDATE — 8/20/2021 — From Variety: Mike Richards has stepped down as Jeopardy! host: “Mike Richards is out as “Jeopardy!” host, just nine days after he was tapped to succeed the legendary Alex Trebek as the face of the beloved quiz show….”
UPDATE: Mike Richards Controversy Ends He is replaced as Executive Producer on Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
It’s official! Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik have been named as the new hosts of Jeopardy! in an announcement by Sony on 8/11/2021. Here’s how that’s going to work:
Mike Richards is slated to be the show’s full-time host of the regular daily episodes beginning with Season 38, currently scheduled to begin on September 13, 2021. He will also continue to be the executive producer of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
Mayim Bialik will be hosting primetime Jeopardy! shows and spinoff series, including the upcoming all-new Jeopardy! National College Championship.
According to the article, a senior group of Sony Pictures Television executives made this decision. Besides watching footage of each guest hosts’ episodes, input from focus groups, partners of the show and viewers was taken into account.
GOT A LONG OPINION ABOUT THIS? PLEASE SEND IT DIRECTLY TO JEOPARDY!
Sony executives must not have vetted Mike Richards. It is this lack of vetting that drove Radio Shack out of business. Radio Shack was failing and no one bothered to investigate the CEO until it became obvious that the CEO had lied on his resume about having a college degree. I’m appalled at how people in top business positions can slide into positions and everyday workers must have character references and other proof before being hired. This outcome does not bode well for Sony. All of this negative publicity is on Sony.
Well, I don’t know. Does vetting someone include looking for things like this podcast that didn’t raise a big hue and cry when it happened what… 6-7 years ago?
I agree. Obviously the comments were pretty gross. But I think he is honestly embarrassed by the comments, that he regrets them, and that he probably was trying to be outrageous in an attempt at comedy.
There still needs to be some room for forgiveness in our society, although this idea seems to be quickly fading, being replaced by self-righteous angry mobs. Of course each case is unique and should be evaluated on its own terms. I would have been fine if we could have moved on in this particular case.
I truly agree that there needs to be room for forgiveness but sometimes, I feel like we’re going backwards to the repressiveness of the first half of the 20th century.
It reminds me of a scene in the film “Les Miserables (1995), where Ziman says something to the effect of the plot of the novel always playing out somewhere in the world. Self-righteous angry mobs = Javert.
Vetting includes social media, podcasts, etc. I have personally had to vet people as a Business Board member. We went all the way back to candidates’ elementary school life. When dealing with the public, inclusiveness and respect for ethnic differences feeds into the viewers perceptions and can hurt TV ratings of any show. What about the numerous celebrities who have lost their roles on TV shows because of their comments? I read somewhere “the tongue is a small thing but what a great fire it can kindle.”
I understand, Jacob. I know that I tend to view these situations in 2 different ways: from the popularity angle (the more popular the sinner, the more likely s/he will be forgiven); and from time limits (because I worked in law offices most of my life).
But in this case, I figured if he didn’t step down, things were going to go from bad to worse.
VJ, I’m trying to figure put at what point things went awry at Jeopardy. Our predictions on Clue of the Day used to be a daily “gettable” but the fj clues have been so nebulous in the last few months until we have had approximately 3 days in one week where no one predicted any correct responses. That has not happened in all the years you started this site.
The fj clues have been written horribly. From what I’ve been reading the morale on set is low and a lot of the good staff people have left. I use our guesses as a benchmark against when Alex was at the helm. He was allowed input with the Clue writers. I have no idea about what is going on now but I suspect things are going to get worse. Now I just read the Anti-Defamaton League has opened an investigation and has entered the fray. VJ, I don’t know how things are going to end for our beloved Jeopardy. Something new keeps popping up.
Well, let’s hope these controversies will be resolved and we can get back to enjoying the show. Somehow, I feel that may be later rather than sooner, esp if getting Richards booted off the show altogether is the next thing on the agenda 😞
Surely we’ve all said things that we wish we could take back, either jokingly or not., I know that I have. We’re only human and we all make mistakes. Honestly, it seems like this is being blown way out of proportion. He isn’t going to be the host and that should be the end of it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be the case. In general, I just don’t enjoy the game the way that I used to, the writing of the clues has changed and not just the FJ clues.
Mike Richards is out. Not too surprising, all things considered, I guess.
Yeah, not unexpected. What now? Per The Hollywood Reporter:
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’ve been meaning to say that now that they’ve been airing these older shows, the contestants look way too close together for comfort to me. And Alex walking over to them after the show, how we took such things for granted.
I agree, Rhonda. I don’t think the show will ever go back to the old way either.
I don’t think so either, VJ.
I remember when Merv Griffin went on the air to defend selecting Alex Trebek as his pick for the host of Jeopardy because viewers were up in arms back in the day. Then 37 years later with numerous Emmy awards the show survived. Former contestants are exactly that (former). They don’t own the show and I doubt if they have purchased one share of Sony stock. I had no preference for host. I just like trivia shows and always did. Btw, Full disclosure. I am an investor in Disney which owns ABC network which airs Jeopardy in my viewing area.
As far as I’m concerned Mickey Mouse could host Jeopardy & I could care less. As Alex made it so perfectly clear the contestants are the stars of the show. For me it’s about the contestants and the clues.
Well said, Jacob. Mickey Mouse, though? No way — he already did a stint as a letter turner when Vanna White was hosting Wheel of Fortune. lol!
I am most pleased that vegan, Jewish, scientist, and woman Dr. Mayim Bialik will at least share the JEOPARDY! TV hosting duties starting in September 2021. She is perfectly suited and a great ambassador for a vegan and science-literate world to arrive soon I do hope!
I am pretty happy to see Mike Richards hosting regular jeopardy for this fall especially mayim Bialik doing the college tournament on primetime. Is there a chance that buzzy will host the teacher’s tournament and the annual college championships for season 38 VJ?
There hasn’t been anything to indicate that Buzzy will host anything else on Jeopardy! in the future. It’s just what I hoped would happen.
Hey, VJ, what’s primetime jeopardy! shows?
(Yeah, ran out of coffee, a bit slow today 😀)
Hi there Cece, they are special shows that air during the evening “primetime” TV watching hours — like the GOAT Tournament.
May the caffeine be with you 😁
Thanks, VJ. Oh, right…I had forgotten the GOAT (or any other shows) had aired outside the normal J! time.
Anyway, hope all is well with you. Stay tuned to BuzzFeed—you may yet get your wish 🙂
Cool! I’m excited to see Mayim host those too!
Right now, I’m a little bit upset that I didn’t get the new host that I wanted, but I’ll get over it.
Well, I imagine a lot of us are in the same boat as you, William. I was kind of hoping that if they didn’t pick Buzzy as the regular new host, they would let him host tournaments. I don’t even want to close the door on that hope 😁 because I just can’t envision any of the hosts never taking any time off. It’s incredible that Alex never did for all those years!