sMONROE - Monroe High School graduate Andy Ross might not have won a million dollars, but he did achieve a few minutes of fame this week as a contestant on the syndicated television show, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."

The 1998 grad appeared on the show Wednesday and Thursday, much to the delight of his mother, Mary Dell Ross, Monroe.

"It was exciting," she said. "I thought he looked terrific."

Ross auditioned for the show last year, his mother said, and was selected as a contestant for the show, which was taped in September.

Ross, who lives in New York with his wife, Colleen, is a freelance graphic artist by day and a standup comic at night. Despite being comfortable in front of an audience, he was a little nervous in the television studio, he said. The flashing lights and the live audience in the studio made it a lot different from standing in front of an audience in a club.

"I didn't expect to be (nervous), but I was," he joked. "It's a lot different when money is at stake."

Ross ended up taking home $1,000 from the show.

One of the difficult things about being on the show was the fact he couldn't tell anyone how much money he won until the show aired. They required him to keep his winnings a secret.

"People were asking me, but I couldn't say anything," he said.

People who watched the show were hoping to see Ross dance, his mother said. He told host Meredith Viera he was a good dancer and promised to dance if he won $25,000.

"I've seen him dance at his wedding," his mother laughed, "and he is pretty good."