Tonight Nancy Christy became the first woman to go all the way to the top on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Her appearance was taped the day before my trip to the show. When we went onto the set for our dry run, a single piece of confetti fluttered down from the rigging. Friday's show is the first actually taped while I was there-- more on that tomorrow. Meanwhile, could you have been a millionaire? Here are the questions.
$100: What movie features a single group known as The von Trapp Family Singers?
A. Almost Famous
B. The Sound of Music
C. Funny Girl
D. Grumpy Old Men
$200: The front of an aircraft is often referred to as its what?
A. Nose
B. Mouth
C. Chest
D. Chin
$300: On a classic TV sitcom, earthling Mindy McConnell lives with an alien named what?
A. ALF
B. Uncle Martin
C. Spock
D. Mork
$500: Native to Australia, the emu is what type of animal?
A. Snake
B. Bird
C. Goat
D. Fish
$1000: William Masters and Virginia Johnson are best known for their pioneering studies on what subject?
A. Human sexuality
B. Depression
C. Preschool education
D. Subliminal advertising
$2000: American composer John Philip Sousa is best known for writing what typ e of musical compositions?
A. Polkas
B. Ballads
C. Waltzes
D. Marches
$4000: "Piccolo" is an Italian word meaning which of the following?
A. Fast
B. Colorful
C. Loud
D. Small
$8000: Often found in health clubs, an "erg" machine simulates which of these activities?
A. Cross-country skiing
B. Swimming
C. Rowing a boat
D. Climbing Stairs
She decided to ask the audience:
C: 45%
D: 29%
A: 18%
B: 8%
Then the 50/50, leaving choices A and C.
$16,000: A 1939 treaty between the USSR and Germany secretly laid the groundwork for the division of what country after World War II?
A. Italy
B. Poland
C. France
D. United Kingdom
Nancy phoned a friend, but time ran out before her friend could give her any suggestions. All her lifelines are now gone.
$32,000: In the 1964 musical Fiddler on the Roof, what is Tevye's profession?
A. Tailor
B. Grocer
C. Milkman
D. Scholar
$64,000: Amtrak's scenic "Coast Starlight" train service runs between which of these two U.S. cities?
A. San Diego & New York
B. Miami & Boston
C. Houston & New Orleans
D. Los Angeles & Seattle
$125,000: Girl detective Nancy Drew made her debut in the 1930 book titled "The Secret of the" what?
A. Haunted Museum
B. Lost Diamond
C. Ancient Treasure
D. Old Clock
$250,000: On the California coast, what kind of fish is known for coming ashore and laying its eggs on the beach?
A. Pupfish
B. Loach
C. Grunion
D. Sawfish
$500,000: In 1957, Jorn Utzon won an international competition to design what architectural landmark?
A. Sears Tower
B. Sydney Opera House
C. Seattle Space Needle
D. Pompidou Center
$1,000,000: Who did artist Grant Wood use as the model for the farmer in his classic painting "American Gothic"?
A. Traveling salesman
B. Local sheriff
C. His dentist
D. His butcher
For the record, I would have needed a lifeline at $8000, $64,000, and $500,000, and then-- assuming the lifelines worked for me-- I'd have bailed.
Answers:
$100: B - The Sound of Music
$200: A - Nose
$300: D - Mork
$500: B - Bird
$1,000: A - Human sexuality
$2,000: D - Marches
$4,000: D - Small
$8,000: C - Rowing a boat
$16,000: B - Poland
$32,000: C - Milkman
$64,000: D - Los Angeles & Seattle
$125,000: D - Old Clock
$250,000: C - Grunion
$500,000: B - Sydney Opera House
$1,000,000: C - His dentist
Okay, just for the record: Cut it out! If I get them wrong, I kick myself for it. If I get them right that's even worse!! =)
Posted by: DugSteen on May 9, 2003 7:47 AMI'd have also asked the audience at 8K, and would have taken their answer rather than doing 50/50. Then I don't know what I would have done at 125K - probably tried both lifelines and then bailed. If I got lucky enough to have someone standing by who actually knew the answer, I'd have probably been stuck on the fish. Harder than your show. :)
Posted by: Dan Blum on May 9, 2003 10:47 AMWould have believed the audience at $8000. Would have used a science/fisheries phone-a-friend at $250,000. However, even if he got me through that question, may have blown it at $500,000 because, sitting here, I was pretty sure that the SOH was later than 1957 (would've said Sears Tower). Might have used 50-50. But then knew it was the dentist for $1,000,000.
Posted by: Mark Lambert on May 10, 2003 11:19 PM