# The stupid-ass fuckin' answer Hall Of Fame **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 31, 2001, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240 "2001-03-31T13:30:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/21 "2001-04-03T09:39:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kniz \* > \*\*Last fall, my wife and I were in England and were very amused with their quiz shows. For instance, On their “Who wants to be a millionaire” a question that for us would be worth $100, for them would be worth $32,000. Case in point "Who was the first American president? a) Jefferson b) Lincoln c) Washington d) Taft. \*\* Hmm. Could this disparity have anything to do with the fact that, here in Britain, we tend to learn about British history before we learn about American history? Incidentally, we also use British currency, so it would be £32,000, not $32,000. Unduly parochial of us, I’m sure… ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/22 "2001-04-03T16:40:46Z")
Here’s one from Wheel of Fortune a few years ago. The category was “Fictional Character” or something like that. The following letters of the puzzle were revealed: D-NN-S TH- M-N— (For those of you playing along at home, I’ll pause a moment to give you a chance to guess.) The contestant proceeded to confidently guess the answer: “Dennis the Monkey?” ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/23 "2001-04-03T18:14:26Z")
I saw an episode of WoF where the category was people and the board had something like: P\_TTSB\_RG P\_R\_TES And the contestants guesses: contestant #1: The Pittsburg Pirates Pat: Wrong. contestant #2: Umm, the Pittsburg Pirates? Pat: Nope, Im sorry contestant #3: Pittsburg Pirates Pat: Yes, you win. There was no “the” on the board, so we couldn’t accept those answers. I thought that was a tad nit-picky. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/24 "2001-04-03T21:06:01Z")
Ah, Wheel of Fortune. A show that my ex called “Idiots.” On one show, here was the puzzle: B\_ILE\_ L\_BSTER WITH \_RAWN BUTTER A contestant decided to solve it. He proclaimed, and rather proudly, “Boiled lobster with prawn butter.” He didn’t win. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/25 "2001-04-03T21:15:14Z")
Seriously, looking for stupid answers from ‘Wheel of Fortune’ contestants is like looking for water at the bottom of a lake. ---
**Author:** ![jmullaney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@jmullaney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmullaney)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/26 "2001-04-03T21:39:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philster \* > Or, did he think theree are really 48 “United” States and 50 total? Everyone knows there are 46 states with four commonwealths. Since that wasn’t an answer, 50 is your next best bet. ---
**Author:** ![Redboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/27 "2001-04-05T08:09:15Z")
As a crustaceaphobe I’m in the dark. If it wasn’t prawn butter what was it? Brawn butter? Perish the thought! Drawn Butter? Is that something? Is it a local thing? I live in Australia - does that handicap me? Is this lobster thing something they eat on the next episode of Survivor? If so please add “spoiler” to the title of your next post. [sub]jes’ a little in-joke there![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/28 "2001-04-05T10:06:24Z")
Since nobody’s actually enlightened our American brethren on the format of _The Weakest Link_ yet, I’ll oblige. Start with 8 (I think) contestants. Host, Anne Robinson (rather nasty), asks a question to each contestant in turn. If they get it right, the money meter goes up. If they get it wrong, the money meter resets to zero. _Before_ Anne starts to ask the question, the contestant may bank the money in the meter. That money is then safe, and the meter resets to zero. Weighed against this is the fact that if one does _not_ bank, then each successive correct answer is worth more money. Up to £1000 can be won in each round. At the end of the round, each contestant votes on who is “the weakest link”. The incentive to vote off the dumbass is that by not banking and answering incorrectly, they are impeding the generation of the prize fund. When there are just two contestants left, the prize money for that final round is doubled/trebled (there is an early evening version and a late evening version). Hence there is extra incentive to have the best person with you at that time. On the other hand, after the final round there is a play-off for the money. 5 questions each, followed by sudden death if it is equal at that time. Winner takes the whole pot. This means that it is _not_ in your interest to have someone better than you in the final round with you! More than one person has been voted off in the penultimate round for being _too_ good. There are some other minor rules too to keep the whole thing running smoothly, but that is basically the game. And it’s coming your way, Anne Robinson and all. I note incidentally that _Millionaire_ is another UK invention that has been successfully exported all over the globe. Apparently Japanese audience feel honour bound to answer _incorrectly_ when asked, since asking for help in that way is dishonorable! (Source: recent magazine article about _Millionaire_ around the world. Believe it or not, as you wish). And it is not at all surprising that it is a high-money question to ask who the first leader of a foreign country was. How many first leaders of foreign countries do _you_ know? How many UK prime ministers can you name? Don’t you think that it is a touch arrogant to assume that all foreigners should know all about your country’s history? FWIW (which isn’t much) the author of the magazine article actually seemed to feel that the questions are actually easier in the US. But that’s a pretty subjective opinion of one person. I’d guess that it’s all pretty much of a muchness. pan ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/29 "2001-04-05T10:08:10Z")
