10 best Wisconsin reality, game-show TV moments that captivated us in 2023 from 'Love Island,' 'The Golden Bachelor,' 'Jeopardy!' and more

Question: Which Midwestern state was sufficiently repped on reality TV and game shows this year?

Answer: What is Wisconsin?

From Nick Viall making it all the way through "Special Forces" to Ben Chen having a memorable run on "Jeopardy!," here are 10 of our favorite TV moments from 2023 involving Wisconsin.

Nick Viall making it all the way through Fox's 'Special Forces'

Waukesha native and "Bachelor" franchise star Nick Viall was one of only three celebrities to make it all the way through Season 2 of Fox's "Special Forces."

Throughout the season, celebrities took on "grueling challenges from the playbook of the actual Special Forces selection process" while battling the harsh elements of winter in New Zealand. The Directing Staff, made up of an elite team of ex-Special Forces operatives, led the recruits through the course's demanding training exercises.

During the course, Viall pulled from his time as captain of the Waukesha North High School and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee track teams.

He passed a helicopter crash survival drill that involved being submerged into icy waters, protected and safeguarded a high-value national asset and fought infamous "Vanderpump Rules" cast member Tom Sandoval.

In the final phase, Viall and his fellow remaining recruits were captured while trying to escape evasion behind enemy lines and underwent "military-grade" interrogation, which Viall would end up passing.

His motivation for sticking it all out? Becoming a dad for the first time.

In its final assessment, the Directing Staff said that, while Viall was in the middle of the pack, he showed resilience and went out of his comfort zone — ultimately earning him a pass for the course.

"Life is full of challenges, and to be able to know that you can step up to the plate time and time again is a very rewarding feeling," Viall said on the season finale. "It's truly something I'll remember for the rest of my life."

Franklin woman finds love on season 5 of 'Love Island USA'

Carmen Kocourek found love this summer.

The 22-year-old Franklin native appeared on the fifth season of "Love Island USA," a dating show featuring over 30 singles in the picturesque setting of Fiji, and left with a love story that will be hard to top.

Temptations, drama and breakups filled in the villa throughout her month-plus stay on the Peacock streaming show, but not for Kocourek after she found her match early in the season: Kenzo Nudo, a 26-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona.

The two formed an instant bond and never looked back on their way to being on of the final four couples on the show. While they didn't win the fan vote that determined which couple took home the $100,000 cash prize, they found so much more.

Each other.

"Our initial spark was something I've never felt before," Kocourek, who moved to Arizona for college and also now lives in Scottsdale, told him during her declaration of love speech in the season finale.

The two even discussed marriage.

"My 'Love Island' journey was to meet you and it just felt like it was supposed to happen. And I can't wait to be with you forever," said Kocourek, who used her parents' marriage as a barometer for what she was seeking in a partner.

Months after leaving Fiji and the cameras stopped rolling, Kocourek and Nudo remain together.

Bravo's 'Top Chef' films in Wisconsin

In July, Bravo's "Top Chef" announced it would be filming its 21st season in Milwaukee and Madison.

Show personnel came to town, and with them? A whole lot of fanfare.

While the season hasn't aired yet — it's expected to in 2024 — it still deserves a shoutout.

During their time in Wisconsin, new host Kristen Kish and judge Gail Simmons explored the state's dining scene and local cuisine in their down time.

Both raved about Three Brothers.

Simmons called frozen custard "from the gods," with Leon's being her fav. The two praised Kopp's burgers, and Simmons said she had the best onion rings she's had in a long time there. Kish also made a couple Culver's stops.

Simmons had a "delicious Midwestern feast" at Birch, and also enjoyed dining at 1033. Kish had a "wonderful" meal at Vientiane Noodle Shop and tried The Elegant Farmer's Apple Pie Baked in a Paper Bag.

“Before I came here, I really knew very little about Wisconsin," Simmons told the Journal Sentinel while in Wisconsin. "So when it was announced we’d be here, so many people reached out to say how much we’d love it and that the lake culture and the food culture is so incredible. And they’ve all been right. It’s unlike any place we’ve been before.”

St. Norbert professor stars on 'Jeopardy!' with an Aaron Rodgers reference

Ben Chan became the latest "Jeopardy!" contestant with a Wisconsin connection to thrive on the pressure-packed quiz show.

