 |
| Mike Richards |
Mike Richards, executive producer of Jeopardy, whom Sony Pictures Entertainment anointed as the weeknight replacement for the dearly departed Alex Trebek, a move that triggered outrage among diehard fans, is canned.
Sony had picked insider Richards after the charade of conducting tryouts for 16 broadcasters, TV personalities and one very misplaced quarterback, Aaron Rogers of Green Bay.
Richards basked in the glory of his new gig for a nanosecond until a cascade of past discrimination lawsuits and offensive jokes entangled him.
Deciding to quit while he was ahead, Richards gave up the Jeopardy host opportunity.
Mike’s decision to give up his dream job apparently wasn’t enough for his boss, Suzanne Prete, executive VP, business strategy at Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.
She sent a note to staffers saying that Richards is no longer executive VP of the Wheel and Jeopardy.
“We had hoped that when Mike stepped down from the host position at Jeopardy, it would have minimized the disruption and internal difficulties we all have experienced these last few weeks," she wrote. "That clearly has not happened.”
Note to Prete: if Jeopardy had selected the talented Mayim Bialik or LaVar Burton, both of whom scored high marks during their tryouts, the “disruption and internal difficulties” never would have happened.
Sony's PR nightmare continues as it plans to resume the hunt for the next Trebek.
Ireland’s New York consulate is aware of Quinnipiac University’s boneheaded decision not to reopen its “Great Hunger Museum” and wants to help find a new home for the collection.
It sent the following message to O’Dwyer’s:
“We believe it is important that a new home be found for this important collection in the months ahead.
“The aim should be to re-house the collection so that the works it contains remain accessible to the public and researchers alike.
“The Consulate is willing to work with the University to try to find a home for the collection in the months ahead.”
The ball is in your court, Quinnipiac.
A huge PR opportunity looms for a firm that is willing to take some heat by promoting Immigration & Customs Enforcement... Disgraced New York mayor Eric Adams couldn't wait to make another pilgrimage to Israel to stick it to his successor Zohran Mamdani... Hats off to Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett for writing his always engaging and witty annual reports over the years.
The ADL plans a Mamdani Monitor to track down any whiff of antisemitism from the policies and appointments made by his administration. It should have given him a chance to live up to Election Night promise... Brendan Carr, Alden Global Capital, Alphabet, Meta and Elon Musk make Reporters Without Borders' roster of Press Freedom Predators.
Andrew Cuomo's political career is not dead yet... Steve Bannon says Republicans should learn from Zohran Mamdani and his Working Families Party and Democratic Socialists of America, instead of mocking them... Internet advertising model is on the way out, says Tim Berners-Lee... Gannet rebrands as USA Today Inc. What about its other 200 papers?
Thomas Jefferson warned about the dangers of an imperial president who would deny an election loss in a bid to cling to power. Sound familiar?... Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says reporters don't need his permisson to take a photo of the Pentagon's 9/11 memorial, as long as they are not on the job... Kirkland and Ellison lawyers need some negotiating tips. 
Shareholder activitism is poised to hit an all-time high for 2025... Kamala Harris’ “107 Days” reads like an autospsy of her failed presidential run. Democrats need to look forward, not backward... The Reagan Foundation dishonored The Gipper by providing PR cover to tariff-loving Trump.
