Since Alex Trebek’s death last November, Jeopardy! hasn’t had a permanent host. Instead, the game show has cycled through celebrity guest hosts, including fan favorite LeVar Burton, Aaron Rodgers, and Katie Couric. But last week came reports that executive producer Mike Richards was offered the full-time gig (despite allegations of workplace discrimination during his time on The Price is Right). He confirmed in a statement that “I was asked if I would consider hosting the show,” but “no final decisions have been made and discussions with me and other potential hosts are still ongoing.”
According to the Daily Beast, a final decision has been made.
Sony Pictures Television is set to announce that Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards will host the long-running daily syndicated program and actress Mayim Bialik will host primetime and spin-off specials of the famous quiz show, The Daily Beast has learned… Richards, who had been the frontrunner for a hosting gig, will start Season 38 as host of the daily syndication while Bialik, best known for her starring role in CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, will host new spin-off series — the first of which will be the Jeopardy! National College Championship on ABC.
Jeopardy! has never had two hosts before. But before this year, Jeopardy! had never been hosted by a cast member of Blossom before. History is being made before our eyes.
UPDATE — 11:50am EST: The Hollywood Reporter is reporting official word from Sony to confirm that Richards will be full-time host of the “syndicated talk show” as Trebek’s official replacement with Bialik hosting “Jeopardy primetime and spinoff series.” Here’s more via THR:
“We are thrilled to begin the next chapter of America’s Favorite Quiz Show with Mike hosting our daily show and Mayim hosting new versions of Jeopardy!,” said Ravi Ahuja, Chairman of Global Television Studios and Corporate Development for Sony Pictures. “We took this decision incredibly seriously. A tremendous amount of work and deliberation has gone into it, perhaps more than has ever gone into the selection of hosts for a show – deservedly so because it’s Jeopardy! and we are following the incomparable Alex Trebek. A senior group of Sony Pictures Television executives pored over footage from every episode, reviewed research from multiple panels and focus groups, and got valuable input from our key partners and Jeopardy! viewers.”
