Former “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jeopardy">Jeopardy!</a>” producer Mike Richards, who reportedly hosted the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/television">show</a> for one day before being fired, is speaking publicly about the experience for the first time.
The 48-year-old game show producer was chosen as the replacement for longtime host <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/alex-trebek">Alex Trebek </a>following his death from cancer in 2020. Richards was named the new host in August 2021, but his tenure was short-lived following a media firestorm related to his controversial comments that resurfaced online. 
“Jeopardy!” execs didn’t replace Trebek right away, opting instead to try out guest hosts for several months before landing on a replacement. &#8220;I actually thought we should just name a new host,&#8221; Richards told <a href="https://people.com/jeopardy-producer-mike-richards-opens-up-being-fired-after-1-day-exclusive-8611125">People</a> of that decision. &#8220;But when Alex passed away, it was hard on everyone.”
The producer reflected on some of those guest hosts, including Katie Couric, Mayim Bialik, Robin Roberts, and Aaron Rodgers.
He recalls being surprised to land the job. &#8220;No one was more surprised than me,&#8221; he told the outlet. &#8220;They told me, &#8216;We&#8217;d like you to be the host of the syndicated version of Jeopardy!&#8217; I paused, and said, &#8216;Oh wow. Thank you. What&#8217;s the media plan?&#8217; 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&#8217;t make it.&#8221;
Richards said those assumptions were correct, and fans weren’t pleased with the choice. &#8220;Everyone was so angry because it looked like I had gone into a room and picked myself,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And that&#8217;s not what happens in television, but I understood that that&#8217;s what the outward appearances were.&#8221;
The game show producer recalled hosting for just one day. An article published on Ringer.com highlighted some controversial comments in 2013 and 2014 while hosting the podcast “Randumb,” as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-jeopardy-host-mike-richards-apologizes-for-sexist-racist-comments">reported</a>. During that time, he referred to his female co-host as a “booth ho,” “boothstitute,” and “booth slut” and said women in one-piece bathing suits look “really frumpy and overweight.”
He also made remarks about another woman’s appearance, saying of her facial features, “Ixnay on the ose-nay. She’s not an ew-Jay.”
Richards made a public apology for the statements after the article was published. &#8220;It is humbling to confront a terribly embarrassing moment of misjudgment, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity from nearly a decade ago. Looking back now, there is no excuse, of course, for the comments I made on this podcast and I am deeply sorry,” he said at the time.
Besides the statements, outlets began reporting that Richards was involved in a wrongful termination and discrimination lawsuit while working at “The Price is Right.” 
&#8220;I told them, I&#8217;ll answer anything. I&#8217;m an open book, proud of what I&#8217;ve done. I&#8217;m proud of my track record as a boss,&#8221; he told People of all the negative press. &#8220;It was insinuated that I had been personally sued for sexual harassment. I never had, but that didn&#8217;t matter.&#8221; Richards’ name was later dropped from the lawsuit, but after so much drama and coupled with the division over pandemic-related issues, he started getting a lot of hate online.
&#8220;By then everyone was like, &#8216;Oh he&#8217;s just a horrible person,’” Richards said. “It was the price you pay for getting thrust into the zeitgeist in a very inopportune moment.&#8221;
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It led to Richards publicly resigning after his very short hosting stint (some outlets still say he was fired). Eventually, popular contestant Ken Jennings became the permanent host, which Richards said was a good move.
&#8220;Why I am talking now is that I feel like I can be a force for good as far as having open, honest conversations,&#8221; he told People. &#8220;We can all disagree about a lot of things. We can disagree about politics, we can disagree about who hosts Jeopardy!. We can disagree about liking a final Jeopardy! clue. And we should. But I felt like there was a this rush to judgment, and a lot of people got joy in saying, &#8216;I got you.'&#8221;
&#8220;I always thought Ken [Jennings] was the guy,” he added.

Mike Richards

Former ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Reflects On His 1-Day Gig: ‘Everyone Was So Angry’

Former 'Jeopardy!' Host Reflects On His 1-Day Gig: 'Everyone Was So Angry'

Alex Trebek

Entertainment

Jeopardy

Television

U.S.

