The Rise and Swift Fall of ‘Jeopardy’ Host Mike Richards
August 20, 2021 9:40 AM Subscribe
"From the moment of his announcement, Richards was a deflating choice. "His status as the show’s executive producer lent the sense that the months of host auditions had been rigged in his favor from the start. And his amiable blankness behind the podium suggested an empty sort of careerism that seemed to run counter to what “Jeopardy” is and does.... What Richards seemed to see in “Jeopardy,” a show he already ran, was an opportunity to put himself on camera above all else."
“A Smile With Sharp Teeth”: Mike Richards’s Rise to ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Sparks Questions About His Past
"One of Trebek’s preferred quips about Jeopardy! was that he was simply its host and not its star; the stars, he often said, were the contestants. To the show’s community of longtime viewers and former contestants, this has long been part of Jeopardy!’s magic. It’s not just a wholesome pop culture fixture; it’s a celebration of learning, an identity, a way of life.
After months of auditions, focus groups, and roiling comment sections, Sony has decided that Richards is not just capable of keeping that magic alive—he is the best person to do it. On the eve of taping his first episodes as permanent host, it’s clear that not everybody feels the same way.
“I think that one reason why Jeopardy! was aspirational for many of its contestants was its sense of integrity,” says Sausville, the 2015 champion. “There was something intrinsic to the show and Alex Trebek’s hosting of it that elevated it above other game shows. The baggage Mike Richards has brought from his previous experience as an executive producer, as well as the optics of what comes across as his self-selection as host, have tarnished that. I think there’s a real danger of Jeopardy! becoming just another syndicated game show, and that makes me concerned for its longevity and standing.”
'Jeopardy!' host Mike Richards is exactly who you think he is
"Richards said exactly the type of things on “The Randumb Show” that you might expect from a generic 46-year-old Ken doll who fancies himself an “edgy” amateur comedian. According to the Ringer report, Richards frequently commented on the appearance, height and professional history of his co-host and former assistant, Beth Triffon. He called her a “booth ho” and a “booth slut” for having previously worked as a model at the Consumer Electronics Show (an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association). He uses a derogatory slur for little people to describe her and suggests that she audition for “Taiwanese roles” because of her short stature.
He also denigrates government assistance programs and unhoused people, invokes the r-word to question other people’s intelligence, uses a stereotype about Jews and big noses, comments on the weight a colleague will gain once she takes up baking, proclaims that women dress like “hookers” on Halloween and says one-piece swimsuits are “genuinely unattractive” and make women “look really frumpy and overweight.”
The fact that he said all of these things — out loud, on a public podcast, recorded on the premises of his workplace, without fear of retribution — signals how little these comments struck him as problematic."
With Richard's departure, the search for a new host will resume. Gritty is down for the job.
“A Smile With Sharp Teeth”: Mike Richards’s Rise to ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Sparks Questions About His Past
"One of Trebek’s preferred quips about Jeopardy! was that he was simply its host and not its star; the stars, he often said, were the contestants. To the show’s community of longtime viewers and former contestants, this has long been part of Jeopardy!’s magic. It’s not just a wholesome pop culture fixture; it’s a celebration of learning, an identity, a way of life.
After months of auditions, focus groups, and roiling comment sections, Sony has decided that Richards is not just capable of keeping that magic alive—he is the best person to do it. On the eve of taping his first episodes as permanent host, it’s clear that not everybody feels the same way.
“I think that one reason why Jeopardy! was aspirational for many of its contestants was its sense of integrity,” says Sausville, the 2015 champion. “There was something intrinsic to the show and Alex Trebek’s hosting of it that elevated it above other game shows. The baggage Mike Richards has brought from his previous experience as an executive producer, as well as the optics of what comes across as his self-selection as host, have tarnished that. I think there’s a real danger of Jeopardy! becoming just another syndicated game show, and that makes me concerned for its longevity and standing.”
'Jeopardy!' host Mike Richards is exactly who you think he is
"Richards said exactly the type of things on “The Randumb Show” that you might expect from a generic 46-year-old Ken doll who fancies himself an “edgy” amateur comedian. According to the Ringer report, Richards frequently commented on the appearance, height and professional history of his co-host and former assistant, Beth Triffon. He called her a “booth ho” and a “booth slut” for having previously worked as a model at the Consumer Electronics Show (an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association). He uses a derogatory slur for little people to describe her and suggests that she audition for “Taiwanese roles” because of her short stature.
He also denigrates government assistance programs and unhoused people, invokes the r-word to question other people’s intelligence, uses a stereotype about Jews and big noses, comments on the weight a colleague will gain once she takes up baking, proclaims that women dress like “hookers” on Halloween and says one-piece swimsuits are “genuinely unattractive” and make women “look really frumpy and overweight.”
The fact that he said all of these things — out loud, on a public podcast, recorded on the premises of his workplace, without fear of retribution — signals how little these comments struck him as problematic."
With Richard's departure, the search for a new host will resume. Gritty is down for the job.
This whole saga has been so weird in such an un-Jeopardy! way.
posted by wondermouse at 9:48 AM on August 20, 2021 [27 favorites]
posted by wondermouse at 9:48 AM on August 20, 2021 [27 favorites]
Makes me wonder if the people Trebek actually thought might do a good job (CNN legal analyst Laura Coates, NHL sportscaster Alex Faust) are interested.
posted by Pandora Kouti at 9:51 AM on August 20, 2021 [14 favorites]
posted by Pandora Kouti at 9:51 AM on August 20, 2021 [14 favorites]
Michael Richards I guess will go back to playing the android from Prometheus.
posted by geoff. at 9:53 AM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by geoff. at 9:53 AM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
Christ, what an asshole. Glad he's stepping down as host, but I'm sorry this guy is still being allowed to continue as executive producer.
posted by merriment at 9:53 AM on August 20, 2021 [30 favorites]
posted by merriment at 9:53 AM on August 20, 2021 [30 favorites]
Is he still going to be the EP of the show?
posted by briank at 9:53 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by briank at 9:53 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
A staggering own-goal from Richards. He could have just continued to do his extremely lucrative job as an EP at a high-profile network show and never drawn this controversy to himself or the show, but he had to stick his neck out. That total confidence that none of your consequences will ever have actions and the only direction is up, and moreover, that you deserve that next brass ring in spite of anything you've done, it's so hard to understand that mindset. And I say that as a white man who lives in a society that has been explicitly designed to help me succeed at the expense of everyone else. It's just so fucking weird on top of everything else.
posted by saladin at 9:55 AM on August 20, 2021 [90 favorites]
posted by saladin at 9:55 AM on August 20, 2021 [90 favorites]
I'm glad Richards won't be the host, but yes, as of now he's still the show's Executive Producer. Knowing that he is running things behind the scenes makes me feel squicky. Even his "apology" yesterday that sought to label racist and sexist comments made in 2014 as "nearly a decade ago" - the guy is gross. Whoever is picked as new host (I hope LeVar Burton!) will really need to watch their back.
posted by rogerroger at 9:56 AM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by rogerroger at 9:56 AM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
"Alex, I'll take Problematic Game Show Hosts for $200"
"And the answer is: This giant egotistical doorknob will always be remembered for anointing himself to a position he was not qualified for and did not deserve."
posted by storybored at 9:57 AM on August 20, 2021 [17 favorites]
"And the answer is: This giant egotistical doorknob will always be remembered for anointing himself to a position he was not qualified for and did not deserve."
posted by storybored at 9:57 AM on August 20, 2021 [17 favorites]
I hope he's dropped as EP, as well. I haven't been able to watch Jeopardy much over the last few years, because I dropped cable TV, but from my occasional viewing, it seems like they've done a lot to increase the number of women on the show. To leave in charge a man who clearly views women as primarily existing to serve his personal boners is a huge step backward from that.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:00 AM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 10:00 AM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
Claire McNear's article "A Smile With Sharp Teeth" is some GREAT reporting.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:03 AM on August 20, 2021 [28 favorites]
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:03 AM on August 20, 2021 [28 favorites]
Dictionary.com with the best tweet:
"Jeopardy" is a noun meaning "peril or danger." Here it is in a sentence:
"My job is in jeopardy because of my past comments."
posted by rogerroger at 10:04 AM on August 20, 2021 [140 favorites]
"Jeopardy" is a noun meaning "peril or danger." Here it is in a sentence:
"My job is in jeopardy because of my past comments."
posted by rogerroger at 10:04 AM on August 20, 2021 [140 favorites]
From the MSNBC article: The fact that he said all of these things . . . without fear of retribution . . .
I would just like to note that he still isn't facing any retribution, he is just missing out on a gigantic opportunity that required having and maintaining a squeaky clean image, something he failed to do. Even if he also loses out on being EP, that's again just because he failed to keep a positive public image, which is the only discernable eligibility requirement for the job.
posted by skewed at 10:07 AM on August 20, 2021 [15 favorites]
I would just like to note that he still isn't facing any retribution, he is just missing out on a gigantic opportunity that required having and maintaining a squeaky clean image, something he failed to do. Even if he also loses out on being EP, that's again just because he failed to keep a positive public image, which is the only discernable eligibility requirement for the job.
posted by skewed at 10:07 AM on August 20, 2021 [15 favorites]
Rodger Sherman (writer at The Ringer): Claire saved the best game show in history by listening to 40 episodes of a boring guy’s tremendously unfunny podcast. A true American hero
posted by Going To Maine at 10:08 AM on August 20, 2021 [120 favorites]
posted by Going To Maine at 10:08 AM on August 20, 2021 [120 favorites]
Next 12 months will step down or step back from producing. Then he’ll probably go in a “woe is me” tour to explain that he really was the best and if only those pesky ....
Anyway you know how this song goes.
I really need to hear more about what was said when he said “I want to audition AND judge who is best!” That is so unprofessional but apparently not unusual, like Cheney as VP.
*Why do so many corporate dummies think they’re comedians? Actual comedians tell risky jokes and understand the audience may hate them/not connect w them. FOR YEARS.
posted by Freecola at 10:12 AM on August 20, 2021 [10 favorites]
Anyway you know how this song goes.
I really need to hear more about what was said when he said “I want to audition AND judge who is best!” That is so unprofessional but apparently not unusual, like Cheney as VP.
*Why do so many corporate dummies think they’re comedians? Actual comedians tell risky jokes and understand the audience may hate them/not connect w them. FOR YEARS.
posted by Freecola at 10:12 AM on August 20, 2021 [10 favorites]
Christ, what an asshole
ITYM "What is 'Christ, an asshole'?"
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:27 AM on August 20, 2021 [14 favorites]
ITYM "What is 'Christ, an asshole'?"
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:27 AM on August 20, 2021 [14 favorites]
Wasn't LeVar Burton the front-runner to host? I thought everyone wanted it to be him.
posted by Frowner at 10:28 AM on August 20, 2021 [10 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 10:28 AM on August 20, 2021 [10 favorites]
No, apparently Richards and Mayim Bialik were, followed by Ken Jennings. (I forget where I read that a few days ago, so no cite.) LeVar is beloved but I guess did not do so great on the show + he got a bad time to host it at, so I don't think he was as ranked as others wanted him to be.
That total confidence that none of your consequences will ever have actions and the only direction is up, and moreover, that you deserve that next brass ring in spite of anything you've done, it's so hard to understand that mindset.
I'm impressed that Claire dug up this podcast nobody heard of from years ago. Who was this guy and who would have cared to have heard it then? If nobody's watching you, you can do what you want. Too bad he decided he wanted to be seen and heard more, I guess.
Linda Holmes: The Mike Richards 'Jeopardy!' Fiasco Was Maddeningly Predictable
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:37 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
That total confidence that none of your consequences will ever have actions and the only direction is up, and moreover, that you deserve that next brass ring in spite of anything you've done, it's so hard to understand that mindset.
I'm impressed that Claire dug up this podcast nobody heard of from years ago. Who was this guy and who would have cared to have heard it then? If nobody's watching you, you can do what you want. Too bad he decided he wanted to be seen and heard more, I guess.
Linda Holmes: The Mike Richards 'Jeopardy!' Fiasco Was Maddeningly Predictable
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:37 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
Wasn't LeVar Burton the front-runner to host? I thought everyone wanted it to be him.
Kind of - he wasn't initially one of the people that was tapped as a temporary host, but he had enough public support behind giving him a shot that he got one. I read sports news frequently, and based on reportage there, you might think Aaron Rodgers was a front-runner as well.
posted by LionIndex at 10:39 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Kind of - he wasn't initially one of the people that was tapped as a temporary host, but he had enough public support behind giving him a shot that he got one. I read sports news frequently, and based on reportage there, you might think Aaron Rodgers was a front-runner as well.
posted by LionIndex at 10:39 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Claire has some ah, outtakes that she couldn't fit into the article of even more un-classy shit he said.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:41 AM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:41 AM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Wasn't LeVar Burton the front-runner to host? I thought everyone wanted it to be him.
And then he guest hosted. And he sucked at it. And the producers made the right call by not giving him the job.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 10:48 AM on August 20, 2021 [15 favorites]
And then he guest hosted. And he sucked at it. And the producers made the right call by not giving him the job.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 10:48 AM on August 20, 2021 [15 favorites]
That Ringer article talks a lot about how besides all his bigotry, discrimination, and general jerkery, Richards might have meddled a lot with the selection process and the rankings of the candidates:
- 'For example, much has been made of Sony’s use of analytics to identify a front-runner. “We want to go at this with real analytics and real testing and not just go, ‘Hey, how about this guy?’” [...] On Saturday, The New York Times reported that Richards alone selected the episodes that were sent to focus groups for review; the show’s two supervising producers, Lisa Broffman and Rocky Schmidt, who are both in their fourth decade working on the show, were excluded from the process.'
