Michael Davies (television producer)
{{Short description|British television game show producer (born 1966)}}
{{Other people|Michael Davies|Michael Davies (disambiguation){{!}}Michael Davies}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=July 2014}}
{{COI|date=January 2017}}
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{{Infobox person
| image =
| name = Michael Davies
| birth_name = Michael Peterson Davies
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1966|3|3}}
| birth_place = London, England
| occupation = Television producer{{cite web|url=http://meninblazers.wikispaces.com/Michael+Davies|title=Men in Blazers – Michael Davies|website=Meninblazers.wikispaces.com|accessdate=12 November 2016}}
| years_active = 1990–present
| known_for = Executive producer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (1999–2010, 2020–present)
Co-host of Men in Blazers (2014–present)
Executive producer of Jeopardy! (2021–present)
| children = 4
| relatives = William Davies (brother)
Rebecca de Pont Davies (sister)
| spouse = {{Unbulleted list|{{marriage|Selena Richards|1989|1992|reason=divorced}}{{cite news|last=Burke|first=Cathy|url=https://nypost.com/1999/12/15/golden-boy-tarnished-abc-tv-execs-ex-drags-him-to-court-over-child-support/|title=Golden Boy Tarnished – ABC TV Exec'S Ex Drags Him To Court Over Child Support|newspaper=New York Post|date=15 December 1999|accessdate=12 November 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hitched-hatched-hired-165434|title=Hitched, Hatched, Hired|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=3 October 2011|accessdate=12 November 2016}}|{{marriage|Claude Davies|reason=div}}}}
}}
Michael Peterson Davies{{cite podcast|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=vaqMYoGi1AE|title=What is a Come-From-Behind Win?|date=March 27, 2023|accessdate=April 3, 2023|website=Inside Jeopardy!|first1=Michael|last1=Davies|first2=Sarah|last2=Whitcomb-Foss|via=YouTube}} (born 3 March 1966) is an English-born American television game show producer.{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/415140/Michael-Davies|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710075553/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/415140/Michael-Davies|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 July 2012|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=The New York Times|title=Profile|accessdate=31 March 2012}} He is best known for bringing the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire to American television. Since 2014, he has hosted a podcast entitled Men in Blazers alongside journalist Roger Bennett. Since 2021, he has served as the executive producer of the game show Jeopardy! following Mike Richards' departure from the program due to various controversies.
Early life
Davies grew up in Blackheath, London{{cite web|url=http://meninblazers.com/page/podcasts|title=With Abigail Savage|date=17 June 2015|work=Men in Blazers|accessdate=18 June 2015}} and attended Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, graduating from the University of Edinburgh. He is the younger brother of opera singer Rebecca de Pont Davies and screenwriter William Davies.
Career
=Early career=
In the early 1990s, Davies served as a development associate at Merv Griffin Enterprises.{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/behind-scenes/note-jeopardy-ep-michael-davies|title=A Note From Jeopardy! EP Michael Davies|date=December 9, 2021|website=Jeopardy.com|accessdate=November 24, 2022}} For a time afterward, he served as a senior vice president at Buena Vista Productions (a subsidiary of Disney),{{cite web|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/211456/buena-vista-executive-joins-abc|title=Buena Vista executive joins ABC|date=February 2, 1998|publisher=Electronic Media|via=EBSCO Host Connection|access-date=February 16, 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116132645/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/211456/buena-vista-executive-joins-abc|archive-date=January 16, 2014}} where he helped develop the game show Debt, a show with a format so similar to that of Jeopardy! that Merv Griffin Enterprises threatened legal action.{{Cite web |title=Foundation Interviews: Wink Martindale |url=https://www.emmys.com/news/interviews-archive/foundation-interviews-wink-martindale |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=Television Academy |language=en}} In February 1998, Davies joined ABC as executive vice president. During this time, he served as a programming executive at WABC-TV, an ABC affiliate in New York City.{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/tv/2023/5/16/23724784/jeopardy-tournament-of-champions-michael-davies-new-era|title=Is 'Jeopardy!' a Sport? Its New EP Certainly Thinks So.|website=The Ringer|date=May 16, 2023|first=Claire|last=McNear|access-date=January 25, 2024}} He also served as the head of the network's reality programming division.{{Cite episode|title=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire|series=Gameshow Hall of Fame|network=GSN|airdate=January 21, 2007}}
=Diplomatic Productions=
On December 12, 2000, Davies founded Diplomatic Productions, his first production company, with the help of ABC and Disney.{{cite web|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/3903936/davies-pacts-disney-abc|title=DAVIES PACTS WITH DISNEY, ABC|date=December 12, 2000|first=Michael|last=Schneider|website=Variety|via=EBSCO Host Connection|access-date=January 16, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116132606/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/3903936/davies-pacts-disney-abc|archive-date=January 16, 2014}} On May 12, 2005, Diplomatic folded into Embassy Row after Davies joined forces with entertainment marketer Tera Banks and LivePlanet co-founder and former CEO Chris Moore.