“<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jeopardy">Jeopardy</a>!” host <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ken-jennings">Ken Jennings</a> commented on his co-worker Mayim Bialik being unexpectedly relieved of her <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">hosting</a> duties.
“It took me off guard, because I loved working with my Mayim and I’m going to miss her,” Jennings <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jeopardy-host-ken-jennings-mayim-bialik-exit-celebrity-jeopardy-semifinals-1235766161/">said</a> in an interview with <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jeopardy-host-ken-jennings-mayim-bialik-exit-celebrity-jeopardy-semifinals-1235766161/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>. “I can’t speak to her decision-making process or her opinions about it. But on my end, I’m just a fan of ‘Jeopardy!’ and I’m always delighted to host when they call upon me. I just feel extremely lucky to have even been considered for this job as a non-broadcaster.”
The passing of longtime host <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/alex-trebek">Alex Trebek</a> in 2020 led to a frantic scramble to replace the “Jeopardy!” mainstay, with numerous options being floated. Finally, the game show’s execs settled on a combination of Bialik, an actress best known for her roles in “Blossom” and “The Big Bang Theory,” and Jennings, a former contestant who rose to fame after winning $4.5 million on the show. He became a household name in 2004 after winning 74 times in a row.
Bialik and Jennings have been sharing hosting duties since 2021. But on December 15, Sony announced their decision to go forward with just one host.
“Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of ‘Jeopardy!’” the 48-year-old actress wrote social media. “I am incredibly honored to have been nominated for a primetime Emmy for hosting this year and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the ‘Jeopardy!’ family.”
Bialik continued, “For all of you who have supported me through this incredible journey and to the fans, contestants, writers, staff and crew of America’s favorite quiz show, thank you.”
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A statement from Sony thanked Bialik for her contributions to “Jeopardy!”
“We made the decision to have one host for the syndicated show next season to maintain continuity for our viewers, and Ken Jennings will be the sole host for syndicated ‘Jeopardy!’” the statement <a href="https://tvline.com/news/jeopardy-mayim-bialik-fired-host-explained-reason-statement-1235099862/">read</a>. “We are truly grateful for all of Mayim’s contributions to ‘Jeopardy!’”
Bialik had previously stepped back from her hosting duties amid the recent writer and actor’s strike. Jennings has been the sole host since the debut of Season 40 in September, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mayim-bialik-says-shes-out-as-jeopardy-host">reported</a>.

Mayim Bialik

Ken Jennings Comments On Mayim Bialik Being Dropped As ‘Jeopardy!’ Host: ‘Took Me Off Guard’

Ken Jennings Comments On Mayim Bialik Being Dropped As 'Jeopardy!' Host: 'Took Me Off Guard'

Ken Jennings

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mayim-bialik" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayim Bialik</a> definitely got everyone&#8217;s attention Friday when she announced that she&#8217;d been contacted by Sony and informed that her hosting duties at &#8220;Jeopardy!&#8221; have come to an end.
In a post on <a href="https://twitter.com/missmayim" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X</a>, the 48-year-old actress/TV host wrote to her hundreds of thousands of followers that the producers of the popular game show, Sony Pictures Television, informed her that they&#8217;ve decided to go with just one host — despite her sharing the job with the game show&#8217;s top winner Ken Jennings, following Alex Trebek&#8217;s death.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jeopardy! announcement. <a href="https://t.co/F0RgIWpg0G">pic.twitter.com/F0RgIWpg0G</a>
— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) <a href="https://twitter.com/missmayim/status/1735814025001509226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
&#8220;As the holiday break begins in Hollywood, I have some Jeopardy! news,&#8221; Bialik wrote in a statement. &#8220;Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy&#8221;
&#8220;I am incredibly honored to have been nominated for a prime time Emmy for hosting this year and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Jeopardy! family,&#8221; she added.
&#8220;For all of you who have supported me through this incredible journey and to the fans, contestants, writers, staff and crew of America&#8217;s Favorite Quiz Show, thank you,&#8221; Bialik concluded.
An <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C05SqLRRPz_/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a> on the &#8220;Jeopardy!&#8221; social media account said that they &#8220;made the decision to have one host for the syndicated show next season to maintain continuity for our viewers, and Ken Jennings will be the sole host for syndicated &#8216;Jeopardy!'&#8221;
&#8220;We are truly grateful for all of Mayim&#8217;s contributions to &#8216;Jeopardy!,&#8217; and we hope to continue to work with her on primetime specials,&#8221; the statement added.
Bialik had stepped back from her hosting duties amid the recent writer and actor&#8217;s strike. Jennings has been the sole host since the debut of Season 40 in September, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/mayim-bialik-out-host-jeopardy-actress-confirms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a> noted.
&#8220;The Big Bang Theory&#8221; star has been very outspoken about the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel in October that left at least 1,200 people dead. She alsobpreviously spoke out about the anti-Semitism she was witnessing in America, especially on college campuses, and said there&#8217;s &#8220;no excuse” for it.
The former &#8220;Jeopardy!&#8221; <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/11/29/news/jeopardy-host-mayim-bialik-asks-where-progressive-feminists-are-over-silence-on-hamas-oct-7-rapes/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=nypost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">host</a> more recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/no-excuse-for-this-mayim-bialik-says-nothing-has-prepared-her-for-anti-semitism-shes-seeing-in-america" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blasted</a> the &#8220;abhorrent&#8221; silence of women&#8217;s organizations around the world following the rape and torture of Jewish women by Hamas in the October terrorist attacks.
&#8220;There has been an abhorrent and conspicuous absence of women&#8217;s organizations around the world unequivocally condemning the systematic rape and torture of women on October 7 by Hamas,&#8221; Bialik wrote on <a href="https://twitter.com/missmayim/status/1728622257042567218?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X</a>. &#8220;Where are the &#8216;BELIEVE THEM’ voices?”
&#8220;Brutal gang rapes, sexual torture, and murder of fetuses happened- period,&#8221; she added. &#8220;These crimes against women were in many cases documented by the terrorists themselves and broadcast for the world to see. Those of us who have fought for women&#8217;s rights and have sought to shout from the rooftops when women’s bodies are being used in war for the sadistic pleasure of perpetrators are astounded at how the world has been silent surrounding this.&#8221;

