Jeopardy! fans 'feel bad' for three new contestants forced into 'confusing' scenario after champ Ben

JEOPARDY! viewers were in for a jarring start to the week as the winner from the last episode has become sick and did not return.

Three-day champ Ben Chan bowed out due to an unknown illness, resulting in three new contestants and no returning champion.

Instead, Madeleine McKenna, an attorney from Los Angeles, California, faced Daniel Ciarrocchi, a writer from Baltimore, Maryland, and Toni Van Kampen, a retired systems analyst from Mount Prospect, Illinois.

Ben, who teaches at St. Norbert College and lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin, had won three games and $69,001 total.

He left amid his three-day winning streak to recover.

“Due to an ill-timed illness, Ben Chan's return to Jeopardy! was delayed. See him try for his 4th win on Monday, May 15th,” local Fox affiliate WLUK reported.

KEN EXPLAINS NO RETURNING CHAMP

Ken assured: “Now astute Jeopardy! viewers will have already noticed that Johnny Gilbert did not mention a returning champion and their winnings," referring to the show's popular announcer.

"Astute and loyal viewers will remember Friday's episode resulted in Ben Chan clinching his third runaway win. How do we solve this riddle?"

Most read in Entertainment

"As has happened only a few times in Jeopardy! history, a returning champ found themselves unable to travel this week.”

“Never fear, we'll have Ben on back at a later date but it means that Toni, Madeleine, and Dan are all taking the stage for all for the first time today.”

"No intimidating returning champ to deal with" Ken added as the three fresh faces nervously chuckled.

“Toni you're at the leftmost spot you decide first," Ken concluded - which usually the champ would do.

'I THOUGHT I MISSED AN EPISODE'

Final Jeopardy under "English Literature" read: "It says, 'The mind is its own place, & in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. What matter where, if I be still the same."

Only Daniel was correct with Paradise Lost, adding $7,201 to win $16,001.

The newcomer - who revealed he called the show "Nemoney!" as a child -looked beyond thrilled being declared a champ nonetheless.

"How many of you were - like me - were wondering if you'd had a stroke before Ken explained things?" one fan tweeted.

"For a moment, I thought I missed an episode when Ben didn't appear," wrote another.

One fan wrote on Reddit: "All three were very easy to root for. I wonder if there’s a unique pressure knowing that you’re not disadvantaged simply going against someone who has already played."

Another wrote: "I wish Dan could’ve won under better circumstances. I hope Ben is back soon!"

Another wondered on Facebook: "Seems like they could reshuffle the episodes so we don’t have to wait for Ben. He’s good! Very likable! I'm Soooo Confused..."

Others recalled the last time a champ bowed out occurred was in 2021, as it's extremely rare to have no returning champion and as a result two simultaneous champs later on.

"Zach Newkirk couldn't travel at the beginning of season 37. Pity contestant number three."

WHEN IS: BEN RETURNING?

Ben's Twitter bio confirmed the sad news that he had to step away.

It now reads: "A philosophy professor from Green Bay, Wisconsin... Jeopardy April 12 2023 - ??? Three wins and counting! Will be re-appearing MONDAY, MAY 15th!"

This comes as a lot of fans were buzzing about Ben given how well he was doing.

For the first time since six-day champ Troy Meyer back in February, Ben achieved three runaways - or ensured wins by Final Jeopardy - out of three games.

He told host Ken during his Q&A that he's "happy to say I beat" fellow Wisconsinite and former Jeopardy! guest host Aaron Rodgers "at pub trivia." In his second Q&A, he shared that he taught his foster dog how to hug.

"Ben is an awesome new player. Hope he makes the Tournament of Champions!" one fan recently wrote, from which he's one win away.

On Reddit, someone else asked: "Am I the only person who felt Ben might have been under the weather during his games? He was rubbing his eye a lot, and looked like he was struggling a little."

BEN HEALING AT HOME

Ben watched back his first victory with a packed classroom cheering him on in a winning video at his Wisconsin-based college.

He did an interview while donning his Jeopardy! cap and revving up the projector for the all-out watch party.

Ben hinted that he taped one three-win stint, went home, and then returned.

At the time of the interview, he seemed to have recovered as he was back in his classroom holding court.

"The day I taped back in January, all told it was a 10-hour day," he said.

The gameplay was incredible and one of the most fun things I've ever done, but the downside was, like, being at the airport."

Seventy-four-time winner Ken and Mayim Bialik, 47, were announced as the successors for the late Alex Trebek over the summer.

DashVibe