SPOILER ALERT:
Jeopardy! contestant Ryan Bilger won the night on the first episode of the Tournament of Champions but his excitement rubbed some viewers the wrong way.
Following the show, Jeopardy! took to Twitter to share their critiques, some slamming Bilger as “cocky and disrespectful.”
This Ryan guy is horrible! Terrible sport, and cocky and disrespectful towards his fellow contestants. I know who I’m rooting against in this tournament. Buzzy’s doing a good job, though.
— Rarrlow (@rarrlow) May 18, 2021
At one point when he landed on the Daily Double host Buzzy Cohen notified him of his $11,000 lead, he replied, “I’m going to go for the kill,”
Agreed but maybe someone have a chat with “go for the kill” boy. Obnoxious behaviour not befitting the Jeopardy legacy.
— Sue Pirie (@suepirie1402) May 18, 2021
Bilger later apologized explaining that he was “so excited to play” and had been waiting for two years, storing up “lots of pent-up energy.”
He shared in a Twitter thread, “So uh hi there. I see there’s a lot of people out there who are displeased with me after Jeopardy tonight. Look, I get it. I had a ton of adrenaline flowing through my veins. I got a daily double on a piece of Pennsylvania history I’ve known since I was a child. I was playing better than I ever expected. Yes, I got pretty loud and excited.”
Look, I get it. I had a ton of adrenaline flowing through my veins. I got a daily double on a piece of Pennsylvania history I’ve known since I was a child. I was playing better than I ever expected. Yes, I got pretty loud and excited,
— Ryan Bilger (@Ryan_Bilger11) May 18, 2021
He continued, “I get that that’s not what many people want out of Jeopardy. I’d take back the comment on the second DD if I could. I was just in the moment and so excited to play because I’d been waiting for it for 2 years and had lots of pent-up energy. Not saying it’s a valid excuse, but yeah.”
He said that he talked to his fellow contestants and they had “no problem” with his excitement.
For everyone else, hey, sorry that I ruined your Jeopardy watching night. I get it. If you want to make imputations about my character, then fine, but you can do it to my face. I know who I am and this TOC field is an amazing group of people and I’m honored to be a part of it.
— Ryan Bilger (@Ryan_Bilger11) May 18, 2021
“For everyone else, hey, sorry that I ruined your Jeopardy watching night,” he added. “I get it. If you want to make imputations about my character, then fine, but you can do it to my face. I know who I am and this TOC field is an amazing group of people and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
He finished, “See you next week through the TV, whether you like me or hate me.”
See you next week through the TV, whether you like me or hate me.
— Ryan Bilger (@Ryan_Bilger11) May 18, 2021
At least one former contestant wasn’t bothered. Austin Rogers shared his support.
Dude. Get amped. Best feeling on Earth is nailing FJ without having to just to show you did.
You killed. Can’t wait to see how this turns out.— Austin Tyler Rogers (@austintylerro) May 18, 2021