- 'As executive producer, Richards controlled nearly everything about Jeopardy!’s most recent season. Sources say this led to myriad conflicts of interest. “He was the one rehearsing and giving direction to all the guest hosts, who may not have realized they were competing with him for the job,” says a Sony employee familiar with the host search. “He could influence the promotion of those shows and the respective guest hosts. He had personal relationships with the executives involved, who had entrusted the show to him a year before.”
- 'In [LeVar] Burton’s case, fans have complained that the Reading Rainbow star was given just a week’s worth of episodes—filmed in the space of a single tape day—compared to the two weeks afforded to most of the other candidates. Burton’s supporters have also pointed out that his episodes aired in the midst of the Summer Olympics, which caused some to be preempted on NBC affiliate stations and may have contributed to lackluster ratings.'
- 'Jennings taped six weeks of episodes before a minor conflict with an upcoming tape day emerged. As The Ringer previously reported, sources say the show’s production staff was able to accommodate the conflict, only for Richards to step in and insist on hosting instead. When the time came to tape the preamble to his first episode, Richards blamed COVID-19 for the change and exaggerated the nature of Jennings’s conflict.'
So who knows how well anyone actually did.
posted by trig at 10:49 AM on August 20, 2021 [53 favorites]
- 'For example, much has been made of Sony’s use of analytics to identify a front-runner. “We want to go at this with real analytics and real testing and not just go, ‘Hey, how about this guy?’” [...] On Saturday, The New York Times reported that Richards alone selected the episodes that were sent to focus groups for review; the show’s two supervising producers, Lisa Broffman and Rocky Schmidt, who are both in their fourth decade working on the show, were excluded from the process.'
- 'As executive producer, Richards controlled nearly everything about Jeopardy!’s most recent season. Sources say this led to myriad conflicts of interest. “He was the one rehearsing and giving direction to all the guest hosts, who may not have realized they were competing with him for the job,” says a Sony employee familiar with the host search. “He could influence the promotion of those shows and the respective guest hosts. He had personal relationships with the executives involved, who had entrusted the show to him a year before.”
- 'In [LeVar] Burton’s case, fans have complained that the Reading Rainbow star was given just a week’s worth of episodes—filmed in the space of a single tape day—compared to the two weeks afforded to most of the other candidates. Burton’s supporters have also pointed out that his episodes aired in the midst of the Summer Olympics, which caused some to be preempted on NBC affiliate stations and may have contributed to lackluster ratings.'
- 'Jennings taped six weeks of episodes before a minor conflict with an upcoming tape day emerged. As The Ringer previously reported, sources say the show’s production staff was able to accommodate the conflict, only for Richards to step in and insist on hosting instead. When the time came to tape the preamble to his first episode, Richards blamed COVID-19 for the change and exaggerated the nature of Jennings’s conflict.'
So who knows how well anyone actually did.
posted by trig at 10:49 AM on August 20, 2021 [53 favorites]
My impression from twitter, which of course, caveat emptor, was that a lot of folks really liked LeVar Burton for the job, Ken Jennings was fine but a little uncharismatic, while Mayim Bialik is an anti-vaxxer who shills snake oil, which made her an odd choice as a second host with Richards in what I perceived to be an attempt to deflect the complaints about him.
posted by axiom at 10:51 AM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by axiom at 10:51 AM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
Wasn’t LeVar Burton the front-runner to host? I thought everyone wanted it to be him.
And then he guest hosted. And he sucked at it. And the producers made the right call by not giving him the job.
Interestingly to me, the most hardcore trivia people I know (one has been on a quiz show) thought that Richards was… fine. Not exceptional, but somebody who definitely knew the mechanics of how to host. This entire thing is madly subjective, of course.
posted by Going To Maine at 10:53 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
And then he guest hosted. And he sucked at it. And the producers made the right call by not giving him the job.
Interestingly to me, the most hardcore trivia people I know (one has been on a quiz show) thought that Richards was… fine. Not exceptional, but somebody who definitely knew the mechanics of how to host. This entire thing is madly subjective, of course.
posted by Going To Maine at 10:53 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
I actually thought Richards was fine as host in the episodes he did in the winter, but found the whole "we're auditioning hosts, oh what do you know, we picked the guy in charge!" dance distasteful. Kudos to Claire McNear's reporting on this - but there was no reason to lazily go with the nearest acceptable white man, even assuming all his baggage was somehow under the radar. Disappointing, but unsurprising I suppose.
Staying on as executive producer seems like it would be awkward for any other permanent host, aside from all the other issues, so fingers crossed his exit from that role is also being negotiated.
I wish this whole mess had not played out as it did, but, silver lining, I liked the guest hosts and am glad to have more of them.
I'd rather see diverse lesser known candidates with a broadcasting background than more celebs, personally. The show periodically does city categories in which the clues are delivered by local news personalities from the affiliate station that air Jeopardy! in that market. I bet there are local news on air talent all over the country who would make good guest hosts and they might find a good long-term replacement. Have an actual talent search, not whatever this was.
posted by the primroses were over at 10:53 AM on August 20, 2021 [12 favorites]
Staying on as executive producer seems like it would be awkward for any other permanent host, aside from all the other issues, so fingers crossed his exit from that role is also being negotiated.
I wish this whole mess had not played out as it did, but, silver lining, I liked the guest hosts and am glad to have more of them.
I'd rather see diverse lesser known candidates with a broadcasting background than more celebs, personally. The show periodically does city categories in which the clues are delivered by local news personalities from the affiliate station that air Jeopardy! in that market. I bet there are local news on air talent all over the country who would make good guest hosts and they might find a good long-term replacement. Have an actual talent search, not whatever this was.
posted by the primroses were over at 10:53 AM on August 20, 2021 [12 favorites]
>Wasn't LeVar Burton the front-runner to host? I thought everyone wanted it to be him.
And then he guest hosted. And he sucked at it.
I didn't see Burton's episodes - were they really not good?
posted by trig at 10:54 AM on August 20, 2021
And then he guest hosted. And he sucked at it.
I didn't see Burton's episodes - were they really not good?
posted by trig at 10:54 AM on August 20, 2021
I think it's time to fulfill that Old Testament prophecy that David Lee Roth would move to Hollywood and become America's favorite game show host.
posted by NoMich at 10:54 AM on August 20, 2021 [29 favorites]
posted by NoMich at 10:54 AM on August 20, 2021 [29 favorites]
I didn't see Burton's episodes - were they really not good?
I was really excited to watch him host, but yeah, he wasn't very good. I actually like Robin Roberts the best, but I seem to the only person talking sense about this whole debacle so she probably won't get offered the role..
posted by NoMich at 10:56 AM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
I was really excited to watch him host, but yeah, he wasn't very good. I actually like Robin Roberts the best, but I seem to the only person talking sense about this whole debacle so she probably won't get offered the role..
posted by NoMich at 10:56 AM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Honestly, Sean Connery would have made a better Jeopardy! host.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 10:59 AM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 10:59 AM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
Is Art Fleming still dead?
posted by box at 10:59 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by box at 10:59 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
I watched every episode of every guest host. I really, really wanted LeVar to be great, but he was probably did the worst job of the bunch. Tons of flubs and timing miscues and just an overall weird energy. (In his first game, someone set the all-time Jeopardy record for the lowest score ever.) In the light of all the reporting this week, I thought it could have been Mike Richards sabotage, but someone on the Jeopardy subreddit who was a contestant that week said he really was kind of a mess and there would have been no way to save it in the edit.
Most of the guest hosts were fine, although I didn't think any of them was the obvious front-runner. My personal fave was Buzzy Cohen. He did a great job directing the flow of the show, and I think it helps to have a host that knows most of the answers himself - for a lot of the other hosts, I could sense that they pausing to double-check the answer sheet all the time.
posted by theodolite at 11:02 AM on August 20, 2021 [12 favorites]
Most of the guest hosts were fine, although I didn't think any of them was the obvious front-runner. My personal fave was Buzzy Cohen. He did a great job directing the flow of the show, and I think it helps to have a host that knows most of the answers himself - for a lot of the other hosts, I could sense that they pausing to double-check the answer sheet all the time.
posted by theodolite at 11:02 AM on August 20, 2021 [12 favorites]
I didn’t love any of the guest hosts, although some were better than others. I couldn’t tell if that was mostly because they weren’t Alex Trebek or not.
The guest hosting never felt like auditions to me. I figured all those people were filling time until they found the real host, which was going to be someone else.
posted by wondermouse at 11:03 AM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
The guest hosting never felt like auditions to me. I figured all those people were filling time until they found the real host, which was going to be someone else.
posted by wondermouse at 11:03 AM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
LeVar had kind of a weird energy. And he flubbed some moments around people buzzing in late, or giving partially-correct responses. But as pointed out, he filmed his week of episodes in one day of taping. Had he been able to come back for a second day like the other guest hosts, maybe he would have shown improvement.
I don't think he SUCKED. It seems like completely bombing this gig would require...I don't know, never having been on TV before? It seems more about style and mannerisms.
posted by AndrewInDC at 11:03 AM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
I don't think he SUCKED. It seems like completely bombing this gig would require...I don't know, never having been on TV before? It seems more about style and mannerisms.
posted by AndrewInDC at 11:03 AM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
AVClub: The Jeopardy! guest hosts, ranked
TL;DR:
16. Dr. Oz
15. Katie Couric
14. George Stephanopoulos
13. Joe Buck
12. Mike Richards
11. David Faber
10. Anderson Cooper
9. Bill Whitaker
8. Savannah Guthrie
7. Levar Burton
6. Robin Roberts
5. Dr. Sanjay Gupta
4. Buzzy Cohen
3. Mayim Bialik
2. Aaron Rodgers
1. Ken Jennings
posted by 1970s Antihero at 11:03 AM on August 20, 2021 [5 favorites]
TL;DR:
16. Dr. Oz
15. Katie Couric
14. George Stephanopoulos
13. Joe Buck
12. Mike Richards
11. David Faber
10. Anderson Cooper
9. Bill Whitaker
8. Savannah Guthrie
7. Levar Burton
6. Robin Roberts
5. Dr. Sanjay Gupta
4. Buzzy Cohen
3. Mayim Bialik
2. Aaron Rodgers
1. Ken Jennings
posted by 1970s Antihero at 11:03 AM on August 20, 2021 [5 favorites]
Is Art Fleming still dead?
Heck, at this point I wouldn't be surprised if they went with Bob Barker.
posted by JanetLand at 11:04 AM on August 20, 2021
Heck, at this point I wouldn't be surprised if they went with Bob Barker.
posted by JanetLand at 11:04 AM on August 20, 2021
Irrelevant to the OP but Mayim Bialik is not an anti-vaxxer.
posted by archimago at 11:06 AM on August 20, 2021 [18 favorites]
posted by archimago at 11:06 AM on August 20, 2021 [18 favorites]
Does Ken not want the job?
posted by all about eevee at 11:07 AM on August 20, 2021
posted by all about eevee at 11:07 AM on August 20, 2021
He very much wants the job and is still involved in the show. What's wild to me is that everything thought of him as the conservative choice - like if you're gonna go white dude, why not go with the one that has a huge amount of celebrity in the community and is relatively charismatic?
posted by Think_Long at 11:11 AM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Think_Long at 11:11 AM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Ken wants the job but won't campaign for it. (Again, another cite I saw within the last few days but can't recall where I read it.) He is politely a Jeopardy person all the way and isn't really going to quibble too much about the whole thing, was my impression.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:11 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:11 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Aaron Rodgers is saying that he would've taken the Jeopardy job. Can we just give do guest hosts for the remainder of the NFL season and then give him the job? That gives us a good several months of this being out of the spotlight and for a smooth transition.
posted by geoff. at 11:12 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by geoff. at 11:12 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
The Jeopardy! guest hosts, ranked
Even at dead last, Dr. Oz is ranked too high on that list.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 11:13 AM on August 20, 2021 [66 favorites]
Even at dead last, Dr. Oz is ranked too high on that list.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 11:13 AM on August 20, 2021 [66 favorites]
Whoa, I somehow missed in my initial read that it was his own damn podcast. I thought he was going on some Howard Stern-show-wannabe podcast that was briefly popular and said offensive shit while "going along" with the show's host/vibe. Which would still be, to be clear, very bad decision-making by him. But I thought Jeopardy! didn't notice because he was a guest on some rando's podcast. But no! Apparently they either 1) did zero due diligence about an entertainment product that the entertainment guy they were hiring to publicly perform entertainment used to voluntarily put out on his own as an example of his work/humor/public persona; or 2) did their due diligence, found this, and shrugged this off as unimportant; or 3) were already aware this guy was a massive jackass and were so used to it they forgot it was important or were in such an abusive workplace environment that they had no ability to stand against it.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:14 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:14 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
Irrelevant to the OP but Mayim Bialik is not an anti-vaxxer.