Mayim Bialik Says She’s Out As ‘Jeopardy!’ Host

Mayim Bialik Says She's Out As 'Jeopardy!' Host

Anti-Semitism

Celebrities

Hamas

Israel

Alex Trebek&#8217;s wife Jean and their daughter Emily paid tribute to the late TV host on the third anniversary of his death following the &#8220;Jeopardy!&#8221; host&#8217;s passing in 2020. He was 80.
Trebek&#8217;s wife and daughter <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jeopardys-alex-trebeks-wife-cancer-positive-health-battle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remembered</a> their loved one in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c99bG_sAHI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> created by the Stand Up To Cancer organization as they shared the late star&#8217;s life behind the camera. Trebek died on Nov. 8, 2020, after he lost his cancer battle after first being diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer in March 2019.
&#8220;Alex loved traveling,&#8221; Jean said, as a slideshow of her 30 years of marriage with Trebek played in the background. &#8220;When we could bring the kids with us that was always extra special.&#8221;
&#8220;He loved fixing things around the house,&#8221; she added. &#8220;He was very passionate just about being engaged in the everyday workings of life.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Alex Trebek Fund for Pancreatic Cancer | Stand Up To Cancer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4c99bG_sAHI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
&#8220;If he wasn&#8217;t at work, he would be home in a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, a baseball hat,&#8221; Emily added, as photos showed Trebek working around the house. &#8220;He was a very normal, very normal guy.&#8221;
A partnership was recently announced between the Stand Up To Cancer organization and the late host&#8217;s loved ones about the launch of a cancer research foundation in Trebek&#8217;s name, <a href="https://ew.com/tv/alex-trebek-loved-ones-honor-late-jeopardy-host-cancer-research-fund/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entertainment Weekly</a> noted.
&#8220;Alex knew that knowledge equaled power,&#8221; Jean said in a statement. &#8220;He was a man that really loved to know things and stayed very curious. Since Alex was all about the right answer, I think it&#8217;s very fitting that this fund is now established in his name. It&#8217;s a way for the community that loved him to put resources directly into the hands of scientists working tirelessly to fight a disease shrouded by many unknowns.&#8221;
&#8220;I hope that all of the fans and community of Jeopardy really can lean in and show support for this,&#8221; Emily said. &#8220;I think they showed so much support for my dad when he was going through his cancer treatments. I hope that they stand up with this great organization.&#8221;
Trebek shared the heartbreaking news that he had been diagnosed with cancer with his &#8220;Jeopardy!&#8221; fans in 2019.
&#8220;I wanted to be the one to pass along this information,&#8221; the late host said at the time. &#8220;Now, just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.&#8221;
&#8220;Now, normally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I&#8217;m going to fight this,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And I&#8217;m going to keep working, and with the love and support of my family and friends, and with the help of your prayers, also, I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease.&#8221;
Trebek and Jean tied the knot in 1990 and share two kids together.

150th Anniversary Of Canada’s Confederation – Conversation With Alex Trebek

Alex Trebek’s Wife And Daughter Pay Tribute To Late Host On Anniversary Of His Death

