'Jeopardy!' Fans Flip After the Show Tweets Out If Ken Jennings Will Return to Compete

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Ken Jennings is officially returning to the Jeopardy! stage, but in a different way this time around — and folks aren’t happy about it.

Recognized as the top competitor on the beloved quiz show, Ken is keeping his hosting hat on for the upcoming tournament Jeopardy! Masters, set to air on May 8. As folks may remember, the initial announcement earlier this year revealed that the six highest-ranked, current Jeopardy! contestants would participate in “a champions league-style event" that would be led by Ken. Still, some viewers were holding on to hope that he would make an appearance with a buzzer in his hand.

Instead, Jeopardy! fans can expect to welcome back tournament winners like Amy Schneider and Sam Buttrey. Favorites Matt Amodio, Andrew He and Mattea Roach will also be making a comeback. Among them is also James Holzhauer, a Jeopardy! legend with several record titles under his belt.

Unsurprisingly, hearing that James would be competing with newer contestants sparked passionate reactions from the Jeopardy! fandom. Many expressed wanting to see Ken return to the competition, as well.

“Let’s be honest. If Ken Jennings is not a contestant, is it really the Jeopardy masters? Shouldn’t they call it ‘the battle for second place’?” one person wrote on Twitter. “Ken should be competing in this!!!” a different follower said on Instagram. “Mr. Ken Jennings ... would absolutely DEMOLISH the competition and score big Jennings Bucks,” another added.

So, how will Jeopardy! Masters be different from other iterations of the beloved ABC series? Unlike the Tournament of Champions that brings together contestants from a variety of skillsets, the Masters version features competitors who have already proven themselves with game streaks and impressive winnings.

Although there’s no word if the clues will be more difficult than the regular in-season ones, folks should be prepared to see intense matchups, thanks to unique playing styles.

As for how Ken feels about staying on the sidelines for this quiz event, it sounds like he prefers it that way. “Look at this Jeopardy! Masters lineup. I’m glad I’m hosting and not playing,” he wrote on Twitter.

You Might Also Like

• 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile

• The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper