JEOPARDY! fans have lashed out after the lineup for the upcoming Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament was finally announced.

Many viewers say they are disappointed the show is gearing up for yet another tournament – as opposed to welcoming fresh contestants.

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Jeopardy! fans are fed up with the ongoing tournament formatsCredit: Getty

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Host Ken Jennings has been leading the gamesCredit: 2023 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

The Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament will begin airing the day after the current 2024 Tournament of Champions finals concludes.

That means fans will have to wait until mid April before two new contestants finally debut.

Viewers have been subjected to a rotating reunion of guests in a barrage of various tournament formats since Season 40 kicked off in September.

Blame the months-long Writers Guild of America strike for the delay, as without its writers, producers chose to recycle clues and bring back past contestants to keep the game show afloat for Season 40.

But with the strike now long over, fans are hungry for some fresh meat.

“Omg not another tournament,” one person lamented online, as another echoed, “VERY disappointed in what Jeopardy has become. Alex wouldn’t like this!!!!!”

“How about just regular Jeopardy?” a third begged. “Enough with seeing the same old people on tournaments.”

“I always enjoyed the new people shows,” a fourth person reasoned. “These people have already won some money. It’s time to start new Jeopardy!”

RECORD BREAKER

Producers have promised new Jeopardy! is indeed coming.

Fans can expect to see returning champ Lucas Partridge (remember him?) as well as two new players when the JIT concludes airing around April 12.
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Lucas now has the dubious honor of being the longest-reigning Jeopardy! champ.

Since his prior episodes were taped last May (and aired in July), he will have been the champion for nearly 10 months.

Producer Sarah Foss and Inside Jeopardy! podcast co-host Buzzy Cohen admitted in a recent episode this wasn’t the ideal way to be the longest champ ever.

“I’m sure not the way Lucas had hoped to be a reigning champion,” Sarah said.

“But he’s of course coming back when we get into the studio with our next tape days.

Along with wonderful people who have just been waiting in that pool to get their chance to get on the Alex Trebek stage for the first time.”

“I know everyone is looking forward to that.”

TOURNEY TIME

But first, the inaugural Invitational.

The full lineup for the brand-new JIT was dropped on Wednesday on Jeopardy!’s official Instagram.

Unlike other tournaments this season, JIT opens the floodgates to iconic older champions returning after decades away from the buzzer.

The JIT will feature 27 contestants, including Andrew He, Amy Schneider, and Sam Buttrey.

They were guaranteed spots after placing fourth, fifth, and sixth in the first annual Jeopardy! Masters.

There will be nine quarterfinal games, three semifinals, and a best-of-four final.

This means that the legendary player who wins two final games wins the title first.

The prize is $100,000 prize and a slot in Masters Season 2, which airs in May on ABC Primetime.

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The complete lineup for the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament is outCredit: Instagram

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Popular past champions Andrew He, Sam Buttrey, and Amy Schneider will returnCredit: Jeopardy!

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Lucas Partridge is now the longest reigning championCredit: Jeopardy!