Why Mike Richards Is Hosting 'Jeopardy!' This Week After Stepping Down

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Jeopardy! season 38 premieres on Monday night with Jeopardy! champion Matt Amodio ready to continue his impressive 18-game winning streak. But before the computer science PhD student starts competing once again, viewers will be greeted by former host and Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards.

After accepting the coveted gig of permanent Jeopardy! host last month, Mike later stepped down as host and, eventually, left the quiz show all together. But why is he hosting Jeopardy! this week, you ask? One word: Logistics. According to The New York Times, Mike got right to filming the new season of Jeopardy! this summer and taped for only one day before quitting. During that time, he filmed a total of five episodes, according to a Washington Post interview with Matt.

As fans know, after longtime host Alex Trebek died in November 2020 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, Jeopardy! launched an extensive search to find the show’s new permanent host. The seven-month audition process featured a roster of Jeopardy! prodigies, celebrities and TV personalities, including Mike himself, who stood at the lectern for two weeks in February.

Then in mid-August, Mike was officially named Alex’s successor. He was set to host daily episodes while Big Bang Theory actress Mayim Bialik would step in for primetime specials, like the annual Tournament of Champions. But after offensive podcast comments and decade-old lawsuits from his time at The Price Is Right resurfaced online, he stepped down as host. Not long after, Jeopardy! announced he was out as executive producer as well.

Now, Jeopardy! fans will see Mike stand at the lectern for the first week of the new season. Next week, Mayim will take over the stage as the temporary Jeopardy! host while folks behind the scenes come up with another plan to find a new permanent host. Despite the internet’s roar of approval for Mayim to become the new weekly face of Jeopardy!, the neuroscientist already has her plate full, including starring in her hit Fox sitcom Call Me Kat among other projects.

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