What is: the snub of a lifetime?
As ugly and sexist comments made by newly appointed “Jeopardy!” host Mike Richards have recently surfaced, many of the show’s fans have reignited anger that CNN legal analyst and lifelong admirer of the show Laura Coates was passed over for the gig — and a guest opportunity.
Coates, who Alex Trebek had hand-picked as a potential successor back in 2018, wasn’t given the opportunity to guest host during the interim, which many fans recently discovered upon the Richards scandal.
“I didn’t know this and now I’m MAD,” one Twitter user wrote in hostility.
Dr. Tara L. Conley, a media studies professor at Montclair State, wrote that Coates would have had a “mesmerizing” presence on the game show.
“She probably would’ve been an excellent Jeopardy host. Alex knew,” Conley tweeted.
“How is everyone forgetting this fact?? Alex wanted Laura Coates,” added another user, who cited remarks made by Trebek before his passing.
The Post has reached out to Sony, which produces “Jeopardy!” for comment.
One Twitter user is demanding answers as to why Coates, who said in 2018 she was “incredibly honored and humbled” to be considered as the next host, never even got the opportunity to win audiences over.
“I would really like to know why Alex Trebek’s choice, @thelauracoates never even got a shot.” @lisa_hamner tweeted.
Others were quick to rip into Richards, who was already in daily double trouble as an unpreferred choice host before his comments were exposed, forcing him to issue an apology.
“@Jeopardy had an incredible opportunity to move forward with brilliant new energy by hiring Laura Coates, LeVar Burton or Mayim Bialik to follow the much-loved Alex Trebek,” another user tweeted.
“Nothing could make me watch this guy even once.”
One fan even described the dumpster fire scenario as a slap in the face to Trebek.
“I love Alex, an earthly angelic man. I hate how they’re disrespecting him. He spent a lifetime honoring Jeopardy, with zero controversies, and this is what happens after he dies? Laura Coates deserves her moment in Jeopardy. She was his crowned princess.” they tweeted.
As for Coates herself, she’s taken the high road this week by posting one of her “favorite” inspirational quotes from Trebek:
“Don’t tell me what you believe in. I’ll observe how you behave and I will make my own determination.”