Who Is Mike Richards, the Next Guest Host of ‘Jeopardy!’?
Answer: This Jeopardy! executive producer will take over as the quiz show’s guest host on February 22 now that Ken Jennings has left the lectern. Question: Who is Mike Richards?
It’s a question some might be asking, given Richards’ relatively low profile. But rest assured, the man stepping in for the late, great host Alex Trebek has more than a decade of game show experience — including other hosting gigs — before he even stepped into the role of Jeopardy! EP in 2020.
“I was very fortunate to have a front row seat to watch and study Alex,” Richards says in a statement on the Jeopardy! website. “Stepping in as a guest host … will forever be the honor of my life.”
Richards emcees the popular game show through March 5, after which journalist Katie Couric, TV doctor Dr. Mehmet Oz, NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, CNN host Anderson Cooper, Call Me Kat star Mayim Bialik, 60 Minutes correspondent Bill Whitaker, and CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta will take their turns on the Jeopardy! stage.
Ahead of Richards’ Jeopardy! hosting debut, learn more about the award-winning producer below.
This Isn’t His First Rodeo
These days, Richards is known more for his work behind the scenes, but he has played hosted on numerous TV show, including the WB reality shows High School Reunion and Beauty and the Geek, the Reelz movie news program Dailies, and the GSN game shows The Pyramid and Divided. Incidentally, he also has an acting credit to his name: two episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful.
He Has 3 Emmys & 17 Emmy Noms
According to his Jeopardy! bio, Richards started as co-executive producer on The Price Is Right in 2008 and became the show’s executive producer in 2009, when he also helped bring the revival of Let’s Make a Deal to CBS. Between those two shows, Richards earned 17 Daytime Emmy Award nominations and three wins after The Price Is Right won Outstanding Game Show in 2013, 2016, and 2018, the bio adds.
By the time Richards left his post on the two shows in 2019 — after signing a multi-year overall deal at Sony Pictures Television, as Variety reported at the time — he had produced more than 4,000 hours of game show programming.
He’s Behind the Millionaire Revival
Jeopardy! isn’t Richards’ first trivial pursuit, so to speak. In 2020, he was one of three executive producers who brought the celebrity-driven Who Wants to Be a Millionaire to ABC’s primetime lineup. It was part of an overall deal, according to his bio, with Sony Pictures Television to develop and produce game shows for the network, cable, and streaming platforms.
He Joined Jeopardy! in 2020
After Harry Friedman stepped down as the executive producer of Jeopardy! in 2020, after more than two decades on the show, Richards stepped in to take his place.
In fact, it was Richards who delivered an on-air eulogy for Trebek on November 9, a day after the host’s death. “He will forever be an inspiration for his constant desire to learn, his kindness, and for his love of his family,” Richards said, standing in front of an empty stage. “On behalf of everyone here at Jeopardy!, thank you for everything, Alex.”
Multitasking Is Just Part of His Job
Not only did Richards take over for Friedman as the executive producer of Jeopardy!, he also succeeded Friedman in the same role on Wheel of Fortune. “Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! are the gold standard of television — exceptional, timeless formats produced by amazing teams,” Richards said in a statement at the time. “Alex Trebek, Vanna White, and Pat Sajak are incredible hosts, and I can’t wait to work side by side with them on these world-class franchises.”
Jokes Might Be Part of His Shtick
Richards landed his hosting gigs thanks to his time as a stand-up comedian after college. Will he get some laughs? Stay tuned to find out.
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Conversation58 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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G
Mike Richards IS THE NEW HOST OF JEOPARDY!! I think he is fantastic. No need to try out anyone else!!! I'm serious.
32 10
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G
I loved Ken Jennings as the Jeopardy host, but, Mike Richards is amazing!
24 6
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O
I prefer Ken....
5 6
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P
He’s fantastic. Like to see Mike Richards on stage all the time!
22 5
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G
I think Mike is absolutely amazing. He should be the one!
21 6
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O
Much better voice, can understand what he is speaking, better diction. Ken needs voice training as a announcer.
23 8
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O
Love, love, love Mike Richards as host! Feared no one could fill Alex’s shoes but Richards is such a natural.
8 1
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R
Both Ken and Mike do great at hosting. I think it all comes down to the ratings.
8 1
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G
I love mike Richards he is a natural,.he would be perfect as the host ot jeopardy.😜
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O
I thought Mr. Richards was terrific. He has charisma and charm. He interviewed the contestants without using note cards. I think he's a keeper. Would like to see him again. Will be interesting to see how the other guest hosts do.
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P
Mike Richards is a perfect fit. He’s a Keeper!
5 1
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G
Ken Jennings has a great personality and has good interpersonal communication skills. Watching Mike is like watching a robot and his responses tonight with contestants his one liners no, yes were unfeeling and did not seem genuine. It would be great have Ken officially host Jeopardy.
13 9
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G
That's funny. I would opine just the opposite.
9 2
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C
I really like Mike the best!
6 3
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C
Bring back Ken Jennings please - Thank you!
