
Variety reports Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards is in advanced negotiations to become the successor to the late Alex Trebek as the show’s permanent host. Richards had previously hosted Divided and The Pyramid on GSN.
This report will come as a huge disappointment to a great many online who have pushed for LeVar Burton to be the next host of Jeopardy!, especially in wake of a New York Times Magazine interview published in late June where the Reading Rainbow host said he felt like he’s “supposed” to take up the mantle left behind by Alex Trebek.
“It’s difficult to explain, but there’s something inside me that says this makes sense,” Burton said. “I feel like this is what I’m supposed to do. I have been watching Jeopardy! more or less every night of my life since Art Fleming was host. Jeopardy! is a cultural touchstone, and for a Black man to occupy that podium is significant.”
Richards, 46, joined the show’s production team just last year and Sony was reportedly impressed with his guest-host performance back in February. While it appears Richards is set to be the next host, Sony wouldn’t make an official statement on the matter.
It’s not a done deal at this point that Mike Richards will be the next permanent host and other candidates are still possibilities to land the high-profile game show job, but there is no word that anybody is higher on the list than Richards. Other than caving to internet backlash or Richards passing on the gig (which he would not do), it looks as if this is pretty much a go.
Here is some of the reaction to the Mike Richards Jeopardy! news
LeVar Burton should be the next host of "Jeopardy!" I can't believe we're even having this discussion. He's the obvious choice.
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) August 4, 2021
jeopardy: we're searching for a new host
— Fretty Boop (Varys Is Still Underrated) (@i_miss_the_days) August 4, 2021
everyone: ok we want @levarburton
j: we want to see who the audience responds to best
e: we ❤ levar
j: if only we had some idea who to choose
e: le👏 var👏 bur👏 ton👏
j: congrats to mike richards
e: that's not how you spell levar
Everyone: We would love to have Levar Burton host of Jeopardy.
— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) August 4, 2021
Levar Burton: Yes please.
Jeopardy: We will give the job to the guy who hosted Beauty and the Geek, Mike Richards.
I know zilch about Mike Richards, so nothing against him – but if the permanent host isn’t Levar Burton, then I don’t want it https://t.co/xzQ24A3nbY
— Patrick Pittis (@StumbleJohnson) August 4, 2021
LeVar is THE consensus choice across generations, races and ethnic origins…
— #TGIFadel (@TGIFadel) August 4, 2021
He is the best choice to keep current viewers and bring in the next generation of viewers.
I have no knowledge of Mike Richards and no desire to watch the MOST vanilla choice they could make.
“Mike Richards in Advanced Negotiations to Become Permanent Host of ‘Jeopardy!’”
— Sarah Lerner (@SarahLerner) August 4, 2021
Basically everyone: pic.twitter.com/HI2V4R3sSG