Andy Nash

A UA "fruit fly pimp" will be in the hot seat tonight on ABC's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire."

Student Andy Nash said the show's producers deemed him a "fruit fly pimp" before taping began on Aug. 5.

"They give you a specific topic; they ask for anecdotes or what you're involved in. I worked in a lab with fruit flies when I was at UA, so that's what they called me," Nash said.

Nash completed commencement in May, has since moved to Michigan and will receive his bachelor's degree pending completion of the UA correspondence courses he is currently enrolled in.

Although Nash is under legal obligation to the show to not disclose exactly how much he won, he says it is between one and two thousand dollars.

He will not receive a check until after the show airs.

Nash, who hopes to begin medical school next year, said he used the audience as a "lifeline" early in the game and said he should have opted to phone a friend before giving an answer the killed his chance to make $1 million.

Hints on what that question was?

"Let's just say that I need to study up on my 20th century American history," Nash said.

To prepare for the hot seat, Nash bought a quiz book and studied it with his girlfriend. But Nash said that the book may have been the cause of his loss since it led him to confuse what the question was.

"I have since burned the book," he said.

Nash auditioned for "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" in the summer of 2001. Soon after, the show was cancelled.

"I thought that was it. I totally wasn't expecting it," he said.

A year later, ABC called Nash about appearing on the show with new host Meredith Viera, of "The View. "

In less than two weeks, he was in New York for the taping of the show.

The show's new format eliminated the fastest finger round and consists of more difficult questions.

"They're not prime time anymore, so they don't want people to win money," Nash said.

Nash waited in "the dungeon" with other contestants before appearing in the hot seat. One man took 45 minutes on a single question, setting taping of Nash's show back an extra day.

ABC paid for all trip expenses ÷ plane tickets, hotel, transportation and spending money.

Stylists were also on hand to help contestants pick out their outfits prior to taping.

"Regis' makeup artist was there still. She clipped my nose hairs, I'm proud to say," Nash gushed, chuckling a little.

Nash will use his winnings to help pay off debts, which include $35,000 in student loans and $12,000 in credit card bills.

Nash's girlfriend, Joey Retsema went with him to New York for the show's taping. She said that although the money would have been nice, she is not disappointed that he didn't win the million.

"I was nervous for him, but it all happened so fast. It was a good experience for him," she said.

Although Nash missed his chance to become instantly rich, Retsema isn't worried.

"Andy is a genius," Retsema said. "He'll become a millionaire some other way."