A recent episode of the iconic game show "Jeopardy!" ignited a firestorm among fans due to a contentious ruling surrounding contestant pronunciations.

During a gripping episode, champion Mark Fitzpatrick was competing fiercely when he encountered an $800 clue in the category, “Just Doin’ My Job.” The clue read, “Knows the proper use of propofol; can count to 16 (letters in the job); can tell people to count backward from 100.”

The correct answer expected by host Ken Jennings was "anesthesiologist." However, contestant Eamonn Campbell attempted to respond but stumbled over the pronunciation, first saying, “Anateesiologist?” Jennings graciously provided Campbell another chance, but he mispronounced the word again with “Anathesiologist?”

Ultimately, fellow contestant Dot White swooped in with the correct pronunciation, answering, “What is an anesthesiologist?” Jennings accepted her response, spurring a wave of discontent among viewers who believed Campbell was unfairly penalized.

Social media erupted with fans voicing their frustrations. “Jeopardy and Ken Jennings blows it again… screwing Eamonn out of his answer ‘anesthesiologist’… unbelievable!!” read one tweet. Another comment questioned Campbell’s abilities, stating, “Are you frikin kidding me?!!! Eamonn Campbell doesn’t have a lisp… he just can’t seem to pronounce ‘anesthesiologist’.”

However, some fans defended Jennings, emphasizing the importance of precise pronunciation in a game where correct answers are paramount. “Pronunciation matters,” one commenter stated. Another chimed in, asserting, “You could definitely discern his lack of the 1st ‘s’ in his pronunciation. Jennings made the right call.”

This incident is the latest in a string of controversial rulings by Jennings that have left audience members in disbelief. Earlier this year, contestant Kelly Proulx faced a similar dilemma when she buzzed in to answer a clue in the “Waterfalls” category. Despite providing the correct response “What is Bridalveil Falls?”, Jennings denied her answer because she added an extra ‘s’ to the end, insisting it should have been “Bridalveil Fall.” Many fans deemed this ruling excessively harsh, labeling it a “brutal call.”

These controversies spotlight the incredible intensity of competition on "Jeopardy!" and demonstrate how closely fans scrutinize the game. As tensions rise, one thing is clear—fans are eager to see if host Ken Jennings will face further backlash the next time a pronunciation debate surfaces!