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Three Doors And One Goat

SOLVED!

UPDATED!

[Blind Gossip] There has been a lot of chatter about who will take the place of this popular TV host.

There are three things we want to share with you about the search for his replacement.

The first is that it isn’t really a replacement search at all. It’s a marketing stunt!

The second thing we want to tell you is why producers are doing this.

“The Replacement Search” will bring attention to the show, help retain existing fans, and attract a potentially larger audience to the show.

That sounds reasonable.

It’s a game. They will cast a wide net so that celebrities will come clamoring to “try out,” thinking that they might eventually be the “winner” of the grand prize (the hosting gig).

We could see everyone from dramatic actors to comedians to reality stars to media types wanting to host the show for a few days just for bragging rights!

Those celebrities will each bring their own fans as viewers.

Each celeb will be happy to promote it on their own social media, which means that their individual fan bases will tune in to see their celebrity, broadening the audience. Producers hope that some of those eyeballs will “stick” and continue to watch the show even when their celeb is no longer hosting.

There is an additional concept at play here.

The other thought is that it is a unique opportunity to attract a more diverse audience. The show’s audience has been the same for years and this is a way to attract new viewers of different races, nationalities, ages, and educational levels by having guest hosts from a variety of different backgrounds.

Diversity is now a goal of many TV productions, so this is not surprising.

Sorry if you are disappointed that The Replacements are just a marketing stunt. At least they should have fun with their guest spots.

The third thing we want to tell you is… the search is already over!

This is a valuable show and they were not about to leave it to chance! The producers knew exactly who they wanted from the beginning.

The Chosen One is someone who has been a frequent guest on the show and is well-acquainted with the format.

They have been secretly working with him for months with practice runs done on camera so he can relax and get into the flow of it.

He just needs to focus on doing the job and not get caught up in the publicity and the fame that come along with it.

Any other concerns about The Chosen One taking over?

One minor concern.

He is technically very good and has picked up the role quickly. He is a smart guy, so that is no surprise.

However, it’s not enough for him to be technically good. He has to be likeable as well!

That’s harder to pull off because the job moves fast and he tends to get a little stiff and intense when he focuses.

They’ve been coaching him to smile and relax and enjoy the job. He is actually a very likeable guy when he smiles and has fun with it!

If he can strike that balance between technical and personable, the old fans will respect him and the new fans will like him.

They hope that the combination of the marketing stunt and the training of The Chosen One pays off.

If they get lucky, they believe that the show’s ratings could actually break new records!

Monty Hall had to comfort contestants on Let’s Make A Deal when they chose a goat.

In this case, though, a goat may be the best choice!

Similar: Coast Conflict

TV Show:

The Chosen One:

[Optional] Who would you like to see host the show, either permanently or temporarily?

SOLVED!

TV Show: Jeopardy

The Chosen One: Ken Jennings

Well, that did not go as planned!

Over the past year, Jeopardy has been one long marketing stunt leading towards the replacement of iconic host Alex Trebek.

The replacement was supposed to be Alex Trebek’s choice, Jeopardy GOAT Ken Jennings.

However, after Alex Trebek passed, Jeopardy’s Executive Producer, Mike Richards, decided that the best replacement for Alex Trebeck would be… himself.

Oh, and to divert some attention away from that very questionable choice, actress Mayim Bialik will host a few Jeopardy specials.

From People:

Mike Richards Named New Permanent Jeopardy! Host, Mayim Bialik Tapped to Host Spinoff Series

Jeopardy! officially has its next host.

Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards was announced as the permanent host of the hit syndicated game show on Wednesday, about nine months after the death of longtime host Alex Trebek.

Additionally, Mayim Bialik has been tapped to host Jeopardy! primetime and spinoff series, including the just-announced Jeopardy! National College Championship, an all-new tournament which will air in primetime on ABC in 2022.

“We knew early on that we wanted to divide the hosting responsibilities and it became very clear that Mike and Mayim were the undeniable choices. They were both at the top of our research and analysis. Mike is a unique talent, at ease behind the podium and a double threat as producer and host. Mayim has a wonderful energy, an innate sense of the game, and an authentic curiosity that naturally represents the Jeopardy! brand.

