Both Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik were named “Jeopardy!”.Host | Entertainment News – Pennsylvanianewstoday.com

This combined photo shows Mike Richards (left) and Mayim Bialik.

Photo by Richard Shotwell / Invision / AP

Los Angeles (AP) — Eight months after the death of his beloved “Jeopardy!”. Host Alex Trebek chose executive producer Mike Richards as Trebek’s successor in the field of celebrity candidates on a daily syndicated quiz show.

However, after fan backlash against the messy selection process in recent weeks, producer Sony split the pie by appointing another guest host, actor Mayim Bialik, as the moderator of “Jeopardy!” Did. Prime time and spin-off series including new college championships.

Another nod to “Jeopardy!”, Believers and longtime champion Ken Jennings is back as a consulting producer.

Richards will continue to be executive producer of “Jeopardy!”. Sony Pictures Television said in a statement Wednesday that it was the “Wheel of Fortune.” The studio also seemed to distract the idea that some fans were bowing to the disappointment expressed when the word Richards was chosen last week.

“I wanted to share hosting responsibilities, so it became very clear that Mike and Mame were undeniable choices, both at the top of our research and analysis,” Global. Rabia Fuja, chairman of the television studio, said. Sony Pictures. “We took this decision incredibly seriously.”

In a guest host appearance, Richards said, “I was relieved behind the podium and was a double threat as a producer and a host. Mayim showed great energy, a natural sense of the game, and a genuine curiosity that naturally represents Jeopardy. I have!’Brand. “

Richards was the second temporary host to fill the space left by Trebek with “Jeopardy!”. Champions Jennings and Buzzy Cohen, actors Biarik and LeVar Burton, NFL player Aaron Rodgers, TV journalist and more.

The studio chose Richards and never broke the game show. The host of white men has long been a tournament, and in recent years a smaller delegation of women (Meredith Viera, Jane Lynch, Leslie Jones) and black men (Wayne Brady, Steve Harvey, Anthony Andrews) Is invading.

Richards has a long game show resume. He has been an executive producer of “The Price is Right” and “Let’s Make a Deal” for over a decade and produced a revival of “Who Wants to Bea Millionaire” in 2020. His camera experience includes hosting reality shows “The Pyramid” and “Beauty and the Geek.”

He participated in “Jeopardy!” He replaced executive producer Harry Friedman, who retired from the 2020-21 season, for just a few months when Trebek, 80, died of pancreatic cancer last November.

Jennings held the record for the most regular game wins at $ 2.52 million, and the longest consecutive win, 74 games, was considered a leading candidate along with Cohen and Biarik (“Big Bang Theory”). Burton had a chorus of his own supporters, including a petitioner he believed took him to the show last month.

Sony gracefully handed the transition. The show praised Trebek’s heritage on a regular basis with respect, made a charitable donation to his memory, and assembled a guest host inheritance as an opportunity for viewers to adapt to change. ..

Richards portrayed himself as a relative bystander in the process, attending as a guest host only when needed.

When Variety reported that it was about to sign the deal last week, fans and observers questioned whether the expected audition and selection process was stunts, and the conclusions were ignored. They also expressed suspicion that Richards was worthy of the job.

Photo: Looking back on Alex Trebek’s life and career