Drama and controversy proceed to swirl over the number of a substitute host for Jeopardy! within the wake of Alex Trebek’s passing from pancreatic most cancers issues late final 12 months. Jeopardy! govt producer Mike Richards was named the brand new host simply final week, a call that sparked a direct backlash amongst followers and former contestants of the present. And now, Richards shall be stepping down on his very first day of official internet hosting duties, Deadline Hollywood stories. Richards will proceed in his function as govt producer on the sport present.
As we beforehand reported, Trebek’s final episodes aired in January 2021. All through the remainder of its 37th season, the present used a protracted listing of visitor hosts to fill in for Trebek on the podium, together with Richards and Mayim Bialik, finest identified for her roles on The Huge Bang Concept and Blossom. (She additionally has a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA.) The rotation included former Jeopardy! champion Ken Jennings, newscasters Katie Couric and Anderson Cooper, and guide fanatic LeVar Burton. Each Burton and Jennings proved to be fan favorites, and Jennings’ run posted the very best scores of the season. (Burton’s scores had been decrease, maybe due partially to his episodes competing with the Summer time Olympics on NBC.)
Even earlier than his choice, allegations started circulating that Richards had discriminated towards a number of pregnant workers whereas serving as govt producer of The Value Is Proper. (Each fits had been ultimately settled.) “These had been allegations made in employment disputes towards the present,” Richards wrote in a memo to Jeopardy! workers. “I would like you all to know that the best way wherein my feedback and actions have been characterised in these complaints doesn’t replicate the truth of who I’m or how we labored collectively on The Value is Proper.”
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