So she claims, but let's look at her actual actions rather than her claims:
posted by jedicus at 11:18 AM on August 20, 2021 [63 favorites]
So she claims, but let's look at her actual actions rather than her claims:
“I wrote a book about 10 years ago ... and at the time my children had not received the typical schedule of vaccines. ... As of today, my children may not have had every one of the vaccinations that your children have”So, even 10 years on, she continues not to fully vaccinate her children, while at the same time claiming that they are "vaccinated". Not full-on anti-vax, but still gets a lot of side-eye from me for that.
posted by jedicus at 11:18 AM on August 20, 2021 [63 favorites]
archimago: “Irrelevant to the OP but Mayim Bialik is not an anti-vaxxer.”It's funny, because she says that and wants us to believe it, but then clarifies by saying the kinds of things an anti-vaxxer says.
posted by ob1quixote at 11:19 AM on August 20, 2021 [57 favorites]
She sounds anti-vax in general but apparently did say she got the kids vaccinated for flu/Covid this year. (Once again, things I read but didn't save for future citation later.) So....somewhat still on the dubious side these days.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:20 AM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:20 AM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Yes, a great deal of side-eye here as well...
posted by Windopaene at 11:20 AM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 11:20 AM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Robin Roberts gets my vote.
--
Given that we can accept having new contestants every day, why not do short-term guest hosts forever?
posted by wenestvedt at 11:20 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
--
Given that we can accept having new contestants every day, why not do short-term guest hosts forever?
posted by wenestvedt at 11:20 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
I'm one of these people who used to watch Jeopardy religiously, but then drifted away over the years -- I can't start watching teevee that early, I'm still doing stuff.
But Trebek's passing and the series of guest hosts, that brought me back in. I made a point of checking in on the show, seeing how the guest hosts were doing. And what struck me was how proprietorial I was about the show. I was keenly aware of letting these strangers into my (metaphorical and literal) house.
I was drawn in and excited about the show in a way that I hadn't been since I left school and started working. I loved the guest host format (and was solidly behind LeVar, I admit -- and he started out rough but got better and in time would have been Just Fine).
Then they picked Richards to host. I hadn't seen his turn, actually, and comments were good, but -- it was unseemly. It reeked of having been fixed. Everyone who lost out on a job to an internal candidate knows how it feels to be taken for a ride, and those feelings came right to the forefront. As well, it seemed like a huge missed opportunity, that in the time of Me Too and BLM, they just went with the same old same old, a white guy with connections.
And that was all before the allegations really started coming out, which just made it all worse.
So yeah -- the link talks about a rise of goodwill being squandered. I totally get that. I was part of that rise, someone who had a deep love for the series, was brought back as a viewer, and looked forward to seeing the whole thing refreshed. The guy picked himself, and that balloon popped. What a waste.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:22 AM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
But Trebek's passing and the series of guest hosts, that brought me back in. I made a point of checking in on the show, seeing how the guest hosts were doing. And what struck me was how proprietorial I was about the show. I was keenly aware of letting these strangers into my (metaphorical and literal) house.
I was drawn in and excited about the show in a way that I hadn't been since I left school and started working. I loved the guest host format (and was solidly behind LeVar, I admit -- and he started out rough but got better and in time would have been Just Fine).
Then they picked Richards to host. I hadn't seen his turn, actually, and comments were good, but -- it was unseemly. It reeked of having been fixed. Everyone who lost out on a job to an internal candidate knows how it feels to be taken for a ride, and those feelings came right to the forefront. As well, it seemed like a huge missed opportunity, that in the time of Me Too and BLM, they just went with the same old same old, a white guy with connections.
And that was all before the allegations really started coming out, which just made it all worse.
So yeah -- the link talks about a rise of goodwill being squandered. I totally get that. I was part of that rise, someone who had a deep love for the series, was brought back as a viewer, and looked forward to seeing the whole thing refreshed. The guy picked himself, and that balloon popped. What a waste.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:22 AM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
Mayim Bialik is not an anti-vaxxer.
From your article:
"We made an informed decision not to vaccinate our children” - 2012
“This year I’m gonna do something I literally haven’t done in 30 years: I’m gonna get a vaccine." - 2020
Bialik then detailed her beliefs that children receive “way too many vaccines in this country” and that “the medical community often operate[s] from a place of fear in order to make money.”
For someone who leans way too hard on her doctorate as a claim to fame, being a vaccine skeptic is still pretty bad.
I guess good for her to finally get spooked by Covid enough to get *this* vaccine, but she and her ilk are still to blame for outbreaks of measles and whooping cough among children.
She doesn't get to shed the "anti-vaxxer" label just by quietly changing her mind. The damage has been done, and amends should be made.
posted by explosion at 11:24 AM on August 20, 2021 [60 favorites]
From your article:
"We made an informed decision not to vaccinate our children” - 2012
“This year I’m gonna do something I literally haven’t done in 30 years: I’m gonna get a vaccine." - 2020
Bialik then detailed her beliefs that children receive “way too many vaccines in this country” and that “the medical community often operate[s] from a place of fear in order to make money.”
For someone who leans way too hard on her doctorate as a claim to fame, being a vaccine skeptic is still pretty bad.
I guess good for her to finally get spooked by Covid enough to get *this* vaccine, but she and her ilk are still to blame for outbreaks of measles and whooping cough among children.
She doesn't get to shed the "anti-vaxxer" label just by quietly changing her mind. The damage has been done, and amends should be made.
posted by explosion at 11:24 AM on August 20, 2021 [60 favorites]
Given that we can accept having new contestants every day, why not do short-term guest hosts forever?
Here's my new plan: every time a champion gets eliminated, they become the host. Sure, you might have only been a 1-Day Jeopardy champion, but if you happened to get defeated by the next Ken or James, you're now the host for the rest of the season.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:27 AM on August 20, 2021 [15 favorites]
Here's my new plan: every time a champion gets eliminated, they become the host. Sure, you might have only been a 1-Day Jeopardy champion, but if you happened to get defeated by the next Ken or James, you're now the host for the rest of the season.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:27 AM on August 20, 2021 [15 favorites]
Bialik then detailed her beliefs that children receive “way too many vaccines in this country” and that “the medical community often operate[s] from a place of fear in order to make money.”
Yeah, she's an anti-vaxxer.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 11:27 AM on August 20, 2021 [39 favorites]
Yeah, she's an anti-vaxxer.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 11:27 AM on August 20, 2021 [39 favorites]
They would have been better off getting Michael Richard from Seinfeld to host 😆😆😆
posted by riruro at 11:36 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by riruro at 11:36 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
Yeah, she's an anti-vaxxer.
Yep. And then there's this, from her 2017 NYT Op Ed. about Weinstein:
posted by The Bellman at 11:40 AM on August 20, 2021 [48 favorites]
Yep. And then there's this, from her 2017 NYT Op Ed. about Weinstein:
And yet I have also experienced the upside of not being a “perfect ten.” As a proud feminist with little desire to diet, get plastic surgery or hire a personal trainer, I have almost no personal experience with men asking me to meetings in their hotel rooms. Those of us in Hollywood who don’t represent an impossible standard of beauty have the “luxury” of being overlooked and, in many cases, ignored by men in power unless we can make them money.So with the semi-vax and the truly repulsive victim blaming, I've never had the urge to buy her "brain supplement" and I've never thought she was very good choice.
I still make choices every day as a 41-year-old actress that I think of as self-protecting and wise. I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with. I dress modestly. I don’t act flirtatiously with men as a policy.
posted by The Bellman at 11:40 AM on August 20, 2021 [48 favorites]
what struck me was how proprietorial I was about the show.
Heck, I'm still a bit peeved that Trebek took over from Art Fleming.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:41 AM on August 20, 2021 [10 favorites]
Heck, I'm still a bit peeved that Trebek took over from Art Fleming.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:41 AM on August 20, 2021 [10 favorites]
It seems Mike Richards was... (puts on sunglasses) the weakest link.
posted by zaixfeep at 11:44 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by zaixfeep at 11:44 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
That "Smile with Sharp Teeth" article is fantastic.
I especially enjoyed where McNear highlights a gross conversation where Richards rebukes his co-host for giving a dollar to an unhoused woman as 'perpetuating the cycle of no life' with a handout, then points out that Richards himself received nearly $300k in COVID loans from the government, and finally spikes the ball by sharing that Trebek donated generously to a shelter and service provider for people experiencing homelessness.
She brought the receipts!!!
posted by Emily's Fist at 11:51 AM on August 20, 2021 [41 favorites]
I especially enjoyed where McNear highlights a gross conversation where Richards rebukes his co-host for giving a dollar to an unhoused woman as 'perpetuating the cycle of no life' with a handout, then points out that Richards himself received nearly $300k in COVID loans from the government, and finally spikes the ball by sharing that Trebek donated generously to a shelter and service provider for people experiencing homelessness.
She brought the receipts!!!
posted by Emily's Fist at 11:51 AM on August 20, 2021 [41 favorites]
So with the semi-vax and the truly repulsive victim blaming, I've never had the urge to buy her "brain supplement" and I've never thought she was very good choice.
The fact that she uses her neuroscience degree to bolster her anti-vaxx(ish) position and sell snake oil makes her especially odious. And that victim-blaming column was horrific.
posted by Mavri at 11:53 AM on August 20, 2021 [26 favorites]
The fact that she uses her neuroscience degree to bolster her anti-vaxx(ish) position and sell snake oil makes her especially odious. And that victim-blaming column was horrific.
posted by Mavri at 11:53 AM on August 20, 2021 [26 favorites]
The Trump transition team must have vetted him.
posted by zerobyproxy at 11:55 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by zerobyproxy at 11:55 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Is IBM Watson available? I think they would be interesting as a guest host, and probably less controversial.
posted by FJT at 12:00 PM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by FJT at 12:00 PM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
I dunno, there's a lot of evidence that suggests AI and ML technology is prone to rather horrifying racial and gender biases.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:03 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 12:03 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
[looks at all these negatives with growing exasperation]
fine, fine, I'll take the damn gig.
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:08 PM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
fine, fine, I'll take the damn gig.
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:08 PM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
Question from the little-or-no-TV crowd: the subject of this post isn't Kramer, is it?
posted by Rash at 12:10 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Rash at 12:10 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
No, it's a generic white guy in a suit who goes by Mike rather than Michael.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:11 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:11 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Question from the little-or-no-TV crowd: the subject of this post isn't Kramer, is it?
No. This one is also racist, but not as funny.
posted by leotrotsky at 12:11 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
No. This one is also racist, but not as funny.
posted by leotrotsky at 12:11 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Wikipedia: "Fleming was asked to reprise his role as Jeopardy! host when Merv Griffin began developing a revival of the show in 1983. He declined,[6] later stating in 1989 that he did not like the direction the show had gone in moving the show to Hollywood (being partial to his native New York, he felt that the Hollywood setting made the show dumber and less realistic)." I recall he also felt that the reboot's choice of embedding giveaway words or phrases into the answers made the game too easy.
And then there's this classic bit from the original's 2000th daytime episode, vs this from the modern era.
posted by zaixfeep at 12:20 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
And then there's this classic bit from the original's 2000th daytime episode, vs this from the modern era.
posted by zaixfeep at 12:20 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
I judged the guest hosts by sign off line. When LeVar didn't use his Reading Rainbow "I'll see ya next time," I wasn't happy.
posted by Fukiyama at 12:23 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Fukiyama at 12:23 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
I have no stake in Jeopardy!, but I respect it and have a fondness for the gentle positivity of the show, and I was really miffed when this empty suit named Mike gave himself the job. I am happy to see him get swiftly booted after being exposed as a loser bigot.
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 12:25 PM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 12:25 PM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
MetaFilter: I seem to the only person talking sense about this whole debacle
posted by nickmark at 12:28 PM on August 20, 2021 [14 favorites]
posted by nickmark at 12:28 PM on August 20, 2021 [14 favorites]
I feel like the right way to find the right person for the job isn't to rush them on set and tape an episode raw with no prep and then air it during the Olympics. If they were really in good faith thinking of anyone but Mike for the job they would have been given time to prep and rehearse. Obviously this host selection process was tainted from day 1 because Mike had already given himself the job. I don't think we can really judge any of the interim hosts for any of this. I'm just glad Burton isn't involved in this mess anymore and he can get some other job where he'll be appreciated.
posted by bleep at 12:29 PM on August 20, 2021 [11 favorites]
posted by bleep at 12:29 PM on August 20, 2021 [11 favorites]
No, it's a generic white guy in a suit who goes by Mike rather than Michael.
He's the reincarnated husk of Real People's Bill Rafferty, but with 0 calories.
posted by zaixfeep at 12:29 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
He's the reincarnated husk of Real People's Bill Rafferty, but with 0 calories.
posted by zaixfeep at 12:29 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
And the answer is: This giant egotistical doorknob will always be remembered for anointing himself to a position he was not qualified for and did not deserve."
Who is Dick Cheney?
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 12:54 PM on August 20, 2021 [18 favorites]
Who is Dick Cheney?
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 12:54 PM on August 20, 2021 [18 favorites]
More guest hosts please. Don Cheadle. Jm J Bullock. Molly Shannon. Shadoe Stevens. Ricki Lake. Connie Chung. Tabitha Soren. Tim Gunn.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 12:55 PM on August 20, 2021 [24 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 12:55 PM on August 20, 2021 [24 favorites]
Makes me wonder if the people Trebek actually thought might do a good job (CNN legal analyst Laura Coates, NHL sportscaster Alex Faust) are interested.
Oh man really?
