Where Dennis won the TV talk show appearance everyone assumed would go to Alan, a $400 prize was announced that went with it. Yet that prize was conveniently forgotten in the 2nd half of the episode. As Mr. Moore said to Dennis, he knew exactly what he was doing with the insulting essay he turned in, knowing that is what would win him the big loot. Despite his claims of not wanting to be on it at all, Dennis would not have given up the $400 with how much money he was always craving, no way. He might not have acted like the on show jerk they were afraid of, but still would have kept the appearance he won.