'Jeopardy!' Fans Outraged After Final Question Gets Cut Off

ABC earned the ire of Jeopardy! fans when the latest episode cut off before it had even finished.

The TV quiz show was in the Final Jeopardy! round on Thursday's episode, with the category "country music" and contestants were presented with the clue, "'It was kind of a prodding to myself to play it straight,' said Johnny Cash of this 1956 hit."

The answer was "What is 'I Walk The Line?'" but before the answer could be revealed, the shot cut to an ABC breaking news story about President Joe Biden's media comments following the special counsel report.

The interruption was likely only experienced in one or several markets as Jeopardy! is a syndicated show that airs at 7 p.m. in each time zone. Local networks make individual judgement calls as to whether they should interrupt regular programming to air a special report or breaking news.

"The channel will usually cut into whatever show is playing with coverage by their news arm of whatever event is happening," according to the TV Tropes website.

But that did not stop people complaining on social media.

"WTH I CANNOT BELIEVE BIDEN JUST CUT OFF THE END OF #JEOPARDY HE JUST LOST MY VOTE!!!!!!!" posted one person on X, formerly Twitter.

Another added: "Really, ABC News? You couldn't wait 3 minutes? You had to cut off Final Jeopardy?"

And a third wrote: "I know ABC didn't just cut off right at the end of final Jeopardy. What was the final answer???"

A fourth commented: "This usually happens during final #Jeopardy for weather."

Newsweek contacted ABC News by email for comment.

The fans' reaction comes just days after they were shocked at a contestant's risque dance moves.

Host Ken Jennings brought back three past contestants to compete in the first quarterfinal of its Winter 2024 Champions Wildcard Competition on Monday.

Mira Hayward, a podcaster from Portland, Oregon, appeared alongside other returning contestants Jesse Chin and Kate Campolieta.

Hayward was eventually named the day's champion and celebrated her win by raising her hands in the air and made two "O" symbols, waving in the direction of her rivals.

Although she was likely trying to symbolize the $0 bets her rivals had put on their answers, people took to X saying the action had an NSFW meaning.

The gesture can convey boredom, annoyance or "symbolically show that what is going on is pointless, and/or masturbatory," according to Urban Dictionary.

"I just finished watching this and screamed out loud 'oh no!!'" wrote @morris6703.

"I really want to know what gesture she thought she was doing... Because it's 1000 percent not the one we all saw," said @The_Real_X.

"Nerdy women are the freakiest," commented @EdBreezyBonito.

Update, 02/09/24, 8:50 a.m. ET. This article was updated to include background information about breaking news practices.