Well, Mayim Bialik does have an authentic curiosity. She has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA.

And Mike Richards certainly is a threat. To women. You see, they left out the part where Mike Richards got sued for discrimination by a bunch of Price is Right models. 

Our favorite headline on this odd choice comes from Ars Technica:

Jeopardy! selects executive producer of Jeopardy! as new host of Jeopardy!

Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik will also host special episodes of the show.

Yep, that sums it up.

You know who would have been a better host of the syndicated series?

Anyone!

Ken Jennings, Buzzy Cohen, Levar Burton, David Faber.

Here are Levar Burton and David Faber:

Even Aaron Rodgers.

Seriously.

Instead, we get this self-dealing producer.

Why did Richards pick himself?

Well, Alex Trebeck’s salary for Jeopardy was $18M a year. So we’ll give you 18 million guesses as to why Richards thinks that he is perfect for the job!

This all reminds us of a “search for the perfect candidate” that happened many years ago.

When George W. Bush was running for President of the United States, his friend, Halliburton CEO Dick Cheney, said that he would lead the search to help W find the perfect Vice President for his ticket.

After a long, exhaustive search, guess who Dick Cheney picked?

Dick Cheney.

Mike Richards is the new Dick Cheney.

Congratulations to JBDinCA for being first with the correct (at the time) response!

UPDATE!

And…. he’s out!

Mike Richards, a.k.a. The New Dick Cheney, will NOT be the host of Jeopardy!

A number of misogynistic and anti-semitic comments Mike Richards made on a blogcast years ago resurfaced.

Chaos ensued.

Then, in a stunning turn of events, Sony Pictures announced that Richards is stepping down as the host of the syndicated version of Jeopardy!

From Associated Press:

Mike Richards out as ‘Jeopardy!’ host after past scrutinized

Producer Mike Richards stepped down from his brief tenure as host of “Jeopardy!” after a report about past misogynistic comments surfaced this week and following a drumbeat of criticism about his selection and how it was made.

Richards was chosen last week as the successor to Alex Trebek, a decision that was seen as divisive from the beginning after the show had embarked on a broad search that included actors, sports figures, journalists and celebrities.

Earlier this week, a report about the demeaning comments about women, the homeless and others that Richards had made on a 2013-14 podcast were revealed. The clips were removed online after the report was posted.

This is in addition to the anti-Semitic comments; the lawsuits about him harassing women on set; as well the lawsuits stating that he discriminated against pregnant women in the workplace.

“Over the last several days it has become clear that moving forward as host would be too much of a distraction for our fans and not the right move for the show,” Richards said in a note to the “Jeopardy!” staff on Friday. “As such, I will be stepping down as host effective immediately. As a result, we will be canceling production today.”

Richards said a search for a new host will begin again, with guest hosts returning to continue production for the new season, he said in the note.

Wait. What?

They are going to begin the search for a host all over again?!

That’s ridiculous.

There are plenty of talented people who have already run that gauntlet!

Mayim Bialik, Ken Jennings, Buzzy Cohen, Levar Burton, and David Faber would all make fine hosts of the syndicated show.

Here are Buzzy Cohen and Ken Jennings. They are both former Jeopardy champions who auditioned for the hosting gig.

Mayim Bialik has other work commitments that may prevent her from accepting the full-time gig. Although The Big Bang Theory is over, Bialkik is currently starring on the sitcom Call Me Kat. CMK was renewed for a second season, so Bialik is contractually obligated for that gig.

David Faber, a financial analyst on CNBC, was great and a natural in front of the camera.

And who doesn’t love Levar Burton?

Oh, and here’s some other interesting news.

A couple of years ago, Alex Trebek was pressed to throw out a couple of names of people who he would like to see audition for the hosting role if he ever retired.

Trebek mentioned Alex Faust and Laura Coates.

Who?

Alex Faust is a NHL sportscaster. He does play-by-play for the Los Angeles Kings.

Laura Coates is a legal analyst for CNN.

Both of them are attractive, bright, personable talents who are comfortable in front of the camera.

