He had a short stint as a guest host on Jeopardy, but apparently Mike Richards made a good impression on someone: he is the reported front-runner in talks to get the permanent hosting gig.

(The fact that he’s the show’s Executive Producer might also be a factor.) Variety reports that Richards (who isn’t Michael Richards, aka Seinfeld‘s Kramer, by the way) is in “advanced talks” to assume the Jeopardy podium on the popular quiz show fronted by Alex Trebek for 36 years.

Trebek passed away in December of 2020, and since his last episodes aired, Sony has been rotating a series of guests hosts, including Ken Jennings, Mayim Bialik and LeVar Burton.

Richards joined the show just last year as executive producer and reportedly impressed studio brass with his command of the fast-paced game and easy on-air manner. He previously hosted Sony shows Divided and Pyramid for Game Show Network, and before that hosted five seasons of Beauty and the Geek for The CW and High School Reunion on The WB.

As a producer, Richards has helmed The Price is Right, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire specials, and the Let’s Make a Deal revival for CBS. In total, it’s estimated that Richards had produced 4000 hours of game shows before arriving on the Jeopardy set.

Richards placed second in an audience poll which asked viewers which part-time host they would like to see return full-time. Ken Jennings was the top choice, with 23% of the votes (to Richards’ 14%.) Burton was third with 10% and Bialik received 8% of the votes.

Nothing is set in stone: a Sony Pictures spokesman said discussions were ongoing with Richards and several potential candidates. A source close to the situation told Variety that there’s no certainty that the sides will close a deal and that other candidates remain in the mix, although Richards is clearly the front-runner.

Richards himself said on The Wall Street Journal‘s podcast that viewers should expect to hear a final decision later this summer as Season 38 begins filming.