Jeopardy! star Ken Jennings makes rare offer to contestant after she brings wild item on stage dedicated to host

JEOPARDY! host Ken Jennings made a sweet gesture to the contestant Julie Sisson when the champion asked him for a big favor.

Ken, 49, signed a collectible baseball card with his image on it that Julie brought with her.

Jeopardy! contestant Julie Sisson got a rare gift from Ken Jennings

The generous host signed a collectible edition baseball card with his image on itCredit: ABC

After Tuesday's episode of Jeopardy!, Julie got her card signed by the trivia legend.

Ken said: "Julie, you have a trading card with me on it and you wanted it signed, right?"

Julie replied: "Yes, please."

Ken asked: "Do you want... I have black Sharpie and I think I have a blue ballpoint, if you prefer blue - do you have a preference?"

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Fans hearts were warmed by Ken's sweet gesture.

Jeopardy! viewers poured into the YouTube post's comment section as one fan said: "Just when I thought I couldn't love Ken any more than I already do."

Another wrote: "That was very nice of him to do that. That’s why Ken is the best."

A third fan gushed: "Ken is amazing."

NOT BUYING IT

Although Ken had his sweet moments, Jeopardy! has been in rough waters as they have been working on season 40 amid the Writers Guild of America strike.

Reportedly, Jeopardy! was planning to "recycle material" by reusing questions and fans are calling it cheap and disgusting.

Winners of the trivia show including Amy Schneider, Mattea Roach, and Ray LaLonde have taken a stand to support the WGA strike.

Because Hollywood writers have been on strike since May, season 40 has been slow going - and Amy shared a Deadline article that claimed writers were considering reusing questions.

Amy posted a Tweet that said it was a letdown that higher-ups would rather use old clues than postpone Season 40 - and fans are agreeing.

Several fans have taken to a fan forum page to discuss the delays and show support for the strike.

One fan posted: "They should just hold the new season until the strike is settled.

"There are years of re-runs they could air," the same user continued.

A second stated: "I am a huge Jeopardy! fan, but I am extremely disappointed with the talk of a show without the writers.

The fan shared: "They should honor the strike and delay or cancel the show until there is a fair contract - do better Jeopardy!"

A third added: "It’s a horrible decision by the producers.

"It’s cheap and demeans the game and the contestants [and I] would rather watch reruns."

A fourth critic chimed in: "I certainly wouldn't watch if they did this!"

"It would be one thing to use clues that were unaired, but recycled? Disgusting," the fan slammed.

'DISAPPOINTED'

All of the discussion is stemming from Amy's Tweet, which read: "Disappointed to hear that Jeopardy! is considering this course of action."

She continued: "For what it’s worth, I, too, will not be participating in any Jeopardy! productions that don’t use new clues written by their amazing, unionized writers under a fair, collectively bargained contract."

Fans applauded the game show champion on Twitter.

"I would expect nothing less from someone as awesome as you - they have decades worth of reruns to air," one fan said.

A second fan thanked Amy for "supporting union writers."

A third user posted: "Thanks, Amy! Your voice is important, and I, as a longtime fan, will boycott, too."

WHISTLEBLOWER

Late last week, Jeopardy! champion Ray blasted the potential move to bypass the WGA strike by reusing old clues.

The next season of the game show was set to kick off with the 2023 Tournament of Champions in early September - but no clues are written because of the strike.

Ray - who qualified having won 13 games - has claimed Jeopardy! may cross the picket line by repurposing past material.

The other frontrunners for the $250K winners tournament, including Cris Pannullo (21 wins), Hannah Wilson (8 wins), Ben Chan (9 wins), and Troy Meyer (6 wins), replied they will not participate either if so.

'I WILL NOT PLAY'

Ray took to Reddit to share his message and wrote: "Hello everyone, My name is Ray Lalonde and I was a Jeopardy! champion this past season.

"I'd like to break my accustomed social media avoidance and reach out to the broad Jeopardy! community if I may.

"There are now credible reports that the producers are making contingency plans to start filming the next season of the show with old and/or recycled material if the WGA strike remains unresolved.

"I am a lifelong devoted fan of Jeopardy!.

"I am and will always be grateful for the experience I had on the show and the opportunity to participate in the TOC is beyond a dream come true for me.

"That being said, I believe that the show's writers are a vital part of the show and they are justified in taking their job action to secure a fair contract for themselves and their fellow WGA members."

Ray, who was a set designer for The Handmaid's Tale, continued: "As a supporter of the trade union movement, a union member's son, and a proud union member myself, I have informed the show's producers that if the strike remains unresolved I will not cross a picket line to play in the tournament of champions."

"My hope in saying this publicly now is to perhaps influence some future decision to proceed without the writers and to encourage any others in the community who feel the same way to speak out as well.

"A few small voices may not change any minds but we can try. thank you."

Champion Hannah Wilson replied: "I'll stand with you, Ray! A TOC with all recycled clues doesn't sound like much fun to play in, anyway."

Recent Jeopardy! star Ben Chan commented: "Ray, thank you for taking this stand. If you are out, I am out."

Cris Pannullo, the 21-day $748K poker ace and TOC frontrunner, replied: "As I have already told Ray personally, though like all of us I am a huge Jeopardy! fan and it was a dream to appear on the show, I fully agree with his stance and will not participate in any games comprised of recycled clues while the WGA strike is in effect.