Million Dollar Money Drop In Turmoil After Answer Controversy

MILLION DOLLAR MONEY DROP, the new US quiz show hosted by Kevin Pollak, was at the centre of controversy last night (21st December 2010) after a couple lost $800,000 despite seemingly giving the correct answer, reports the UK's Daily Mail.

The new show, billed as "the most relentless game ever imagined" premiered on Fox yesterday and sees couples start with $1 million which they then 'place' or 'bet' on answers to questions. The aim of the game is to retain as much of the $1 million as possible, however, when contestants are not sure of the answer they can 'spread' the cash and therefore sacrifice vast amounts of money, making sure they reach the next round. Last night, host Pollak posed the question, 'Which of these were sold in stores first: MACkintosh computer, Sony Walkman or Post-It Notes?' Contestants Gabe and Brittany placed $800,000 on 'Post It Notes' and just $80,000 on the Walkman. The latter was announced as the correct answer and the couple lost their majority stake.

However, after the show had aired, the Internet became alive with speculation that the couple had actually given the correct answer. A blogger on the Gawker website wrote, "Apparently Post-It Notes didn't go on sale nationally until 1980, but were market tested in four cities starting in 1977. So that means they beat the Walkman, which debuted in 1979. The question was not posed as "sold in stores nationally," it was simply "sold in stores".