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Replacing an icon on a beloved show is a daunting task. For Danger!, it became virtually an impossible mission as a legion of passionate fans, still grieving the death of host Alex Trebek, pitted potential successors against their idol.
The high stakes led to scrutiny where the present – and the past – of contestants were put under the microscope as celebrities took turns behind the Danger! lectern in what the audience assumed was an audition process. The in-depth public scrutiny meant that the research took an early turn when former champion Ken Jennings’ tweets slashed his odds, and it could once again impact racing in its final stages as oldies. discrimination prosecutions involving Danger! Executive producer Mike Richards takes on new life as he nears a deal for the position.
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‘Danger!’ Executive producer Mike Richards set to close deal to succeed Alex Trebek as host
In November, just two weeks after Trebek’s death, Jennings was announced as the first guest host on the venerable syndicated game show. Already a Danger! A legend with his winning streak and an all-time greatest title, the popular – and likeable – Jennings was seen as an undisputed leader and one to beat as Trebek’s successor.
But in late December, just days before her stay as a guest host began, several callous tweets from Jennings from previous years surfaced, including a comment from 2014 that there is “Nothing sadder. than a hot person in a wheelchair “.
Jennings apologized, acknowledging that over the years he had “certainly tweeted artless and insensitive things.”
Flash-forward seven months.
Just days after being named the new host of Danger!Richards, who had joined the show as an executive producer a few months before Trebek’s death, has been linked to allegations ten years ago.
During his stint as co-executive producer / executive producer on The price is right, Richards has been involved in lawsuits for discrimination by former models in the series, including a lawsuit filed in 2010 by Brandi Cochran which received $ 8.5 million in damages; after appeal, the matter was finally settled. A subsequent lawsuit with another model was also settled. (Although he appeared in both complaints, Richards was only named as a defendant in the second trial. He was subsequently withdrawn.)
Richards has yet to comment publicly on the resurfaced allegations that include insensitive comments about pregnant women attributed to him in Cochran’s trial.
There was also radio silence from Danger! Sony Pictures Television studio, which performed the host search. But days after Richards’ ongoing deal was announced, he still has not been officially announced as a new host, sparking more speculation, as well as questions about research integrity, than Richards, as the show’s EP, directed on behalf of Sony TV.
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