And another game-show controversy hits Yahoo!

The Million Dollar Money Drop has hit the headlines for a couple getting (perceived to be) screwed out of playing with $800,000 of their stake due to a questionable answer.

Here's the Yahoo! story.

Let's set this up. The Million Dollar Money Drop is a new show that FOX is putting on (which should be one red flag right there!!) based on a British show of the same concept.

A couple (or a pair of related players) is given $1,000,000 in real American money. All there, in public, in $100 bills in stacks of $25,000 apiece.

Here's the catch: To take any part of that money home, they must complete a series of seven multiple choice questions -- the first three having four answers to choose one correct from, the next three having three, and the final question having only two.

Here's catch #2: Not only must they bet their entire (remaining) stake on EVERY question, the rules FORCE them to leave one answer with no money on it at all. (The question is "answered" by the players putting the money physically over one of the relevant number of trap doors. Incorrect answers drop the money out of play, etc.)

So here's the controversy:

The first thing which is shown (this is either question 4, 5, or 6) is the three answers:

A: MacIntosh Computer
B: Sony Walkman
C: Post-It Notes

The question is: "Which of these was sold in stores first?"

The Sony Walkman was said as the answer, but the contestants put $800,000 that Post-It Notes were first in stores.

The problem comes from knowledge that Post-It Notes were being distributed nationally in stores only since 1980, but had been distributed beforehand for 2-3 years regionally.

The question was in no way specific in that regard.

And this is why it wins "Rig Job of the Day".

Face it, people: Game shows are now rigged too. Black-letter law (and a previous show yanked from FOX's air) notwithstanding, producers will use every little dirty trick to deny contestants money they might otherwise duly win.

FOX claims they went to 3M and used the information they were given. The thing is, the way the question is phrased, they could've actually made Post-It Notes locally and sold them in one local store, and the question would be ruled correct.

But, unlike what always has been said about game shows, the network no longer wants the contestant to win. Why would they? Cuts into their precious profit margin. Shows will now do everything in their power to openly deceive the contestant.

Remember: If it's a business, they're out of their minds to decide things legitimately.

And as long as the FCC are a bunch of corporate whores to allow the likes of Survivor and American Idol on the air, it's not going to change.

DECEMBER 24 EDIT: The couple has been invited to return to the show.