Jeopardy! contestant reveals stage four cancer diagnosis in emotional mid-game moment as fans wish him ‘speedy recovery’
A JEOPARDY! During a tearful moment in the middle of the game, the competitor disclosed that he is fighting stage four colon cancer.
A Farmers Branch, Texas, high school teacher named Chris Burge shared details of his medical struggle on national television in an attempt to persuade the show’s millions of viewers to get regular checkups.
On Tuesday, Chris made his Jeopardy! debut against two-day champion Mikey McCullough, a librarian from Baltimore, Maryland, and Paul Clauson, a tax analyst from Madison Heights, Michigan.
The 50-year-old host, Ken Jennings, approached each competitor at their podium to speak with them during the interview portion at the beginning of the game.
Although the brief conversation is usually meant to share a pleasant truth about oneself, Chris took advantage of the occasion to give the audience a crucial message.
Ken told Chris, “I understand that you’re facing a health challenge right now that you wanted to talk about.”
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Chris retorted, “I’ve been fighting stage four colon cancer since May,” after being given a chair and sitting behind the podium during the game.
In recent years, the number of young adult diagnoses has significantly increased. I strongly advise against disregarding any symptoms.
Additionally, if you have a family history of it, you should definitely get checked.
Ken went on to say that spreading his message was a terrific idea.
Chris posted a picture of himself and Ken from the game on his Facebook page, along with another reminder of the value of health exams.
At Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep, Chris teaches both government and economics and AP government and economics.
Online, fans expressed their best wishes for Chris’s speedy recovery.
All three players had excellent games, and the outcome would have been different if any of the three Daily Doubles had gone the other way. One user said, “Best wishes for Chris’s hopeful recovery.”
Jeopardy! fans call out show for incredibly confusing category & rage it s unfair Ken Jennings didn t accept answer
We wish Chris Burge a speedy and thorough recovery. Chris, you did well against two formidable opponents!
And you have my support. Shlema, refua! Additionally, cross off a few more things on your bucket list! “Well done,” commented another.
Chris, you have my love and prayers! You’re capable! A third shouted.
A fourth, quite plainly, said: F**k cancer! Chris is sending you love! Kick it’s a**!
Chris, who wanted to increase his $36,300 two-day earnings, challenged Paul and Mikey.
The trio of Daily Doubles decided the game, which significantly altered the winner’s outcome.
Jeopardy! Contestant Rules
It’s challenging enough to pass Jeopardy!’s online Anytime Test, but once players reach the stage, they have to abide by a number of rules:
- The returning champion is always at the leftmost podium and keeps playing until they lose.
- Contestants don’t have to say who is or what is in the first round but must do so in Double Jeopardy! and Final Jeopardy.
- Contestants can change their responses as long as Ken Jennings or the judges haven’t made a ruling.
- The minimum wager for a Daily Double is $5. The minimum wager for Final Jeopardy! is $0.
- Written responses in Final Jeopardy! do not have to be spelled correctly, but they must be phonetically correct (the judges decide this).
- If there s a tie after Final Jeopardy, the tied players enter a bonus clue shootout, and whoever buzzes in first correctly wins.
- If all three contestants wager everything in Final Jeopardy! and are incorrect, leaving them with $0, there will be no returning champion (it’s happened before six times).
The category in which the competitors made their bets was Sports and the City.
Ken read the last hint: There is a business and a location in this city that are both involved in Triple Crowns at 800 West Main and 700 Central.
However, Chris was the only one who knew what Louisville was. By Final Jeopardy, he was in third place and had too much ground to make up! circular.
Chris finished with $1,600, while Mikey lost $2,000 to win the game with $18,200.
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Returning champion Paul wagered all of his $11,000 in an effort to control the game, leaving him with nothing at the end of his last match.
In tomorrow’s game, rookie Mikey will try to extend his winning run.
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