New “Millionaire” Giveaway and Strategies
We’ll get to the meat of the post soon, but first I wanted to pass along that Who Wants to be a Millionaire? has started a new giveaway, thanks to Capital One, where each month someone at home will win $1,000. All you have to do is go to Millionaire‘s home page, sign up for the contest. And hope for the best. No purchases needed, so be sure to sign up.
OK, now the real reason for the post: new strategies which have been thrown together from many sources. I’m sure there’s a good chance executive producer Michael Davies will laugh when he reads this, but I just don’t see a half million dollar winner this season, or at least not until the very end. I can see a few quarter million, but no half million. And it’s not the fault of the difficulty of the show. Difficulty is the same, if not maybe a tiny bit easier, this season. No, I think the real reason we may not see any mammoth winners is because the show is, admittedly, new this season. When you throw in the clock and two new lifelines, it’ll get people off balance. So, in case we have any future contestants who read this, here are a few Millionaire strategies the group who considered these found to be somewhat helpful.
People have always been bad with lifeline management, and the substitution this season has made it rougher. If you get in the hot seat, this should always be your first rule: Only pick Phone a Friends who have the ability to Google answers quickly. Apparently there’s no regulation on this. We’ve heard loud typing. Everyone knows someone who has a high speed connection. Just ask them. In today’s age, there’s no reason not to have someone with Google ready on the phone. Back in the ABC days, technology was not nearly as good as it is today. Phone a Friend should be sponsored by Google. This is an automatic right answer if you have someone with Google, and who can type quickly. However, Phone a Friend really is not a good lifeline to stop the clock and gain some thinking time. You’re on the clock focusing on your friend.
Maybe I’m too cynical, but I just don’t trust the audience past the 10th question. The first two tiers are fine as far as audience questions because they focus more on pop culture. However, when the upper tier comes along, the audience seems to get it wrong more often than not, and I can tell you why. At least at the last taping I was at, the audience members look over shoulders and ask their neighbors what they chose. So you can get a huge string of wrong answers in a row. Use that lifeline first if you can. Again, not a good lifeline to use as a clock stopper. The process of Ask the Audience is about 30-45 seconds slower than what you see on television than it is in the studio, but hardly enough to make a difference.
I’m mixed about Ask the Expert. When you get someone great like Ogi Ogas or Bill Nye, the lifeline works great. When you don’t, it can be really painful and even less help than Switch the Question. But more than anything, even if you don’t think the Expert knows the answer, use Ask the Expert as a clock stopper. As long as the Expert is talking, they really won’t kick him or her off for a minute or two. Use it if you need some time to gain your composure.
The greatest addition this season has been Double Dip. Note to contestants: the first answer you give when using Double Dip is not timed, or at least if it is we don’t know of it. If you are getting too stressed, especially in higher levels, and need some thinking time, use Double Dip to stop the clock, gain your composure, and get some more thinking time. However, if your first answer is wrong, that clock is starting again so be sure to answer really quickly, because if the clock runs out you lose. The clock running out on Double Dip does not equal a walk away.
The clock is going to definitely divide players into two categories. If you’re serious about winning the million, you have to answer as fast as humanly possible. This means you have to do one thing: INTERRUPT MEREDITH AS SHE READS THE ANSWERS. Yes, you can interrupt her but no one’s done it. I don’t know if it’s instinct not to do it because of the long history of the show or if they aren’t really told ahead of time, but those first five questions can add some serious time to your million dollar question bank. If you need to think, do so, but you need as much time as you can to make that huge $475,000 gamble at the very end. If you aren’t sure of the answer, don’t walk away either. Just sit there, think, and let the clock run out. Maybe the answer will pop up suddenly, who knows. But don’t walk away prematurely. You’ll walk automatically if the clock hits 0. But the key to winning this season is clock management. And the key to having good clock management is learning how the lifelines work and not only using them as devices to get the right answer, but as clock stoppers.
We’d love to hear if you have any advice for future Millionaire contestants and auditioners. I know we have some past big winners reading too, so any tips that you’ve noticed through the season so far would be greatly appreciated. It’s been nearly six years and a thousand episodes since the last million dollar winner. It’s time, and you can do it. You just have to go in the studio with a game plan.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire? logo courtesy of Valleycrest Productions, Ltd.
With the advent of the clocks, perhaps there should be a “Clock Stopping” Lifeline of some sort. Not just in the Double Dip, but as a stand alone feature. Say you’re on a really high level question and you only have X amount of seconds, just call for a Clock stopper (Or maybe “Stopwatch”?) and for one question Take all the time you need to answer it.
I would enjoy clock stopping lifeline that would either stop the lifeline if nothing of value would be added to the lifeline each day.
Thanks for the advice. Needless to say, that I wish to be on Millionaire one day. Ever since season one, when a marine from DC won $250,000 in late October 2002, I wondered what it would be like for me to be on the show. Now, though, I realize that Cat Deeley replacing Meridith Vieira seems inevitable, although still a rumor.
