Jeopardy! Is A Harsh Mistress

Nick Spicher was embroiled in the Jeopardy! equivalent of an NFL replay review when he gave an incorrect response to the following before/after clue in Monday’s episode: “A song by Coolio from ‘Dangerous Minds’ goes back in time to become a 1667 John Milton classic.”

The correct response would be, “What is Gangsta’s Paradise Lost?” Spicher said, “Gangster’s Paradise Lost.” Though he received credit at the time, officials later took the money away:

The Jeopardy! version of the NBA’s Last Two Minute report explained the ruling:

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.

Though the ruling cost Spicher $3,200, he kept a first-place lead going into Final Jeopardy and won.