When the story broke this morning that Richards would no longer be hosting J!, so many thoughts were swirling around...
Whatever one may think about his podcasts and degrading comments toward women, just the fact that he had a hand as the EP in picking the eventual host (I will never buy anyone saying he "took himself out of the selection process") smelled a bit fishy. I thought this even when the auditions were going on, but also figured that this whole guest host exercise was really just a "try some people out, then pick Ken anyway, like everyone expects".
That said, I did think he was a competent host and actually gave him a "STRONG" rating in my original list. He wasn't my top choice, but he was also the only one on the list that had actual game show hosting experience. What was surprising looking back, though, is that even with that experience, he was barely anyone's strongest candidate.
So, all in all, I'm fine that Richards is no longer the host. Let's let those that only got a week to host have a second week if they would like. Let Ken and Buzzy maybe get a couple more weeks each. Maybe there's someone else that wants to audition. All I ask is two things:
1. Pick a host that will be a competent host that lets the game and the contestants shine. If the person will outshine the game or the contestants (ahem Aaron Rodgers), that's a bad choice.
2. Don't pick a host simply because Twitter wants that person to host if there are better candidates. Sorry, LeVar Burton, I loved you in Star Trek, but I didn't love you as a Jeopardy host (too wooden).
At the very least, I'm glad that my top choice did get the hosting gig (Mayim Bialik). Though, social media is already starting on her with the anti-vax stuff (she has clarified this) and the fact that she hawks that Neuriva supplement, all while conveniently forgetting Alex hawked Colonial Penn...
Anthony