Morristown Man 'Wants to Be a Millionaire,' Ends with $25K

A Morristown mechanical engineer didn't quite become a millionaire, but his appearance on a nationally televised game show did net him $25,000.

Jon Papp appeared as a contestant on Friday's episode of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” which was scheduled to air at 12:30 p.m. on WABC-TV. Because of a weather broadcast that interrupted regular programming, the episode was instead planned to air at 1:35 a.m. Saturday.

Papp, 24, was described as a Michigan native and former lifeguard who runs a swing dancing club in his spare time (he even danced with host Meredith Vieira on the show). He said that if he won big on "Millionaire," he would pay off his student loans and get a Ph.D. in robotics.

In the game, in which players answer a list of increasingly difficult general-knowledge trivia questions, earning higher amounts of money as long as they answer correctly. They are allowed a limited number of lifelines, such as "Ask the Audience," "Jump the Question" or "Phone a Friend," in case they get stuck on a particular question.

Papp acquitted himself admirably, making it all the way to his $100,000 question. But that's where his journey ended: He answered the question incorrectly. But he still was able to leave the show with $25,000 in winnings.

Want to try your hand at the questions Papp faced? (Answers will be at the bottom of the page—no peeking.)

Question #1:  Category, 'What's in a Name' 

Until it changed its recipe to include the minimum 10 million cultures per gram, Pinkberry was criticized for calling its product what? 

A: Gelato 

B: Frozen yogurt 

C: Italian ice 

D: Sorbet   

Question #2:  Category, 'Sage Advice' 

What group sang the song “Poison,” in which they warn listeners to “never trust a big butt and a smile”? 

A: Bell Biv DeVoe 

B: Jodeci 

C: Blackstreet 

D: Boyz II Men   

Question #3:  Category, 'Naming Trends' 

“Jetta” and “Scirocco” being two examples, Volkswagen is known for naming its cars after well-known what? 

A: Ocean trenches 

B: Wind currents 

C: Fault lines 

D: Tectonic plates   

Question #4:  Category, 'Pig Tales' 

Who wrote the 1948 essay “Death of a Pig” several years before publishing a classic children's book in which a pig's life is saved? 

A: Roald Dahl 

B: C.S. Lewis 

C: E.B. White 

D: Dr. Seuss    

Question #5:  Category, 'Civil Protests' 

An Oregon man was dubbed “Sir Godiva” after a judge ruled it was not illegal for him to have done what in protest of airport security screenings? 

A: Destroyed a laptop 

B: Stripped naked 

C: Yelled “Fire!” on line 

D: Ate his shoes 

Question #6:  Category, 'Early Work' 

Having developed lie-detector technology, inventor William Marston created what comic book hero, who fittingly wields the “golden lasso of truth”? 

A: Catwoman 

B: Captain America 

C: Thor 

D: Wonder Woman 

Question #7:  Category, 'Medical Degrees' 

Which of the following is the accepted abbreviation for a medical professional who specializes in women's health? 

A: O/BGYN 

B: OB/GYN 

C: OBG/YN 

D: OBGY/N   

Question #8:  Category, 'Bird Formations' While geese are known to fly in a V formation, what birds are known to swim together in a U formation in order to trap fish? 

A: Pelicans 

B: Swans 

C: Ducks 

D: Seagulls   

Question #9:  Category, 'Simple Inspirations' 

The builders of what architectural wonder were said to have been inspired by the simplicity of a rectangular pencil? 

A: Space Needle 

B: Gateway Arch 

C: U.S. Capitol 

D: Empire State Building 

Question #10:  Category, 'Spellchekc' 

Which of the following is the correctly spelled title of a popular TV sitcom from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s? 

A: WRKP in Cincinnati 

B: WPRK in Cincinnati 

C: WKRP in Cincinnati 

D: WPKR in Cincinnati

$100,000 Question: 

“Double Irish” and “Dutch Sandwich” are types of what? 

A: Chess strategies 

B: Suspension bridges 

C: Soccer maneuvers 

D: Tax loopholes 

Correct answers:

1. B, 2. A, 3. B, 4. C, 5. B, 6. D, 7. B, 8. A, 9. D, 10. C, 11. D