Aisha Tyler Unveils Drew Carey and Jimmy Kimmel's Misstep

Aisha Tyler and Drew Carey Take on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Aisha Tyler and Drew Carey brought their comedic flair to the season premiere of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, but did they manage to win $1 million for their chosen charities? The show, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, featured the two comedians as they faced off in a high-stakes game of trivia.

Kimmel shared that he hadn’t known about the friendship between Tyler and Carey before the episode, but Carey revealed that the pair had once shared the same manager. Both have also appeared on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, which led Tyler to describe their relationship as “brother and sister from another mother.”

Carey had previously appeared on Millionaire, winning $500,000, which gave the duo some confidence as they navigated the early questions. However, the challenge escalated when they reached the $32,000 question. The question asked, “With a whopping 11, which of these singers has more number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 than the other three combined?” The options were Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Tina Turner, or Britney Spears.

Tyler and Carey debated for several minutes, torn between Whitney and Britney. They opted to use one of their four lifelines and asked the audience for help. The audience chose Britney Spears, and the comedians leaned toward that answer because she is still active in the music industry. However, the correct answer was Whitney Houston, leading to a groan from the crowd. Despite the setback, the pair left with $32,000 for their charities.

“I think we talked them into it,” Carey admitted, while Tyler added, “I do too!” Kimmel joked that he knew the answer and blamed the audience for misleading the pair. He also pointed out that they could have used the “Ask the Host” lifeline instead of relying on the audience.

The Motivation Behind Their Appearance

When asked about what motivated her to participate in the game show, Tyler explained that the charity component was the main draw. “I typically say yes to this stuff if I have the time because of the charity component. I think that’s really the motivator for me,” she said. She also mentioned that the show has a long history and is a fan favorite, making it an appealing opportunity.

As for how she and Carey ended up teaming up, Tyler noted that the show reached out to her first. “I don’t think they match you with people. I think it’s really like they have an interest and they go, ‘Hey, do you want to do it with a friend?’ And then Drew reached out to me,” she said.

While Carey had prior experience on the show, Tyler didn’t feel any pressure. “I’ve done a fair number of charity game shows, so I don’t feel a lot of pressure,” she said. She also highlighted their shared background in live television and comedy, which helped them stay calm under pressure.

Pop Culture and Personal Expertise

Despite their confidence, Tyler admitted that she’s not a pop culture expert. “I’m not a pop culture maven. If you want to ask me about science or outer space, politics or geography, or history, I’m pretty great, but I’m just not a pop culture person,” she said.

The Whitney Houston question, which fell into the music category, proved to be a tough one. “We used our best judgment on that question. It felt tricky because it was really very much like we lost Whitney a while ago, and who is still alive and still making hits?” she explained.

Although they used a lifeline and reasoned through the question, they ultimately got it wrong. In hindsight, Tyler acknowledged that they should have used the “Ask the Host” lifeline instead of the audience. “We probably should have used Jimmy, because it was clear that he knew something about the question that we didn’t,” she said.

Future Game Show Plans

When asked if she’d consider appearing on other game shows, such as The Price Is Right with Drew Carey, Tyler expressed enthusiasm. “I love Drew. I don’t know, do they do a celebrity Price Is Right?” she asked. She also mentioned her close friendship with Let’s Make a Deal host Wayne Brady, calling the trio “a funny, little, strange set of comedy triplets.”

For Tyler, the key factor in participating in future shows is the opportunity to support charities. “If there’s ever an opportunity to raise money for people, then I’ll absolutely be back out there,” she said.

Final Thoughts

Despite the misstep on the Whitney Houston question, Tyler and Carey made for an entertaining and engaging appearance on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Their camaraderie, humor, and dedication to charity shone through, even as they faced a challenging question.

The show continues to be a hit with audiences, offering a mix of suspense, humor, and philanthropy. With its next-day streaming on Hulu, fans can catch the latest episodes and see what surprises await the contestants.