Mike Richards (television personality)
{{Short description|American television personality and producer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mike Richards
| image = Mike Richards (Television Personality), Valder Beebe Show (January 2017).jpg
| caption = Richards in 2017
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|7|5}}
| birth_place = Burbank, California, U.S.
| alma_mater = Pepperdine University
| years_active = 1997–2021
| television = Executive producer of Let's Make a Deal and The Price Is Right (2009–2019)
Executive producer of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! (2020–2021)
| spouse = Stephanie Richards
| children = 2
| occupation = {{ubl|Television personality|Producer}}
}}
Michael Richards (born July 5, 1975) is a former American television producer, game show host, and television personality. He was most notably the executive producer of the American television game shows Let's Make a Deal and The Price Is Right from 2009 to 2019, and of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune from 2020 to 2021. Richards also hosted other television series including High School Reunion, Beauty and the Geek, Pyramid, and Divided, and was the executive producer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2020.
In August 2021, Richards briefly succeeded Alex Trebek as host of the daily syndicated version of Jeopardy! after Trebek's death in 2020. However, Richards resigned as host later that month due to criticism over offensive comments that he made on The Randumb Show podcast, as well as wrongful termination and sexual harassment lawsuits from models during his time as the executive producer of The Price Is Right. Richards hosted only a week's worth of episodes, which aired in September 2021 as part of the show's 38th season.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/model-sues-price-is-right-producers-for-sexual-harassment/|title=Model sues Price Is Right producers for sexual harassment|work=CBS News|author=Edecio Martinez|date=September 8, 2011|access-date=February 24, 2022}}
Early life
Richards was born in Burbank, California, and attended Pepperdine University.{{cite news|url=https://parade.com/1173072/jerylbrunner/mike-richards-jeopardy-host-producer/|title=Everything You Need to Know About Mike Richards, the Next Jeopardy! Host|work=Parade|author=Jeryl Brunner|date=August 18, 2021|access-date=September 25, 2023}}
Career
= Early career =
Richards began his career in college where he created, wrote, produced, and hosted a weekly late-night comedy talk show called The Randumb Show at Pepperdine University. The show featured celebrity guests including Kim Fields, Casey Kasem and Anson Williams. Richards went on to intern for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Between 1996 and 2003, he regularly performed stand-up comedy in Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/tv/2021/8/18/22631299/mike-richards-jeopardy-host-search-process-past-comments|title="A Smile With Sharp Teeth": Mike Richards's Rise to Jeopardy! Host Sparks Questions About His Past|work=The Ringer|author=Claire McNear|date=August 18, 2021|access-date=August 20, 2021}}
Richards was the second host of Beauty and the Geek and produced numerous game shows, including Weakest Link.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/jeopardy-host-everything-know-frontrunner-mike-richards-alex-trebek-guest-host-levar-burton-1616503|title=Jeopardy! Host: Everything To Know About Frontrunner Mike Richards|work=Newsweek|author=Jenny Desborough|date=August 5, 2021|access-date=March 17, 2022}} He later hosted seasons of High School Reunion on The WB.{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/08/who-is-mike-richards-apparently-the-frontrunner-to-permanently-host-jeopardy|title=Who Is Mike Richards? Apparently, the Frontrunner to Permanently Host Jeopardy|work=Vanity Fair|author=Chris Murphy|date=August 5, 2021|access-date=September 25, 2023}}
During his early career, Richards was vice president of development and current programs for Dick Clark Productions. He hosted the daily movie news show Dailies for three years and served as a correspondent for the American Music Awards and the 2005 Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2012/06/gsn-inks-deal-with-mike-richards-to-host-pyramid-287221/|title=GSN Inks Deal With Mike Richards To Host Pyramid|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 15, 2012|access-date=September 25, 2023}}
= CBS: ''The Price Is Right'' and ''Let's Make a Deal'' =