Alex Faust has done a fine job taking up the microphone from another legend (retired LA Kings' Hall of Fame announcer Bob Miller), but it's gotta be miserable following a giant and we shouldn't expect Alex to do it twice in his career.
posted by notyou at 12:57 PM on August 20, 2021
Oh man really?
Alex Faust has done a fine job taking up the microphone from another legend (retired LA Kings' Hall of Fame announcer Bob Miller), but it's gotta be miserable following a giant and we shouldn't expect Alex to do it twice in his career.
posted by notyou at 12:57 PM on August 20, 2021
More guest hosts please. Don Cheadle. Jm J Bullock. Molly Shannon. Shadoe Stevens. Ricki Lake. Connie Chung. Tabitha Soren. Tim Gunn.
Will Ferrell. RuPaul. Martin Short. Cyndi Lauper. Huey Lewis. Dwayne Johnson.
posted by nickmark at 1:01 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
Will Ferrell. RuPaul. Martin Short. Cyndi Lauper. Huey Lewis. Dwayne Johnson.
posted by nickmark at 1:01 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
More guest hosts please. Don Cheadle. Jm J Bullock. Molly Shannon. Shadoe Stevens. Ricki Lake. Connie Chung. Tabitha Soren. Tim Gunn.
Will Ferrell. RuPaul. Martin Short. Cyndi Lauper. Huey Lewis. Dwayne Johnson.
Craig Ferguson!
posted by orrnyereg at 1:06 PM on August 20, 2021 [13 favorites]
Will Ferrell. RuPaul. Martin Short. Cyndi Lauper. Huey Lewis. Dwayne Johnson.
Craig Ferguson!
posted by orrnyereg at 1:06 PM on August 20, 2021 [13 favorites]
Geoff Peterson!
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:08 PM on August 20, 2021 [21 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:08 PM on August 20, 2021 [21 favorites]
Ron Darling. Amanda Gorman. KRS-1.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 1:10 PM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by 1970s Antihero at 1:10 PM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
Cecily Strong!
And, having read Claire McNear's article (quite good) and listened to the relevant excerpts of his podcast, I wouldn't hire him to answer the mail. The way he doubles down on his bullshit when his female cohost gently but firmly pushes back on it is infuriating.
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:11 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
And, having read Claire McNear's article (quite good) and listened to the relevant excerpts of his podcast, I wouldn't hire him to answer the mail. The way he doubles down on his bullshit when his female cohost gently but firmly pushes back on it is infuriating.
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:11 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
This whole saga has been so weird in such an un-Jeopardy! way.
Mr. Richards thought he had the answer, but forgot the format. The questions have cost him the win.
posted by nubs at 1:17 PM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
Mr. Richards thought he had the answer, but forgot the format. The questions have cost him the win.
posted by nubs at 1:17 PM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
I rarely trust people who say they stumbled into a powerful complex job or role. It takes work and effort to get a gig like this. Sony wouldn't accidentally let that happen, so I'm inclined to believe he sabotaged or lied to multiple people to host. From the article:
"In May, Richards insisted that he was “never meant to be a part of [the guest hosting] process.” Sony declined to comment on when Richards became an official candidate for the permanent host job."
I'm confident he'll wash up somewhere else like GSN or a conservative podcast network.
posted by Freecola at 1:21 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
"In May, Richards insisted that he was “never meant to be a part of [the guest hosting] process.” Sony declined to comment on when Richards became an official candidate for the permanent host job."
I'm confident he'll wash up somewhere else like GSN or a conservative podcast network.
posted by Freecola at 1:21 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
I'd actually love to see Ken Jeong get a shot at it. Smart and clever, and seems to be a genuinely nice guy everytime I see him in something.
posted by Rock Steady at 1:24 PM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 1:24 PM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
I am solidly Team LeVar, but if it can't be him, then I'll need Eugene Levy doing his Trebek impression.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:29 PM on August 20, 2021 [11 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:29 PM on August 20, 2021 [11 favorites]
One of Trebek’s preferred quips about Jeopardy! was that he was simply its host and not its star; the stars, he often said, were the contestants. To the show’s community of longtime viewers and former contestants, this has long been part of Jeopardy!’s magic.
Which is why I was never a big fan of the parade of celebrities vying for the gig. It was hard watching the show and not seeing celebrities playing a host.
................
Ken wants the job but won't campaign for it...He is politely a Jeopardy person all the way and isn't really going to quibble too much about the whole thing, was my impression.
Ken is already “consulting producer” on the show. If he’s smart, he’ll shoot down any attempts to make another producer host. And, frankly, I thought he was pretty weak as host. Trebek had an understated presence that really worked to anchor the show, and an easy-to-listen-to voice. Ken has none of that.
Of all the hosts, the one (imho, of course) who even came close to what Trebek brought to the job was Aaron Rodgers. He stayed out of the way of the show and never once tried be a “game show host”, which is how a lot of the hosts came across as trying to do.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:29 PM on August 20, 2021 [5 favorites]
Which is why I was never a big fan of the parade of celebrities vying for the gig. It was hard watching the show and not seeing celebrities playing a host.
................
Ken wants the job but won't campaign for it...He is politely a Jeopardy person all the way and isn't really going to quibble too much about the whole thing, was my impression.
Ken is already “consulting producer” on the show. If he’s smart, he’ll shoot down any attempts to make another producer host. And, frankly, I thought he was pretty weak as host. Trebek had an understated presence that really worked to anchor the show, and an easy-to-listen-to voice. Ken has none of that.
Of all the hosts, the one (imho, of course) who even came close to what Trebek brought to the job was Aaron Rodgers. He stayed out of the way of the show and never once tried be a “game show host”, which is how a lot of the hosts came across as trying to do.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:29 PM on August 20, 2021 [5 favorites]
Celebrity Jeopardy! twice a year.
Winner gets to host for 6 months.
posted by bartleby at 1:32 PM on August 20, 2021 [13 favorites]
Winner gets to host for 6 months.
posted by bartleby at 1:32 PM on August 20, 2021 [13 favorites]
I think the most Trebek-like were Rodgers (who studied dozens of hours of old episodes to get a sense of Alex's mannerisms and pacing) and David Farber, a guy I've never heard of in my life but who blended into the pace of the show instantly.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:34 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:34 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Years ago, when I listened to Talk of the Nation on NPR practically every day, I thought Ray Suarez would make a strong Jeopardy host.
posted by Caxton1476 at 1:38 PM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by Caxton1476 at 1:38 PM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
More guest hosts please. Don Cheadle. Jm J Bullock. Molly Shannon. Shadoe Stevens. Ricki Lake. Connie Chung. Tabitha Soren. Tim Gunn.
Will Ferrell. RuPaul. Martin Short. Cyndi Lauper. Huey Lewis. Dwayne Johnson.
Craig Ferguson!
Tom Waits, Janelle Monáe, Stephen Fry
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 1:46 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Will Ferrell. RuPaul. Martin Short. Cyndi Lauper. Huey Lewis. Dwayne Johnson.
Craig Ferguson!
Tom Waits, Janelle Monáe, Stephen Fry
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 1:46 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
I think it's time to fulfill that Old Testament prophecy that David Lee Roth would move to Hollywood and become America's favorite game show host.
Nah. Have Roth take over for Larry King.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:46 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
Nah. Have Roth take over for Larry King.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:46 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
The reason LeVar makes a ton of sense to me as the next host is that, like Trebek, he has the innate ability to be cutting without coming off as unkind.
Maybe the most enjoyable/distinctive part of Trebek was how he could, in the driest possible way, positively savage people without ever coming off as an ass.
LeVar could do that, for sure.
The rest is just game show stuff. Tons of people could do that.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:48 PM on August 20, 2021 [14 favorites]
Maybe the most enjoyable/distinctive part of Trebek was how he could, in the driest possible way, positively savage people without ever coming off as an ass.
LeVar could do that, for sure.
The rest is just game show stuff. Tons of people could do that.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:48 PM on August 20, 2021 [14 favorites]
I really did think that the amount Rodgers studied was obvious. He worked HARD and it showed. I thought he did well. I would have also liked the Clue Crew to have had a chance to host. I’d watch Jimmy do it in a minute!
posted by Night_owl at 1:49 PM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by Night_owl at 1:49 PM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
Especially early on, Trebek was pretty unassuming; he came very gradually into his own form of stardom. Most of the guest hosts are quite well known already. I'd like to see someone as subtle and as Trebek, and not a star. Not enthused about Bialik at all.
posted by theora55 at 1:52 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 1:52 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
A few thoughts:
Burton has the gravitas and elegance necessary to host, but his week was not good - he's an intense sort of person, which is great in educational TV because you want that intensity and enthusiasm when you're teaching kids about stuff, but for hosting JEOPARDY it is not really the right thing. If he can tone it down I'm sure he'd be excellent in the long run - the numerous flubs and timing issues with his first week would no doubt be ironed out after a month or so of hosting.
Richards himself was acceptable as a host before the revelations came out. Blandly so, to be sure, but no mistakes. Mayim Bialik was honestly pretty good in most respects.
The best guest hosts were Buzzy Cohen and Aaron Rodgers. Cohen, as a former champion, has the cred, but he was also just really good at the nitty-gritty of hosting - which includes knowing a hell of a lot about everything, because three or four times per episode the host has to expound a little bit on a question juuuuust a bit and make it sound effortless and unpracticed. Rodgers surprised the hell out of everybody by being as good as he was: it was clear he worked extremely hard to get the timing and intonation right, which doesn't mean he was imitating Trebek so much as he was studying how Trebek made the whole thing work and trying to do that in his own way, which produced a laconic, amiable and knowledgeable host.
Either of them would be an exceptional choice, and I say that as someone who would prefer that the next host not be a straight white dude.
posted by mightygodking at 1:54 PM on August 20, 2021 [12 favorites]
Burton has the gravitas and elegance necessary to host, but his week was not good - he's an intense sort of person, which is great in educational TV because you want that intensity and enthusiasm when you're teaching kids about stuff, but for hosting JEOPARDY it is not really the right thing. If he can tone it down I'm sure he'd be excellent in the long run - the numerous flubs and timing issues with his first week would no doubt be ironed out after a month or so of hosting.
Richards himself was acceptable as a host before the revelations came out. Blandly so, to be sure, but no mistakes. Mayim Bialik was honestly pretty good in most respects.
The best guest hosts were Buzzy Cohen and Aaron Rodgers. Cohen, as a former champion, has the cred, but he was also just really good at the nitty-gritty of hosting - which includes knowing a hell of a lot about everything, because three or four times per episode the host has to expound a little bit on a question juuuuust a bit and make it sound effortless and unpracticed. Rodgers surprised the hell out of everybody by being as good as he was: it was clear he worked extremely hard to get the timing and intonation right, which doesn't mean he was imitating Trebek so much as he was studying how Trebek made the whole thing work and trying to do that in his own way, which produced a laconic, amiable and knowledgeable host.
Either of them would be an exceptional choice, and I say that as someone who would prefer that the next host not be a straight white dude.
posted by mightygodking at 1:54 PM on August 20, 2021 [12 favorites]
Honestly, I would have loved to see them give Austin Rogers a week of guest hosting.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:58 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 1:58 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
Speaking of savaging people, Rodgers did have the most perfect contestant-razzing moment of the entire guest run.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:59 PM on August 20, 2021 [14 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:59 PM on August 20, 2021 [14 favorites]
I'm pushing Alfonso Ribeiro for the job
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:59 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:59 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Aaron Rodgers was my fave out of the bunch. He just had this really great geeky aw-shucks attitude and didn't seem to be afraid to make fun of himself.
I think Levar Burton did get a lot better by show 5 and would potentially get really good with a few more episodes practice.
Ultimately Oz was definitely the worst but Richards wasn't far behind him. Oz came off as a pretentious asshole who was above the whole Jeopardy thing. Richards was polished but had seemingly no personality at all.
Other guest hosts? Adam Savage? John Scalzi? Katee Sackhoff? Rosario Dawson?
posted by ensign_ricky at 2:12 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
I think Levar Burton did get a lot better by show 5 and would potentially get really good with a few more episodes practice.
Ultimately Oz was definitely the worst but Richards wasn't far behind him. Oz came off as a pretentious asshole who was above the whole Jeopardy thing. Richards was polished but had seemingly no personality at all.
Other guest hosts? Adam Savage? John Scalzi? Katee Sackhoff? Rosario Dawson?
posted by ensign_ricky at 2:12 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Ultimately Oz was definitely the worst but Richards wasn't far behind him.
You obviously didn’t endure the Joe Buck shout-a-thon.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:19 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
You obviously didn’t endure the Joe Buck shout-a-thon.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:19 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Even with her dubious viewpoints aside, Mayim Bialik's endless ad libbing and chuckling at anything even remotely clever got so tedious that I was gone well before her first week was over.
And Dr. Oz was so bad that I genuinely believe he was there as Hey, the Choice Could Have Been Worse protection for the now irrelevant inevitable.
posted by gnomeloaf at 2:20 PM on August 20, 2021
And Dr. Oz was so bad that I genuinely believe he was there as Hey, the Choice Could Have Been Worse protection for the now irrelevant inevitable.
posted by gnomeloaf at 2:20 PM on August 20, 2021
John Michael Higgins
posted by badbobbycase at 2:21 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by badbobbycase at 2:21 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Joel Hodgson?
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:35 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:35 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
Mike Nelson doing his James Lipton impersonation?
