“Phone A Friend” Lifeline Removed from “Millionaire”
Edit: I’m sure I made it clear in the post, but I wanted to specify that this is really not the end of the world or the downfall of the show like many are claiming it is. I just think it’s a bit of a cheap way of solving a problem, whatever that problem may be.
Yeah, I defend the show a lot through the changes it’s made when others hated them. I’m not sure I can defend this much. I can’t give you the date yet, but the ever-popular Who Wants to be a Millionaire lifeline Phone A Friend is being removed from the show. Nothing will replace it, and Ask the Expert will be available at the start of the show. So, again, from the beginning your three lifelines are Double Dip, Ask the Expert, and Ask the Audience (the only thing really surviving from the original show ten years ago). And it kinda sucks. I wish I could defend like I’ve defended other changes, but I can’t. There’s really nothing positive from getting rid of it. I can understand why they are doing it from a production standpoint, but from my fan standpoint it’s a bit lame.
I’m just going to take two wild guesses at what this could be about so we can think from a production standpoint before we move into critical mode. The first thing (and the more probable) is that they have to do some extra production work with Phone A Friend which, you guessed it, costs money. They have to get all these people, make the graphics, organize it all, keep them on the phones, and then they have to edit down the dead time on set between when the lifeline is activated and when you actually see it on TV. The second is about Googling. At least half the Phone A Friends Google the answer which guarantees a right answer. So that’s a lot more money than they’d give away normally, thus saving money. So either way it boils down to money. I wish I had the right answer but I’d have to Phone A Friend for that and apparently it’s not allowed anymore.
It’s the only thing I can think of, though. It’s not like it wasn’t that popular, like 50:50. It is basically a cultural catch phrase. If they are going to keep toying with it in an effort to save money, whether that be production costs or prize budget or both, I’d really just like to see the show play around with the Australian Millionaire: Hot Seat format and bring it here. It only has one winner each show and that win averages around $20K usually, with $50K+ some other days. This is not, “That’s it, I’m done watching!” change. This is just more, “OK this is a bit dumb,” change.
I feel dumb for complaining about something as small as a lifeline, but it makes it so much harder to win money now. Ask the Audience stops being helpful at around the $12,500 or $15,000 question. People don’t like to do gambling with Double Dip much so that’s left on the table later. Ask the Expert is completely useless half the time when we get celebrities and Entertainment Weekly editors on the panel. I’d rather see the show start from scratch with the Hot Seat show than continue the endless stream of $15,000 or $25,000 winners with basically no one having a remote shot at a million dollars except for tournaments like the Tournament of 10.
Well…1st Family Feud adds the Bullseye game to the show and it saves a few thousand dollars every few shows. For the syndicated show, Fifth Grader dropped it's potential to $250,000, which in the few shows I've watched is nearly impossible to get to, and the average on that show is now around $15,000 or so. Millionaire already messed around with it's money chain to make it a little more fair to contestants, but also make the first safe point more enticing to contestants, thusly saving money. Now, millionaire is removing Phone-a-friend to possibly save even more money? Wow…Only Wheel and Jeopardy have increased their prizes recently…well, Jeopardy! did not increase their prizes since late 90's, but haven't had to make any changes to make the show harder or anything to save money. Wheel added their $1 Mil wedge and just removed the Free Spin in favor of the Free Play wedge, which is worth $200 more than the space the free spin was on and allows you to call a vowel without spending $250. Wheel gave away more money last year than in any other season.
My question…what is the ratings point you have to attain before you can stop cutting back?
I think the issue is clearly how that feature can be used where a contestant can be near the phone, and search the answer within 30 seconds. That is not how it's supposed to be, and Sony probably knew that trick was in the bag, so they had to do something to prevent the easy cheat. Cheating in a television game show is a federal fraud, and I wonder if Sony attorneys were at the helm here.
Yeah, it was probably a Standards and Practices thing more than a money thing (though that could've factored in the decision, too).
Sigh.
I can defend the "Millionaire" production crew's decisions on almost anything… but not this. This is one of the classic elements of Millionaire. It's a phrase known nationwide… "Can I phone a friend?" I'm not going to stop watching or anything, but it seems like a bad move. I'd rather have Phone-a-Friend over Ask the Expert if I were in the Hot Seat.
Yeah, the Googling thing might be a factor, but it's never been seen as a problem (or even discouraged) before. I think this is just an "easy factor" decision, and I'm really sad to see the Phone a Friend go.
Um
For phone a friend
They have the people backstage
Which is why they ALWAYS answer, it never goes to machine, people cant google etc
Jesus
I was like, 13 when I figured that out.
For the record, at least on the Australian version, the Phone-A-Friend HAS in fact gone to an answering machine, and the lifeline was considered used. And googling is prohibited here too.
Of course, that was before it went live, where they DID have the PAF's backstage/interstate so they couldn't see/hear the question.
