Ben Affleck secured a $1 million prize for charity on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" with a crucial assist from host Jimmy Kimmel, whose ongoing tradition of joking about President Donald Trump provided the answer to the show's final question.
During the game, Affleck and "Jeopardy!" champion Jamie Ding utilized the "Ask-the-Host" option for the last question. The query pertained to which pair of names had not been given to turkeys pardoned by U.S. presidents, a nod to the Thanksgiving tradition.
The potential answers were Peanut Butter & Jelly, Tater & Tot, Mac & Cheese, and Spaghetti & Meatball. Affleck expressed surprise at the question, but Kimmel recalled a bit he performs annually on his show where he mocks the president. He reasoned that if a particular set of names had been used in his jokes, he would remember it.
Kimmel deduced that "Spaghetti & Meatball" was the name not previously used in his presidential turkey jokes, suggesting it was the correct answer because it didn't align with his comedic commentary on the pardoning ceremonies. Affleck, trusting Kimmel's intimate knowledge of his own material and its connection to the presidential tradition, agreed with his assessment.
The actor noted that Kimmel was likely the most knowledgeable person to consult on the matter, given his consistent engagement with the White House Thanksgiving tradition through his comedy. Kimmel's insight proved accurate, leading Affleck and Ding to win the million-dollar prize.