From 2009 to 2019, Richards was the executive producer of The Price Is Right and Let's Make a Deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/tube-wayne-brady-host-new-version-deal-cbs-fall-article-1.393984|title=Inner Tube: Wayne Brady will host new version of Let's Make a Deal on CBS this fall|work=New York Daily News|author=Cristina Kinon|date=August 4, 2009|access-date=August 6, 2009}} He was also a candidate to host The Price Is Right in 2007 before Drew Carey was chosen.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2008/scene/news/price-names-executive-producer-1117990000/|title=Price names executive producer|work=Variety|author=Stuart Levine|date=August 3, 2008|access-date=August 9, 2008}} In interviews of those two shows, Richards was described as "exclusionary and dismissive of longtime show employees"; he fired announcer Rich Fields and held on-air auditions, similar to the ones he later used on Jeopardy!, to hire George Gray as Fields's replacement. He also dismissed longtime producer, and longtime friend of Bob Barker, Roger Dobkowitz.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jeopardy-mike-richards-price-is-right-1235006082/|title=Before Jeopardy, Mike Richards Left Tumultuous Legacy at Price Is Right|work=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Lesley Goldberg|date=August 31, 2021|access-date=September 2, 2021}} Richards often neglected Deal and was frequently absent from day-to-day operations. A post-producer was fired after sarcastically making an introduction that drew attention to Richards's absences.
Beginning in 2013, Richards hosted a podcast, The Randumb Show, which was promoted as a look at the production of Price. The Ringer reported that Richards, "repeatedly used offensive language and disparaged women's bodies". In 2021, the Anti-Defamation League criticized his disparaging stereotyping of women, Jews, Asians, and the disabled on the podcast and called for an investigation,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/mike-richards-adl-1235000199/|title=Mike Richards Starts Filming Jeopardy! as ADL Calls for Investigation|work=The Hollywood Reporter|author=James Hibberd|date=August 19, 2021|access-date=August 21, 2021}} after which Richards apologized for the material and took the podcast offline.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/jeopardy-mike-richards-adl-calls-for-investigation-over-podcast-comments-1234818502/|title=Anti-Defamation League Calls For Investigation Of Jeopardy! Host Mike Richards' Comments|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Bruce Haring|date=August 19, 2021|access-date=August 19, 2021}}
Richards was the subject of two wrongful termination lawsuits from models on The Price Is Right; one lawsuit was by Brandi Cochran, who alleged that CBS and FremantleMedia discriminated against her by firing her after she became pregnant with twins,{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/08/jeopardy-front-runner-mike-richards-says-past-lawsuits-dont-reflect-who-i-am|title=Jeopardy! Front-Runner Mike Richards: Past Lawsuits Don't Reflect Who I Am|work=Vanity Fair|author=Savannah Walsh|date=August 9, 2021|access-date=August 20, 2021}} and another was by Lanisha Cole, who claimed that Richards and fellow producer Adam Sandler (not to be confused with actor and comedian Adam Sandler) berated her in front of her peers and wrongfully terminated her.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/model-who-sued-mike-richards-posts-about-justice-after-his-jeopardy-ousting-1624880|title=Model Who Sued Mike Richards Posts About 'Justice' After His Jeopardy! Ousting|work=Newsweek|author=Ryan Smith|date=September 1, 2021|access-date=February 24, 2022}} The Hollywood Reporter stated that Richards made a disparaging comment about Cochran's pregnancy at a 2008 party, and that Richards claimed she was fired because he thought that she "would not take us to great."{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/price-is-right-model-wins-393521/|title=Price Is Right Model Wins Discrimination Lawsuit|work=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Eriq Gardner|date=November 21, 2012|access-date=August 19, 2021}}
= GSN: ''The Pyramid'' and ''Divided'' =