8 5
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G
I like Mike Richards for Jeopardy
3 1
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G
Mike and Ken are both awesome.
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G
Keep Ken Jennings
4 2
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P
Really great.
4 2
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C
Married? straight or gay? kids? I like him, he seems real.
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B
Of all those who guest on Jeopardy Mike Richard was the best. He is very natural and almost like Alex Trebeck.
Hope he gets the job.
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G
Like both Mike and Ken. But stop the let’s all build a kinder gentler nation crap.
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O
Mike Richards is better than ken Jennings. He’s great!!!!
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G
Lost interest in the shows hosted by Ken Jennings. It seemed as though he was pressed for time and had a taxi waiting with the meter running.
Mike Richards is a keeper. He is confident, at ease and appears to enjoy talking with the contestants, putting them at ease.
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G
Agree, and please NO Katie couric
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O
My husband and I think Mike Richards is the perfect host! We won’t be watching with the other guests hosts. We agree way too political! Please Mike stay!
3 2
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B
Mike Richards is a natural. Snap him up.... he has the chemistry, warmth, naturalness, and sincerity that feels so right. We are lifelong Ken Jennings fans, but Mike won our hearts immediately.
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G
Agree, Sharon.
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C
Glad Ken Jennings is gone. New host Mike has a much deeper voice and easier to follow. He’s a better fit and doesn’t try to make show about him with his constant comments
3 2
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O
I have a couple of other guest hosts selections.....Peyton Manning and John Kelly, host of Funny you should ask game show.
I liked Ken Jennings -although he does not have a tv voice.
1
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R
Love Jeopardy, but probably won’t watch when some of your new guest hosts come on.
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O
Loved him tonight!
3 2
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O
He was always in a hurry
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O
Ken or Mike.
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B
Definitely Mike Richards......He has an amazing voice & moves the game along with ease. Ken did well, but it took him 6 weeks to even come near what Mike attained in just one day.
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C
I really liked Ken, but I think Mike Richards is the man for the job!! He was behind the scene daily with Alex and who better to replace him!!
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R
Ken is good, but Mike is the best. Do not understand why any of the future contenders are involved.
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R
Mike Richards yes
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G
Ken by far the better of the two!
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P
To make a long story short, Mike Richards has sparkle. Although the playing field is not even in that Ken Jennings is not a seasoned 'host' and Mike Richards is. I really appreciate both of their efforts to keep the show interesting. I look forward to viewing Jeopardy, as a life-long fan, no matter who the 'host' may be.
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B
Michael Richards was outstanding. His presentation was pleasing, smooth, confident, and natural. He should be kept on permanently.
Ken Jennings wowed us as a contestant. But, he was less impressive as the replacement for Alex Trebek. Jennings was stilted, rushed, and ho hum only. He lacks the personality as a television performer.
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O
I will no longer watch the show until they bring back Ken!
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B
Both Ken and Mike are great. Would like to see the rest of the guest hosts but I doubt they can be any better.
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G
Mike Richhards I Think Is Awesome. Won't Watch When Your Guest Hosts Are on. If Your Smart You Will Keep Mike Richards As Host. Jennings to stiff .
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G
Really like Mike Roberts, would love to see him permanent.
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G
looking forward to Katie Couric and some others (not so much Savannah Guthrie), but I think Mike Richards has it nailed.
2 2
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G
I am very discouraged to see that your host selections are well known liberal commentators. It appears you are incorporating politics into a game show that should be non-political. Even your recent questions have leaned to the liberal side. I never even wondered about what Alex felt politically, and that is why Jeopardy has been so successful....no politics! Curic, Guthrie, CNN....indicates the path your show will take......plan to lose many many viewers....really liked Ken and will see how Mike does but after that I'm done.
7 7
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C
Left wing host Congo line.
2 2
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O
Mike Richards is the best!!! Great voice! He could use a goatee. So handsome
5 5
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O
He has no charisma. Kind of boring.
5 5
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G
I like him but he is a bit stiff. I really like Ken Jennings as he became more comfortable .
1
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G
This guy is absolutely awful. He mispronounced so many words the past 2 nights that I turned it off -- and plan to wait until somebody else is hosting before watching again.
1 2
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B
Goodbye Jennings! Don’t come back. Mike Richards is a natural.
2 3
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R
Mike Richards looks like a zombie with plastic hair.
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O
I see that Jeopardy has become an all Liberal, all Leftist agenda platform now. No surprise there. That is the end of it for me.
5 6
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C
I agree that Ken should be the permanent host.
As a life long fan of Jeopardy, sad to say l won't be watching if radicals like Katie Couric, Anderson Cooper, and Savannah Guthrie get to host.
Three of the most disliked people in America.
7 2
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B
Bring back Ken Jennings. I think he did a fantastic job as host. Alex would have been pleased to see Ken take his place.
4 7
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R
Mike Richards is dreadful. A producer should NEVER have the ability to insert himself. Bring back Ken Jennings and dump this clown.
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