Mike Richards Biography
Mike Richards is a three-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning executive producer and TV host. He is the executive producer of the game shows, “Wheel of Fortune” and Jeopardy!. He has also served as a guest host of Jeopardy! and is allegedly in talks to become the host.
Mike Richards Age
He was born on July 5, 1975 in Burbank, California, United States.
Mike Richards Wife
He is married to Stephanie Richards (neé Hull).
Mike Richards Children
Richards and his wife share two children together. They is no public information about the kids.
Mike Richards Executive Producer
Mike is an executive producer who has produced wide range of programs, including talk shows, dating shows, celebrity shows, reality shows, clips’ shows, game shows and cable news. He is the executive producer of two of the most successful game show; “Wheel of Fortune” and Jeopardy!
He previously spent more than 10 years as executive producer of “The Price Is Right” and “Let’s Make a Deal.” He began as a co-executive producer of “The Price Is Right” in 2008 and in 2009 he became the executive producer. In the same year he helped sell “Let’s Make a Deal” to CBS. During his tenure as executive producer of the two shows he earned 17 Daytime Emmy Awards nominations and won three. In 2020 he was the executive producer of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”.
Early on in his career, he worked for Dick Clark as his vice president of development and current programs. He produced several awards shows and prime-time shows and was a correspondent on “The American Music Awards” and “Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.”
Mike Richards Jeopardy!
Mike is the executive producer of “Jeopardy!”. After the death of Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek in 2020, Mike appeared as a guest host of the show for two weeks.
In August 2021 it was reported that he was in negotiation to become the permanent host, though with other candidates still in contention.
According to the Daily Beast, Mike confirmed he was in talks to succeed Trebek, in a memo to staff.
“It is true that I was asked if I would consider hosting the show. I was humbled and deeply honored. No final decisions have been made and discussions with me and other potential hosts are still ongoing. I know I have mentioned this to you all before, but the choice on this is not my decision and never has been. Throughout this search, Sony’s top priority has always been to continue the incredible legacy you and Alex built. As you know, Alex always believed the game itself and the contestants are the most important aspects of the show, and that will continue to be the guiding principle as the decision is finalized.”
Mike Richards Comedian
Richards was a stand-up comedian after graduating college. as a comedian, he was offered to host multiple pilots. He hosted the WB’s “High School Reunion,” and later was the host of the reality phenomenon “Beauty and the Geek” for the CW.
He also hosted “Dailies”, a movie news show. He has also hosted 2012 revival of “The Pyramid” and the Game Show Network’s 2016-2017 version of “Divided.”
Brandi Cochran Mike Richards
In 2010 Brandi Cochran, a former “Price Is Right” model accused Richards of firing her because she had become pregnant and had a difficult pregnancy. Cochran filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against “Price” producer FremantleMedia, Richards and others on the show. The case went to trial and Cochran was awarded $8.5 million for damages. In 2014 the decision was overturned on appeal and the sides eventually reached a settlement.
According to the court filings,Cochran alleged that she had delayed trying to have a child because she’d witnessed producers harassing two fellow models who had become pregnant while making the show and firing another.
She alleged that after she got pregnant in 2008, after a miscarriage in 2007, Richards responded to the news she was having twins by “[putting] his face in his hands.”
“He asked her twice, in an annoyed tone, ‘Twins? Are you serious? … You’re serious?’”
She alleged that Richards talked to her less frequently and eventually implied that if the show would have known she was pregnant she would have been fired.
According to the Daily Beast, “Cochran lost one of her twins due to an in-utero heart defect, and the other was born three months premature; as the model struggled to process the loss and care for her infant’s special needs, she also tried to lose weight so that she could return to work. It was only after months of trying to get an answer from producers that she allegedly found out her contract had been terminated.”
Another model, Shane Stirling had sued CBS and Price Is Right producer in 2010 alleging she had been fired from the show in 2008 as a result of her pregnancy. The case was however dismissed due to lack of enough evidence,
According to the Daily Beast, during the hearing “Richards and his fellow producers claimed that they’d cut the modeling pool from 10 to five in order to concentrate on those with the best modeling chops and on-screen chemistry with newly named host Drew Carey. Stirling countered that had she been forced to take less time off after her pregnancy, she would have had a better shot at retaining her job—but that was also not enough to sway the judge, who noted the statute of limitations on such a claim had already run out.”
Mike Richards Sexual Harassment
In 2011 Richards, fellow producer Adam Sandler (not the comedian), and Fremantle Media North America were sued by model Lanisha Cole for sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Cole alleged that towards the end of 2009, Richards began refusing to speak with Cole—about work-related matters or anything else. He allegedly only communicated with her through colleagues. She later discovered that Richards had entered a “close, personal and intimate” relationship with one of her fellow models.
The lawsuit claimed that Sandler burst into Cole’s dressing room despite a sign calling for guests to knock. He allegedly berated her in front of her peers for not wearing a microphone as she stood there half-naked, dressed only in a sheer thong bikini bottom. She complained about the dressing room incident during a meeting about sexual harassment involving another model. She claims that months later she was told she could not work for a week because she had to miss a day of work due to a family commitment. She quit after production failed to properly investigate any of her claims. The lawsuit was settled in 2013 after Richards was dismissed as a defendant.
Mike Richards Denies Discrimination Claims
In a memo, Richards has denied the claims and said that during his tenure a member welcomed seven children and they celebrated each pregnancy and birth both in front of and behind the camera.
“I want to address the complicated employment issues raised in the press during my time at The Price is Right ten years ago. These were allegations made in employment disputes against the show. I want you all to know that the way in which my comments and actions have been characterized in these complaints does not reflect the reality of who I am or how we worked together on The Price is Right. I know firsthand how special it is to be a parent. It is the most important thing in the world to me. I would not say anything to disrespect anyone’s pregnancy and have always supported my colleagues on their parenting journeys.
I am very proud of my time on The Price Is Right and Let’s Make a Deal. During my tenure, our female cast members welcomed seven beautiful children. We embraced and celebrated each pregnancy and birth both in front of and behind the camera. It was a joy to watch their families grow and highlight their happiness as part of the show.”
Mike Richards Net worth
He has an estimated net worth of $1 million.