Cancer

Many “Jeopardy!” fans are not pleased to learn that Mayim Bialik will serve as the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/television">game show’s</a> extended host over Ken Jennings for the rest of the spring and summer season.
There’s been a lot of drama as the network attempted to replace the incomparable longtime host <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/alex-trebek">Alex Trebek</a>, who died in 2020. Eventually, “Jeopardy!” producers settled on a combination of both Jennings and Bialik to co-host the trivia show indefinitely. But now many <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">viewers</a> are upset that Jennings won’t host &#8220;Jeopardy!&#8221; in the upcoming months.
“Jeopardy” producer Sarah Foss said on the podcast “Inside Jeopardy!” that Jennings would host episodes airing March 10 through April 28 and Bialik would “take over on May 1, and she&#8217;ll take us all the way through the summer,” <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11806243/Jeopardy-fans-grouse-Mayim-Bialiks-extended-hosting-stint-amid-release-new-schedule.html?ns_mchannel=rss&amp;ns_campaign=1490&amp;ito=social-twitter_dailymailus">per</a> The Daily Mail.
Twitter users didn’t hold back with their feelings about the decision.
“Jeopardy, stop trying to make Mayim happen. It&#8217;s not going to happen,” one user <a href="https://twitter.com/MantiB/status/1630313128536817664">fumed</a>.
“No one likes Mayim Bialik as host. Everyone loves Ken Jennings,” another account <a href="https://twitter.com/Crucifixio/status/1628206260683255813">observed</a>. “I&#8217;m not sure why ABC almost seemingly gets off on continuing to bring Mayim back. In an age of test audiences, polls and every other metric you can think of, why does #Jeopardy blatantly disrespect their viewership?”
“Mayim is objectively not a good host. She’s robotic and awkward and hard to watch after months of Ken, who has really leaned into the role,” another commenter <a href="https://twitter.com/CougThoughts/status/1628182825680703488">added</a>.
There were also viewers who enjoyed seeing Bialik as host and shot back against her critics. One fan argued, “Mayim does a great job hosting. Some folks just can&#8217;t deal with a woman hosting a game show. I look forward to the Mayim shows.”
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Jennings became famous following his record-breaking run on the show in 2004. During that time, he won 74 consecutive games of “Jeopardy!” and became the highest-earning contestant ever, winning more than $2.5 million. Jennings went on to participate in multiple contest spinoffs before accepting his current position as co-host following Trebek’s death.
Bilaik, meanwhile, is an Emmy Award-winning actress best known for appearing on the NBC sitcom “Blossom” and the hit CBS comedy “The Big Bang Theory.”
The actress previously said she was surprised at how perceptive and critical the “Jeopardy!” audience can be. “There’s a tremendous amount of attention to everything, from the transition after Alex passed to me, and then me and Ken, and then the clothing I wear,” she said during a November 2022 <a href="https://www.tvinsider.com/1071532/jeopardy-mayim-bialik-ken-jennings-2/">interview</a> with TV Insider.
Prior to the final decision to let Jennings and Bialik take turns hosting “Jeopardy!” show producers tried out a variety of options for Trebek’s replacement, including LeVar Burton, Robin Roberts, Savannah Guthrie, George Stephanopoulos, Aaron Rodgers, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Anderson Cooper, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, plus others.

FOX’s Call Me Kat – Season Three

‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Divided As Mayim Bialik Announced As Extended Host All Summer Over Ken Jennings

'Jeopardy!' Fans Divided As Mayim Bialik Announced As Extended Host All Summer Over Ken Jennings

“<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jeopardy">Jeopardy!</a>” executive producer Michael Davies <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">announced</a> on Wednesday that the popular <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/television">game show</a> will have two hosts indefinitely. 
“I write today with the exciting news that we have closed and signed deals with Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings to be the hosts of ‘Jeopardy!’ moving forward,” Davies said in a <a href="https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/news-events/note-jeopardy-ep-michael-davies-new-hosts-and-new-initiatives">statement</a>.
“The fact is, we have so much ‘Jeopardy!’ to make, and so many plans for the future, that we always knew we would need multiple hosts for the franchise and we are just so grateful that Mayim and Ken stepped in and stepped up to put the show in a position to succeed,” he continued. “And succeed it has.”
Per the statement, Jennings will host new episodes debuting in September along with the inaugural Second Chance competition and the Tournament of Champions. Bialik will then begin hosting in January and will also head up “Celebrity Jeopardy!” and the “Jeopardy! National College Championship,&#8221; per <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/07/27/jeopardy-officially-names-mayim-bialik-ken-jennings-as-hosts">New York Post</a>.
The long-running trivia show has gone through multiple hosts since the death of “Jeopardy!” icon Alex Trebek in November 2020. Now producers have settled on having two hosts despite backlash against both for different reasons. 
Jennings, who became famous for his record-breaking run on the show as a contestant, had to apologize for some controversial tweets that were unearthed after he began hosting. Meanwhile, Bialik has been criticized for making mistakes on the show. 
“Jeopardy!” fans had mixed feelings about the news that both Jennings and Bialik would be hosting going forward.
“Alex, I&#8217;ll take Who Will Be More Woke? for $500.00,” one person <a href="https://twitter.com/Leland071869/status/1552398269891887105">replied</a>.
“Both are boring &amp; lackluster,” someone else <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=Both%20are%20boring%20%26%20lackluster&amp;src=typed_query&amp;f=live">said</a>.
“Ken should be the one and only,” another fan <a href="https://twitter.com/wfcr50/status/1552416629878824960">argued</a>.
“Keep her. Lose him,” another person <a href="https://twitter.com/tom_tkeane/status/1552501956131917824">chimed in</a>.
While there was no clear sentiment on which of these two, if any, should become the permanent solo host, fans did seem annoyed that show execs decided to keep both rather than making a decision. Some predicted that “Jeopardy!” would eventually choose Jennings or Bialik based on future ratings. 
Earlier this summer, LeVar Burton expressed his disappointment over <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-fix-was-in-levar-burton-reflects-on-losing-jeopardy-hosting-gig">not being chosen</a> as the permanent host of the game show. “Experiencing a very public defeat — humiliation, if you will — was sobering. And what I learned from the experience, really, is that it reinforced my belief that everything happens for a reason, even if you cannot discern the reason in the moment,” Burton said at the time.
“I didn’t expect that I would not be their choice for host,” he continued.
While “Jeopardy!” fans seem divided on who should take over, they all seem to agree that Trebek left some very big shoes to fill.

