Mike Richards, Steps Down, as New ‘Jeopardy!’ Host.<br />Just nine days after being selected to replace late host Alex Trebek, Richards has stepped down.<br />Just nine days after being selected to replace late host Alex Trebek, Richards has stepped down.<br />The news comes after controversy arose over <br />past sexist comments Richards made on his podcast.<br />The news comes after controversy arose over <br />past sexist comments Richards made on his podcast.<br />On August 20, the show's producer, <br />Sony Pictures Television, released a statement <br />on Richards' decision to step down. .<br />On August 20, the show's producer, <br />Sony Pictures Television, released a statement <br />on Richards' decision to step down. .<br />Mike has been with us for the last <br />two years and has led the ‘Jeopardy!’ <br />team through the most challenging time <br />the show has ever experienced. <br />It is our hope that as EP he will <br />continue to do so with <br />professionalism and respect. , Sony Pictures Television, via statement.<br />Mike has been with us for the last <br />two years and has led the ‘Jeopardy!’ <br />team through the most challenging time <br />the show has ever experienced. <br />It is our hope that as EP he will <br />continue to do so with <br />professionalism and respect. , Sony Pictures Television, via statement.<br />Richards previously hosted <br />'The Pyramid' and 'Beauty and the Geek.'.<br />He also served as executive producer <br />of 'The Price Is Right' and 'Let’s Make a Deal.'.<br />He also served as executive producer <br />of 'The Price Is Right' and 'Let’s Make a Deal.'.<br />The news of Richards' departure comes after a broad search to replace longtime host Alex Trebek, who died last year.<br />The news of Richards' departure comes after a broad search to replace longtime host Alex Trebek, who died last year.<br />We took this decision incredibly seriously. <br />A tremendous amount of work <br />and deliberation has gone into it, <br />perhaps more than has ever gone <br />into the selection of hosts for the show,<br />deservedly so because it’s ‘Jeopardy!’ <br />and we are following <br />the incomparable Alex Trebek, Ravi Ahuja, chairman of Global Television Studios and <br />Corporate Development for Sony Pictures, via statement.<br />We took this decision incredibly seriously. <br />A tremendous amount of work <br />and deliberation has gone into it, <br />perhaps more than has ever gone <br />into the selection of hosts for the show,<br />deservedly so because it’s ‘Jeopardy!’ <br />and we are following <br />the incomparable Alex Trebek, Ravi Ahuja, chairman of Global Television Studios and <br />Corporate Development for Sony Pictures, via statement