However, neither of them was chosen to audition for the hosting role after Trebek passed!

Huh. Why is that? It’s very curious. Did Mike Richards feel threatened by them? Was he asserting his own role as producer to suppress Trebek’s choices?

It will be interesting to see if Alex Faust and Laura Coates are included in the next round of auditions!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. montebell says

    Before the sexual harassment news came out, I thought Mike was the best choice. To me he seemed the most relaxed and had good interaction with the contestants. Not now. Ken would be my top choice.

    • amagod121 says

      I want to send some fangirl support to Mayam Bialik, as she was very classy on her stint plus, as a PhD of Neurobiology she is super brainy, which Jeopardy needs (and which Alex provided in his 36 years.) So I say, give us Mayam! She is the best fit for the job!

  2. kellyinchains says

    Unbelievable. Just NO.
    I refuse to watch if THAT DUDE is hosting. Hopefully the fan OUTRAGE, & tanking ratings will nip this BS in the bud QUICKLY.

    😒🤬🙄🤮😖💩

    • greek_chorus says

      Seriously! I’m the same way, especially after reading about his history of discrimination and harassment towards the models on The Price is Right. Mike Richards was a poor choice.

    • Chicadora says

      The only choice worse than him would have been the creepy Dr. Oz.

      Ken loosened up as he went along (don’t forget, he had to deal with being the first guest host after losing Alex) and was fine, I thought, with a dry sense of humor. Buzzy was great, probably my top pick. Most others did a good job, too, or at least okay.

      And yes, practically anyone else would have been better than Mr. EP, who I found to be annoyingly slick/shallow.

      So disappointed…..

  4. spoofbyrd says

    I hope BG lets me back on because I have to say this because Alex Trebek would want me to. Many of you younger than Boomers might not know this but there was a super talent before Alex Trebek that hosted Jeopardy. His name was Art Fleming . Got to give Art some love too and I guess that is why the selection for who is next is very important. From the art of Art to the magic of Alex let us hope !

  5. omgimbackagain says

    Ok I really like Ken Jennings. I saw his original run and thought he was very personable. (What is a hoe? Lmao) I hope he gets it and I hope he succeeds. No one can replace Alex Trebek but at least we have someone who cares about the game and is smart.

  6. Renee2 says

    Obviously Ken Jennings GOAT on Jeopardy.
    Here is why I could never buy into this:
    1. He has been a guest reader of clues in recent months and is dry and dull.
    2. Alex made the show all about the contestants and not himself. Ken’s ego is so inflated that he will always make it about HIM.
    3. Viewers will compare every contestant with Ken and that’s a downer. See #2 above!

  7. spoofbyrd says

    During a guest appearance of a pre recorded Ken Jennings reading an answer , Alex Trebek responded “ I like the way he did that “. Well that wasn’t verbatim but close . It seemed to me that Alex was given him the endorsement. Now that damned tweet showed up . Well I am a Jeopardy fan & yes O’Hurley has the experience but like my fellow Boomers he has a tendency towards the blue humor & Jeopardy is a G show . Brass needs to avoid a Tonight Show Conan yank situation .

  8. deepsigh says

    Oh please NOT Ken Jennings. I liked him well enough when he was a contestant,but since then…. his tweets and other things made me dislike him. In a low level he makes my skin crawl way.

    Why not Brad Rutter,another champion Jeopardy player? Or that Buzzy guy? Cohen or Cohan. (Jewish or Irish? ). I like him, he had a nice sense of humor.

    RIP Alex Trebek. We will miss you forever.

  9. PlayaReina says

    This is blind is clearly about Jeopardy! With the GOAT being Ken Jennings
    I think he has the personality of an accountant. Affable, but boring. Definitely not who I wanna spend an hour watching.
    My vote goes for J Peterman aka John O’hurley. He would be perfect!!!

  11. queenpin says

    I would love to see James Holzhauer as host of Jeopardy. He’s charming and funny and has a modern vibe. And of course, so smart.
    I think Ken Jennings has already been chosen though.