The St. Norbert professor won an impressive $252,600 across his 10 games on "Jeopardy!" and had runaway victories in his first nine appearances, the most ever in "Jeopardy!" history.

But Chan's time on the show, which had earlier been interrupted when he tested positive for COVID-19 after his first three wins, ended with a bit of controversy.

He spelled the name wrong of a Shakespeare play during Final Jeopardy and host Mayim Bialik didn't give him credit, something that left fans furious over the technicality and reviewing the official game show's rule books.

Nonetheless, Chan became a popular player for his play, wit and storytelling, particularly when he talked about the time he beat Aaron Rodgers in pub trivia.

And we should get more of Chan. Since he won at least five games, he has a spot in the show's Tournament of Champions, though because of the Writers Guild of America strike earlier this year that tournament has been delayed.

Xavier Prather returns to 'Big Brother' for spinoff holiday 'Reindeer Games'

Xavier Prather came up just short of making history again on "Big Brother."

But the 29-year-old Milwaukee attorney showed fans again why he's one of the best to ever play.

Prather, the winner of the 23rd season of the CBS-based reality competition show two years ago, returned to the series for a holiday spinoff called "Big Brother Reindeer Games."

The show brought back nine "Big Brother" legends and fan favorites for six episodes in December right before Christmas. Prather became the first Black winner in the show's history in 2021 and won $750,000. In "Reindeer Games," Prather was an immediate threat, but he survived several eliminations to advance to the season finale last Thursday.

Prather, recently engaged, was eyeing the $100,00 cash prize for his wedding. It would have been the best Christmas present, he referenced in the final episode. But he lost in his semifinal matchup of the competition-heavy show to eventual winner Nicole Franzel.

Door County Candle owners win big on NBC's 'The Wall'

Door County Candle Co. owner Christiana Trapani provided one of the more uplifting game show moments this year when she fell to the floor after winning $1 million on NBC's 'The Wall.'

What a scene it was.

To be exact, Christiana and her husband, Nic, won $1,350,633 on the trivia game show that aired in April.

The Trapanis are just the ninth team in the show's four-plus years to win more than $1 million.

The couple told the Green Bay Press Gazette this spring that they planned to use the money for business expansions. That's needed following their successful Ukraine Candle project that they launched in late February 2022 in the aftermath of the war with Russia. Funds from their blue-and-yellow candles go toward the nonprofit relief organization Razom for Ukraine. Christiana is a second-generation Ukrainian-American.

'The Wall's' producers heard about their candle relief efforts and invited them on the show.

New cast member of 'The Real Housewives of Potomac' grew up in Beloit, attended law school at Madison

There may not be a "Real Housewives of Wisconsin," but a Wisconsin gal has infiltrated "Potomac."

Nneka Ihim, who joined the cast of "The Real Housewives of Potomac" this year, grew up in Beloit and attended the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison. She works as in-house counsel for a global technology company and is also an entrepreneur.

"I think I really bring something to this dynamic group," Ihim told the Journal Sentinel. "I'm just excited for everyone to get to know me as a Nigerian, as a person that grew up in Wisconsin, and I have a completely different background. So, I think I definitely add a special touch to the group."

For Ihim, it's all about what she calls the five Fs: Faith, family, friends, fun and funds.

While working as an employment law litigator in Los Angeles, she unexpectedly fell in love with Maryland doctor Dr. Ikenna Ihim, who came to America from Nigeria in his teens. The pair had "the most lavish, phenomenal and expensive" wedding," she said.

Nneka relocated to Maryland, and after she got the lay of the land, the newlyweds moved to Potomac.

"I ended up being on 'The Real Housewives of Potomac' because I am one of the dynamic individuals who live in this community and I have a prior relationship with (cast member) Ashley (Darby)," Ihim said. "They're always looking to highlight some of the dynamic, successful, intelligent women — and I happen to be among that group."

Shayne Jansen one of the final couples on Netflix's 'Perfect Match'

We first met Shayne Jansen on “Love is Blind" Season 2. This year, he was back on the screen — and again, looking for love.

The spirited, authentically himself Jansen — who grew up in De Pere and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point — was cast on "Perfect Match.”