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:37 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:37 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Jane Pauley
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:44 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:44 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
Have to Second Geoff Peterson...
posted by Windopaene at 2:49 PM on August 20, 2021
posted by Windopaene at 2:49 PM on August 20, 2021
Stephen Fry already has experience as a game show contestant. Host is the logical next step.
posted by JohnFromGR at 2:52 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by JohnFromGR at 2:52 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Stephen Fry hosted QI for 13 years, before stepping down 5 years ago. "Next step" might be a hard sell.
posted by parm at 2:58 PM on August 20, 2021 [11 favorites]
posted by parm at 2:58 PM on August 20, 2021 [11 favorites]
They would have been better off getting Michael Richard from Seinfeld to host
No, no, no. Not Michael Richards from Seinfeld. Michael Richards from UHF.
posted by oulipian at 3:01 PM on August 20, 2021 [5 favorites]
No, no, no. Not Michael Richards from Seinfeld. Michael Richards from UHF.
posted by oulipian at 3:01 PM on August 20, 2021 [5 favorites]
CNN Opinion, David M. Perry: It's time for fans to demand the Jeopardy host we deserve
If Trebek was the convener of community of us weird nerds, and a man who you believed might have known the answers, Richards is just a typical media bro who told mean jokes and can read cue cards. He represents the worst kind of toxic masculinity that so dominates media, eager to elevate himself at the expense of others...
...It doesn't have to find another Trebek -- that's not going to happen. But it does need to recognize that a show about knowing things, a show that is still watched by everyone from kids to elders, is special. This is not a place for a bland game show host in a nice suit, but a real person with whom viewers can connect. It's an opportunity to entertain, but also project the value of learning.
posted by nubs at 3:03 PM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
If Trebek was the convener of community of us weird nerds, and a man who you believed might have known the answers, Richards is just a typical media bro who told mean jokes and can read cue cards. He represents the worst kind of toxic masculinity that so dominates media, eager to elevate himself at the expense of others...
...It doesn't have to find another Trebek -- that's not going to happen. But it does need to recognize that a show about knowing things, a show that is still watched by everyone from kids to elders, is special. This is not a place for a bland game show host in a nice suit, but a real person with whom viewers can connect. It's an opportunity to entertain, but also project the value of learning.
posted by nubs at 3:03 PM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
You obviously didn’t endure the Joe Buck shout-a-thon.
I'm behind on Jeopardy so I haven't experienced Buck yet. I figured that nobody could be as bad as Oz and Richards, but it sounds like I'm wrong. The few minutes I've seen so far does remind me of Joe Piscopo's SNL sports guy though.
I love the Geoff Peterson idea but in all seriousness, it would be fun to see a couple of weeks of Craig Ferguson.
posted by ensign_ricky at 3:08 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
I'm behind on Jeopardy so I haven't experienced Buck yet. I figured that nobody could be as bad as Oz and Richards, but it sounds like I'm wrong. The few minutes I've seen so far does remind me of Joe Piscopo's SNL sports guy though.
I love the Geoff Peterson idea but in all seriousness, it would be fun to see a couple of weeks of Craig Ferguson.
posted by ensign_ricky at 3:08 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
I think it would be a mistake for them to go with someone who is an actor, comedian, or celebrity entertainer, however brainy. I don't think Jeopardy! needs an entertaining host. Jeopardy! needs someone who can bring out the best in the contestants and who can convincingly handle the material. Trebek could be entertaining, but that wasn't his function. Anyone who is primarily an entertainer is going to need their quota of showing off. Which is fine when it's their show. But if Jeopardy! becomes the host's show, it is lost. That's why I think what they really need is an interviewer. Someone who's skillset is intrinsically about their subjects, not themselves.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:22 PM on August 20, 2021 [19 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:22 PM on August 20, 2021 [19 favorites]
As far as I can tell, Richards is still remaining EP on the show. Which I infer to mean that he'll still be the boss of whoever the new host will be which is... not great. I mean, if I were a candidate for host (which I am obviously not), I dunno how I'd feel about that.
posted by mhum at 3:25 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by mhum at 3:25 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
John Hodgman? Alfred Molina?
posted by St. Oops at 3:27 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by St. Oops at 3:27 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
We have all overlooked the single most obvious choice for host.
posted by zaixfeep at 3:30 PM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by zaixfeep at 3:30 PM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
Norm Macdonald, Andy Richter, Ice T or Snoop Dogg. I'm dead serious about all those.
posted by geoff. at 3:36 PM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by geoff. at 3:36 PM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
Someone from the world of podcast/youtube brainfood shows might be good. A lot of them are interview based.
Like Allie Ward, the host of Ologies.
posted by snuffleupagus at 3:40 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Like Allie Ward, the host of Ologies.
posted by snuffleupagus at 3:40 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Was Turd Ferguson not available?
posted by photoslob at 3:42 PM on August 20, 2021 [10 favorites]
posted by photoslob at 3:42 PM on August 20, 2021 [10 favorites]
56% of viewers voted for Steve Kornacki.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:46 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:46 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Someone upthread mentioned Richards ending up at GSN. He’s already hosted two shows for them, in fact. He was the only guest host with game show hosting experience.
I know the general public at large really wants LeVar Burton to be the permanent host, but he really dropped the ball. He reportedly refused to do any real preparation for the job, and it showed. I’d personally be fine with him getting a second chance, but I’d hope he’s learned something from the first time around.
Also, Ken Jennings is also fucking terrible, and I will be very upset, for personal and professional reasons, if he gets the job.
posted by DRoll at 4:15 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
I know the general public at large really wants LeVar Burton to be the permanent host, but he really dropped the ball. He reportedly refused to do any real preparation for the job, and it showed. I’d personally be fine with him getting a second chance, but I’d hope he’s learned something from the first time around.
Also, Ken Jennings is also fucking terrible, and I will be very upset, for personal and professional reasons, if he gets the job.
posted by DRoll at 4:15 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
reboot's choice of embedding giveaway words or phrases into the answers made the game too easy.
I always wondered why Jeopardy seemed like word association. The learning curve from it to College Bowl to NAQT and ACF was... rough.
posted by DeepSeaHaggis at 4:16 PM on August 20, 2021
I always wondered why Jeopardy seemed like word association. The learning curve from it to College Bowl to NAQT and ACF was... rough.
posted by DeepSeaHaggis at 4:16 PM on August 20, 2021
Shankar Vidantham?
posted by dbmcd at 4:41 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by dbmcd at 4:41 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
John Michael Higgins
To waste such an energetic comedic presence in such a straight-laced role, would break my heart.
But I would watch the hell out of it.
posted by UltraMorgnus at 4:59 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
To waste such an energetic comedic presence in such a straight-laced role, would break my heart.
But I would watch the hell out of it.
posted by UltraMorgnus at 4:59 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
Well, if we're listing people who shouldn't get the job but who would be supremely entertaining trying, I would pay good money to watch an unrestrained Leslie Jones run.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:09 PM on August 20, 2021 [30 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:09 PM on August 20, 2021 [30 favorites]
Suddenly cackling at the intrusive thought of John Hodgman hosting a week of Jeopardy with surreal questions about the world that exists in the Areas of My Expertise trilogy
New records for lowest scores one after another for five days straight
posted by DoctorFedora at 5:28 PM on August 20, 2021 [13 favorites]
New records for lowest scores one after another for five days straight
posted by DoctorFedora at 5:28 PM on August 20, 2021 [13 favorites]
The whole vibe of this guy with a gross misogynist sense of humor failing upward into a role that requires gravitas he doesn’t have reminds me of Fred Willard as the dog show commentator in Best in Show. The key difference is that Willard is actually funny.
posted by ActionPopulated at 5:45 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by ActionPopulated at 5:45 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
More guest hosts please. ... Tom Waits
Oh man. If you listen to his radio interviews or see his old TV interviews or have had the truly incredible luck to have seen him live... I don't know that you'd get through more than about four clues per show.
After each clue, heck! while reading them, he'd start in with:
"So they say ya know ya can... ya can like... hiiiiiiiiiiirree... a gondola in Venice and row for four daaaayyyyyysss... They say 'hire' there, instead of rent. It's the little things... Anywaaaay... these boats..."
(I don't know where I just got that imaginary Tom Waits patter. Hope it's not too terrible.)
posted by Tchozz at 6:14 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
Oh man. If you listen to his radio interviews or see his old TV interviews or have had the truly incredible luck to have seen him live... I don't know that you'd get through more than about four clues per show.
After each clue, heck! while reading them, he'd start in with:
"So they say ya know ya can... ya can like... hiiiiiiiiiiirree... a gondola in Venice and row for four daaaayyyyyysss... They say 'hire' there, instead of rent. It's the little things... Anywaaaay... these boats..."
(I don't know where I just got that imaginary Tom Waits patter. Hope it's not too terrible.)
posted by Tchozz at 6:14 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
Damn...now I'm sad, because I've fallen down a rabbit hole of Late Late Show videos and I really miss Craig and Geoff's interplay, in which I was and still am far more invested than in any mainstream game show.
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:46 PM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:46 PM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
Balls...
posted by Windopaene at 6:57 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 6:57 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Are we ignoring the obvious? Nicole Byer.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 7:06 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 7:06 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Two words: Richard Ayoade
That would not be Jeopardy! Make no mistake, I would watch whatever it was religiously, but it would not be Jeopardy!
posted by tzikeh at 7:21 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
That would not be Jeopardy! Make no mistake, I would watch whatever it was religiously, but it would not be Jeopardy!
posted by tzikeh at 7:21 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
COSTAS
posted by wenestvedt at 7:31 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 7:31 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Had no idea Bob Barker was still alive... *blinks comically*
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 9:56 PM on August 20, 2021
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 9:56 PM on August 20, 2021
It would be an absolute trainwreck, but I'd watch the hell out of Brian Blessed's audition week.
posted by myotahapea at 10:01 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by myotahapea at 10:01 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
It would be an absolute trainwreck, but I'd watch the hell out of Brian Blessed's audition week.
Gilbert Gottfried, baby
posted by Going To Maine at 10:32 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Gilbert Gottfried, baby
posted by Going To Maine at 10:32 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Bialik has always been a bit woo. Burton had the wrong week, one long day, with the contestant that was going from the bottom up, answering everything, running away with the game, and only answering "What's X". Burton only had a day of "that one kid in class keeps raising his hand". Give him a bit of time and more normal contestants for a while to get into the groove. Team Burton!
posted by zengargoyle at 10:43 PM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by zengargoyle at 10:43 PM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
David Letterman. Obvs.
posted by Keith Talent at 11:42 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Keith Talent at 11:42 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Two words: Richard Ayoade
I'm fine with that, as long as it doesn't interfere with my goal to make Richard Ayoade the next Dr. Who, the next James Bond, and possibly the next Indiana Jones.
posted by yankeefog at 2:16 AM on August 21, 2021 [8 favorites]
I'm fine with that, as long as it doesn't interfere with my goal to make Richard Ayoade the next Dr. Who, the next James Bond, and possibly the next Indiana Jones.
posted by yankeefog at 2:16 AM on August 21, 2021 [8 favorites]
Ernie Johnson! Actually, let's have a week of episodes where Shaq, Ernie, Kenny, and the Chuckster host at the same time.
posted by secret about box at 2:38 AM on August 21, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by secret about box at 2:38 AM on August 21, 2021 [2 favorites]
I'd love to see Martha Stewart get a chance.
posted by The Potate at 4:39 AM on August 21, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by The Potate at 4:39 AM on August 21, 2021 [3 favorites]
For the last few years, contemplating when this day might come, I honestly always thought it would be Hodgman and hoped it wouldn’t be Jennings.
Burton sounds like a good idea, and Rodgers was a really nice surprise who wouldn’t be a bad choice.
posted by verbminx at 6:59 AM on August 21, 2021 [2 favorites]
Burton sounds like a good idea, and Rodgers was a really nice surprise who wouldn’t be a bad choice.
posted by verbminx at 6:59 AM on August 21, 2021 [2 favorites]
So long as this schmuck EP remains in charge, he will not hire anyone whose profile is bigger than his. The point of hiring Blossom is that she needs a legit gig after hoisting herself on an antivax petard far more than the show needs her.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:06 AM on August 21, 2021
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:06 AM on August 21, 2021
She has a legit gig though, she's starring in a network show that just got renewed (which is why no matter how much Sony likes her she's unlikely to end up with the day-to-day hosting job)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:42 AM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:42 AM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
I suppose I probably underestimate her current celebrity from Big Bang Theory and its likely longevity...as someone who has never watched the show I don't associate her with it as strongly as its other stars. Maybe just from all the years of Blossom.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:55 AM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:55 AM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
Given that it's been detailed several times that Burton had less time, an inferior time slot, and was in general set up to fail, it's probably better if we don't try and draw conclusions from his one, rushed, openly sabotaged day on the job.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:26 AM on August 21, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:26 AM on August 21, 2021 [9 favorites]
snuffleupagus
Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish isn't referring to Big Bang Theory (which is off the air as a new production) but to Mayim Bialik's own sitcom.
posted by sardonyx at 11:42 AM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish isn't referring to Big Bang Theory (which is off the air as a new production) but to Mayim Bialik's own sitcom.
posted by sardonyx at 11:42 AM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
I think it would be a mistake for them to go with someone who is an actor, comedian, or celebrity entertainer, however brainy. I don't think Jeopardy! needs an entertaining host.