  12. TheSalmon says

    Obviously the Alex Trebek replacement with Ken Jennings being The Chosen One.
    It’s a tone-deaf choice. The LAST thing the replacement needs to be, under ANY circumstances, is another white man. Read the room, people.
    Nobody will ever replace Alex, so let’s use this as an opportunity for some progressive thinking!
    I’d be fine with LeVar Burton, but I think the better choice, which nobody has mentioned anywhere that I’ve seen, is Aisha Tyler. Smart, funny, charismatic. Obvs can do the job.

  14. parkland45 says

    John O’Hurley? Yes!! He has the professionalism and presence that TV cameras require. And there’s that something extra about him that is very much likeTrebek.

  15. katekatekate says

    Ken Jennings, the guy who at the age of 40 tweeted, “Nothing sadder than a hot person in a wheelchair.”

    He’s garbage.

  16. Conchord says

    Obviously this is Jeopardy and Ken Jennings. The guest thing reminds me of how it was handled when Gene Siskel died; they took some time to find a replacement, but I didn’t get the sense that the guests were “auditioning” for it.

    I would like to see Mo Rocca get it. He’s a smart guy with some comedic background, but not too much for the show. He has hosting experience, including the Geography Bee the last several years.

  17. Baileygirl says

    Jeopardy
    Ken Jennings
    This will be a situation akin to ConanO’Brien trying to do the TonightShow and they had to bring Jay Leno back after six weeks because the audience wouldn’t accept O’Brien.
    They should be replacing Alex with a celebrity who can bring the same -John O’Hurley.
    He has the looks, the temperment and the poise to be in front of the camera.

  20. prinny says

    I’ve never been a fan of Jeopardy but I think its Ken Jennings though I know there is big campaign for LeVar Burton to do it. Makes no difference to me.

  23. montebell says

    Jeopardy! and Ken Jennings as the host. No matter who they choose, everyone is going to compare him or her to Alex. There is no comparison. I hope they don’t tweak the format too much to try and make it “fresh.”

  27. kesangel says

    Jeopardy and Ken Jennings..they have to be careful as fans won’t like changing the format so soon after Alex Trebek’s death 🙁

  29. blubelle says

    Show:Jeopardy

    Chosen One: Ken Jennings (not a fan).

    I’m just sad about losing Alex Trebeck; he was truly one of a kind. 💔

  31. kpcakes says

    TV Show: Jeopardy
    Chosen One: Ken Jennings

    Just curious to see what they’re going to do with it, since yes, they did say Jennings was just a temporary host, I think?

  35. ohiknowthis says

    This is Jeopardy and I think Ken Jennings will be great on it. He’s deserving.

    Im glad they’re keeping the show going but I’ll miss Alex trebek.

  42. kelno19 says

    Jeopardy! LeVar Burton. It’ll be fun watching the different hosts, but Trebek’s shoes are really big to fill.

  43. luddite2 says

    Jeopardy with Ken Jennings as the chosen one. He’s already listed as “consulting producer” and I believe he would be the best choice for host.

  44. spoonerism says

    TV Show: Jeopardy!

    The Chosen One: Ken Jennings

    [Optional] Who would you like to see host the show, either permanently or temporarily? Honestly, I never imagined anyone but Ken Jennings taking over as host, especially considering that he’s already a consulting producer. For guesting, somebody like Peyton Manning might be fun?

  45. Gerseychick says

    John O’Hurley…Good looking…Great voice…Charming and Witty…..He would be perfect………Ken Jennings..Nice man but nope……Rest In Peace, Alex….Gone too soon…..

  47. WorkHardBeNice says

    Jeopardy
    Ken Jennings.

    Will Ferrell, of course but I would have loved to see Robin Williams host.

    R.I.P. to Alex and Robin and best of luck to the new host.

  49. AmateurGossipHour says

    TV Show: Live with Kelly and Ryan

    The Chosen One: Mark Consuelos? He would defiantly be familiar with the format and the kids are older now so they don’t need one parent at home all the time.

    [Optional] Who would you like to see host the show, either permanently or temporarily? I’d love to see Neil Patrick Harris.

  51. CanaryCry says

    It looks as though Jeopardy had already been prepping Ken Jennings, who I also like, to fill Trebek’s shoes.