=Blogger=
In 2002 and 2006, Davies wrote a blog about the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup for ESPN.com.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/davies/020621.html|title=Blog of the 2002 World Cup by Michael Davies|work=ESPN.com|page=2|year=2002|first=Michael|last=Davies|access-date=June 9, 2003}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=davies/060609|title=Blog of the 2006 World Cup by Michael Davies|page=2|work=ESPN.com|year=2006|first=Micharl|last=Davies|access-date=October 1, 2017}}
=Men in Blazers=
Beginning in 2011, Davies and co-host and ESPNFC.com writer Roger Bennett, brought the Men in Blazers podcast to Grantland.com. The weekly podcast includes analysis of recent matches in the Premier League as well as coverage of the UEFA Champions League and various international fixtures, specifically the United States men's national soccer team games.{{cite web|url=http://meninblazers.wikispaces.com|title=Men in Blazers|website=Meninblazers.wikispaces.com|accessdate=12 November 2016}}
The duo were invited to provide analysis and humorous segments for ESPN live from Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, especially from Bob Ley's "Panic Room".[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsK-T1gvwcA Men in Blazers Boot Room Extra – 2014 FIFA World Cup, Day 5 (immediately after United States 2-1 Ghana)], YouTube.com. Retrieved 11 November 2016. The duo did a live show from Portland, Oregon, for the 2014 MLS All-Star Game, interviewing the likes of Clint Dempsey and Alex Morgan while raising money for MLS Works and the Wounded Warrior Project.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V8eZesjDQg Men in Blazers at the 2014 MLS All-Star Game], YouTube.com; retrieved 11 November 2016.
In September 2014, they conducted a New York City FC exclusive interview with Frank Lampard after Lampard joined NYCFC from Chelsea.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXEyIuUssdg NYCFC Exclusive Interview – Frank Lampard (by the Men in Blazers)], YouTube.com; retrieved 11 November 2016. Fox Sports announced in April 2014 they had cancelled the Davies-produced program Crowd Goes Wild, a daily sports talk show from the national sports network Fox Sports 1.[http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/fox-sports-1-cancels-crowd-goes-wild.html Fox Sports 1 cancels Crowd Goes Wild], awfulannouncing.com; retrieved 4 July 2014.
Ahead of the 2014–15 Premier League season, NBC Sports signed Davies and Bennett from ESPN for its English Premier League coverage and confirmed that Men in Blazers would have its own half-hour television show on Monday nights at 10 pm EST, starting 22 September 2014.{{cite web|last1=Connors|first1=Will|title=Men in Blazers Jump to NBC|url=https://online.wsj.com/articles/men-in-blazers-jump-to-nbc-1407714244|website=The Wall Street Journal|date=10 August 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Prince-Wright|first1=Joe|title="The Men in Blazers Show" set for kick off on NBCSN|url=http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/17/the-men-in-blazers-show-set-for-kick-off-on-nbcsn|website=Prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com|date=17 September 2014}}
Davies and Bennett host the Men in Blazers channel on EA Sports Talk Radio on the official 2014 FIFA World Cup video game, with Andy Goldstein of TalkSPORT and Darke hosting the only other channel.[http://www.easports.com/2014-fifa-world-cup/news/2014/seven-reasons-to-start-your-2014-fifa-world-cup-early Seven Reasons To Start Your 2014 FIFA World Cup Early], Easports.com; retrieved 11 November 2016.
In April 2024, Davies left the podcast to focus on his other ventures.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C6OdfoFONtA/?img_index=1 |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=www.instagram.com}}
=Sony Pictures Television=
==Embassy Row==
As president and CEO of Embassy Row, a New York City-based television production company that is a unit of Sony Pictures Television, he was the executive producer of Wife Swap. He produced ESPN's 2 Minute Drill, VH1's World Series of Pop Culture, CBS's Power of 10, and the GSN originals: Chain Reaction, Grand Slam, and GSN's revival of The Newlywed Game, as well as the American version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/081399/ent_0913990027.html|title=ABC Quiz Show Asks Million-Dollar Question|website=lubbockonline.com|access-date=November 11, 2016}}
==''Jeopardy!''==
In 2021, Sony appointed Davies to serve as interim executive producer of Jeopardy! when Mike Richards was let go after controversies came to light.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/mike-richards-fired-executive-producer-jeopardy-wheel-of-fortune-1235052887/|title=Mike Richards Fired as Executive Producer of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune|work=Variety|author=Michael Schneider|date=August 31, 2021|access-date=August 31, 2021}}{{#tag:ref|Despite claims that Michael Davies will serve as an interim executive producer on Wheel of Fortune following Mike Richards' departure, he never actually assumed that role, with the show's senior producer Steve Schwartz serving as an uncredited interim executive producer for the rest of the show's 39th season before settling with Bellamie Blackstone in the 40th season.|group="nb"|name="s8e1"}} On April 14, 2022, Davies announced that he would be taking over the position full-time.