Yes! A lot of these suggestions fail for me on either/both of two accounts: too much personality, or too much accent. I love Stephen Fry, but my Mom watches as much Jeopardy! as she can and also thinks British people speak a foreign language. Furthermore, personality and recognizability are simply not important to the role, which I feel is exactly the point of departure Will Ferrell used to launch Trebek into his contemporary fame over the past 25 years.
One person I don't think got a week in the podium, but who I thought did very well when...The Tonight Show? some late night show was cycling through some guest hosts between changeover to a new host (found it: The Late Late Show between Ferguson and Corden), is Kunal Nayyar from The Big Bang Theory (a show I dislike). Yes I know, I just got done bagging on accents, but I thought his demeanor and delivery as a host really suits the Jeopardy vibe.
posted by rhizome at 1:26 PM on August 21, 2021
Yes! A lot of these suggestions fail for me on either/both of two accounts: too much personality, or too much accent. I love Stephen Fry, but my Mom watches as much Jeopardy! as she can and also thinks British people speak a foreign language. Furthermore, personality and recognizability are simply not important to the role, which I feel is exactly the point of departure Will Ferrell used to launch Trebek into his contemporary fame over the past 25 years.
One person I don't think got a week in the podium, but who I thought did very well when...The Tonight Show? some late night show was cycling through some guest hosts between changeover to a new host (found it: The Late Late Show between Ferguson and Corden), is Kunal Nayyar from The Big Bang Theory (a show I dislike). Yes I know, I just got done bagging on accents, but I thought his demeanor and delivery as a host really suits the Jeopardy vibe.
posted by rhizome at 1:26 PM on August 21, 2021
I'm bummed that LeVar Burton didn't get the spot and/or wasn't great at it.
I do like the idea of rotating hosts drawn from a pool of winning contestants, celebrity or otherwise.
I would also love to see Jeopardy turn into something more lively like pub trivia where the host and contestants get more and more buzzed from strong cocktails and/or legalized cannabis. I think that a Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg pairing while they were stoned out of their melons on edibles would be lots of fun.
I like trivia and like a lot of people here I'm good at it and playing along with Jeopardy to the point that well meaning if not outright generous friends and family would comment that I should try out for the show - which, no thank you, I really don't want to be on TV like that and Jeopardy is a lot more about strategy and answer-button timing - but I do know that a huge part of the reason I even liked Jeopardy at all over the years was Trebek's witheringly dry humor and takedowns.
Some of those takedowns are just utterly scathing, dry, witty and understated in ways that you normally only find in one of those vintage celebrity roast programs and Trebek was a master at it.
On the other hand I can't even remember the last time I have actually sat still long enough to watch an entire episode of Jeopardy, and I suspect that this is true for a lot of people like me who were rooting for Burton even though I don't really have a horse in this race, nor could I say that I honestly planned to watch the show regularly if he did land the host position.
I'm pretty sure I would watch drunk Jeopardy. Something like Hollywood Squares but still more serious about trivia. With a bartender and/or budtender and wait staff or something. You could add some fun rules about how and when contestants could walk away from their position during the progression of the contest for a fresh drink and an entertaining sidebar and bullshitting session at the bar or something.
Sure, this will never happen for lots of reasons, but the shooting schedule they normally use would be a huge part of it. They usually film multiple episodes in a day and pre-record the entire year long season in something like 40-50 days. Contestants would be utterly trashed after a day or two of shooting multiple episodes in a day.
posted by loquacious at 5:17 PM on August 21, 2021 [4 favorites]
I do like the idea of rotating hosts drawn from a pool of winning contestants, celebrity or otherwise.
I would also love to see Jeopardy turn into something more lively like pub trivia where the host and contestants get more and more buzzed from strong cocktails and/or legalized cannabis. I think that a Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg pairing while they were stoned out of their melons on edibles would be lots of fun.
I like trivia and like a lot of people here I'm good at it and playing along with Jeopardy to the point that well meaning if not outright generous friends and family would comment that I should try out for the show - which, no thank you, I really don't want to be on TV like that and Jeopardy is a lot more about strategy and answer-button timing - but I do know that a huge part of the reason I even liked Jeopardy at all over the years was Trebek's witheringly dry humor and takedowns.
Some of those takedowns are just utterly scathing, dry, witty and understated in ways that you normally only find in one of those vintage celebrity roast programs and Trebek was a master at it.
On the other hand I can't even remember the last time I have actually sat still long enough to watch an entire episode of Jeopardy, and I suspect that this is true for a lot of people like me who were rooting for Burton even though I don't really have a horse in this race, nor could I say that I honestly planned to watch the show regularly if he did land the host position.
I'm pretty sure I would watch drunk Jeopardy. Something like Hollywood Squares but still more serious about trivia. With a bartender and/or budtender and wait staff or something. You could add some fun rules about how and when contestants could walk away from their position during the progression of the contest for a fresh drink and an entertaining sidebar and bullshitting session at the bar or something.
Sure, this will never happen for lots of reasons, but the shooting schedule they normally use would be a huge part of it. They usually film multiple episodes in a day and pre-record the entire year long season in something like 40-50 days. Contestants would be utterly trashed after a day or two of shooting multiple episodes in a day.
posted by loquacious at 5:17 PM on August 21, 2021 [4 favorites]
Sure, this will never happen for lots of reasons
Pilot: drinking game show (2010)
and, how it's going now
It could happen but would have to be a different show -- too much of Jeopardy's audience would absolutely hate it. It would need to be on the web (and probably not on YT or Twitch or FB/Insta live) and would be likely to feature streamers and other influencers rather than Martha and Snoop, who will soon be pitching for AARP.
There's already Mogul Money (brought to you by Coinbase). Give it a couple years for the audience to have largely hit their early 20's (so they can do business with InBev or Seagrams).
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:04 AM on August 22, 2021
Pilot: drinking game show (2010)
and, how it's going now
It could happen but would have to be a different show -- too much of Jeopardy's audience would absolutely hate it. It would need to be on the web (and probably not on YT or Twitch or FB/Insta live) and would be likely to feature streamers and other influencers rather than Martha and Snoop, who will soon be pitching for AARP.
There's already Mogul Money (brought to you by Coinbase). Give it a couple years for the audience to have largely hit their early 20's (so they can do business with InBev or Seagrams).
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:04 AM on August 22, 2021
By all reports, the celebrity panelists on Match Game were drunk much of the time.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 7:29 AM on August 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by 1970s Antihero at 7:29 AM on August 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
I sure hope Hollywood Squares wasn't an entirely sober affiar.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:21 AM on August 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:21 AM on August 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
It's not too late for Shankar Vedantam, is it? I have no idea what he's like as a physical presence, but I could listen to his voice forever.
posted by knucklebones at 11:36 AM on August 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by knucklebones at 11:36 AM on August 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Michio Kaku. Jodie Foster. Vir Das. Helen Zaltzman.
A very stoned and giggly Ron Funches.
An intimidatingly intense, almost hostile, Liev Schreiber.
posted by bartleby at 12:13 PM on August 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
A very stoned and giggly Ron Funches.
An intimidatingly intense, almost hostile, Liev Schreiber.
posted by bartleby at 12:13 PM on August 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
As someone who has been watching Jeopardy on and off throughout my entire life, though didn't watch too much after Alex Trebek passed, I've been popping into see some of the guest hosts.
I like Ken. I've always liked Ken. I enjoyed him during his streak. I loved when he'd show up on some champion format game. And I quite liked him behind the podium, especially when I first heard him say "thank you, Alex" while signing off. I think if you're gonna go with another straight, cis white dude, you may as well go with Ken, who has become synonymous with the show since his streak. He's perhaps not quite the best choice, but he does have a ton of experience on that stage, and you could certainly do worse.
I like Mayim. Apart from her questionable (and I'm aware that stronger terms can be used) views on vaccines in general, as well as her comments in the Me Too era... honestly, I thought she was a great host on the show itself. She interacted with the contestants nicely, I thought, read the clues well, handled the wrong answers/timeouts well... I think the big issue is her chuckling/giggling, but I chalked that up to nerves. Now, as to whether or not she's a good fit for the show given her particular views, okay, I concede that she's not particularly a good fit. I did watch the full two weeks of her hosting, though, and was quite impressed with how she handled herself as the host.
I like LeVar. Having said that, I was so disappointed with his performance. I know he's capable of doing so much better and I'm sure it was nerves, but he definitely flubbed some of the wrong answer calls, was late calling on people who'd rung in, there was a mix-up in one of the responses at one point... I watched all of his episodes and found that he got better and so I really did think he'd be the host. That said, the performance needed him to be less nervous and be smoother at the mechanics of the game, but LeVar is an experienced host and performer and I have no doubt he can do the job much better than he did. However, his one week (during the Olympics, no less) wasn't a great audition.
I have to admit to not having watched most of the other hosts. I passed on Dr. Oz as soon as I heard he'd be a guest host. I watched an episode or two with Aaron Rodgers and he surprised me as being good. His cadence was pretty great while reading the clues, which is perhaps not what you might expect from a football player. I watched a week of Katie Couric and wasn't particularly impressed. I missed Anderson Cooper altogether, although I would have wanted to watch his shows if only because I first knew him as the host of The Mole...
Ultimately, I think the show would be best-served by picking someone who is calm and gracious and humble the way Alex was, while also being a good human being (apparently, this is harder than it seems), and while probably being very physically distant from what Alex was, which was an older white dude. No white dude you put into that spot is going to get out from under Alex's shadow, IMHO. But a woman? A woman of colour? A man of colour? Any of those would have the best shot at making the show their own while nicely separating the Alex-era from the now-era.
posted by juliebug at 4:26 PM on August 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
I like Ken. I've always liked Ken. I enjoyed him during his streak. I loved when he'd show up on some champion format game. And I quite liked him behind the podium, especially when I first heard him say "thank you, Alex" while signing off. I think if you're gonna go with another straight, cis white dude, you may as well go with Ken, who has become synonymous with the show since his streak. He's perhaps not quite the best choice, but he does have a ton of experience on that stage, and you could certainly do worse.
I like Mayim. Apart from her questionable (and I'm aware that stronger terms can be used) views on vaccines in general, as well as her comments in the Me Too era... honestly, I thought she was a great host on the show itself. She interacted with the contestants nicely, I thought, read the clues well, handled the wrong answers/timeouts well... I think the big issue is her chuckling/giggling, but I chalked that up to nerves. Now, as to whether or not she's a good fit for the show given her particular views, okay, I concede that she's not particularly a good fit. I did watch the full two weeks of her hosting, though, and was quite impressed with how she handled herself as the host.
I like LeVar. Having said that, I was so disappointed with his performance. I know he's capable of doing so much better and I'm sure it was nerves, but he definitely flubbed some of the wrong answer calls, was late calling on people who'd rung in, there was a mix-up in one of the responses at one point... I watched all of his episodes and found that he got better and so I really did think he'd be the host. That said, the performance needed him to be less nervous and be smoother at the mechanics of the game, but LeVar is an experienced host and performer and I have no doubt he can do the job much better than he did. However, his one week (during the Olympics, no less) wasn't a great audition.
I have to admit to not having watched most of the other hosts. I passed on Dr. Oz as soon as I heard he'd be a guest host. I watched an episode or two with Aaron Rodgers and he surprised me as being good. His cadence was pretty great while reading the clues, which is perhaps not what you might expect from a football player. I watched a week of Katie Couric and wasn't particularly impressed. I missed Anderson Cooper altogether, although I would have wanted to watch his shows if only because I first knew him as the host of The Mole...
Ultimately, I think the show would be best-served by picking someone who is calm and gracious and humble the way Alex was, while also being a good human being (apparently, this is harder than it seems), and while probably being very physically distant from what Alex was, which was an older white dude. No white dude you put into that spot is going to get out from under Alex's shadow, IMHO. But a woman? A woman of colour? A man of colour? Any of those would have the best shot at making the show their own while nicely separating the Alex-era from the now-era.
posted by juliebug at 4:26 PM on August 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
I do not have a dog in this fight - I'm more impressed by Only Connect as a showcase for clever people, to be honest - but Aaron Rodgers looks like a good alternative to me. He was willing to do a lot of work to impress during a guest hosting stint and did a commendable job; I think he'll continue to do so, rather than treating it like an anointment in the way that I think too many people would. I think it probably needs that energy, of someone trying to push it to be the best show it can possibly be, rather than assuming that the format and brand is enough to keep it an institution. (I'm wary of Ken Jennings hosting it for that reason; it would be too easy for him to become the High Priest of Jeopardy, as it were).
posted by Merus at 6:35 PM on August 22, 2021
posted by Merus at 6:35 PM on August 22, 2021
the High Priest of Jeopardy
That would be an awesome user name.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:08 PM on August 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
That would be an awesome user name.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:08 PM on August 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
As long as we're free-associating ideas for host tryouts here, why not add Alan Partridge (aha!) to the list?
posted by zaixfeep at 8:56 PM on August 22, 2021
posted by zaixfeep at 8:56 PM on August 22, 2021
he point of hiring Blossom is that she needs a legit gig after hoisting herself on an antivax petard far more than the show needs her.
I'm very late to this discussion but I was natural parenting adjacent when she was putting together her reputation as an attachment parent and she was not just anti-vax, she was deep into the "a REAL MOM never uses a stroller and breast feeds forever" as well as like, no diapers (seriously) and no date nights.