Richards hosted GSN's 2012 revival of The Pyramid{{cite press release |url=http://corp.gsn.com/press/releases/gsn-announces-premiere-pyramid-monday-september-3 |title=GSN Announces Premiere of The Pyramid on Monday, September 3 |publisher=GSN Corporate |date=July 12, 2012 |accessdate=July 12, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014125159/http://corp.gsn.com/press/releases/gsn-announces-premiere-pyramid-monday-september-3 |archivedate=October 14, 2013 |url-status=dead}} and the network's American version of Divided, which aired on the network from 2017 to 2018.{{cite press release |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2016/12/12/gsn-debuts-new-original-game-show-series-divided-with-season-4-premiere-of-idiotest-on-thursday-january-19-613212/20161212gsn01/ |title=GSN Debuts New Original Game Show Series Divided with Season 4 Premiere of Idiotest on Thursday, January 19 |publisher=GSN |via=The Futon Critic |date=December 12, 2016 |access-date=August 5, 2021}}
= Sony Pictures Television: ''Wheel of Fortune'' and ''Jeopardy!'' =
Richards left both Price and Deal in 2019 and joined Sony Pictures Television,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/price-is-right-lets-make-a-deal-mike-richards-1203253682/|title=Price Is Right, Let's Make a Deal Executive Producer Mike Richards to Exit for Overall Deal at Sony (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety|author=Joe Otterson|date=June 26, 2019|access-date=August 5, 2021}} where he was assigned to the ABC primetime return of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire as an executive producer alongside host Jimmy Kimmel and Michael Davies for the nine-episode first season of the show during the 2019–20 season.{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/01/08/emmy-award-winning-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-returns-to-abc-prime-time-hosted-by-emmy-award-winning-jimmy-kimmel-910212/20200108abc12/|title=Emmy(R) Award-Winning Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Returns to ABC Prime Time, Hosted by Emmy Award-Winning Jimmy Kimmel|publisher=ABC|via=The Futon Critic|date=January 8, 2020|access-date=August 5, 2021}} Richards also served as the executive producer for the 2021 GSN revival series of Chain Reaction.{{cite press release|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/11/02/game-show-network-greenlights-new-edition-of-classic-word-association-game-show-chain-reaction-633112/20201102gsn01/|title=Game Show Network Greenlights New Edition of Classic Word Association Game Show Chain Reaction|publisher=GSN|via=The Futon Critic|date=November 2, 2020|access-date=November 10, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/chain-reaction-revival-game-show-network-host-dylan-lane-mike-richards-1234606692/|title=Chain Reaction Revival Set At Game Show Network With Returning Host Dylan Lane; Mike Richards Set As EP|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Erik Pedersen|date=November 2, 2020|access-date=November 10, 2021}} For the 2020–21 season, Richards succeeded Harry Friedman as executive producer of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/mike-richards-executive-produce-jeopardy-wheel-of-fortune-harry-friedman-exit-next-year-1202707378/|title=Mike Richards To Executive Produce Jeopardy! & Wheel Of Fortune When Harry Friedman Exits Next Year|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Denise Petski|date=August 29, 2019|access-date=October 31, 2019}}
After Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek died on November 8, 2020, Richards appeared at the start of the November 9 episode to pay tribute to him.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/jeopardy-alex-trebek-special-message-1234611786/|title=Jeopardy! Executive Producer Mike Richards Pays Tribute To Alex Trebek With Speech & Moment Of Silence Before Monday's Episode – Update|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Alexandra Del Rosario|date=November 9, 2020|access-date=August 5, 2021}} Richards later filled in for two weeks as a guest host of the show, with his first episode airing on February 22, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbs58.com/news/executive-producer-mike-richards-named-new-guest-host-on-jeopardy|title=Jeopardy! announces executive producer Mike Richards as new guest host|work=WDJT-TV|date=February 22, 2021|access-date=February 26, 2021}} On August 4, it was reported that Richards had entered "advanced negotiations" to become the permanent host, though with other candidates still in contention.