A ‘Jeopardy!’ Player Lost $3,200 for Mispronouncing Coolio’s ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’
We all make mistakes from time to time, whether it’s a flub at work, a parenting blunder, or — in the case of one recent Jeopardy! contestant — a slight mispronunciation worth $3,200.
During a New Year’s Day episode of the long-running game show, three contestants faced a mash-up clue that read, “A song by Coolio from Dangerous Minds goes back in time to become a 1667 John Milton classic.”
Nick, who was in second place at the time, answered, “Gangster’s Paradise Lost,” which host Alex Trebek accepted as the correct answer. For a moment, he took the top spot — but then Trebek interrupted the game to inform Nick that they were taking the money away.
“Our judges have re-evaluated one of your responses a few minutes ago, Nick. You said ‘gangster’s’ instead of ‘gangsta’s‘ on that song by Coolio, so we take $3,200 away from you. So you are now in second place.”
Let Nick’s mistake be a lesson to us all. In 2018, you gotta keep it gangsta at all times. Never Gangster #Jeopardy pic.twitter.com/NMO7QsAfyI
— Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) January 2, 2018
If you’re questioning the ruling, you’re certainly not the only one, but Jeopardy! is standing by its decision. “It turns out that ‘gangsta’ and ‘gangster’ are both listed separately in the Oxford English Dictionary, each with its own unique definition,” the show explained in a statement. “Nick changed not only the song’s title, but also its meaning — making his response unacceptable.”
Official @Jeopardy statement …."gangsta” and “gangster” are listed separately in the Oxford English Dictionary, each with its own unique definition." Nick changed not only the song’s title, but also its meaning – making his response unacceptable."https://t.co/VQVDvuS6aS
— Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) January 2, 2018
We can’t help feeling a little sorry for Nick, but we also can’t help laughing at his reaction…
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) January 2, 2018
And everyone else’s…
— J. Bates Thompson (@JBatesThompson) January 2, 2018
Alex was like… pic.twitter.com/BlckCSFVQg
— Sean (@datson1992) January 2, 2018
— Sheraz (@nybigtymer) January 2, 2018
Man I don’t know what’s funnier…nick pronouncing it “gangsters” paradise or Alex Trebek deducting money and correcting him him for not calling it gangstas paradise. That’s tv gold if you ask me
— i got 3 kids. (@Ric_Flair_WOO) January 2, 2018
Only an OG takes $3,000 from someone for frontin’ about Coolio.
— Patrick (@Tall_6ft8_guy) January 2, 2018
Would you have gotten the right answer? Let us know @BritandCo!
(photo via Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)