Monaca man wins $250K on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire'

PITTSBURGH — Dan DeLisio, 45, a judicial attorney from Monaca, won $250,000 Friday on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire."

DeLisio made it to his $500,000 question when he ultimately decided not to take a guess and walk away with his entire accumulated Millionaire Bank, which had risen to $250,000.

If he had guessed incorrectly on the $500,000 question, he would have fallen back to $25,000.

Dan is a judicial staff attorney with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Son of the late Edward and Helen DeLisio of Aliquippa, Dan graduated from Central Valley High School. Two of his friends, Deborah and Kimberly, joined him in New York, sitting in the "Millionaire" audience as his on-air companions.

Dan said he used to watch "Millionaire" with his father, who instilled in him a lifelong love of learning. His dad, who passed away three years ago, pushed him to never give up on the chance to appear on the show. Dan said he knows that his father would be proud that his son finally made it!

Prior to his appearance, Dan said that if he won big on "Millionaire," he would help his seeing-impaired cousin, donate to the library, take a vacation somewhere warm with his friends and write the great American novel.

Dan became the third $250,000-winner this season, joining Andrew Tyler, a medical student at UT Southwestern, and Ron Freshour, a pub quiz host and radio production engineer.

A viewing party was held at Nicky's Grant Street in Pittsburgh.

Here is a transcript of DeLisio’s questions and how he fared on each:

Question #1:  Category, 'Serious Play'

The Landlord's Game, a precursor to which classic board game, was originally designed

to teach people the destructive consequences of private land ownership?

A: Clue

B: Sorry!

C: Trivial Pursuit

D: Monopoly

Lifelines Used:  none

Correct Answer:  D

$ Value of Question:  $2,000

Accumulated Millionaire Bank:  $2,000

Question #2:  Category, 'Doppelgangers'

Noting their physical similarities, what TV personality recently likened herself to Martha Stewart, Glenn Close and Lesley Stahl?

A: Katie Couric

B: Joy Behar

C: Diane Sawyer

D: Hoda Kotb

Lifelines Used:  "Ask The Audience" (A=9% B=11% C=71% D=9%)

Correct Answer:  C

$ Value of Question:  $100

Accumulated Millionaire Bank:  $2,100

Question #3:  Category, 'Joke Time'

“Why the long face” is the punch line to a familiar joke about what animal walking into a bar?

A: Dog

B: Horse

C: Cow

D: Pig

Lifelines Used:  none

Correct Answer:  B

$ Value of Question:  $5,000

Accumulated Millionaire Bank:  $7,100

Question #4:  Category, 'On the Block'

A green beret, a Golden Globe Award and a cowboy hat were among the top items at a 2011 auction of what screen legend's property?

A: Henry Fonda

B: John Wayne

C: Robert Mitchum

D: Burt Lancaster

Lifelines Used:  none

Correct Answer:  B

$ Value of Question:  $500

Accumulated Millionaire Bank:  $7,600

Question #5:  Category, 'Rocky Mountain Rules'

Perhaps seeking a “Rocky Mountain High,” 2012 voters in Colorado approved Amendment 64, legalizing the recreational use of what?

A: Stilts

B: Trampolines

C: Marijuana

D: Pogo sticks

Lifelines Used:  none

Correct Answer:  C

$ Value of Question:  $1,000

Accumulated Millionaire Bank:  $8,600

Question #6:  Category, 'More Meat!'

Based on the notion that if a caveman didn't eat it, you shouldn't either, Loren Cordain's 2002 book is titled “The” what “Diet”?

A: The Paleo Diet

B: The Ceno Diet

C: The Meso Diet

D: The Neo Diet

FYI:  Short for "Paleolithic" - it says no grains, just meat, fish, poultry, fruits, and veggies.

Lifelines Used:  none

Correct Answer:  A

$ Value of Question:  $15,000

Accumulated Millionaire Bank:  $23,600

Question #7:  Category, 'Everyone's a Critic'

What book was famously dismissed by one critic in 1966 with the comment, “This isn't writing, it's research”?

A: In Cold Blood

B: Portnoy's Complaint

C: Slaughterhouse-Five

D: To Kill a Mockingbird

FYI:  In Cold Blood was written by Truman Capote.

Lifelines Used:  none

Correct Answer:  A

$ Value of Question:  $3,000

Accumulated Millionaire Bank:  $26,600

Question #8:  Category, 'Short Stacks'

The shortest in history, which president stood only 5'4" high and weighed 100 pounds, roughly the same size as Miley Cyrus?

A: James Madison

B: Thomas Jefferson

C: Martin Van Buren

D: John Adams

Lifelines Used:  none

Correct Answer:  A

$ Value of Question:  $25,000

Accumulated Millionaire Bank:  $51,600

Question #9:  Category, 'Pack Up the Minivan'

What Washington State Park advertises fun family activities like hiking and treasure hunts, despite its depressing name?

A: Fort Sadness

B: Disenchantment Reserve

C: Ingratitude Coast Trail

D: Cape Disappointment

Lifelines Used:  "Jump The Question" #1 (Dan was able to jump over the question but also had to forfeit the money attached to the question)

Correct Answer:  D

$ Value of Question:  $10,000

Accumulated Millionaire Bank:  $51,600

Question #10:  Category, 'Special Cases'

Referred to as a “haven for dummies,” a unique Kentucky museum is the unofficial resting place for the retired tools of what type of performer?

A: Clown

B: Juggler

C: Trapeze artist

D: Ventriloquist

FYI:  Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum in Fort Mitchell, where they collect the voiceless dummies of performers who have passed.

Lifelines Used:  none

Correct Answer:  D

$ Value of Question:  $7,000

Accumulated Millionaire Bank:  $58,600

DeLisio successfully navigated his way through the first round of the game (questions 1-10) and went on to round #2 (questions 11-14) with an accumulated Millionaire Bank of $58,600 and one lifeline left (“Jump The Question” #2).

Once a contestant makes it into round #2 of Millionaire (best described as “Classic Millionaire”), they only have four more questions to answer. Unlike the first round of the game, questions in round #2 become progressively more difficult and the monetary value attached to the question is no longer shuffled and hidden. If a contestant decides to not take a guess and walk away from the game in round #2, they are able to take home their entire accumulated Millionaire Bank. If a contestant incorrectly answers a question in round #2, they fall back to $25,000 in winnings.

$100,000 QUESTION:

Residents of Singapore who love American comfort food can get their fill at local 7-Elevens that dispense what from vending machines?

A: Spaghetti and meatballs

B: Mashed potatoes and gravy

C: Chuck roast chili

D: Three cheese macaroni

Lifelines Used:  "Jump The Question" #2

Correct Answer:  B

$ Value of Question:  $100,000

Accumulated Millionaire Bank:  $58,600

$250,000 QUESTION:

The famous portrait of a pointing Uncle Sam was originally a magazine cover with the title, “What Are You Doing For” what?

A: Solidarity

B: Preparedness

C: Righteousness

D: Civility

Lifelines Used:  none

Correct Answer:  B

$ Value of Question:  $250,000

Accumulated Millionaire Bank:  $250,000

$500,000 QUESTION:

Eagle-eyed viewers of “Gone with the Wind” will notice all but which of the following anachronisms in the film?

A: Radio tower

B: Electric streetlight

C: Electric lamp

D: Telephone booth

Out of lifelines and unsure of the answer, DeLisio decided to not take a guess and walk away with his entire accumulated Millionaire Bank, which had risen to $250,000.  If he had guessed incorrectly on $500,000 question, he would have fallen back to $25,000 in winnings.  The correct answer was “D.”

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