When “Jeopardy!” executive producer Michael Richards was named permanent syndicated host of the venerable quiz program — to succeed the late Alex Trebek — the choice engendered considerable blowback from fans of the show. The controversy increased dramatically when The Ringer, a website and podcast network, reported that Richards had made derogatory comments about women, Jews, Haitians, poor people, and others years earlier. As a result, Richards stepped down from the hosting job, although he will continue as executive producer. Jewish actress and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik will still host special “Jeopardy!” spinoff competitions. In addition, she reportedly will be the first post-Richards guest host.
Quote: “On several episodes of Richards’ podcast ‘The Randumb Show,’ Richards was heard to have made some unseemly comments, asking his co-host if she had taken nude pictures of herself and, in one instance, when talk turned to big noses, said of a woman, in pig Latin, ‘She’s not an ew-Jay.’ The Anti-Defamation League had called for an investigation into the past comments.”
Sources: The Israel Times (introduction and quotation)
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Photo: Variety
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