Mike Richards is in negotiations to become the permanent host of “Jeopardy!,” Variety reports.
Richards is the executive producer of the trivia show and now the frontrunner to replace longtime host Alex Trebek after a long series of temporary hosts have tried their turn at the helm.
Actor and TV host LeVar Burton became one of those hosts after fans started a petition for him to replace Trebek, who died in 2020. Those fans and others rejected the Richards news on social media Wednesday night, offering their alternative picks.
But the host decision may not be made just yet. Variety reports that Richards isn’t nailed down for the new role, though he is in “advanced negotiations” with Sony Pictures Television for the job alongside some other candidates.
The beloved Trebek died of pancreatic cancer in November 2020. He was 80 and had hosted the show for 36 years.
Richards, 46, former host of “The Pyramid” and “Divided” on Game Show Network, became an executive producer of “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” in 2020. He apparently made an impression on executives when he guest hosted episodes that aired in February and March.
Previously, Richards was an executive producer of “The Price is Right,” the CBS revival of “Let’s Make A Deal” and the celebrity edition of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” He also had hosting gigs on the reality shows “High School Reunion” on the WB network and “Beauty and the Geek” on the CW.
Another potential frontrunner for the host job was “Jeopardy!” champion and “Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time” winner Ken Jennings, who was the first temporary host after Trebek’s death. Richards was the second.
“Let’s be totally clear,” Jennings said when he hosted the show. “No one will ever replace the great Alex Trebek, but we can honor him by playing the game he loved.”
Other temporary hosts were “Jeopardy!” champion Buzzy Cohen, “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker, actor Mayim Bialik, Cliffside Park’s Dr. Oz, CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, “GMA” hosts Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos, “Today” host Savannah Guthrie and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Variety reports that Bialik and Cohen have been considered other strong candidates for the job.
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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter.
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