Ken Jennings Mayim Bialik

Fans Divided Over ‘Jeopardy!’ Naming Both Ken Jennings And Mayim Bialik As Permanent Hosts

Fans Divided Over 'Jeopardy!' Naming Both Ken Jennings And Mayim Bialik As Permanent Hosts

LeVar Burton is unhappy about getting passed over to host “Jeopardy!” on a permanent basis.
The 65-year-old actor didn’t mince words while discussing losing out on the hosting gig, which became vacant when longtime show host Alex Trebek died from pancreatic cancer in 2020.
The “Roots” star spoke with “In the Loop” on <a href="https://www.newsy.com/series/in-the-loop-with-christian-bryant/">Newsy</a> and said he was very upset about how it all played out.
“Experiencing a very public defeat — humiliation, if you will — was sobering. And what I learned from the experience, really, is that it reinforced my belief that everything happens for a reason, even if you cannot discern the reason in the moment,” Burton told host Christian Bryant.
Burton was one of a handful of guest hosts who were potentially in the running for a long-term “Jeopardy!” hosting opportunity. Those names included Ken Jennings, Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik. Jennings and Bialik have been switching off hosting for the latest season of the show, per <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/05/31/humiliated-levar-burton-drops-jeopardy-host-bombshell-the-fix-was-in/">New York Post</a>.
“In the fullness of time, everything will be revealed. And like I said, it was I think in that first week of feeling really sort of not just disappointed, but wrecked,” Burton continued. “I didn’t expect that I would not be their choice for host.”
During the interview, the “Reading Rainbow” alum admitted that his guest hosting led to other opportunities that he likely would not have had otherwise. One of those is hosting the 2022 Scripps Spelling Bee. Another will showcase Burton as the creator and host of a new game show based on the classic Hasbro game Trivial Pursuit.
“The doors have been opened. Windows have been opened. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing, and I never would have experienced those things that I’m experiencing, like hosting the Scripps Spelling Bee, had I gotten that job,” the actor told Bryant.
“So I think it was a big lesson for me and just being willing to sit in the discomfort long enough to find out what was really supposed to happen for me around this game show thing.”
Still, Burton believes the contest was ultimately rigged against him.
“The truth is it was my favorite game show. It really was. I mean, I watched that show since I was in the third grade and Art Fleming was the host,” he said. “And I honestly thought that I was well-suited for it. As it turns out, it really wasn’t a competition, after all — the fix was in.”
“I believe I’m still mining some of the takeaways from that experience,” Burton continued “First and foremost, I’m a firm believer in betting on myself, and I would encourage anyone and everyone out there to believe similarly in themselves. I’m always going to bet on me,” he concluded.
The full interview will be broadcast on ET at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

CBS This Morning

‘The Fix Was In’: LeVar Burton Reflects On Losing ‘Jeopardy!’ Hosting Gig

LeVar Burton Reflects On Losing 'Jeopardy!' Hosting Gig

The clue: He is not the host of Jeopardy. The answer: Who is Mike Richards.
That’s because the long-running gameshow’s executive producer, whom Sony had tapped to replace legendary host Alex Trebek, has stepped down from the job before it began.
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-jeopardy-host-mike-richards-apologizes-for-sexist-racist-comments">reported</a>, Richards had come under intense fire from critics upset with comments he made between 2013 and 2014 as the host of the podcast, “Randumb.” Among the remarks that earned condemnation: he referred to his female co-host as a “booth ho,” “boothstitute” and “booth slut,” and he said “Ixnay on the ose-nay. She’s not an ew-Jay,” in reference to a woman’s facial features.
This last comment drew the ire of the Anti-Defamation League, which <a href="https://twitter.com/ADL/status/1428446674574188546?s=20">called</a> for an investigation into his “pattern” of offensive remarks, saying, “Stereotyping is an entry point to hate.”
It marked the second round of outrage for Richards since he became a serious candidate for the job. The first involved his inclusion in two lawsuits from a &#8220;Price Is Right&#8221; model who alleged he and CBS discriminated against her after she informed them she was pregnant. Richards denied those allegations.
The mounting controversies evidently became too much for the 46-year-old, and he announced to staff Friday morning that he was quitting. <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/mike-richards-jeopardy-host-out-1234999713/">The Hollywood Reporter</a> reprinted Richards&#8217; internal memo in full:
<blockquote>Dear Team,
It pains me that these past incidents and comments have cast such a shadow on Jeopardy! as we look to start a new chapter.
As I mentioned last week, I was deeply honored to be asked to host the syndicated show and was thrilled by the opportunity to expand my role. However, 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. As a result, we will be canceling production today.
[Sony Pictures Television] 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.
I want to apologize to each of you 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.</blockquote>
In a statement that confirmed that Richards will continue in his role as executive producer, Sony expressed surprise over his past provocative comments.
“We support Mike’s decision to step down as host,” the company said. “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.”
The statement continued: “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 executive producer he will continue to do so with professionalism and respect.”
Many fans campaigned for LeVar Burton to nab the job, but while the &#8220;Roots&#8221; star was popular on social media, his actual ratings <a href="https://ew.com/tv/levar-burton-jeopardy-ratings/">ranked</a> at the bottom of the recent guest hosts the show tested.
No word on who Sony might turn to next to fill Trebek’s shoes.