She got a lot of criticism and then started back pedalling, but not in an "I was wrong" kind of way but more like "well, if you, poor peon, cannot possibly stay home from work I guess it's okay if you pump breast milk" way. She hammered people with her PhD, which she included on the cover of her book. She was deep in the pseudoscience about attachment theory which never applied to regular parenting.
And it's hard to express just how significant it was that she was all "sciency" about that shit - between her and Jay Gordon and William Sears at that time it was a shit show. Good Moms Never Sleep And Wear Babies Constantly And Watch Their Babies Constantly For Signs They Are About To Poop So They Can Hold Them Over The Toilet. And yes, she may have been partly victim but she definitely traded on both her nerdy role and her PhD a LOT.
Now I don't know if that should shame her for life but honestly, she was awful. I can't watch anything with her in it because of that phase. When her marriage imploded Haaretz actually published a piece on how women who had been shamed by her were quietly celebrating.
posted by warriorqueen at 7:06 AM on August 23, 2021 [13 favorites]
I'm very late to this discussion but I was natural parenting adjacent when she was putting together her reputation as an attachment parent and she was not just anti-vax, she was deep into the "a REAL MOM never uses a stroller and breast feeds forever" as well as like, no diapers (seriously) and no date nights.
She got a lot of criticism and then started back pedalling, but not in an "I was wrong" kind of way but more like "well, if you, poor peon, cannot possibly stay home from work I guess it's okay if you pump breast milk" way. She hammered people with her PhD, which she included on the cover of her book. She was deep in the pseudoscience about attachment theory which never applied to regular parenting.
And it's hard to express just how significant it was that she was all "sciency" about that shit - between her and Jay Gordon and William Sears at that time it was a shit show. Good Moms Never Sleep And Wear Babies Constantly And Watch Their Babies Constantly For Signs They Are About To Poop So They Can Hold Them Over The Toilet. And yes, she may have been partly victim but she definitely traded on both her nerdy role and her PhD a LOT.
Now I don't know if that should shame her for life but honestly, she was awful. I can't watch anything with her in it because of that phase. When her marriage imploded Haaretz actually published a piece on how women who had been shamed by her were quietly celebrating.
posted by warriorqueen at 7:06 AM on August 23, 2021 [13 favorites]
Never trust a "scientist" who says there's one true way to do anything human. That's not how evolution works.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:00 AM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:00 AM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
Hell, we'll never find a perfect human for the job again. Let's get IBM Watson to host.
posted by Glier's Goetta at 8:54 AM on August 23, 2021
posted by Glier's Goetta at 8:54 AM on August 23, 2021
I liked Buzzy far more than I liked Ken Jennings. Buzzy felt like a game show host - and maybe he'd be better on Let's Make a Deal...
How about Dan Patrick? He's been doing Sports Jeopardy for a while, so he'd got the cadence down.
posted by hydra77 at 9:52 AM on August 23, 2021
How about Dan Patrick? He's been doing Sports Jeopardy for a while, so he'd got the cadence down.
posted by hydra77 at 9:52 AM on August 23, 2021
Did Anderson Cooper want the job, or was he just on as a guest host for a lark?
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:04 AM on August 23, 2021
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:04 AM on August 23, 2021
Margaret Sullivan in The Washington Post: “How journalism saved ‘Jeopardy!’ from an unworthy host after an utter failure of corporate vetting”
McNear says her process wasn’t all that complex.posted by Going To Maine at 11:17 AM on August 23, 2021 [7 favorites]
“I just kept looking,” she told CNN’s Brian Stelter on Sunday.
Props to whoever came up with that headline.
posted by Glegrinof the Pig-Man at 11:33 AM on August 23, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Glegrinof the Pig-Man at 11:33 AM on August 23, 2021 [3 favorites]
The thing about the vetting is that it would have had to have happened last year before he was hired as EP, but that's a much lower key role that they wouldn't have done the same kind of vetting for public scrutiny on. But once he was on tap for host, he was already the executive producer of the show. Vetting the prospective host would likely have been his job (to delegate to someone else), so it's not like he was going to fail his own vetting process.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:38 PM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by jacquilynne at 12:38 PM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
Bialik stepping in to host
So she gets another three weeks as guest host. Guess it couldn't hurt to give Levar another week, maybe? Or maybe he's sour on the whole thing now. I have to admit that I am getting somewhat sour on it; the failure to understand the horrible optics of allowing the executive producer in charge of the search to become the host was bad, but the utter failure to do any vetting at all, along with keeping Richards as EP, has me thinking they've lost the plot.
posted by nubs at 2:37 PM on August 23, 2021
So she gets another three weeks as guest host. Guess it couldn't hurt to give Levar another week, maybe? Or maybe he's sour on the whole thing now. I have to admit that I am getting somewhat sour on it; the failure to understand the horrible optics of allowing the executive producer in charge of the search to become the host was bad, but the utter failure to do any vetting at all, along with keeping Richards as EP, has me thinking they've lost the plot.
posted by nubs at 2:37 PM on August 23, 2021
it's not like he was going to fail his own vetting process.
@MattOswaltVA: I really admire Jeopardy Executive Producer Mike Richards for removing Mike Richards as Jeopardy host immediately after hearing the horrible things Mike Richards said on Mike Richards podcast
posted by nubs at 2:45 PM on August 23, 2021 [10 favorites]
@MattOswaltVA: I really admire Jeopardy Executive Producer Mike Richards for removing Mike Richards as Jeopardy host immediately after hearing the horrible things Mike Richards said on Mike Richards podcast
posted by nubs at 2:45 PM on August 23, 2021 [10 favorites]
I'll second Eugene Levy, if not just for the Canadian connection, he's a fellow with literal decades of improve and film - and can be ham and straight-man (comedic) in turn.
At least for a run.
Allie Ward, also mentioned above, would be my legitimate solid choice, however. Another professional in on screen and audio, but one focused on delivering a definitely-more-factual set of content.
Their podcast, and science shows for adults and children bring a solid backing with a breadth of experience.
But, until a more permanent host is found, getting a themed day/category/section, accompanied by an expert in said field would be interesting, and may expand the available pool
posted by LD Feral at 2:50 PM on August 23, 2021
At least for a run.
Allie Ward, also mentioned above, would be my legitimate solid choice, however. Another professional in on screen and audio, but one focused on delivering a definitely-more-factual set of content.
Their podcast, and science shows for adults and children bring a solid backing with a breadth of experience.
But, until a more permanent host is found, getting a themed day/category/section, accompanied by an expert in said field would be interesting, and may expand the available pool
posted by LD Feral at 2:50 PM on August 23, 2021
"Jeopardy!" fans, LeVar Burton still might not have a chance – or may not want one anymore.
"If Sony execs wanted him, they'd give him all the coaching he would need to succeed. He's an award-winning actor, after all. Of course he can do this.
But Sony never wanted Burton. They never wanted Robin Roberts, either.
My guess is they never wanted a person of color. They barely wanted a woman. Mayim Bialik may have clinched the primetime and specials hosting gig – which, according to Newsweek, also upset some fans – but from the time that was announced it seemed like a consolation hire.
This is said with full acknowledgment that Bialik gave a splendid guest host performance. But given the fact that she was one of four women out of a list of 16, and the other three are newscasters, it was obvious what Sony wanted and for the time being, still wants: another white guy."
Followed by discussion of the glass cliff and spoilering the entire plot of "The Chair."
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:00 PM on August 23, 2021 [3 favorites]
"If Sony execs wanted him, they'd give him all the coaching he would need to succeed. He's an award-winning actor, after all. Of course he can do this.
But Sony never wanted Burton. They never wanted Robin Roberts, either.
My guess is they never wanted a person of color. They barely wanted a woman. Mayim Bialik may have clinched the primetime and specials hosting gig – which, according to Newsweek, also upset some fans – but from the time that was announced it seemed like a consolation hire.
This is said with full acknowledgment that Bialik gave a splendid guest host performance. But given the fact that she was one of four women out of a list of 16, and the other three are newscasters, it was obvious what Sony wanted and for the time being, still wants: another white guy."
Followed by discussion of the glass cliff and spoilering the entire plot of "The Chair."
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:00 PM on August 23, 2021 [3 favorites]
I've been following this thread because since the last few months of 2019, after Mum and I bought a house and moved in together after my father's passing, we'd made kind of a ritual of having dinner while watching Jeopardy. I hadn't watched it in years (no TV, just a computer) but it was comforting watching something I'd once grown up with -- I hadn't been allowed to watch much TV, but Jeopardy was allowed.
We've been following along with all the guest hosts, and I, too, was disappointed that Burton had a difficult week. I was mad that he didn't at least get two weeks like the other hosts and that he went up against the Olympics, and somehow we even missed at least one of his days because it was somehow pre-empted. I thought he'd be able to settle into the role if he'd been given another week.
I also adored Robin Roberts' week, despite never having known of her before (GMA is not a show I've knowingly watched). I thought she was fantastic, but because she was only there a week, I assumed it was just a guest spot and not a "real" audition for the role. As far as white guys go, I also quite liked Anderson Cooper, but I guess he was never a contender since his name never comes up on the lists of potentials.
Anyway, I was definitely among the many who were pissed at the news of Richards becoming the new host because it felt baffling, even before I knew about his personality and past (which only made me more furious and wondering if I'd be able to watch Jeopardy in good conscience again). I know about Bialik is contentious for her vaccination/health/science views, but I thought she did well in her two weeks, so I wasn't as bothered by the announcement that she'd just be doing "primetime Jeopardy," whatever that means.
I'm still keeping a wary eye on all this, because Jeopardy feels too sacred to mess with, yet somehow we came so close thanks to some money-hungry (and fame-hungry) TV execs. But I have faith in the fans and reporters like McNear to keep it from being destroyed!
posted by paisley sheep at 4:37 PM on August 23, 2021
We've been following along with all the guest hosts, and I, too, was disappointed that Burton had a difficult week. I was mad that he didn't at least get two weeks like the other hosts and that he went up against the Olympics, and somehow we even missed at least one of his days because it was somehow pre-empted. I thought he'd be able to settle into the role if he'd been given another week.
I also adored Robin Roberts' week, despite never having known of her before (GMA is not a show I've knowingly watched). I thought she was fantastic, but because she was only there a week, I assumed it was just a guest spot and not a "real" audition for the role. As far as white guys go, I also quite liked Anderson Cooper, but I guess he was never a contender since his name never comes up on the lists of potentials.
Anyway, I was definitely among the many who were pissed at the news of Richards becoming the new host because it felt baffling, even before I knew about his personality and past (which only made me more furious and wondering if I'd be able to watch Jeopardy in good conscience again). I know about Bialik is contentious for her vaccination/health/science views, but I thought she did well in her two weeks, so I wasn't as bothered by the announcement that she'd just be doing "primetime Jeopardy," whatever that means.
I'm still keeping a wary eye on all this, because Jeopardy feels too sacred to mess with, yet somehow we came so close thanks to some money-hungry (and fame-hungry) TV execs. But I have faith in the fans and reporters like McNear to keep it from being destroyed!
posted by paisley sheep at 4:37 PM on August 23, 2021
While we're bandying about potential hosts: Claire McNear?
- wrote “A Smile With Sharp Teeth”: Mike Richards’s Rise to ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Sparks Questions About His Past," linked in the FPP, that made Richards a 9 days' wonder
- wrote 2020's Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider's Guide to Jeopardy! [foreword by Ken Jennings]
- Like so many others, she was brought up watching Jeopardy! each and every weeknight with her family; she began this book (and the regular Jeopardy! column at The Ringer that led to it) to attempt to realize her lifelong quest of finally shouting out the answers before her parents (publisher author page excerpt)
- met with Trebek in the two years spent writing and researching her book
- wrote this lovely tribute last November: Alex Trebek Was More Than a Game Show Host. He Was Family.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:00 PM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
- wrote “A Smile With Sharp Teeth”: Mike Richards’s Rise to ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Sparks Questions About His Past," linked in the FPP, that made Richards a 9 days' wonder
- wrote 2020's Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider's Guide to Jeopardy! [foreword by Ken Jennings]
- Like so many others, she was brought up watching Jeopardy! each and every weeknight with her family; she began this book (and the regular Jeopardy! column at The Ringer that led to it) to attempt to realize her lifelong quest of finally shouting out the answers before her parents (publisher author page excerpt)
- met with Trebek in the two years spent writing and researching her book
- wrote this lovely tribute last November: Alex Trebek Was More Than a Game Show Host. He Was Family.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:00 PM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
McNear is also taller than you think, though initial impressions can evidently be deceiving. (SLT thread that I found delightful)
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:49 PM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:49 PM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
Given that we can accept having new contestants every day, why not do short-term guest hosts forever?
The BBC panel show Have I Got News for You let go of its host of twelve years, Angus Deayton, after his past with cocaine and prostitutes came to light. The network decided to go the same route that Jeopardy! did, trying out a series of guest hosts to see who the new permanent host would be.
That was in 2002. It’s still going strong.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:54 AM on August 24, 2021
The BBC panel show Have I Got News for You let go of its host of twelve years, Angus Deayton, after his past with cocaine and prostitutes came to light. The network decided to go the same route that Jeopardy! did, trying out a series of guest hosts to see who the new permanent host would be.
That was in 2002. It’s still going strong.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:54 AM on August 24, 2021
While we're bandying about potential hosts: Claire McNear?
