Ben Affleck and Jeopardy! champ win $1 million for charity on game show

Ben Affleck and his "Jeopardy!" teammate Jamie Ding have secured a US$1 million prize for charity on "Celebrity Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The Oscar-winning actor and the "Jeopardy!" champion competed together on the ABC quiz show, with their winnings designated for the Eastern Congo Initiative, a non-profit organization co-founded by Affleck.

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Actually, you’re very good with cooking and food, current events, too. Actually, you might know this.

The duo faced a challenging question about U.S. presidential turkey pardons, a Thanksgiving tradition. The question asked which of the given pairs had never been the name of a pardoned turkey: Peanut Butter and Jelly, Tater and Tot, Mac and Cheese, or Spaghetti and Meatball. Initially, they considered using a "Phone-A-Friend" lifeline to consult Ding's trivia teammate, Stephen Morrison.

However, host Jimmy Kimmel, known for his wit and knowledge, offered his own suggestion. Leveraging Kimmel's perceived expertise in food and current events, Affleck prompted the host for his opinion. Kimmel humorously leaned towards "Spaghetti and Meatball," speculating it sounded less likely to be an official presidential pardon name.

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I could see me adding a big bowl in Donald Trump’s hands and him slurping up the spaghetti and meatballs. That one sounds like it wasn’t the one to me.

Despite initial hesitation and the availability of other lifelines, Affleck and Ding ultimately decided to trust Kimmel's recommendation. Their gamble paid off, as "Spaghetti and Meatball" was confirmed as the correct answer, clinching the US$1 million prize. The celebratory moment saw Affleck and Ding embracing as confetti rained down, marking a successful outcome for their chosen charity.

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Jimmy, you might like this friend of mine. I mean, Harvard-educated, father, we’re two years apart. But we’ve been through a lot of trials and tribulations together. Just like Ben and Matt.