I’d like to add a tidbit to the time-saving advice. I strongly agree with interrupting Meredith, but in addition to that, there is no need to read the entire answer. Saying “D: The Declaration of Independence. Final Answer.” is unnecessary time consumption. “D, final.” does just fine.
I went to a taping on September 26. During the taping, a player used their Double Dip. Once Meredith asked for the first answer, the contestant sat there. Then, about 7 seconds later, Meredith asked for the answer again.
So it seems that Double Dip does not allow you to have unlimited amount of time on the first guess. Technically, you are still timed from what I saw. The show will air sometime during the beginning of the January 26th week.
As for the double dip and time, if the show were worried about that eating up time, they could simply toss on an extra 20 seconds onto the already-ticking clock when the double-dip is called.. easy as that..
And Alex is absolutely right, I do not know for the life of me why MOST of these people, and I mean, it’s almost every single episode, that their Phone a Friend is actually trying to THINk of the answer themselves, when almost every one of these could be Googled and guaranteed a correct answer.
The only case where it would be almost impossible for a friend at home to Google is when the question is phrased: “Which one of these is NOT a bla bla” basically requiring the researcher to look up all four answers in a way where they could eliminate the odd one out in the 20 seconds they have to do it in… Otherwise, phone a friends using Google = no brainer, seriously :p
One other thing–you need to have friends who can do the Google search CALMLY.
I got the call from Regis, and my hands started shaking so badly that I simply couldn’t type straight.
One thing I can’t stand this year — when a contestant is thinking, Meredith interrupts with “twenty seconds left” or something to that effect. If a person is trying hard to process a question, this is probably terribly distracting.
And I second the movement for a “PAUSE” lifeline. Each contestant should have one opportunity to think as long as he or she wants.
Interesting comments by all. Based on my experiences as a contestant, as well as what I’ve seen watching the show, here are my recommendations for contestants and the show (this will be lengthy, so I’ll cut this into individual posts)…
PHONE A FRIEND – What we tend to forget as former contestants and game show fans is that the typical WWTBAM contestant does not think like us. That is, they do not automatically consider fancy strategies when picking “the three” to consider, the one who will be chosen as PAF, and the expectations of the PAF. A lot of times, you’ll see a PAF chosen because “s/he seems to know a lot of stuff,” is good at Trivial Pursuit, or is a “trusted” family member or friend of the family. Honorable, but it’s squat with money up for grabs.
When I chose PAF, I chose those who I knew had access to high-speed computers (high speed circa 2001), were quite knowledgeable on certain subjects and, in the case of one PAF, would be in a room with several other “helpers” who could aid her if she repeated the question I raised (said PAF was at a radio station, and 10 co-workers were around her at the time).
Make sure at least one PAF will be surrounded by friends, co-workers and others with computers and reference material. If you are a PAF, have a landline phone near a desktop or laptop, and have the computer already connected to Google and at least one other site.
I’d also make sure there is a distinct age range with your PAFS. One contestant this season used a PAF on “The Hills.” She had only two PAFS – both of whom appeared to be over the age of 50, one of them being a man of the cloth! Who over the age of 50 watches that show?!?
Don’t use your PAF as the first lifeline, and don’t use it during the first five questions, unless you are in a corner (i.e. – no lifelines). A few years back, there was a contestant who used his PAF on a $500 question on Oscar the Grouch. The two other lifelines were on the table, his PAF didn’t know the answer, and said contestant had to use ATA to bail him out.
and I know are the strategies they mentioned on the GSN documentary, and this was pre-clock, in that use the audience lifeline only for pop culture or current events question, you could argue Opera or broadway as it is New York.
and are you only allowed 3 phone a friends now? cause that kills my strategy of having a big list of friends and assigning each of them 1 or 2 categories so they’ll be better prepared and at worst they can google.
ASK THE AUDIENCE: When I did Regis WWTBAM, I took a close, hard look at the audience as I was sitting in the Ring of Fire. I’d look at how they were dressed, what the median age of the audience was, gender percentage, and whether they were local or tourist-heavy. Current contestants should do the same, so they can get an idea on what questions they can throw at them.
As Marc noted, ATA should be used on pop culture and current events questions. I’d also throw in general knowledge (foodie stuff, Hints from Heloise-like questions, etc.) as a good category to throw at them. Depending on what your audience looks like, you may want to take a risk at a question outside the “category safe zone” (I used an ATA on a $2000 art question, and it paid off). Keep your eye as well on questions that are NYC or “Northeast Corridor” (Boston to Washington) friendly — the audience generally do well on those questions.
Categories to avoid — world geography, science, literature that is not best sellers or the classics.
It’s generally accepted that third-tier questions are risky with ATA, so only use it on the third level as a last resort. Besides, the audience will get a kick out of trying to answer such a question — my sister (who was my guest for the taping) correctly answered a $500,000 question via ATA, and she still talks about it at parties :)
I have always wondered if you were to say to the audience “*please* only answer if you *KNOW* the answer”, if that would be received as prickish and condescending? Because, really, if you’re going for say $250,000 or above, you don’t want audience members to just randomly *guess* if they don’t know the answer, as the goal is for them to actually help you out.
