After The Daily Beast broke the news, Sony Pictures confirmed that executive producer Mike Richards will host the daily syndicated program and actress Mayim Bialik will host primetime and spinoff specials of the venerable quiz show, including the just announced Jeopardy! National College Championship set to air in primetime next year. G.O.A.T. winner Ken Jennings will return as consulting producer for the show. Interview: Everything You Need to Know About Mike Richards “We are thrilled to begin the next chapter of America’s Favorite Quiz Show with Mike hosting our daily show and Mayim hosting new versions of Jeopardy!,” said Ravi Ahuja, Chairman of Global Television Studios and Corporate Development for Sony Pictures, said in a statement. “We took this decision incredibly seriously. A tremendous amount of work and deliberation has gone into it, perhaps more than has ever gone into the selection of hosts for a show—deservedly so because it’s Jeopardy! and we are following the incomparable Alex Trebek. A senior group of Sony Pictures Television executives pored over footage from every episode, reviewed research from multiple panels and focus groups, and got valuable input from our key partners and Jeopardy! viewers.” The search for a permanent host to fill the shoes of late, great host Alex Trebek—who died Nov, 8 2020 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer—has been extensive and not without controversy. The show has tried out 16 guest hosts: from former champ Ken Jennings (who may or may not even want the job) and former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to former Today host Katie Couric and CNN’s Anderson Cooper. Levar Burton was added to the list after a wave of social media support for the Reading Rainbow host. And just this week, the final guest host, sportscaster Joe Buck, is behind the podium. Bialik, who has a PhD in neuroscience, is best known for her roles in The Big Bang Theory and Blossom, seemed like a natural fit during her two weeks behind the podium in June. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to join the Jeopardy!’ family,” Bialik said. “What started out with my 15-year-old repeating a rumor from Instagram that I should guest host the show has turned into one of the most exciting and surreal opportunities of my life! I’m so grateful and excited to continue to work with Mike Richards, and I’m just over the moon to join forces with him and Sony. After all the conversations we’ve had about this partnership, I am just so ready to get started!” In a sweet and moving video that Bialik posted on Twitter from a bed, she spoke about being the grandchild of immigrants and a second generation American. “My mother’s parents in particular never really had a command of the English language” she said. “It’s a tremendously humbling, bizarre and surreal experience.” Bialik will continue to star on the show Call Me Kat on Fox. “I’m very grateful to Fox and Warner Bros. for working all this out,” she added. The actress who has both a Bachelor of Science and doctorate degrees in neuroscience mentioned how exciting that a woman is hosting Jeopardy! “It’s a very big deal,” she ended between smiles. Richards has always understood the profound impact that Trebek had on the viewers. “He was a legend of the industry that we were all lucky to watch night after night for 37 years,” said Richards after Trebek passed away. “Working beside him for the past year and a half as he heroically continued to host Jeopardy! was an incredible honor. His belief in the importance of the show and his willingness to push himself to perform at the highest level was the most inspiring demonstration of courage I have ever seen. His constant desire to learn, his kindness, and his professionalism will be with all of us forever.” Richards, who has produced over 4,000 hours of game show television, seemed to be a front-runner from the start with his easy manner behind the podium and his respect for the game’s legacy. So it came as no surprise when Variety broke the news last week that he was in “advanced negotiations” to become the next host. Sony Pictures was quick to counter that discussions were ongoing with several potential candidates. Then details surfaced from multiple decade-old discrimination lawsuits brought against The Price is Right when Richards was producer for the show. The details of which could have ended Richards’ hopes of hosting the famed game show, but he seemingly brushed them aside in a memo to staff earlier this week. “These were allegations made in employment disputes against the show,” wrote Richards in the memo. “I want you all to know that the way in which my comments and actions have been characterized in these complaints does not reflect the reality of who I am or how we worked together on The Price is Right. “Throughout this search, Sony’s top priority has always been to continue the incredible legacy you and Alex built,” added Richards. “As you know, Alex always believed the game itself and the contestants are the most important aspects of the show, and that will continue to be the guiding principle as the decision is finalized.” Next, Mike Richards Tells Parade.com What He Loves Most About Jeopardy!