48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards

Newly Named Jeopardy Host Mike Richards Quits

The game show &#8220;Jeopardy!&#8221; has been cycling through guest hosts since the death of Alex Trebek, and this week celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz is set to take over the podium.
But more than 500 former contestants have objected to his inclusion.
&#8220;When we heard that Dr. Mehmet Oz was slated to be a guest host, agreement came quickly — we were opposed,&#8221;  they said their letter, first <a href="https://medium.com/@j.contestants.letter/a-letter-from-concerned-former-contestants-to-mike-richards-executive-producer-of-jeopardy-f2f8e2e53930">published</a> on Medium.com Feb. 24. &#8220;Dr. Oz stands in opposition to everything that Jeopardy! stands for.&#8221;
The letter says Oz, a longtime guest medical expert on &#8220;The Oprah Winfrey Show,&#8221; has been criticized for potentially &#8220;dangerous&#8221; claims.
&#8220;Throughout his nearly two decades on television he has used his authority as a doctor to push harmful ideas onto the American public, in stark contrast with his oath to first do no harm. These ideas include promoting supplements that do nothing, legitimizing gay conversion therapy (which is banned in California, as well as 19 other states), dangerous ‘cures’ for autism, and, most recently, the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19,&#8221; says the letter.
&#8220;None of these things is backed by any scientific fact and by promoting them he is actively putting his viewers in danger,&#8221; they added, saying Oz is just not a fit for the cerebral show.
&#8220;&#8216;Jeopardy!’ is known for being incredibly rigorous; a well-deserved reputation,&#8221; they concluded. &#8220;To then invite Dr. Oz to guest-host is a slap in the face to all involved.&#8221;
See the whole letter below:
<blockquote>It has been exciting to see Jeopardy! feature an increasingly diverse pool of contestants over the past few years. We are excited to see this diversity of talent expand to the guest host pool, with guest hosts such as Aaron Rodgers, Katie Couric, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, to name a few. And as a large, diverse group of people, there is very little that a large group of Jeopardy! contestants can agree upon. But when we heard that Dr. Mehmet Oz was slated to be a guest host, agreement came quickly — we were opposed.
We understand that first and foremost, Jeopardy! is a television show, and ratings are important. However, Dr. Oz stands in opposition to everything that Jeopardy! stands for. Jeopardy! is a show that values facts and knowledge. Throughout his nearly two decades on television he has used his authority as a doctor to push harmful ideas onto the American public, in stark contrast with his oath to first do no harm.
These ideas include promoting supplements that do nothing, legitimizing gay conversion therapy (which is banned in California, as well as 19 other states), dangerous “cures” for autism, and, most recently, the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19. None of these things is backed by any scientific fact and by promoting them he is actively putting his viewers in danger. In fact, his ideas are so dangerous that thousands of his colleagues have petitioned to have him fired from his position at Columbia Medical School. And what kind of message does this send to the LGBTQ+ and autistic contestants and viewers of Jeopardy!?
Dr. Oz represents what has become a dubious trend in America: the elevation of the credentialed talking head at the expense of academic rigor and consensus. We once viewed intelligence and genius as something that a single heroic intellect could embody. We have since learned and we now understand that we do much better at study and science when we approach it as a group and build off of each other’s insights and checks. But consensus does not mean that everyone gets a seat at the table to present “treatments” that at best, have no medical evidence to support them, and at worst, are shown by medical evidence to be actively harmful. Evidence-based medicine is the gold standard because evidence-based medicine keeps people alive. And we need our public champions of learning and science to support that view.
Jeopardy! is known for being incredibly rigorous; a well-deserved reputation. As contestants, we’ve all seen what happens behind the scenes if there’s any doubt about a question. We’ve seen writers and judges frantically cross-reference answers in real time to make sure that the facts are accurate. To then invite Dr. Oz to guest-host is a slap in the face to all involved.
Sincerely,
Former Jeopardy! Contestants</blockquote>

Dr. Oz Visits “Outnumbered Overtime With Harris Faulkner”

