A contestant on "Who Wants to Be a
Millionaire" had 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 $32,000
milestone money.
As she
suspected it would be, the
million-dollar question was no pushover:
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 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 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 Regis any answer except the
one that her friend had given her. And
considering that her friend was a
blonde, it 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. "I need an answer," said
Regis.
"C: The cuckoo."
"Is that your final answer?" asked
Regis.
"Yes, that is my final
answer."
Two seconds later,
Regis said, "I regret to inform you that
the answer is. .. absolutely correct.
You are now a millionaire!"
A
few 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. By the way, 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."