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‘Jeopardy!’ Legend Ken Jennings Responds to ‘The Chase’ Teaser Video with Hilarious References to ‘The Beast’

Former “Jeopardy!” champ Ken Jennings is a bit of wise guy.

Upon seeing the new promo for ABC’s “The Chase,” which features Mark “The Beast” Labbett, he posted his take on Labbett’s arrival.

“‘We’re not safe until he’s dead.’ ‘He’ll come stalking us at night!’ ‘Set to sacrifice our children to his monstrous appetite!’” Jennings tweeted on Sunday, including the ABC promotional video featuring Labbett.

‘Jeopardy!’ GOATs Make Way for Labbett

Labbett became well-known as a chaser on the British version of “The Chase,” which ABC’s show is a remake of, and he’s played more than 600 games of the quiz show total, according to Deadline. He is joining former “Jeopardy!” champions James Holzhauer, Jennings and Brad Rutter, who currently serve as chasers on the ABC show.

ABC recently renewed “The Chase” for a second season. The series alternates between different chasers, who try to prevent the contestants from taking home prize money by outdoing them on quiz questions. “The Chase” runs through up to 166 questions across varied topics on each show.

“’The Chase’ is one of those [series] we wanted to get back on as soon as possible because we really want the momentum of that format to keep going,” ABC alternative chief Rob Mills told Deadline. “Hopefully you’ll see million-dollar final chases in this second cycle. But we really are high on that format. We’re excited with how it did this winter and we’re glad we can bring it back so quickly.”

Chasers Have Developed a Rapport

The competition between the contestants and the chasers is only part of the fun on the ABC version of the game show. Also interesting to watch is the backstage back-and-forth between chasers, who occasionally provide banter and commentary on how the game is going. All three “Jeopardy!” champs have enjoyed their new roles, they told Entertainment Weekly when the series premiered.

“I think I’m in the minority of people who thinks it’s cool when [the chasers] deny the contestants their winnings,” Holzhauer said. “But I think there will be people who are fans of Brad or James or Ken who say, ‘I don’t care what these contestants dream of doing. I’m happy to see the chasers smack ’em down.’”

“You already know the Chasers, and you know that they have a relationship, and it really gives us a leg up,” Jennings added. “We don’t have to create any kind of personas, because you already know, James gonna James.”

As Rutter, he observed that, freed from the tensions of being a contestant, the “Jeopardy!” champs can really let loose and be themselves around each other.

“All the pressure is on the contestants, ’cause they’re the ones playing for the big bucks,” he said.