500 Past ‘Jeopardy!’ Contestants Petition Show To Remove Dr. Oz As Guest Host

Despite having passed on, former &#8220;Jeopardy&#8221; host Alex Trebek has continued to deliver messages of optimism and hope.
Released on Monday, a video of Trebek filmed just days before his death from pancreatic cancer in November 2020 featured the beloved host encouraging everyone to open their hearts and consider the suffering of those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
&#8220;Hello, ladies and gentlemen, you&#8217;ll recall that about a month ago, I asked all of you to take a moment to give thanks for all of the blessings that you enjoy in your lives,&#8221; he began. &#8220;Now today, a different kind of message.&#8221;
&#8220;This is &#8216;the season of giving,&#8217; I know you want to be generous with your family, your friends, your loved ones, but today I&#8217;d like you to go one step further,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I&#8217;d like you to open up your hands and open your heart to those who are still suffering because of COVID-19. People who are suffering through no fault of their own.&#8221;
&#8220;We&#8217;re trying to build a gentler, kinder society,&#8221; he concluded. &#8220;And if we all pitch in just a little bit, we&#8217;re gonna get there.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&quot;If we all pitch in just a little bit, we&#39;re gonna get there.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Ip6HZJi43Y">pic.twitter.com/Ip6HZJi43Y</a>
&mdash; Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jeopardy/status/1346245023906426881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
As reported by <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/alex-trebek-message-hope-pre-taped-jeopardy-episode">Fox News</a>, this week&#8217;s episode of the ever-present game show will &#8220;be the final ones featuring Trebek before guest hosts <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jeopardy-resume-production-interim-guest-hosts-ken-jennings" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">beginning with champ Ken Jennings</a> will fill his position until a permanent replacement is named.&#8221;
The pre-recorded message of Trebek follows a previous message released on Thanksgiving just weeks after his death.
“Happy Thanksgiving, ladies and gentleman. You know, in spite of what America and the rest of the world is experiencing right now, there are many reasons to be thankful. There are more and more people extending helpful hands to do a kindness to their neighbors, and that’s a good thing,” he said in the 20 second message before advising people to “keep the faith.”
“Keep the faith, we’re gonna get through all of this, and we will be a better society because of it,” Trebek said.
Trebek died on Nov. 8 after a year-and-a-half battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/alex-trebek-dies-of-cancer-at-80">reported</a>, Trebek initially appeared to be on the mend after a first round of treatment that was eventually undone:
<blockquote>The TV icon, whose avuncular personality and biting wit made the daily show a must-see for millions of Americans, announced in March 2019 that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He went through chemotherapy after the diagnosis but said he had no plans to retire.
Trebek stayed on as host for another full year and talked openly about “massive attacks of great depression that made me wonder if it was really worth fighting on.”
In one statement at the end of a show, Trebek noted that the odds of surviving a second year with pancreatic cancer were just 7%, but said he hoped to be an outlier on that statistic.</blockquote>
Despite his overall positive message, Trebek did admit that he occasionally struggled with depression and sadness while battling the disease.
“My oncologist told me one of the symptoms, if you will, of pancreatic cancer is that you get these moments of depression, sadness,” Trebek said.
Trebek added that his wife, Jean, had to sometimes “tread lightly” in his presence as she took care of his difficult symptoms.
“It’s always tough for caretakers because [Jean] has to deal with her worrying about my well-being,” said Trebek. “I’m not always the most pleasant person to be around when I’m experiencing severe pain or depression, and she has to tread lightly around me.”
With that, Trebek reflected upon how his fight with pancreatic cancer helped him reflect upon his own mortality.
“I have learned something in the past year and it’s this: We don’t know when we’re going to die,” Trebek said. “Because of the cancer diagnosis, it’s no longer an open-ended life, it’s a closed-ended life because of the terrible … survival rates of pancreatic cancer. Because of that, and something else that is operating here, people all over America and abroad have decided they want to let me know now, while I’m alive, about the impact that I’ve been having on their existence.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-alex-trebek-recorded-an-inspiring-thanksgiving-message-before-his-death">WATCH: Alex Trebek Recorded An Inspiring Thanksgiving Message Before His Death</a>

Harry Friedman Honored With A Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