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/mike-richards-jeopardy-host-alex-trebek-1235034673/|title=Mike Richards in Advanced Negotiations to Become Permanent Host of Jeopardy! (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety|author=Cynthia Littleton|date=August 4, 2021|access-date=August 4, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/mike-richards-allegationsprice-is-right-lawsuit-jeopardy-host-1234811452/|title=Mike Richards Addresses Allegations In Price Is Right Lawsuit As He Eyes Jeopardy! Hosting Job|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Nellie Andreeva|date=August 9, 2021|access-date=August 9, 2021}} After that announcement, a lawsuit filed against Richards and others during his tenure as the executive producer of The Price Is Right resurfaced, causing controversy.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/mike-richards-jeopardy-past-discrimination-allegations-resurface/|title=Past discrimination allegations against reported Jeopardy host frontrunner Mike Richards resurface|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|author=Tyler Aquilina|date=August 6, 2021|access-date=August 9, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/mike-richards-jeopardy-price-is-right-lawsuit-1235037434/|title=Mike Richards Says Price Is Right Lawsuit Claims Don't 'Reflect the Reality of Who I Am'|work=Variety|author=Cynthia Littleton|date=August 9, 2021|access-date=August 9, 2021}} On August 11, it was announced that Richards would succeed Trebek as host of the daily show, with Jeopardy! guest host Mayim Bialik hosting future primetime specials and spinoffs.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/jeopardy-mike-richards-mayim-bialik-host-syndicated-spinoffs-1234812840/|title=Jeopardy!: Mike Richards To Host Syndicated Show, Mayim Bialik To Host Primetime & Spinoff Series|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Nellie Andreeva|date=August 11, 2021|access-date=August 11, 2021}}{{cite press release|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2021/08/11/sony-pictures-television-names-mayim-bialik-and-mike-richards-as-jeopardy-hosts-750114/20210811spt01/|title=Sony Pictures Television Names Mayim Bialik and Mike Richards as Jeopardy! Hosts|publisher=Sony Pictures Television|via=The Futon Critic|date=August 11, 2021|access-date=August 11, 2021}} However, on August 20, it was announced that Richards would step down after offensive comments he had made in the past emerged.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/mike-richards-jeopardy-host-out-1234999713/|title=Mike Richards Out as Jeopardy! Host After Podcast Comments|work=The Hollywood Reporter|author=James Hibberd|date=August 20, 2021|access-date=August 20, 2021}} It was also alleged that he had multiple conflicts of interest while participating in the host selection process. The five episodes Richards filmed the previous day, the show's first day of production on the new season,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/new-jeopardy-host-mike-richards-apologizes-for-sexist-podcast-comments-1234817692/|title=New Jeopardy! Host Mike Richards Apologizes For Sexist Podcast Comments On Eve Of New Season Taping|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Bruce Haring|date=August 18, 2021|access-date=August 20, 2021}} aired in September to kick off the show's 38th season.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/jeopardy-will-air-new-episodes-already-shot-with-short-lived-host-mike-richards/|title=Jeopardy! Will Air New Episodes Already Shot With Short-Lived Host Mike Richards|work=TheWrap|author1=Tony Maglio|author2=Tim Baysinger|date=August 20, 2021|access-date=August 20, 2021}}
Richards initially remained executive producer of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! after resigning as host, with the backing of Sony Pictures and the head of its television division, Ravi Ahuja.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/25/business/media/jeopardy-mike-richards-executive-producer.html|title=He's No Longer Host. But Mike Richards Is Still Running Jeopardy!|work=The New York Times|author1=Michael M. Grynbaum|author2=Nicole Sperling|author3=Julia Jacobs|date=August 25, 2021|access-date=August 25, 2021}} However, on August 31, 2021, a week and a half after Richards resigned as permanent host, he was fired as executive producer of both shows. Michael Davies from Embassy Row served as interim executive producer for Jeopardy! following Richards's departure,{{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 would serve as an interim executive producer of Wheel of Fortune after 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"}} and on April 14, 2022, was announced to be taking the role 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}} On March 23, 2022, it was announced that Bellamie Blackstone would take over the executive producer role for Wheel of Fortune.