Jeopardy! returns with Mike Richards-hosted episodes filmed before his ouster


What is ... awkward?
Jeopardy! returned Monday for its new season with a premiere episode hosted by Mike Richards, the quiz show's former executive producer who was ousted as its new host after just one day of taping. Richards filmed a week's worth of episodes during his brief stint as host, and they will air through Friday despite his high-profile exit.
Monday's episode featured announcer Johnny Gilbert introducing Richards as the host of Jeopardy!, and there wasn't any acknowledgement during the show that he no longer holds that job. There had been speculation that Richards may have originally given remarks directly addressing his permanent hiring during the show's opening, and that producers edited out those comments.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Richards was tapped as the new permanent host of Jeopardy! in August, a decision that quickly proved controversial as fans questioned his influence as executive producer over the host search, and he also drew scrutiny over his involvement in past discrimination lawsuits at The Price is Right. After a report from The Ringer revealed Richards made a series of offensive comments on old podcast episodes, he stepped down as host on Aug. 20. The five episodes airing this week were filmed the day before his resignation. He was later fired as the show's executive producer. Leading up to Monday's premiere, Jeopardy! promoted its new season on social media with videos that revolved around returning champion Matt Amodio, who is on a historic winning streak, mostly without acknowledging who would host.
Once Richards' five episodes have finished airing, Jeopardy! is set to be guest-hosted by The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik for three weeks. Bialik has already been hired to host Jeopardy!'s primetime and spinoff series, and there has been speculation she could be in the mix to get the full-time gig.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
August 24 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include Putin at Donald Trump's circus, gallons of whitewash, and a foldable cartoon
-
5 Post Office-approved cartoons about mail-in voting
Cartoons Artists take on reverse logic, Putin's election advice, and more
-
The battle of the weight-loss drugs
Talking Point Can Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly regain their former stock market glory? A lot is riding on next year's pills
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclub
Speed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's ills
Speed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone
Speed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view
Speed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play