Details on ABC’s “Millionaire” 10th Anniversary
All the excitement of the 10th anniversary edition of Who Wants to be a Millionaire is getting close to the big payoff as Regis Philbin returns to the Hot Seat on August 9th at 8:00PM ET on ABC. As press releases are saying, this was truly a great year for the format. The movie Slumdog Millionaire, a movie essentially based around arguably the world’s most popular quiz show, won the Oscar for Best Picture and the daytime edition of the show, hosted by Meredith Vieira, will be entering its eight season soon after a large number of changes to the format last year. The show’s still standing very strong around the world, and ABC plans to celebrate the anniversary with style.
As we’ve previously discussed, the format will largely be from the syndicated edition, including the clock. A celebrity will be featured at the end of each episode playing one question, only allowed to use one lifeline, for $50,000. If they miss, they get $25,000. The lifelines “Phone a Friend” and “Ask the Audience” return along with daytime Millionaire‘s “Double Dip” and “Ask the Expert”. Basically one of the only complaints I’ve had about “ATE” is that getting a decent expert on the show seems like a 50/50 chance. You’ll be happy to know that they’ve lined up a fantastic group who should really be able to help greatly during those big money questions. The Experts are…
* ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos
* ABC News’ Sam Donaldson
* ABC News’ Cokie Roberts
* NPR’s Mo Rocca
* Wolf Blitzer (CNN’s “The Situation Room”)
* Activist and radio host Rev. Al Sharpton
* Bestselling author Jodi Picoult
* Bill Nye, the Science Guy
* Journalist, newscaster and author Gwen Ifill
* Journalist Connie Chung
* Game show legend Ken Jennings
I can’t really pick a bad one out of the group. That’s not all, though. The show will be bringing back some memorable and famous contestants to join in the celebration from the audience…
Sunday, August 9
Note: Much of the studio audience is comprised of former contestants
Robert Essig, Ashtabula, OH – nicknamed Bob-O by his mother-in-law, won $1 million
Joe Trela, Gilroy, CA – third contestant to win $1 million
Ed Toutant, Austin, TX – won $1.86 million escalating jackpot
Monday, August 10
Robby Roseman, Las Vegas, NV – first person to lose on the first question, winning nothing
Tuesday, August 11
Kevin Olmstead, Ann Arbor, MI – the show’s biggest winner; won the escalating jackpot totaling $2.18 million
Wednesday, August 12
Jason Block, Brooklyn, NY – one of the show’s most memorable contestants; won $125,000
Thursday, August 13
No former contestants this night
Sunday, August 16
John Carpenter, Hamden, CT & dad – the series’ first-ever contestant to win $1 million; phoned his dad on the last question for his “Phone a Friend,” just to inform him he knew the answer and was about to win $1 million
Monday, August 17
Brian Fodera, Los Angeles, CA – second person to get the first question wrong, winning nothing
Tuesday, August 18
Doug Van Gundy, Elkins, WV – West Virginia fiddler won $250,000 in 1999 which, at that time, was the largest amount of money won in a single network game show appearance
Wednesday, August 19
Dan Doody, Seattle, WA – nicknamed “Doody” by Regis, he won $1,000
Thursday August 20
No former contestants this night
Sunday, August 23
Nancy Christy, Tulsa, OK – first woman to win $1 million on the show (happened on syndicated version)
While some of those are great, I’m looking forward to Doug Van Gundy the most. He’s the contestant I remember more than anyone else from the show for the reaction to the $250,000 he had, and we haven’t heard much from him since. It’s going to be an incredibly entertaining and exciting 11 episode series that you really shouldn’t miss. The 10th anniversary edition of Who Wants to be a Millionaire starts August 9th at 8:00PM ET. Following that is another show to really check out, Shark Tank.
We will be on the set of the show August 3rd. Are you going to be there any day? Be sure to let us know.
"I can’t really pick a bad one out of the group."
I can. Al Sharpton. He's a race hustler and should have no business being on a family show. He's shameful and a disgrace.
I'll be attending a taping on August 4th! Looking forward to it!
I'll be there on the 3rd at the later taping. Looking forward to this immensely!
I agree, my friend. I'll bet that if the Gates controversey gets asked as a question, someone will bound to use ATE on Sharpton. He's more trouble than the Rev. Jeramiah Wright. I just hope nobody picks him for an ATE when he's on there. Yeesh!
Can you not confirm the suspicion that the ATE lifeline will be offered at the $25,000 level yet?
I'll be there this Friday, July 31. I'll let you all know of any interesting details.
I'm sure that George will know much of the Canada questions if the Ask the Expert lifeline is used on him.
Won't be there, but I'll be a PAF for a contestant on Friday!
I've got tickets for the August 3rd late afternoon taping. I'm hoping Al Sharpton is NOT on that show.
The show didn't do itself any favors, picking a polarizing figure. But, I guess Rush was busy that night. What black celebrity, would those in question over Sharpton, fell MORE comfortable watching- in Obama's America?
….well the debate on Al Sharpton aside…
Why is Regis Philbin sitting all seductively on the millionaire logo?
Hi Bob! I'll be one of those hoping to get into the hot seat that day! Plllleeeeaaaassseee root for me!
I hope they use it on TV, I think that's incredibly amusing :D
I don't think so. To me, he looks more unconfortable in that position. But, I guess it's just me harking back to the old Millionaire logos.
Wow, you care a lot. Anyway, logoS? There was more than one?
Joe, if you tink that's suductive, you need to get out more…
Regis looks like he's 95 on that logo
Are there some spoilers beginning to pop-up on the internet ?
I was in the audience for the July 30th taping. It was exciting, long wait to get in but it was exciting.
Oh come on Wayne. I tink its totally awkward positioning for Regis. Just add the bear skin rug, and the fireplace in the backgound and it looks like something cheesy from the 80s.
Just an observation I had. No need to be rude.
The show is exactly the same as the daytime one from this season plus Fastest Finger. The music score is identical, no new cues, and the only new graphics are some new Fastest Finger ones to go along with the new graphic package from last season. Regis doesn't seem to be comfortable with the clock, however…he still wants to chat with the contestants during the questions, which doesn't work well when they have 10 seconds left.
Contestant get the "Ask The Expert" lifeline at the $1,000 level. Also, swooching sound effects now accompany the contestant name and hometown when appearing and disappearing from the screen. I was at the August 3rd late afternoon taping that lasted till 8:45 pm.
Yeah, I was at the August 3 late afternoon taping. Author Jodi Picoult was the "expert" from her New Hampshire home via Skype. There were several "dropouts" of sound for about a second each, she was called on twice during the show.
One other thing.Tthe celeb charity questions for $50,000 are NOT timed, and the celeb can ask the audience or the expert for help.
Does anyone wish that should Millionaire return after this, the game play for $5,000,000? Im not sayin that the upcoming version is bad, Just im now adapted to multi-million dollar game shows and i created a page about what it should be.
I will DVR and see this episode of Millionaire.