The $1600 clue in the MUSIC & LITERATURE BEFORE & AFTER category called for the combined title of two works: “A song by Coolio from ‘Dangerous Minds’ goes back in time to become a 1667 John Milton classic.”
The correct response? “What is Gangsta’s Paradise Lost?”
Although Nick’s response of “Gangster’s Paradise Lost” was initially accepted, the hard R sound caught the ear of one member of the onstage team, who immediately followed up with a quick check.
It turns out that “gangsta” and “gangster” are both 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.