'Jeopardy!' host Ken Jennings snaps at champ Ilena Toro amid return to show, fans say ‘finally we can watch again'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The prayers of ‘Jeopardy!’ fans have finally been answered. Ken Jennings has returned to the game show as a host after incessant complaints about Mayim Bialik's poor and lackluster skills. But Ken's return to the game show on Monday, July 3, wasn't devoid of dull moments. The 49-year-old anchor reacclimatized to the podium with his quick and sarcastic ways as he mocked a returning champion for her incorrect answer.
Ken last hosted the 'Jeopardy! Masters' tournament back in May 2023, when self-appointed game show villain James Holzhauer took home $500,000 and the Alex Trebek trophy. His return to the game show was eagerly awaited by the fans, but returning champion Ilena Del Toro didn't know how to respond to Ken's sarcastic comments.
Why did Ken Jennings mock the returning champion?
Ilena Del Toro registered a surprise victory on 'Jeopardy!' when she ended Bryan White's two-day winning streak. She was looking to maintain her momentum against Elliott Kim, a television editor from Los Angeles, California that night. However, being so far behind for most of the game took a toll on Ilena, and she ended up making a mathematical mistake that Ken just couldn't let go of. Seizing the opportunity, he mocked Ilena's mistake and snapped at her sarcastically. The Double Jeopardy clue was, "There's no upper age limit for US President; Some want one set at this age that Joe Biden blew past in 2012."
The correct answer was 70. Ilena guessed 80, prompting a sarcastic response from the host. "No, I'm sorry. The president's not in his early 90s yet." Unfortunately, Ilena couldn't recover from a poor string of results, and in the end, she only had $3,200 to her name, securing third place for the night. Sarah Daly accumulated $4,000, while Elliott emerged as the champion, amassing a total of $24,000.
'Finally we can watch again'
Ken's return to the game show was celebrated by the fans who had only one cry since he went off the air. Mayim Bialik wasn't up to the task, and the fans demanded Ken's prompt return. When he finally came back, there was a burst of excitement. Fans flocked to Reddit to express their relief about Ken’s comeback. One user exclaimed, “Finally we can watch again! I know the host shouldn't matter so much, but Mayim really does make the show unwatchable.” Another user added, "Ken also seems to have a genuine rapport with the contestants. Mayim’s banter feels so forced.” A third user said, “Jennings is charismatic, prompt, and literally the GOAT who has fun talking about someone getting a solid streak.” Upon learning that Ken was back, one viewer exclaimed, “Oh good, I'll start watching again this week.” Another fan expressed the desire to see Mayim completely removed from the show, writing, “Why can’t they just give the whole job to Ken??”