No justice: MHS grad earns grand on 'millionaire'
Thursday, May 22, 2008
NEW YORK — Danielle Sparks didn't become an instant millionaire on a national television show, but the 2003 Middletown High School graduate didn't walk away empty handed.
In an episode of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" that aired Wednesday, May 21, Sparks started her second day on the show in the hot seat with the $500 question.
Extras
On Tuesday's episode, she breezed through the first three questions before time ran out.
Sparks said her nerves got the best of her as she sat before host Meredith Vieira and faced the $8,000 question: Who is the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court?
Her choices were John Paul Stevens, Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito or John Roberts.
With three unused lifelines – phone a friend, poll the audience and 50-50 – Sparks used the 50-50 option, removing two incorrect answers.
Left with John Paul Stevens and John Roberts as her choices, Sparks chose Stevens as her final answer, but that decision was her last. Roberts was the key to more money.
Sparks did make it far enough in the show to earn $1,000.
The two episodes aired nearly a year after she traveled to New York to be a contestant.
The Ohio State University graduate tried out for "Millionaire" in Pittsburgh in August 2006, and was called to film in July 2007.
A longtime fan of the show, Sparks said she was so nervous in the hot seat, she could barely remember what happened.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or mengle@coxohio.com.
