Matt Buckler: 'The search is over; 'Jeopardy' finds its host

Aug. 5—He has been responsible for more than 4,000 hours of television and actually hosted several game shows.

Most TV viewers, however, had never heard of Mike Richards until he became "Jeopardy's" second guest host following the death of long-time host Alex Trebek.We'll be hearing a lot more about him in the future. Daily Variety was the first to report that Richards is in final negotiations to become permanent host. The announcement is expected to be made by Sony Pictures Television next week.

After months of substitute hosts from a wide range of backgrounds — athletes (Aaron Rogers), TV morning hosts (Robin Roberts, reporters (Anderson Cooper), doctors (Dr. Oz), actresses (Mayim Bialak), and all-time champ (Ken Jennings) — the producers have settled for someone who has spent most of his career behind the camera, not in front of it.

He was the executive producer of "The Price Is Right" for 10 years and hosted some short-lived game shows such as "Beauty and the Geek."

Then he became executive producer of the Ferrari of game shows, "Jeopardy," in 2020.

He had one thing going for him during his guest-hosting stint— a rapport with the contestants. That's one ingredient Trebek brought to the stage. So does Pat Sajek of "Wheel of Fortune" fame. Richards brings the same element.

Of all the guests hosts who were brought in, it seems only two had a realistic shot to take over the show — the first two subs, Jennings and Richards.

Many expected Jennings to be named as Trebek's replacement, so Wednesday's news was a bit of a stunner.

The early media, however, has been very favorable to Richards.

It is still not a done deal, but it's hard to imagine Richards not agreeing to a contract. Hosting "Jeopardy" is one of the best jobs on television, even though he is following a legend.

The No. 1 job requirement, however, is to be smooth. You're dealing with two sets of contestants — the ones in the studio and the ones playing at home.

Richards has shown the ability to serve two masters.

Having a group of fill-in hosts audition for the permanent job was a stroke of genius — it created interest in the show during the spring and summer.

Richards seems to be the logical successor — he won't have to give up his day job to take over.

The answer to today's final "Jeopard" is Mike Richards. The question? "Who is one of the most fortunate people in America.

Rare recordings

We know that the late Lucille Ball is one of the greatest physical comedians in TV history. Starting next week, we'll be introduced to another layer of Ball's career — what kind of interviewer was she?

SiriusXM radio is releasing a series of interviews Ball conducted in the early '60s. She talked to many of the entertainment industry's biggest names — Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Barbra Streisand, and Bing Crosby — using her own tape recorder.

Those interviews were played on the CBS Radio Network in 1964 and 1965.

SiriusXM has obtained the rights to those tapes and will put them on the air for the first time in more than 50 years.

"Let's Talk to Lucy" will air starting next week on SiriusXM Channel 104.

Ball died in 1989 at the age of 77. The tapes have been the property of the family for many years. Ball's daughter, Lucie, who is now 70, said the family decided to share the tapes with SiriusXM subscribers.

It should be an interesting look back at the '60s through the eyes of some of the biggest starts of that era.

And they should also be funny. After all, that's what Ball was good at — making us laugh.

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