DISGRACED TV producer Mike Richards is speaking out about being fired as the host of Jeopardy! after just one day.

Mike was chosen as the initial replacement for the late Alex Trebek, only to be swiftly ousted when past comments were unearthed.

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Mike Richards has broken his silence two years after being fired from Jeopardy! over problematic past commentsCredit: Jeopardy Productions

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He claimed, ‘I felt like there was a rush to judgment, and a lot of people got joy in saying, I got you’Credit: Jeopardy/YouTube.com
Mike was the executive producer on multiple game shows before becoming the EP of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune in 2020.

When Alex died, no host successor was named and Mike got the role while also serving as showrunner.

On August 11, 2021, Mike was introduced as the new permanent host of the show’s syndicated version, with Mayim Bialik only expected to host prime-time specials and spinoffs.

Then, he was swiftly un-named as both Jeopardy!’s top boss and new host after just five episodes (or one tape day).

He was dropped over accusations of workplace discrimination and insensitive comments made on a 2013 podcast.

It was discovered that Mike referred to his female podcast co-host as a “booth hoe,” “booth slut,” and “boothstitute.”

In another episode, Mike discussed a photo of his co-host and her friends, calling the group “really frumpy and overweight” and, “They all look terrible in the picture … they look fat and not good in the picture.”

He was also accused of making several racist and anti-semitic jokes, attempting to justify them as humor.

Mike also joked about a presenter on The Price Is Right at an event, saying, “Go figure, I fire five models. What are the odds one of the ones that I keep gets pregnant?” This led to a lawsuit.

‘OH, HE’S A HORRIBLE PERSON’

“I hosted one day,” Richards told People in a new interview.

“And then the anti-defamation league was called in to do an investigation on me.”

“I told them I’ll answer anything. I’m an open book, proud of what I’ve done. I’m proud of my track record as a boss,” he shared.

However, the damage was done, and his reputation couldn’t recover.

“But by then everyone was like, ‘Oh he’s just a horrible person.’ It was the price you pay for getting thrust into the zeitgeist in a very inopportune moment,” he said.

“I felt like there was a — this rush to judgment, and a lot of people got joy in saying, ‘I got you.'”
Ken Jennings reveals he nearly lost his initial Jeopardy! game as fans realize he likely never would have been host

‘IT LOOKED LIKE I PICKED MYSELF’

Mike claimed he was surprised to have landed the coveted gig, which came after a slate of guest hosts, including him, tried out.

The guest hosts included Aaron Rodgers, Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric, LeVar Burton, Mayim, and Ken Jennings, who were eventually given the job as co-hosts.

“Everyone was so angry because it looked like I had gone into a room and picked myself.

“And that’s not what happens in television, but I understood that that’s what the outward appearances were,” he claimed.

“We never discussed how to replace Alex once we knew he was sick,” Richards shared.

“A conversation like that would have been so disrespectful. But we had talked about people coming in and guest hosting if Alex got too sick, but we always knew Alex come back until the day he decided he couldn’t.”

Jeopardy! guest hosts

Since Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek died in November 2020, the beloved game show has continued with various guest hosts in 2021 to present day:

Ken Jennings (Jan. 4 to Feb. 19)
Katie Couric (Mar. 8 to Mar. 19)
Dr. Mehmet Oz (Mar. 22 to April 2)
Aaron Rodgers (April 5 to April 16)
Anderson Cooper (April 19 to April 30)
Bill Whitaker (May 3 to May 14)
Buzzy Cohen (May 17 to May 28)
Savannah Guthrie (June 14 to June 25)
Dr. Sanjay Gupta (June 28 to July 9)
George Stephanopoulos (July 12 to July 16)
Robin Roberts (July 19 to July 23)
LeVar Burton (July 26 to July 30)
David Faber (Aug. 2 to Aug. 6)
Joe Buck (Aug. 9 to Aug. 13)
Mayim Balik (Aug. to Dec. 2023)
Ken Jennings (Aug. to present day)

“I actually thought we should just name a new host,” Mike added.

“But when Alex passed away, it was hard on everyone. Jeopardy! fans, the country… there’s was a whole staff of people where he was the only boss they’ve ever known.

“They told me, ‘We’d like you to be the host of the syndicated version of Jeopardy!’ I paused, and said, ‘Oh wow. Thank you. What’s the media plan?’

“Because I was very concerned that this was going to be scrutinized as closely as a presidential election. There was widespread belief that whoever got the job first wouldn’t make it,” he said.

Mike’s beliefs were proven right; the reaction from fans was heated, to say the least, since he was the executive producer when he was also dubiously named as host.

The backlash only worsened after the lawsuits came to light and his comments resurfaced.

“I did spend a lot of time reflecting on everything that had happened,” he stated. “I mean, it was quite a firestorm that engulfed my family.”

He also said he is open to new game show jobs but hasn’t landed anything major quite yet.

He has no regrets about the host role eventually going to Ken after Mayim’s firing in December, adding, “I always thought Ken was the guy.”

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Alex Trebek didn’t name a Jeopardy! host successor before his death from cancer in 2020Credit: Getty

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After Richards’ ousting, Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings stepped inCredit: YouTube/Jeopardy!

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Now, Ken is the singular host – Richards said, ‘I always thought Ken was the guy’Credit: 2023 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.