    It’s still fun to consider anyone from Steve Harvey to Mario Lopez to Kristen Bell to Meredith Vieira as a candidate, though.

  53. VeronicaMarsBars says

    TV Show: Jeopardy
    The Chosen One: Former champ Ken Jennings who’s had a producer credit on the show for a while.

    Optional: I’d love to see LeVar Burton be the next host permanently. I think he has exhibited a commitment to knowledge through hosting Reading Rainbow and promoting reading for children and parents. I think it would be a nice nod to Alex’s clear love of trivia and learning.

  54. amagod121 says

    Sadly, this is Jeopardy.
    Alex Trebec you will be MISSED!!! You were a one of a kind.

    Chosen: James Holzhauer

    Optnl: Could Akex Trebek be cloned? If so, then him!!!!

  55. Deal With It says

    Jeopardy! Ken Jennings. Not sure how I feel about them marketing hosts for ratings. Ken was a shoe in for a replacement, but let us mourn the passing of Alex.

  56. kavanah says

    Jeopardy.

    Ken Jennings. Rhodes are some tough shoes to fill.

    Give Jeff Goldblum a shot. He is Mensa material.
    Woman: Mayim Bialik. Hey why not?! 🤷🏻‍♀️

  59. thisisannoying says

    The most simile show to this would be Deal Or No Deal but I don’t seem to see anything about a host change, so maybe Jeopardy! since the host has passed away?

    Maybe Drew Carey?

  60. parkland45 says

    Jeopardy and Ken, the GOAT, will be the new host. Something tells me he’s not the right personality. And he has some baggage (cruel tweet about some people in wheelchairs).

  61. CaintGetEnuff says

    Jeopardy
    Ken Jennings
    Neil Patrick Harris, but I’d imagine that would be sort of beneath him. Plus, he’s probably too busy.

  62. aaaDML says

    Game: Jeopardy. Chosen one: Ken Jennings. He became a producer this year or last on Jeopardy and I remember hearing they were prepping him to take over. I am fine with this, better than some of the people who were rumored. Also, GOAT is for Greatest of All Time and Ken Jennings won that last year.

  63. beachchick218 says

    Jeopardy. Ken Jennings or James Holzhauer. No one can replace Alex so whoever it us has tall shoes to fill. Drew Carey might be good. RIP Alex!

  65. JoshuaTree says

    Jeopardy with Ken Jennings as eventual Trebek replacement. He won the Greatest of All Time tourney (GOAT)

  67. pancakephanny says

    Jeopardy!
    Ken Jennings

    I’m not sure how I feel about him being host because he’ll be working in a field that’s not his forte: hosting. They should go with someone with more experience working in TV and hosting, not someone who just happens to excel at the show. I still think the guy from Reading Rainbow would be the best host

  68. harperleigh says

    Jeopardy
    Ken Jennings or Austin (former contestant but don’t remember his last name) or Levar Burton

  70. funster says

    Ken Jennings is a great contestant, maybe the goat, but best for the host? Nah.
    He’s got none of the charm or polish we’ve come to expect.
    I think they should look for a woman who is smart, funny and charming. Too bad Kamala Harris already has a new job. Hey, maybe Maya Rudolph.

  71. ReginaPhalange says

    Jeopardy!
    Ken Jennings is the chosen one

    Sounds like a good plan. Nobody will ever replace Alex, but it will be fun to see different people try their hand at hosting.

  72. GooglyMoogly says

    Ken Jennings!!!!
    I would love to see him host permanently and think he’s an excellent choice. I enjoyed his run of 74 days on Jeopardy and think he’s witty and funny…

    Good luck Ken!

    PS. I like the idea of the variety of hosts – its a good way to segue into a new host and hopefully gets some new viewers…I’m looking forward to it…

  75. chica1984 says

    Jeopardy
    Ken Jennings

    He makes sense. Curious how this will effect him on Master Minds and The Chase

  79. NativeAtlantaGirl says

    Ken Jennings has been a consulting producer for the show for a while… He is intense. I think Levar Burton would kill it. But Dane Cook? Didn’t he have some * accusations against him?