Mike Richards' 'Price Is Right' Audition Tape Surfaces Online After 'Jeopardy!' Exit
A video showing short-lived Jeopardy! presenter Mike Richards auditioning to become the next host The Price Is Right has surfaced online.
Richards—who announced on Friday that he was stepping down from his role as Jeopardy! host, just nine days after his new job was confirmed—had previously made another crack at presenting back in 2007.
After Bob Barker announced that he was stepping down from The Price Is Right after 35 years at the helm, Richards was one of the hopefuls who tried out to become his replacement in front of a live studio audience.
And thanks to a video uploaded to YouTube on the aptly-named channel "Mike Richards Vids," those curious enough to have a glance can watch Richards' attempts to charm the audience as he made a bid for the job.
As game show fans know his attempts proved unsuccessful, as the coveted position subsequently went to Drew Carey, who continues to host the show.
Emmy winner Richards would go on to become an executive producer on The Price Is Right, before going on to land the same position on Jeopardy! in 2020.
Following a months-long search for a replacement for the late Alex Trebek, it was announced on August 11 that Richards would be a permanent presenter, alongside actress Mayim Bialik.
But his appointment was mired in controversy from the outset, with The Ringer last week publishing an article that detailed how Richards had made a series of offensive comments on podcast The Randumb Show, which he co-hosted between 2013 and 2014.
The ongoing outcry led to Richards announcing on Friday that he was stepping down from his newly assigned post, as he said in a statement: "It pains me that these past incidents and comments have cast such a shadow on Jeopardy! as we look to start a new chapter.
"As I mentioned last week, I was deeply honored to be asked to host the syndicated show and was thrilled by the opportunity to expand my role. However, 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.
"As such, I will be stepping down as host effective immediately. As a result, we will be canceling production today. [Sony Pictures Television] will now resume the search for a permanent syndicated host.
"In the meantime, we will be bringing back guest hosts to continue production for the new season, details of which will be announced next week.
"I want to apologize to each of you for the unwanted negative attention that has come to Jeopardy! over the last few weeks and for the confusion and delays this is now causing. I know I have a lot of work to do to regain your trust and confidence."
The Ringer reported that Richards made sexist comments and spoke offensively about little people and Jewish people, among others, on his podcast which he hosted while serving as a co-executive producer on The Price Is Right.
Richards subsequently issued an apology to The Ringer for the comments, saying his "attempts to be funny and provocative were not acceptable."
"It is humbling to confront a terribly embarrassing moment of misjudgment, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity from nearly a decade ago," he said. "Looking back now, there is no excuse, of course, for the comments I made on this podcast and I am deeply sorry.
"The podcast was intended to be a series of irreverent conversations between longtime friends who had a history of joking around. Even with the passage of time, it's more than clear that my attempts to be funny and provocative were not acceptable, and I have removed the episodes.
"My responsibilities today as a father, husband and a public personality who speaks to many people through my role on television means I have substantial and serious obligations as a role model, and I intend to live up to them."
Before his Jeopardy! hosting position was announced, Richards also faced scrutiny over reports that he was accused by multiple models of discriminating against them when he served as a producer on The Price Is Right.