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/wheel-of-fortune-bellamie-blackstone-exec-producer-mike-richards-1234984871/|title=Wheel Of Fortune: Bellamie Blackstone Named Exec Producer Following Mike Richards Departure|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Peter White|date=March 23, 2022|access-date=March 23, 2022}} Bialik and Ken Jennings were eventually chosen as co-hosts for the syndicated version of Jeopardy! on July 27, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.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|work=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Lesley Goldberg|date=July 27, 2022|access-date=July 29, 2022}}
Personal life
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Other Half | Himself | 1 episode |
| rowspan="2"| 2004 | Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve 2005 | Correspondent | |
| New Year's Rockin' Eve 2005 | Correspondent | ||
| rowspan="2"| 2006–2008 | Beauty and the Geek | Host | 31 episodes |
| Dallies | Host | 23 episodes | |
| 2008 | High School Reunion | Host | 4 episodes |
| 2009–2013 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Thad/Interviewer | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | The Pyramid | Host | 40 episodes |
| 2013 | The 40th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards | Himself | |
| 2016 | The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards | Himself | |
| rowspan="5"| 2017 | WGN Morning News | Himself | 1 episode |
| The Talk | Himself | 1 episode | |
| Hollywood Today Live | Himself | 1 episode | |
| Divided | Host | 105 episodes | |
| Home & Family | Himself | 2 episodes | |
| rowspan="4"| 2018 | The 45th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Red Carpet Live | Himself | |
| The 45th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards | Himself | ||
| Cover Story | Himself | 1 episode | |
| Unsung Hollywood | Himself | 1 episode | |
| rowspan="3"| 2020–2021 | Jeopardy! | Host | 15 episodes, also executive producer |
| Entertainment Tonight | Himself | 2 episodes | |
| Today | Himself | 2 episodes | |
| 2021 | GMA3: What You Need to Know'' | Himself | 1 episode |
Accolades
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Award !Work !Result |
| 2011
|rowspan="2"|Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game/Participation Show |{{nom}} |
| 2012
|rowspan="2"|Let's Make a Deal |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2013
|rowspan="15"|Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show |{{nom}} |
| The Price Is Right
|{{won}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2014
|The Price Is Right |{{nom}} |
| Let's Make a Deal
|{{nom}} |
| 2015
|The Price Is Right |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2016
|Let's Make a Deal |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"|The Price Is Right
|{{won}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2017
|{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"| Let's Make a Deal
|{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2018
|{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"| The Price Is Right
|{{won}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2019
|{{nom}} |
| Let's Make a Deal
|{{nom}} |
| 2020
|The Price Is Right |{{nom}} |
| 2021
|rowspan="2"| Jeopardy! |{{won}} |
| 2022
|Writers Guild of America Award for Quiz and Audience Participation |{{nom}} |
Notes
{{Reflist|group=nb}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0724251}}
- [https://archive.org/details/randumb-show The Randumb Show] podcast backup, on Internet Archive
{{S-start}}
{{s-media}}
{{Succession box| title=Executive producer of Wheel of Fortune |years=September 14, 2020 – October 8, 2021 |before=Harry Friedman |after=Bellamie Blackstone}}
{{succession box| title=Executive producer of Jeopardy! |years=September 14, 2020 – October 8, 2021 |before=Harry Friedman |after=Michael Davies}}
{{succession box | title=Guest host of Jeopardy! |years=February 22 – March 5, 2021 | before=Ken Jennings | after=Katie Couric}}
{{succession box | title=Host of Jeopardy! |years=September 13, 2021 – September 17, 2021 | before=Alex Trebek | after= Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings}}
{{s-end}}
{{Jeopardy!|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Mike}}
Category:2021 controversies in the United States
Category:American game show hosts
Category:People from Burbank, California
Category:Pepperdine University alumni