Mike Richards Shares His Side of the Story

Mike Richards, the man who made headlines for his brief tenure as the host of Jeopardy!, has finally opened up about his controversial firing. In an exclusive interview with People, the 48-year-old revealed he was as surprised as anyone when he was offered the coveted role. "No one was more shocked than me," Mike admitted, reflecting on the whirlwind events that led to his appointment. He went on to explain, "They told me, 'We'd like you to be the host of the syndicated version of Jeopardy!' I was speechless. All I could say was, 'Oh wow. Thank you.' But at the same time, I was aware of the immense scrutiny that would come with the job. It felt like I was stepping into something as intense as a presidential campaign. There was this widespread belief that whoever got the gig first wouldn't last long."

A Rocky Start to a Dream Job

Mike Richards initially landed the Jeopardy! hosting gig following the tragic passing of the legendary Alex Trebek in November 2020. With decades of experience in the game show industry under his belt, including his role as the executive producer of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, Mike seemed like a natural fit. However, the public reception wasn't as warm as he'd hoped. "People were furious," he confessed. "It seemed like everyone thought I had walked into a room, looked in the mirror, and said, 'I'll do it.' That's not how television works, but I get why people might have thought that. It was a tough pill to swallow."

The Competition He Faced

Before Mike was chosen, several high-profile names had thrown their hats into the ring for the Jeopardy! hosting position, including NFL superstar Aaron Rodgers. Mike spoke fondly of the quarterback's preparation, saying, "Aaron was absolutely the most ready candidate I encountered. His dedication was incredible, and he treated everyone on the team with kindness. But I had concerns about how he'd juggle his demanding football career with the hosting responsibilities. When I asked him about it, he simply replied, 'We'll figure it out!'"

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Mike Richards fired from Jeopardy — Greg Doherty/Getty Images

A Short but Impactful Tenure

Mike's debut as the host of Jeopardy! happened during the 2021 season. Unfortunately, his run was short-lived, lasting only five episodes before he was let go due to controversial remarks he made on his podcast, "The Randumb Show." These comments from nearly a decade prior came back to haunt him, leading to his dismissal in August 2021. After his firing, Mike issued a heartfelt apology, stating, "It's humbling to face such an embarrassing moment of poor judgment, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity. There's no excuse for the things I said on that podcast, and I'm deeply sorry. The show was meant to be a series of irreverent conversations between long-time friends who enjoyed joking around, but I take full responsibility for my words."

A New Era for Jeopardy!

Following Mike's departure, Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik were brought in to share hosting duties. By December 2023, it was announced that Ken would take over as the sole host of Jeopardy! Mike, for his part, has expressed his support for the current host, saying, "I always believed Ken was the right person for the job. He brings a level of knowledge and charisma that's unmatched."