Home  ›  Jeopardy dumps Mike Richards as host over past sexist comments

Jeopardy dumps Mike Richards as host over past sexist comments

Edit
Breadcrumb Trail Links
  • Television
  • Celebrity

    • 'Too much of a distraction for our fans'

    Author of the article:

    Mark Daniell

    Publishing date:

    Aug 21, 2021  â€¢  1 hour ago  â€¢  4 minute read  â€¢  37 Comments An undated handout photo of former "Jeopardy!" host Mike Richards, who is also the executive producer of the long-running daily TV quiz show. An undated handout photo of former "Jeopardy!" host Mike Richards, who is also the executive producer of the long-running daily TV quiz show. Photo by Carol Kaelson /Sony Pictures Entertainment/Handout via REUTERS

    Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

    Article content

    A little over a week after he was selected to take the reins from the late Alex Trebrek as the new face of Jeopardy!, Mike Richards has been dropped by the popular quiz show.

    Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    Richards, who also serves as the show’s executive producer, lost the gig after new details emerged about sexist remarks he made as host on a podcast called The Randumb Show seven years ago.

    According to a report published in The Ringer, in an episode from Sept. 4, 2014, Richards, 46, was speaking to an assistant and his co-host â€" both women â€" and asked them if they had ever taken nude photos.

    When his co-host, Beth Triffon, said that she had taken “cute pictures of myself,” Richards responded with, “Like booby pictures? What are we looking at?”

    In another episode, The Ringer reported that Richards slammed one-piece swimsuits for making women look “really frumpy and overweight.”

    Richards, who has been working in game shows as a producer and host, was also accused of making insensitive comments to a pregnant employee during his tenure as producer on The Price is Right.

    Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    According to a review of all 41 episodes of The Randumb Show by The Ringer’s Claire McNear, it was found that Richards frequently made remarks about women and their bodies, as well as disparaging comments about Jewish people and the poor.

    In response to The Ringer’s report, Richards said “there is no excuse, of course, for the comments I made on this podcast and I am deeply sorry.”

    But on Friday, Sony Pictures TV confirmed to Variety that Richards had agreed to step down as host. In a statement, Richards said the fallout from the new revelations created “too much of a distraction for our fans and (is) not the right move for the show.”

    “As such, I will be stepping down as host effective immediately,” Richards wrote.

    Sony said that Richards will remain on with the show as its executive producer. Mayim Bialik will host prime-time specials and Jeopardy! spinoffs, including a college championship tournament that will air next year.

    Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    “We support Mike’s decision to step down as host,” Sony wrote in a statement. “We were surprised this week to learn of Mike’s 2013/2014 podcast and the offensive language he used in the past. We have spoken with him about our concerns and our expectations moving forward.”

    We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

    Richards said that the hunt for a permanent host will continue.

    “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,” he said.

    In his statement to The Ringer, Richards maintained that his comments on the podcast were “intended to be a series of irreverent conversations between longtime friends who had a history of joking around.”

    But Richards’ selection was mired in controversy even before the sexist podcast clips were unearthed. According to the New York Times, Richards was instrumental in choosing which appearances by each prospective host was screened for focus groups.

    Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    Ken Jennings, who was the show’s first guest host earlier this year and is the Greatest of All Time champ, told the Times that Richards was “the only person up there with any game show hosting chops.”

    But he hinted that Trebek’s enduring appeal came from the fact that audiences knew very little of his private life.

    “What was great about Alex was we didn’t know anything about him: He came into our homes every night and he hosted Jeopardy!”

    Former Jeopardy! champ James Holzhauer took a shot at Richards’ sudden exit tweeting, “I was really looking forward to the season premiere where after an exhaustive 61-clue search for the next Jeopardy champion, the show looks past the three obvious candidates and declares Mike Richards the winner.”

    Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    I was really looking forward to the season premiere where after an exhaustive 61-clue search for the next Jeopardy champion, the show looks past the three obvious candidates and declares Mike Richards the winner

    â€" James Holzhauer (@James_Holzhauer) August 20, 2021

    After Richards was named as host, fans vented on social media that Trebek’s personal pick to take over â€" CNN legal analyst Laura Coates â€" wasn’t given a guest spot behind the lectern.

    “I love Alex, an earthly angelic man. I hate how they’re disrespecting him. He spent a lifetime honouring Jeopardy, with zero controversies, and this is what happens after he dies? Laura Coates deserves her moment on Jeopardy! She was his crowned princess,” one fan tweeted.

    Following the longtime host’s death last November, the show cycled in a roster of celebrity personalities, including NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, journalist and author Katie Couric, Dr. Oz, NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, CNN’s Anderson Cooper and fan favourite LeVar Burton.

    Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    On Friday, though, Rodgers said he would have taken the job on a permanent basis, if offered.

    “I definitely would have,” the Green Bay Packers football star said during an appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio. “If they would have figured out a way to make it work with my schedule, yeah, for sure.”

    Meanwhile, a recent Morning Consult poll shared by Mediaite revealed that fans still wanted Burton to become the show’s permanent host.

    And in a tweet, Ryan Reynolds threw his support behind Burton, pointing out that it was fan enthusiasm that gave him a chance to play Deadpool for Marvel.

    We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

    “Pretty consistently from 2013 to 2015 Deadpool would explode on Twitter with fans wanting me to play him,” Reynolds wrote. “It was awkward because I agreed with them but the studio didn’t see it. Ultimately the fans won and the rest is glorious history. I’m forever grateful. Hi @levarburton.”

    After Richards stepped down, Burton tweeted, “Happy Friday, y’all!”

    mdaniell@postmedia.com

    Share this article in your social network Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! Comments

    Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notificationsâ€"you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

    0 Response to "Jeopardy dumps Mike Richards as host over past sexist comments"

    Post a Comment

    Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)