Sports and entertainment
Maybe he really is the gamemaster!
New York Jets star Rodgers was actually the “best-prepared” of a host of other major celebrities to succeed the late, great Alex Trebek, “Jeopardy!” The host claimed.
Mike Richards, 48, former “Jeopardy”! The producer, who hosted the show for a day after Trebek's death, revealed that Rodgers checked all the boxes to be a front-runner for the job in 2021 — but his career on the field was a roadblock.
“Aaron Rodgers was definitely the most prepared.” Richards told PEOPLE. “I was blown away by that – the intensity with which he prepared – and he was so kind to all the staff.”
“But ultimately I was worried about his other job that he's doing at a very high level. I was like, 'How are you going to work this around with football scheduling?'” Richards added. “You'll figure it out!” Richards added.
Aaron Rodgers is no stranger to “Jeopardy!”, as he was a guest on the show during a two-week stint that thrilled fans with his full performance.
The quarterback raised $236,725 at the show for the North Valley Community Foundation, a non-profit organization based in his hometown of Chico, California.
Richards said Rodgers was a huge fan of the show, which played a role in why it stood out from other hosts like ABC Good Morning America host Robin Roberts and former CBS anchor Katie Couric.
Participants also included CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, TV star Mayim Bialik, and current host Ken Jennings.
Rodgers was also a contestant on the show, winning the “Celebrity Jeopardy!” In 2015, when he competed against astronaut Mark Kelly and “Shark Tank” entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary.
Rodgers said he would have accepted the offer if asked to take over full-time.
However, Richards was eventually given the job instead of Rodgers — and left “Jeopardy!” Fans are questioning how the former producer of the show succeeded.
“No one was more surprised than me,” said Richards, who is also a former host of the reality series “Beauty & the Geek” and “New Year's Rocking Eve in 2005.” “Everyone was so angry because it looked like I went into a room and picked myself.”
“They said, 'We'd like you to be the host of the syndicated edition of Jeopardy!' So I stopped and said: Oh, wow. Thank you. What is the media plan? “Because I was very concerned that this was going to be scrutinized as closely as a presidential election,” Richards said.
Richards was fired after one episode of his new hosting gig when the Anti-Defamation League called for an investigation into disparaging comments he made on “The Randumb Show” in 2014.
Previous “Danger”! The host apologized for the comments he made, but it came at the same time as he was under fire for a wrongful termination and a discrimination lawsuit filed by the showrunners.
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