While I think it would be interesting, I'm not sure that Executive Producer Mike Richards will be open to having the person who exposed the past bad behavior of Jeopardy Host Mike Richards on the show.
posted by nubs at 7:39 AM on August 24, 2021 [5 favorites]
While I think it would be interesting, I'm not sure that Executive Producer Mike Richards will be open to having the person who exposed the past bad behavior of Jeopardy Host Mike Richards on the show.
posted by nubs at 7:39 AM on August 24, 2021 [5 favorites]
I'd like to make a pitch for Lulu Garcia-Navarro.
Her work doing the Weekend Edition puzzle with Will Shortz demonstrate that she's a quick, sometimes lateral thinker, with a gift for puzzles that might extend to trivia, and the sheer joy she displays when people do well is a quality I'd like to see in a Jeopardy host.
posted by box at 10:22 AM on August 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
Her work doing the Weekend Edition puzzle with Will Shortz demonstrate that she's a quick, sometimes lateral thinker, with a gift for puzzles that might extend to trivia, and the sheer joy she displays when people do well is a quality I'd like to see in a Jeopardy host.
posted by box at 10:22 AM on August 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
"When it came to naming a new host for Jeopardy, Sony’s decision committee didn’t appear to want to take a chance on anyone but Richards. The only exception was offering a recurring slot to Bialik as the host of occasional primetime specials."
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:47 AM on August 24, 2021
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:47 AM on August 24, 2021
Did Anderson Cooper want the job, or was he just on as a guest host for a lark?
I think most of the guest hosts have been pretty clear that they are not interested in the job permanently, heck Aaron Rodgers is still the starting QB of the Packers.
posted by Rock Steady at 12:09 PM on August 24, 2021
I think most of the guest hosts have been pretty clear that they are not interested in the job permanently, heck Aaron Rodgers is still the starting QB of the Packers.
posted by Rock Steady at 12:09 PM on August 24, 2021
That makes sense; he does strike me as the most Trebekish of anyone mentioned.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:53 PM on August 24, 2021
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:53 PM on August 24, 2021
There was an interview I saw a bit of, where Rodgers said he would have taken the job and only re-signed with the Packers after the Richards self-selection. I don't have enough context to know if he was joking, but he's 37 -- I could imagine he's looking towards life after football, and apparently has been pondering retirement anyway.
Ah, here's a reference.
posted by tavella at 8:16 PM on August 24, 2021
Ah, here's a reference.
posted by tavella at 8:16 PM on August 24, 2021
"When it came to naming a new host for Jeopardy, Sony’s decision committee didn’t appear to want to take a chance on anyone but Richards.
Ah, the sex-pest dickhead jerk. Yes, why take a risk? 🙄 For some reason this process reminds me of a Classic Seinfeld moment.
I'd like to make a pitch for Lulu Garcia-Navarro...
She's on the older side, but: Linda Hunt!
posted by rhizome at 8:54 PM on August 24, 2021
Ah, the sex-pest dickhead jerk. Yes, why take a risk? 🙄 For some reason this process reminds me of a Classic Seinfeld moment.
I'd like to make a pitch for Lulu Garcia-Navarro...
She's on the older side, but: Linda Hunt!
posted by rhizome at 8:54 PM on August 24, 2021
‘Jeopardy!’ team never considered LeVar Burton as permanent host
A ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Search So Blundered It Almost Feels Intentional
NYT: She Wrote the History of ‘Jeopardy!’ Then She Changed It.
WaPo: How journalism saved ‘Jeopardy!’ from an unworthy host after an utter failure of corporate vetting
NYT: What’s Next for ‘Jeopardy!’ Fans?
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:08 AM on August 26, 2021 [4 favorites]
A ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Search So Blundered It Almost Feels Intentional
NYT: She Wrote the History of ‘Jeopardy!’ Then She Changed It.
WaPo: How journalism saved ‘Jeopardy!’ from an unworthy host after an utter failure of corporate vetting
NYT: What’s Next for ‘Jeopardy!’ Fans?
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:08 AM on August 26, 2021 [4 favorites]
Mike Richards Is Attending Sensitivity Training (People)
In a similar vein, Sony has brought in a longtime business and legal affairs executive named Suzanne Prete to serve as an overseer above Mike Richards who is meant to serve as a guiding force for the show going forward, both on the business side and regarding the creative direction. To be sure, though, Sony says that Prete's arrival was already planned to happen prior to the flip-flopping hosting announcements. (Cinema Blend)
"Brought in" and "Prete's arrival," as if she's a consultant, when the attorney is Sony's Senior Vice-President of Global Marketing and Brand Management for its game show division. (Well, SVP for Sony's games and game show two years ago, per that court testimony; current Variety entry doesn't mention game shows; here's a 2012 internal memo with Prete as Sony's VP of Legal Affairs.)
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:22 PM on August 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
In a similar vein, Sony has brought in a longtime business and legal affairs executive named Suzanne Prete to serve as an overseer above Mike Richards who is meant to serve as a guiding force for the show going forward, both on the business side and regarding the creative direction. To be sure, though, Sony says that Prete's arrival was already planned to happen prior to the flip-flopping hosting announcements. (Cinema Blend)
"Brought in" and "Prete's arrival," as if she's a consultant, when the attorney is Sony's Senior Vice-President of Global Marketing and Brand Management for its game show division. (Well, SVP for Sony's games and game show two years ago, per that court testimony; current Variety entry doesn't mention game shows; here's a 2012 internal memo with Prete as Sony's VP of Legal Affairs.)
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:22 PM on August 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
NYTimes reports that Richards is out as Executive Producer of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.
posted by rogerroger at 9:31 AM on August 31, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by rogerroger at 9:31 AM on August 31, 2021 [5 favorites]
"What is schadenfreude, Alex?"
posted by merriment at 10:06 AM on August 31, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by merriment at 10:06 AM on August 31, 2021 [3 favorites]
This is a bad look:
posted by fedward at 11:10 AM on August 31, 2021 [13 favorites]
“We had hoped that when Mike stepped down from the host position at ‘Jeopardy!’ it would have minimized the disruption and internal difficulties we have all experienced these last few weeks,” a Sony executive, Suzanne Prete, wrote in a memo to staff on Tuesday. “That clearly has not happened.”Translation: "we thought by doing as little as possible we'd made the problem go away, but other people are holding us to something they call a 'standard,' whatever that is." Way to call attention to your failure to do the right thing in the first place and somehow snatch extra defeat from the jaws of defeat.
posted by fedward at 11:10 AM on August 31, 2021 [13 favorites]
Yeah, that's a really gross response by the Sony executive whose job it was, apparently, to oversee him. If her whole take from the start is that he was not the problem and the only problem was the reaction to him, then what kind of oversight would she realistically have provided?
posted by jacquilynne at 11:59 AM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by jacquilynne at 11:59 AM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
In the McNear article that made all this happen, she described it as if Jeopardy! was pretty autonomous and not subject to studio oversight prior to the death of Alex and the departure of the pre-Richards EP. I wonder if Sony's reasserted some control in that vacuum and there's a "promote the mediocre white dude" culture in Sony at large that Richards and Prete were working within.
posted by LionIndex at 12:31 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by LionIndex at 12:31 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
Michael Richards, with sails unfurled.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:32 PM on August 31, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:32 PM on August 31, 2021 [4 favorites]
Bet he wishes he hadn't gone for the job now, huh? Nothing like a guy doing himself in!
Nth that the "we hoped it would blow over" response was just shitty. More defeat, indeed.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:43 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
Nth that the "we hoped it would blow over" response was just shitty. More defeat, indeed.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:43 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
In the McNear article that made all this happen, she described it as if Jeopardy! was pretty autonomous and not subject to studio oversight prior to the death of Alex and the departure of the pre-Richards EP. I wonder if Sony's reasserted some control in that vacuum and there's a "promote the mediocre white dude" culture in Sony at large that Richards and Prete were working within.
This is right. There was a power vacuum that Richards (and Sony) stepped into. Now the question is whether they'll learn from this whole affair to leave J! and WoF alone to be the money-printing machine they've been for decades. I wouldn't bet on it though.
posted by dry white toast at 8:30 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
This is right. There was a power vacuum that Richards (and Sony) stepped into. Now the question is whether they'll learn from this whole affair to leave J! and WoF alone to be the money-printing machine they've been for decades. I wouldn't bet on it though.
posted by dry white toast at 8:30 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
I think @BrotiGupta on Twitter summed this up the best: "mike richards is so funny to me. no one knew who he was and he just popped up out of nowhere to be like I'M A STRANGER THAT SUCKS! and now that's the thing he's famous for"
posted by Rock Steady at 11:30 AM on September 3, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 11:30 AM on September 3, 2021 [8 favorites]
This thread is still open, so: anyone placing bets on whether Richards' awkward hosting stint outlasts current champ Matt Amodio? I have no idea how many episodes Richards taped before capitulating but it was weird to watch the season premiere knowing they're going to have to switch gears again.
In general I prefer frequent champ turnover, but I really like Matt, so I'm rooting for his streak to outlast Richards.
posted by the primroses were over at 1:11 PM on September 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
In general I prefer frequent champ turnover, but I really like Matt, so I'm rooting for his streak to outlast Richards.
posted by the primroses were over at 1:11 PM on September 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
Richards had 5 episodes in the can, so he leaves the podium at the end of this week: Production began yesterday (Aug. 19) on the new season with Richards as the host. As many guest hosts of the show have noted, the series has an intensive filming process, taping five episodes (a week of the series) every day. That means we’ll have one week of Richards as the host beginning on the week of Sept. 13, where he’ll return with Amodio for more quizzing action.
But what comes after those five episodes? The new permanent host set to replace Alex Trebek has yet to be selected or announced, so the game show will return to the revolving door of guest hosts they already tested in Season 37. (Deadline, Aug. 20)
posted by Iris Gambol at 3:38 PM on September 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
But what comes after those five episodes? The new permanent host set to replace Alex Trebek has yet to be selected or announced, so the game show will return to the revolving door of guest hosts they already tested in Season 37. (Deadline, Aug. 20)
posted by Iris Gambol at 3:38 PM on September 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
Bialik and Jennings to split hosting duties for remainder of year
posted by nubs at 3:48 AM on September 17, 2021
posted by nubs at 3:48 AM on September 17, 2021
Is it me who's out of touch? Because those choices make me think I'll probably never watch Jeopardy! again.
posted by ob1quixote at 4:13 AM on September 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by ob1quixote at 4:13 AM on September 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
“LeVar Burton reveals he doesn't want to be the new 'Jeopardy!' full-time host,” Kylie Mar, Yahoo! Entertainment, 17 September 2021
posted by ob1quixote at 7:28 AM on September 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by ob1quixote at 7:28 AM on September 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
It keeps getting worse: Jussie Smollett Has Resigned As The New Host Of ‘Jeopardy!’ After Fans Unearthed A Hate Crime He Staged In 2019
posted by riruro at 7:28 PM on September 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by riruro at 7:28 PM on September 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
I like Jennings just fine, whatever, I'm not hardcore, but Bialik I know I didn't like. Either the powers that be see a more...extroverted future for the show, or she's working a professoinal network able to persist through her virus wackitude and Neuriva trash.
posted by rhizome at 8:41 PM on September 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 8:41 PM on September 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
Jussie Smollett Has Resigned As The New Host Of ‘Jeopardy!’ After Fans Unearthed A Hate Crime He Staged In 2019
I realize 2019 was The Before Times, but I don't think "unearthed" is the right verb there.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 9:09 PM on September 18, 2021
I realize 2019 was The Before Times, but I don't think "unearthed" is the right verb there.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 9:09 PM on September 18, 2021
That Clickhole story is from August 30, reads like satire (bad satire), and I don't see it corroborated anywhere else.
The fact that it has been over two and a half years since I lied to police about being assaulted by men in MAGA hats is no excuse,
somehow I don't think a publicist cleared this
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:32 PM on September 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
The fact that it has been over two and a half years since I lied to police about being assaulted by men in MAGA hats is no excuse,
somehow I don't think a publicist cleared this
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:32 PM on September 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
Yeah, very bad satire, with this:
Stephen Rannazzisi, Marilyn Manson, and Tila Tequila rumored as top contenders
... said no TV executive anywhere, ever. Apparently Stephen Rannazzisi lied about escaping the World Trade Center on 9/11.
posted by team lowkey at 11:00 PM on September 18, 2021
Stephen Rannazzisi, Marilyn Manson, and Tila Tequila rumored as top contenders
... said no TV executive anywhere, ever. Apparently Stephen Rannazzisi lied about escaping the World Trade Center on 9/11.
posted by team lowkey at 11:00 PM on September 18, 2021
For context, Clickhole is an offshoot of, which separated from, The Onion, parodying Buzzfeed and Upworthy.
Those three "contenders" each have a section on their Wikipedia pages detailing why they'd be non-viable replacements.
posted by Pronoiac at 1:16 AM on September 19, 2021 [3 favorites]
Those three "contenders" each have a section on their Wikipedia pages detailing why they'd be non-viable replacements.
posted by Pronoiac at 1:16 AM on September 19, 2021 [3 favorites]
“Jeopardy!, Eugenics and Me, ” Cynthia Greenlee, Harper's Bazaar, 17 September 2021
posted by ob1quixote at 7:37 AM on September 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by ob1quixote at 7:37 AM on September 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
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posted by Caxton1476 at 9:47 AM on August 20, 2021 [39 favorites]