BMT (RIP)
06-07-2006, 08:54
A contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? had reached
the final plateau. If she answered the next question
correctly, she would win the million dollars. If she answered
incorrectly, she would pocket only the $32,000 milestone
money.
And as she suspected it would be, the million-dollar question
was no pushover. It was, "Which of the following species of
birds does not build its own nest, but instead lays its eggs in
the nests of other birds?
Is it: A) the condor; B) the buzzard; C) the cuckoo; or D) the
vulture?"
The woman was on the spot. She did not know the answer. And
she was doubly on the spot because she had used up her 50/50
Lifeline and her Audience Poll Lifeline. All that remained was
her Phone-a-Friend Lifeline, and the woman had hoped against
hope that she would not have to use it. Mainly because the
only friend that she knew would be home happened to be a
blonde.
But the contestant had no alternative. She called her friend,
and gave her the question and the four choice s . The blonde
responded unhesitatingly: "That's easy. The answer is 'C' --
the cuckoo."
The contestant had to make a decision and make it fast. She
considered employing a reverse strategy and giving Regis any
answer except the one that her friend had given her. And
considering that her friend was a blonde, that would seem to
be the logical thing to do. On the other hand, the blonde had
responded with such confidence, such certitude, that the
contestant could not help but be persuaded.
Time was up. "I need an answer," said Regis.
Crossing her fingers, the contestant said, "C) the cuckoo."
"Is that your final answer?" asked Regis.
"Yes, that is my final answer," she said, breaking into a sweat.
After the usual foot-dragging delay Regis said, "I regret to
inform you that that answer is ... absolutely correct. You are
now a millionaire!"
Three days later, the contestant hosted a party for her family
and friends, including the blonde who had helped her win the
million dollars. "Jenny, I just do not know how to thank you,"
said the contestant. "Because of your knowing the answer to
that final question, I am now a millionaire. And do you want to
know something? It was the assuredness with which you
answered the question that convinced me to go with your
choice."
"You're welcome!" the blonde said.
"By the way," the winner said, not being able to contain the
question anymore. "How did you happen to know the right
answer?"
Oh, come on," said the blonde "Everybody knows that cuckoos
don't build nests......... They live in clocks
the final plateau. If she answered the next question
correctly, she would win the million dollars. If she answered
incorrectly, she would pocket only the $32,000 milestone
money.
And as she suspected it would be, the million-dollar question
was no pushover. It was, "Which of the following species of
birds does not build its own nest, but instead lays its eggs in
the nests of other birds?
Is it: A) the condor; B) the buzzard; C) the cuckoo; or D) the
vulture?"
The woman was on the spot. She did not know the answer. And
she was doubly on the spot because she had used up her 50/50
Lifeline and her Audience Poll Lifeline. All that remained was
her Phone-a-Friend Lifeline, and the woman had hoped against
hope that she would not have to use it. Mainly because the
only friend that she knew would be home happened to be a
blonde.
But the contestant had no alternative. She called her friend,
and gave her the question and the four choice s . The blonde
responded unhesitatingly: "That's easy. The answer is 'C' --
the cuckoo."
The contestant had to make a decision and make it fast. She
considered employing a reverse strategy and giving Regis any
answer except the one that her friend had given her. And
considering that her friend was a blonde, that would seem to
be the logical thing to do. On the other hand, the blonde had
responded with such confidence, such certitude, that the
contestant could not help but be persuaded.
Time was up. "I need an answer," said Regis.
Crossing her fingers, the contestant said, "C) the cuckoo."
"Is that your final answer?" asked Regis.
"Yes, that is my final answer," she said, breaking into a sweat.
After the usual foot-dragging delay Regis said, "I regret to
inform you that that answer is ... absolutely correct. You are
now a millionaire!"
Three days later, the contestant hosted a party for her family
and friends, including the blonde who had helped her win the
million dollars. "Jenny, I just do not know how to thank you,"
said the contestant. "Because of your knowing the answer to
that final question, I am now a millionaire. And do you want to
know something? It was the assuredness with which you
answered the question that convinced me to go with your
choice."
"You're welcome!" the blonde said.
"By the way," the winner said, not being able to contain the
question anymore. "How did you happen to know the right
answer?"
Oh, come on," said the blonde "Everybody knows that cuckoos
don't build nests......... They live in clocks