Mike Richards accepts the award for Excellent Sport Present for Jeopardy! in the course of the forty eighth Annual Daytime Emmy Awards broadcast on June 25, 2021.
Daytime Emmy Awards 2021 | Getty Photos Leisure | Getty Photos
Mike Richards will now not function government producer of the “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” sport present franchises, a Sony government mentioned in a memo to workers Tuesday.
Michael Davies from Embassy Row, who government produced “Who Desires to Be a Millionaire,” will be part of the manufacturing on an interim foundation, the memo mentioned.
The information comes simply over per week after Richards was ousted because the incoming host of the long-running trivia present after earlier controversial feedback he made resurfaced.
The Ringer reported Richards made offensive feedback about girls, Jewish folks and other people with psychological disabilities on a podcast he hosted from 2013 to 2014.
Richards apologized for the “undesirable unfavourable consideration” that he dropped at “Jeopardy!” when he introduced his resolution to step down from the internet hosting gig.
“We had hoped that when Mike stepped down from the host place at ‘Jeopardy!’ it could have minimized the disruption and inside difficulties now we have all skilled these previous couple of weeks,” wrote Suzanne Prete, government vp of enterprise and technique for “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” “That clearly has not occurred.”
Richards first got here below scrutiny final month when rumors circulated that he could be tapped to switch the late Alex Trebek.
Among the many scandalous reviews was a discrimination lawsuit that was filed towards CBS and FremantleMedia whereas Richards was an government producer of “The Worth is Proper.” The swimsuit claimed that the mannequin was not invited again to the present after she took day off for her being pregnant. The case was in the end settled, however Richards confronted extra being pregnant discrimination claims past Cochran, which weren’t profitable.
Moreover, within the wake of the announcement that he could be the brand new “Jeopardy!” host many known as into query Richards’ {qualifications} for the gig, in addition to his affect over the method in choosing Trebek’s alternative.
The Ringer reported that Richards, because the present’s EP, had management over virtually each side of the latest season of “Jeopardy!”, together with giving route to visitor hosts, influencing the promotion of episodes of the present and choosing which reveals had been despatched to check teams for analysis.
Learn the complete memo from Suzanne Prete:
Pricey Group,
I am writing to let that Mike will now not be serving as EP of Wheel and Jeopardy! efficient instantly. We had hoped that when Mike stepped down from the host place at Jeopardy! it could have minimized the disruption and inside difficulties now we have all skilled these previous couple of weeks. That clearly has not occurred.
Michael Davies from Embassy Row has agreed to assist with manufacturing on an interim foundation till additional discover. Michael and I’ll work along with all of you within the weeks forward to make sure that manufacturing stays on schedule and we don’t miss a beat as we head into the brand new season.
I do know this has been a difficult time for the whole crew, and I need to thanks all on your cooperation and professionalism over these previous couple of weeks. As Ravi talked about final week, I will probably be extra concerned within the day-to-day on our reveals transferring ahead and I’m wanting ahead to working intently with all of you. Please do not hesitate to achieve out if you happen to want something.
Sincerely,
Suzanne
That is breaking information. Please verify again for updates.