The Million Dollar Question

Don’t you just love to watch television shows on which one tries to answer questions?  The most interesting ones on TV now, I think, are “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” and a fun show I adore that has no right or wrong answers, “Family Feud.” Well, I guess the answers are right in a way since the object is to match the answers from an audience survey. I do believe the hardest questions appear on “Jeopardy” and I readily take my hat off to those smart contestants!

Another interesting show with hard questions and showing four selections for the correct answer was everyone’s favorite show, “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” I have selected a “not-so-true” story about The Million Dollar Question.  ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY! A contestant, Sally, on “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” had just reached the final plateau.  If she answered the next question correctly, she would win $1,000,000.  If she answered incorrectly, she would pocket only the $25,000 milestone money.

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   D) The vulture?”

Sally was on the spot.  She did not know the answer.  She had used up her 50/50 Lifeline and her Ask the Audience Lifeline.  All that remained was her Phone-a-Friend Lifeline.  She hoped she would not have to use it because her friend was, well…BLONDE.  But, she had no alternative.She called her friend and gave her the question and the four choices.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 the host any answer except the one that her friend had given her. That would seem to be the logical thing to do since her friend was BLONDE; but her friend had responded with such confidence, such certitude, that the contestant could not help but be convinced.

“I need an answer”, said the host.Crossing her fingers, the contestant said, “C:  The cuckoo.”‘Is that your final answer?’  ‘Yes, that is my final answer.’The show host replied, “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.

“Joni, I just do not know how to thank you,” said the contestant.  “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.”