Sorry - should add that in the evening version of _The Wakest Link_, the maximum winnings in one round is £2,500. And **Redboss** - I too am somewhat confused about that lobster thing. How many other words ending in “rawn” can there be? pan ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/30 "2001-04-05T11:46:28Z")
Maybe it was supposed to be ‘brown butter’, but there was a typo in the actual answer grid thingy. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/31 "2001-04-05T11:48:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kabbes \* > **Apparently Japanese audience feel honour bound to answer _incorrectly_ when asked, since asking for help in that way is dishonorable! (Source: recent magazine article about _Millionaire_ around the world. Believe it or not, as you wish).** not. I watch it pretty regularly here, and the contestants seem to ask for help about as often as they do in the US. I’ve never seen anyone get knocked out with lifelines left over unless they’re acting cocky and get caught by surprise. BTW, it’s _drawn_ (melted) butter. Must be a US-ism. –sublight. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/32 "2001-04-05T11:55:55Z")
Oh yeah, I just remembered my own WoF stupidity sighting: CAPTAIN _IR_ OF THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE Contestant: I’d like a ‘D’, please. Then there’s my favorite WoF joke, from “Family Guy” GO \_UCK YOURSELF Contestant: “Go Tuck Yourself In” Host: That’s right! Son (watching at home): Gee, Dad, you were really close. Dad: Yeah, I still can’t believe I missed “My Hairy Aunt”. –sublight. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/33 "2001-04-05T15:18:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Redboss \* > \*\*As a crustaceaphobe I’m in the dark. If it wasn’t prawn butter what was it? > > Brawn butter? Perish the thought! > > Drawn Butter? Is that something? Is it a local thing? > > I live in Australia - does that handicap me? > > Is this lobster thing something they eat on the next episode of Survivor? If so please add “spoiler” to the title of your next post. > > [sub]jes’ a little in-joke there![/sub] > > \*\* “Drawn” butter is just another word for clarified butter. I only ever see the word “drawn” in the context of lobster, which leads me to suspect that it may be a New England regionalism (most of our lobsters come from Maine). ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/34 "2001-04-05T15:58:08Z")
My parents were actually _on_ the Newlywed Game. My father was asked, “if your mother-in-law could dive into a swimming pool full of anything she wanted, what would it be?” Dad’s answer? “Food.” ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/35 "2001-04-06T14:35:36Z")
Huh - that’s what I get for believing magazine articles. Next thing you’ll be telling me that you can’t get breast cancer from using deoderant… ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/36 "2001-04-06T16:56:35Z")
From The Family Feud, lightning round with Richard Dawson. Name something men use to cover baldness. Spray paint. Name something you take a bath with. A duck. Something you put in tea. A spoon. The same contestant said all of the above. Richard Dawson had to stop the clock because he was laughing so hard he was crying. ---
**Author:** ![tpcutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@tpcutter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tpcutter)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/37 "2001-04-06T17:43:28Z")
you guys are too funny! Everybody (in New England) knows that DRAWN butter is served with Lobster OR steamed clams. If you want a true goldmine of INCREDIBLY STUPID FUCKIN’ ANSWERS, watch Howard Stern on CBS Saturday night or any night on E!. The other night he aired a segment called “Stripper Jeopardy” where three saggy-busted, bikini clad strippers faced a series of questions game-show style. Their collective IQ was about 3! They COULDN’T answer: How many states in the US? How many Senators from each state? Where is the Berlin Wall? What’s the French word for ‘thank you’? Among others that I forget. The prize was $10,000 cash, and they got points for correct answers and negative points for wrong answers. When I tuned in, the score was -90, -30 and -60! This coming Saturday night on the CBS show, he’s going to air a similar game called (I think) “Playboy Playmate Jeopardy”. I may have to stay in to see it! ---
**Author:** ![DoperChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@DoperChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoperChic)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240/38 "2001-04-06T18:02:22Z")
My best friend is a Damage Contolman with the U.S. Coast Guard. He was one of the tour guides when they went from city to city on OpSail 2000. He loved calling me up and telling me all the crazy questions the people, especially the children, would ask while on the tour. Many of the children would go from button to button asking “What does this do?” “Can I touch that button?” etc. My all time favorties though have to be: “Do you make the bad guys walk the plank?” ``` or ``` “Have you ever gotten thrown overboard?” My favorite question from “Millionaire” was a $100 question where the guy was asked, “What color is made when blue and yellow paint is mixed together?” The guy didn’t know!!! He had to poll the audience. Now I could have understood polling on a $100 question if it was a nursery rhyme or something and he wasn’t 100% sure, but give me a break here! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stupid-ass-fuckin-answer-hall-of-fame/60240.md?page=1)