The show brought together "Netflix's most eligible singles" from "Love is Blind," "The Circle," "Too Hot to Handle," "The Ultimatum," "Twentysomethings," "Selling Tampa," "Sexy Beasts" and "The Mole" for "a new spin at romance.”

While matched up with Ines Tazi from "The Circle: France," Jansen was sent on a blind date with Chloe Veitch of “Too Hot to Handle” and “The Circle.”

They hit it off immediately — effortlessly matching each other's energy.

On the show, Jansen said it was “kind of scary how much chemistry we have right away.” Veitch said she loved “everything” about Jansen and had butterflies. They both described it as “easy” with one another.

With Jansen and Veitch beaming after their date, Tazi — with much grace and understanding — and Jansen ended their relationship amicably.

From there, Jansen and Veitch’s romance took off.

But, trouble struck paradise when "The Circle's" Mitchell Eason, Veitch’s ex, came into the picture, err, villa.

Despite starting to fall for Jansen, Veitch’s unresolved feelings for Eason took precedent. And with that, Jansen was sent home.

But it wasn’t long before Eason confessed he wasn’t looking for commitment — and Veitch wanted Jansen back.

When Eason and Veitch got to pick people from the outside to send on dates with two people in the villa, Veitch set herself up with Jansen.

After just about the cutest reunion ever, Veitch and Jansen re-matched.

While it seemed like everything was falling back into place, Jansen struggled with how Veitch had picked Eason over him.

Despite some heavy turbulence, the two really came together and ended up being one of the final five couples on the show. But, were ultimately not voted by their peers as THE “Perfect Match.”

Jansen and Veitch are no longer together, according to a "Today" report.

Milwaukee siblings make it to the season finale of 'Lego Masters'

Brother and sister Paul Wellington and Nealita Nelson made it to the Season 4 finale of "LEGO Masters" years after building their bond through the tiny plastic pieces as kids.

The competition started with "the 12 best LEGO-building teams on the planet," actor and producer Will Arnett, the show's host and executive producer, said in Episode 1's intro. The siblings, who grew up on Milwaukee's north side, would end up finishing in third place.

Heading into the finale, Wellington and Nelson, both Rufus King High School grads, had constructed nine total builds. Their favorite? The lifelike telescope that won them Episode 6's challenge.

"Honestly, I enjoyed the entire show," Nelson told the Journal Sentinel. "I just liked being there with my brother, actually being able to build and being able to show off what we could do."

"LEGO Masters" encouraged Wellington several times to apply for the show after coming across his LEGO creations on Flickr and Instagram, he said. In 2022, Wellington went for it.

One of Wellington's best-known LEGO builds was his microscale city called "Brickville." He has also been featured in the book "The LEGO Architect" by Tom Alphin for his model of the National Congress of Brazil by architect Oscar Niemeyer. That work, along with Wellington's microscale rendition of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple were highlighted by the same author in Brick Architect.

Wellington, who earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is a social media specialist for the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library. Nelson, who continues to live in Milwaukee, works at a hospital as a tech.

Grandmother, former NFL cheerleader from Middleton on 'The Golden Bachelor'

Much too short, but memorable. That's what Renee's time on the "The Golden Bachelor" was.

The grandmother and former NFL cheerleader from Middleton brought her A game to night 1 of the show. But unfortunately, she went home roseless.

Renee was one of the 22 "accomplished golden ladies" between ages 60 and 75 competing for the heart of Gerry Turner, 72, on ABC's new senior-focused dating show spinoff. 

As Turner stood outside the "Bachelor Mansion" that first night, a limo pulled up and contestants began to emerge one by one. Each, having their own, special introduction to the man of the hour.

Renee sported a track suit in Chicago Bears colors with pom poms in hand. Turner cheers for Chicago sports teams, and Renee is a former Chicago Honey Bear cheerleader, according to their show bios.

Renee, 67 years young, performed Turner his own cheer: "Golden Gerry, you're my man, looking golden with a tan. Hope to bring you lots of luck, 'cause I'm the girl you want to ... marry!"

Renee's other highlights from the premiere: Dancing on a table and being Midwest Nice to her comrades. Even when Renee was eliminated, she told Turner: "I'm cheering for you." Now, that's some serious sportsmanship.

Turner would go on to get engaged to Theresa Nist. Their "Golden Wedding" will air live on ABC in early January.