WATCH: Alex Trebek Gives Message Of Hope In Pre-Taped Video

Longtime &#8220;Jeopardy!&#8221; host Alex Trebek may have passed, but that doesn&#8217;t mean he can&#8217;t still influence us for the better.
Prior to his death at age 80 after an uphill battle with pancreatic cancer, the game show host took the time to record a Thanksgiving message that the show released on Thursday on its official Twitter account.
In the 20-second message, Trebek asked his fellow Americans to be thankful despite all the pain they have experienced.
&#8220;Happy Thanksgiving, ladies and gentleman. You know, in spite of what America and the rest of the world is experiencing right now, there are many reasons to be thankful. There are more and more people extending helpful hands to do a kindness to their neighbors, and that&#8217;s a good thing,&#8221; he said.
Trebek concluded his message by advising people to &#8220;keep the faith.&#8221;
&#8220;Keep the faith, we&#8217;re gonna get through all of this, and we will be a better society because of it,&#8221; Trebek said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
High on our list of things to be thankful for this year: Alex&#39;s Thanksgiving message from today&#39;s show. We hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! <a href="https://t.co/8OlpkSGi9r">pic.twitter.com/8OlpkSGi9r</a>
&mdash; Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jeopardy/status/1331983552699715591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trebek died on November 8 after a year and a half battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/alex-trebek-dies-of-cancer-at-80">reported</a>, Trebek initially appeared to be on the mend after a first round of treatment that was eventually undone:
<blockquote>The TV icon, whose avuncular personality and biting wit made the daily show a must-see for millions of Americans, announced in March 2019 that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He went through chemotherapy after the diagnosis but said he had no plans to retire.
Trebek stayed on as host for another full year and talked openly about “massive attacks of great depression that made me wonder if it was really worth fighting on.”
In one statement at the end of a show, Trebek noted that the odds of surviving a second year with pancreatic cancer were just 7%, but said he hoped to be an outlier on that statistic.</blockquote>
Despite his overall positive message, Trebek did admit that he occasionally struggled with depression and sadness while battling the disease.
“My oncologist told me one of the symptoms, if you will, of pancreatic cancer is that you get these moments of depression, sadness,” Trebek said.
Trebek added that his wife, Jean, had to sometimes “tread lightly” in his presence as she took care of his difficult symptoms.
“It’s always tough for caretakers because [Jean] has to deal with her worrying about my well-being,” said Trebek. “I’m not always the most pleasant person to be around when I’m experiencing severe pain or depression, and she has to tread lightly around me.”
With that, Trebek reflected upon how his fight with pancreatic cancer helped him reflect upon his own mortality.
“I have learned something in the past year and it’s this: We don’t know when we’re going to die,” Trebek said. “Because of the cancer diagnosis, it’s no longer an open-ended life, it’s a closed-ended life because of the terrible … survival rates of pancreatic cancer. Because of that, and something else that is operating here, people all over America and abroad have decided they want to let me know now, while I’m alive, about the impact that I’ve been having on their existence.”

WATCH: Alex Trebek Recorded An Inspiring Thanksgiving Message Before His Death

Thanksgiving

‘Jeopardy!’ legend Ken Jennings is the first in what will be a series of guest hosts taking over the late Alex Trebek’s spot as the gameshow’s host.
The show announced the temporary new host on Monday in a <a href="https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/news-events/jeopardy-returns-studio-nov-30-interim-host">press release</a>. New hosts will be rotated in on a temporary basis until a permanent host is picked. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/alex-trebek-dies-of-cancer-at-80">Trebek</a> died from cancer in November at the age of 80.
“Alex believed in the importance of Jeopardy! and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him,” Jeopardy! Executive Producer Mike Richards said in a statement. “We will honor Alex’s legacy by continuing to produce the game he loved with smart contestants and challenging clues. By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers.”
Jennings said he was “honored” for the opportunity to host the show. “There will only ever be one Alex Trebek, but I&#8217;m honored to be helping Jeopardy! out with this in January,” Jennings said. He will begin filming new episodes of the show on Nov. 30.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
There will only ever be one Alex Trebek, but I&#39;m honored to be helping Jeopardy! out with this in January. <a href="https://t.co/2m2b5IQnkw">https://t.co/2m2b5IQnkw</a>
&mdash; Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) <a href="https://twitter.com/KenJennings/status/1331003293674323970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Jennings is one of the most successful &#8220;Jeopardy!&#8221; contestants in the show’s history. As the gameshow noted, “earlier this year, Jennings claimed the title of Jeopardy!’s ‘Greatest of All Time’ in an epic prime-time event; he also holds the all-time records for most consecutive games won (74) and highest winnings in regular-season play ($2,520,700). Additional guest hosts will be announced in the weeks ahead.”
The gameshow has been playing through a backlog of show content that Trebek recorded in the months before he died. For two weeks around Christmas and New Years, the show will play ten of Trebek’s best episodes before playing what is left of Trebek’s unaired content in January.
“As we remember and celebrate the life of Alex Trebek, we will air 10 of his best episodes the weeks of 12/21 and 12/28, and air his final week of episodes starting 1/4,” the show said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
As we remember and celebrate the life of Alex Trebek, we will air 10 of his best episodes the weeks of 12/21 and 12/28, and air his final week of episodes starting 1/4. <a href="https://t.co/HQaNewWa9U">https://t.co/HQaNewWa9U</a> <a href="https://t.co/aYPUOEuEwF">pic.twitter.com/aYPUOEuEwF</a>
&mdash; Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jeopardy/status/1330999826348007425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trebek died on Nov. 8 after battling pancreatic cancer for over a year. He had taped his final episode of ‘Jeopardy’ just over a week before. As The Daily Wire reported:
<blockquote>Alex Trebek, the host of the “Jeopardy!” gameshow since 1984, has died.
“Jeopardy is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex,” the gameshow wrote on its Twitter account.
The TV icon, whose avuncular personality and biting wit made the daily show a must-see for millions of Americans, announced in March 2019 that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He went through chemotherapy after the diagnosis but said he had no plans to retire.
Trebek stayed on as host for another full year and talked openly about “massive attacks of great depression that made me wonder if it was really worth fighting on.”</blockquote>

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