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jeopardy-taps-michael-davies-as-permanent-showrunner-1235130349/|title=Jeopardy Taps Michael Davies as Permanent Showrunner|work=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Lesley Goldberg|date=April 14, 2022|access-date=April 14, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/cast-crew/ep-michael-davies-reflects-producers-role-and-his-future-show|title=EP Michael Davies Reflects on a Producer's Role and His Future With the Show|date=April 14, 2022|website=Jeopardy.com|accessdate=September 13, 2022}} So far, under Davies' tenure, he has created daily box scores for each episode,{{cite web|url=http://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/news-events/ep-michael-davies-discusses-jeopardy-sport-introduces-daily-box-scores|title=EP Michael Davies Discusses Jeopardy! As A Sport, Introduces Daily Box Scores|date=January 12, 2022|website=Jeopardy.com|accessdate=September 28, 2022}} creating a "Second Chance Tournament" to air before the show's "Tournament of Champions",{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/news-events/jeopardy-second-chance-tournament-ep-michael-davies-explains|title=A Jeopardy! Second Chance Tournament? EP Michael Davies Explains|date=February 9, 2022|website=Jeopardy.com|accessdate=September 28, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/jeopardy-announces-first-ever-second-chance-tournament-series/|title='Jeopardy!' to Launch First-Ever Second Chance Tournament: 'So Excited,' Series EP Says|website=People|date=February 11, 2022|first=Dory|last=Jackson|access-date=March 31, 2023}} creating a new holiday for the show entitled JeoparDAY! held on the show's birthday every year on March 30,{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/news-events/ep-michael-davies-jeoparday-coming|title=EP Michael Davies: JeoparDAY! Is Coming|date=February 25, 2022|website=Jeopardy.com|accessdate=September 28, 2022}} as well as creating daily recaps of the show known as Jeopardy! Highlights.{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/news-events/note-jeopardy-ep-michael-davies-new-hosts-and-new-initiatives|title=A Note From Jeopardy! EP Michael Davies: New Hosts and New Initiatives|date=July 27, 2022|website=Jeopardy.com|accessdate=September 28, 2022}}
In August 2022, Davies, along with former Jeopardy! Clue Crew member and current producer Sarah Whitcomb Foss and Jeopardy! champion Buzzy Cohen, began hosting a podcast about the game show entitled Inside Jeopardy! which takes a look behind the scenes from the quiz show like gameplay analysis, behind-the-scenes stories, official announcements, and special interviews.{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/mayim-bialik-ken-jennings-set-as-permanent-jeopardy-hosts-1235187567/|title=Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings Officially Set as Permanent 'Jeopardy!' Hosts|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 27, 2022|first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|access-date=March 31, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/jeopardy-mayim-bialik-ken-jennings-deals-season-39-hosting-schedule-celebrity-jeopardy-abc-1235079138/|title='Jeopardy!': Mayim Bialik & Ken Jennings Close Deals To Return, Season 39 Hosting Schedule Revealed|date=July 27, 2022|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=March 31, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/mayim-bialik-ken-jennings-jeopardy-1235327403/|title=Mayim Bialik, Ken Jennings to Host Expanded 'Jeopardy' Franchise|website=Variety|date=July 27, 2022|first=Brian|last=Steinberg|access-date=March 31, 2023}}
Personal life
On December 28, 1989, Davies married Selena Richards in Reno, Nevada. The couple divorced in 1992. Afterwards, he married documentary producer Claude Davies whom he later divorced.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} He had a daughter, Brea, through his relationship with Selena and three children through his relationship with Claude.
He is a fan of Chelsea F.C.{{Cite tweet |number=1017787310354632704 |user=embassydavies |title=Like many Chelsea fans, I don't know how to move forward with the same passion for the club that I have supported since i was 4. I'm sure it will return, but for now I just feel numb and let down. Today I am grateful for England and my 2nd and 3rd clubs, @CPFC and @hfdathletic |date=13 July 2018 |access-date=20 January 2021 |last=Davies |first=Michael}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The 27th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards | Himself | |
| 2001 | The 28th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards | Himself | |
| 2014 | Men in Blazers World Cup Preview | Host | |
| 2014–2015 | Late Night with Seth Meyers | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | The Men in Blazers Show | Host | 13 episodes |
| rowspan="3"| 2018 | Rog & Davo's Guide to Russia | Himself | 10 episodes |
| CBS News Sunday Morning | Himself | 1 episode | |
| Cover Story | Himself | 1 episode | |
| 2022 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen | Bartender | 1 episode |
| 2022–present | Inside Jeopardy! | Host | 29 episodes |
Notes
{{Reflist|group=nb}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0203863}}
- [http://sports.espn.go.com/keyword/search?searchString=Michael_Davies&source=l_navbar&rT=sports ESPN blog archive of Michael Davies]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
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{{Succession box| title=Executive Producer of Jeopardy! |years=October 11, 2021–present |before=Mike Richards |after=Incumbent}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Davies, Michael}}
Category:People from Blackheath, London
Category:Television producers from New York City
Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
Category:Television producers from London
Category:English expatriates in the United States