JEOPARDY! host Ken Jennings was interrupted by champ Ray LaLonde before his crucial 4th win on Tuesday qualified him for next year’s Tournament of Champions.

The first big winner in weeks sweetly had to tell Ken he "knew" the correct final response despite writing something else.

The 4-day champ faced Jason Radalin, a professor from Johnstown, New York, and Kim Aagaard, a project manager from Washington, D.C.

Ray is a scenic artist from Ontario, Canada, who, with $95K total, now has the longest streak since 21-time winner Cris Pannullo folded three weeks ago.

Four wins (five ensures it) means Ray will be in next year's $250K winner's tournament.

Going into Final Jeopardy, things were tight with $20,100 vs. $14,800 for Kim and $10,800 for Jason.

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Final Jeopardy under "Classic Songs" read: "The shouts of excited children at a 1946 holiday parade are said to have inspired this perennial favorite."

'WHAT IS IT?'

Each player was incorrect - but Ray opted for an encore after revealing his wager and response.

He had written down: "What is Santa Claus Is Coming To Town."

Ken assured: "You're the closest of the three" to which Ray took the opening to wave his hand and say: "I know this now."

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"What is it?" Ken replied in surprise and a light flurry of impatience.

"Here Comes Santa Claus," Ray sang in reply - which was the correct response though too late for it to be counted.

"The kids were saying 'Here Comes Santa Claus'" Ken smiled and assured, then moving on.

Ken revealed Ray bet $9,600, leaving him with $10,500 and the winner, while Kim was a mere $700 short with $9,800 - Jason bet big and was left with $800.

'SWAY' TO GO!

Fans were thrilled that Ray pulled through as one wrote on Reddit: "My man Ray giving quite a scare!"

"Excellent show" wrote another as a third agreed: "I would think both Kim and Jason would be in the producers' minds for Second Chance Tournament."

A fourth wrote: "Another reason to study wagering theory because Jason cost himself a win by not betting 0."

"Also weird wagering from Kim," though only contestants can know what it feels like to be up there.

Ray designs sets for movies and TV shows, revealing tonight he just wrapped on Hulu's Handmaid's Tale.

Jeopardy! viewers have been impressed by his chops but have taken to various online forums to vent about his winning moves in a more literal sense.

As the contestant responds to clues and keeps winning, he's also constantly swaying back and forth.

On the show's podcast Inside Jeopardy on Monday, longtime producer Sarah Foss acknowledged the show is aware of his swaying too: "Ray, He kind of likes to move back and forth during his gameplay."

"Which is difficult for our camera operators."

"So he may or may not have gotten the nickname 'Ray the Sway.'"

"But Ray, however it is you like to win Jeopardy!, you do you!"

According to TBS News Watch, the reasoning behind Ray's swaying is more than justified, it's due to a medical ailment.

The outlet wrote: "He suffered some spinal cord damage over a period of years, and had to work hard to prevent muscle spasms in his legs while he was on camera."

The father-of-one also won over fans on Monday's show when he wildly revealed that he's a twin and his sibling is "in the process of auditioning for Jeopardy! right now."

He joked: "There's a chance you're gonna be seeing this face again and again."

Ken questioned: "Have you guys considered just swapping in and out during your run without telling us?"

Ray quipped back: "How do you know we're not?"

The show's host laughed before joking: "We're going to have to start fingerprinting before every game."

MOVING ON UP

Ray will go for his fifth win tomorrow night and his arrival is a sigh of relief for Jeopardy! fans who like winning streaks.

Nearly midway through the season which ends this summer, only three contestants before tonight had enough wins to qualify for next year's Tournament of Champions.

Those would be Cris, who amassed the 5th longest earnings in history with $748K until he shockingly lost out of nowhere, Luigi de Guzman, and priest David Sibley.

Last week, Sean McShane - who insulted Long Island - got close with three but then lost to Ray.

So now there are four players eligible for next year's competition, which is nothing if not good news.

The 2022 Tournament of Champions had 19 contestants eligible with 4+ wins (and two from the new Second Chance competition).

The stacked lineup for the ages included winner Amy Schneider (40 prior victories) Mattea Roach (23 victories), Matt Amodio (38 victories) and Ryan Long (16 victories) from that season.

It was so packed with power players that the game show even did a one-off episode with the three top stars that didn't count, just so they could flex.

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Over the summer, Ken and actress Mayim Bialik were officially announced as the permanent replacements for the late longtime host, Alex Trebek.

The hosting announcement hasn't been the only big move for Jeopardy!, as executive producer Michael Davies - who replaced the ousted Mike Richards - filled a job that before them, hadn't changed hands in decades either.

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