Mike Richards Out as Jeopardy! Host Following Derogatory Podcast Comments

Just one week after picking Mike Richards as the new host of Jeopardy!, Sony Pictures Television is already on the hunt for his replacement. Richards has stepped down as host after the revelation that he had disparaged women and Jews, among others, on his former podcast. However, he will remain in his role as the show’s executive producer. On Aug. 11, Sony had announced its succession plan for Jeopardy! following Alex Trebek’s death last year: Richards would take over as host of the nightly syndicated show, while Mayim Bialik would anchor primetime and spin-off specials of Jeopardy! Richards had begun to tape his first episodes as host on Thursday. Production has been canceled today, and the show will resume having guest hosts until it picks another new host. Mike Richards, Mayim Bialik Named Next Jeopardy! Hosts In a note shared to staff Friday morning, Richards said, “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.” He continued, “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.” In the memo, Richards apologized to the staff 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.” In a statement, Sony said, "We support Mike's decision to step down as host. We were surprised this week for 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. "Mike has been with us for the last two years and has led the Jeopardy! team through the most challenging time the show has ever experienced. It is our hope that as EP he will continue to do so with professionalism and respect." Richards' scandals Richards has been embroiled in scandal since reports first emerged earlier this month that he was the likely new Jeopardy! host. Last week, prior to Sony’s announcement, he denied allegations of discrimination and harassment from his previous role as executive producer of The Price Is Right. He also faced a backlash from Jeopardy! fans who were angry that he had helped oversee the search for Trebek’s replacement—candidates included like Ken Jennings, LeVar Burton and Bialik, all of whom guest hosted the show earlier this year—only to land the job himself. Then, earlier this week, The Ringer published a damning report about Richards’ past behavior, which contained derogatory remarks he made on his podcast The Randumb Show, from 2013-14, about women and Jews. That seemed to be the last straw for Sony, as Richards stepped down just days later. Jeopardy! had been hosted by Trebek since 1984. He passed away last year at age 80 from pancreatic cancer.