I just don’t know of a way you could phrase that to where it wouldn’t come off as rude and perhaps spark a slew of bad guesses anyway. =p
I remember a show where someone asked this of the audience.
I think they considered it rude and the results were TERRIBLE!
TIME LIMIT — Obviously, I never played with a time limit on the show. On the way to the hotel from the airport, the driver made me laugh with a story about Kati Knudsen, the woman who spent 52 minutes on one question.
I agree with the peanut gallery that if you know the answer, just say it. Don’t let Meredith finish the choices — interrupt her, and apologize after the correct answer is revealed. I wonder if the contestant coordinators are “advising” contestants not to answer until Meredith finishes reading the choices?
As mentioned earlier, don’t bother with saying something witty or whatnot before answering — just answer. You can mention that “Mean Girls” is your favorite film or thank your science teacher for teaching you about the periodic table after the correct answer is revealed.
Simply put, just place yourself in a “zone” when answering questions. Before taping, have mock games with friends and family to perfect your answering style. Just focus on saying the letter, the correct answer and “Final Answer,” as well as just saying the lifeline you want (i.e. — say “Phone a Friend,” not “I’d like to use my Phone a Friend.”).
ASK THE EXPERT — ATE is an intriguing, yet flawed lifeline.
As Alex noted, a lot of the lifeline’s success or failure rests on the expert. If you get a former big-money Millionaire contestant from the past, such as Mr. Ogas or Ms. Christy, chances are you may do well. If the expert comes from a narrow field (such as the EW correspondent from a few weeks ago), you’ll be stuck in a rut.
One strategy I would recommend is starting a conversation with the expert and try and work together to come up with an answer, particularly when the expert isn’t sure. This was used recently with a recent $100,000 winner, who worked out a question on ferries with Mr. Ogas that led to a $100,000 win. The fear I have is that some ATEs won’t even try to engage the contestant if they don’t know and are not willing to give an educated guess.
I’m curious how WWTBAM came to chose the ATEs for this season. I have to presume that some former contestants, as well as celebrities and others, may have been pursued, but were turned down not just over $$$, but over concerns they may embarrass themselves on-air.
just a quickie one i just thought of, with double dip, since it seems as if you have unlimited time to give your first answer, think of your second answer during this time as well. so that if your are wrong the first time, you can fire the 2nd one out quickly. and it’s best to use this if you have it narrowed down to 2 in your mind.
and forgot to mention one before, If you’re considering using the ATA, don’t say possible answers aloud you could influence the audience and skew the results.
Hi, Alex. I hope it’s not too late to comment, since WWTBAM strategy is one of my favorite topics. If Michael Davies is really going to read this, do you think he will he change the rules again to make the above recommendations obsolete?
I disagree with your statement that having a good Googler as your PAF means an “automatic right answer.” Only someone who has never served as a Phone A Friend could believe that. I’ve been on both ends of a PAF call, and I agree that Google is very important, but some questions are more Google friendly than others. It varies a lot, but I’d estimate that a proficient Googling PAF should get at least 2/3 of the answers in the allotted time.
I agree that the chances of getting another big winner this season don’t look especially promising, partly due to a factor that has not been mentioned here. In the new season, we have seen a big drop in the average number of questions and contestants per show. After the first 26 episodes, the number of questions per episode has dropped from about 18 last season to about 14 this season. This is perplexing, since the clock might be expected to pick up the pace of the show, but we are seeing the opposite effect.
I don’t hate the new clock, although if it’s not making the game faster, it’s not clear what purpose it serves. For one thing, it means that certain types of questions can not be asked anymore, like gettable math questions that just take a few minutes to calculate in your head, or questions that require reviewing a long mental list, like the most common first name of U.S. Presidents, or the number of states that have three-syllable names. I’d prefer to see a clock like the one on Grand Slam, where you start with a fixed amount of time and use the seconds as you see fit.
I agree with most of the points that others have made, and I’ll add this strategic insight that applies to only about 15% of the contestants. If you are fortunate enough to be the last player in the hot seat on your taping day, you get two additional lifelines: “Switch The Expert” and “Overnight Cram.” Since they tape five shows per day, the day’s last contestant is normally the carryover from Friday to Monday’s episode. If you have a bad feeling about the person who is serving as the Expert when you first reach the hot seat, you can consciously avoid calling him or her, in hopes that you will get a better Expert when you return on the next taping day. That’s the “Switch The Expert” lifeline. If you’re in that situation, you should also try to remember (and have your audience friends remember) the remaining subjects in your question tree. That’s the “Overnight Cram” lifeline. Admittedly, some subjects are too vague to study, but others are pretty specific. If you know your next question is about World Capitals or Canadian Cuisine, you could do yourself a world of good by brushing up on the subject.
I’ll feel bad if they change the rules just because I pointed that out.