This is ironic news for me. This weekend, I am hosting my 8th Anniversary Phone A Friend party, which is a recurring celebration of the friends who contributed to my success in the hot seat. My original exposure to trivia competition came at the University of Colorado's Trivia Bowl, and I made a lot of lifelong friends there. When I needed help on the $16K question, I called Dan Rector in Boulder, and he came through for me. I always look forward to the Colorado vs. Texas football game in Austin, since it provides an opportunity to bring many of my good friends together. Dan and I will be playing at a local pub quiz tomorrow night. No matter how many beers I buy him, I can never repay his generosity and loyalty as a Phone A Friend.
I have tried to give back over the years by serving as a Phone A Friend for others. To me, it's an integral part of the game. No untested celebrity "expert" can ever provide a the kind of reliable help to a contestant that I received from a trusted friend. It saddens me each time WWTBAM abandons a key part of the classic format that made the original show such a phenomenon. It is frustrating to be emotionally invested in the show's success while watching it devolve into a barely recognizable version of itself.
To all of my friends who have ever told me, "If I ever get on the show, I want you to be my Phone A Friend," I am sorry.
To Michael Davies and everyone else at the show, I still love you all and wish you the best. I hope there is method in your madness.
Explain then how people who get called start asking people in the background. How many people are backstage?
Big mistake. The Phone a Friend is iconic to the show, but there seems to be a continuous retooling of the show, so nothing is safe.
I can't imagine the reason being anything but the cost — logistics and staff are all money, so the finance peeps convinced the creative folk to drop it.
I haven't watched much of the syndicated version, but Googling the answer via phone seems to be a difficult, but not impossible, task. First, you are relaying through a phone, so your voice is distorted; trying to dictate a question that uses creative construction and obfuscation; waiting for someone to type in a reasonable search; and getting the answer back in the remaining time. I wouldn't be counting on that person to google the answer unless they flat out didn't know.
That said, why not give the contestant the chance to Google the Answer as a lifeline? Yes, it will not be a zero cost, but likely less than the Phone a Friend.
When I heard this elsewhere, it literally made me go WTF. This is just plain nutty…
PAF is just as associated with Millionaire, IMO, as the Bankrupt is to Wheel, the Daily Double is to J! and… the big Wheel is to TPIR. Getting rid of the PAF is akin to any of those elements being gotten rid of on their respective shows, all elements which either have become so engrained in people's psyches they've gotten their own catchphrases (as has PAF also) and/or been parodied umpteen times by umpteen individuals over the years as recognizable pieces of pop culture.
Watered down… Devolved… You bet Ed. I feel like I've been having those thoughts too often lately when it comes to GS's. I can't agree with this change to any extent. I also have to wonder if all these cuts to avoid post-production edits, to save them money, aren't spelling a bad omen for the show. The money tree has gone up a bit, but I'm still shaking my head.
BTW Alex, I thought I remember you posting before that you didn't think particularly highly of the AU Hot Seat format? Do I remember wrong, or has it grown on you? I remember Buzzer readers had mixed feelings, I liked it from the get go myself, but I do agree that if the current American version keeps devolving like this, especially since its ratings aren't exactly TRIUMPHANT (they're not bad, nevertheless), maybe it would be better to switch over its format to that then, where 6-digit winners can at least start happening with some regularity again…
As much as I despise admitting I'm wrong, I do think I judged a bit too quickly. It's grown on me. I don't think it comes close to Classic Millionaire, but I mean overall it's fine. The show flows nicely, it gets through more questions than ours, and it works. And even if I wasn't a big fan it's hard to argue with their ratings. The show has grown and is virtually tied with Deal or No Deal. If I were the Millionaire staff I'd think about trying a week of this somewhere just to gauge reactions and go from there. If the show is having this much of a budget problem it just needs to change. I'd rather see them try something completely new and keep a good budget than go away.
Don't worry, all of us do, but only the real men are the ones that actually admit to it. ;)
100% in agreement with you here. The original still is the best in my mind, but I do think that if these past few changes are signs of what is to come, that it would be better to change over to a format like AU's, (and with how it goes, they shouldn't need to do much post-production editing, if any at all by doing such) to keep from having seemingly half the people on the show leave with 4k or less. And yes, it is hard to argue with those ratings… :)
Theoretically there will be only 2 lifelines as Double Dip is like half the time not used. (Except if someone secures $5,000 or $25,000.)
I've written an article on the demise of PAF for CNN.com. Check it out at… http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/07/phone-a-f…
Not to mention that the phone a friend was really a big part of the lure of the original series. The notion that a player could be so close to a million dollars, and on top of that "had the opportunity to call anyone, anywhere in America if they needed help on a particular question" At least thats how Regis built it up in its early days.
Millionaire, you gotta fix this. Half the people here thought there werent ENOUGH lifelines with the new clock and money tree, now you're just taking away elements.
John Carpenter's moment came to mind when I read this….
I've actually really become annoyed with Phone a Friend. Yes, the Googling. Nearly every use of the lifeline in the past few years is: Paraphrase question, spell out key word, give answers, then ~15 seconds of silence. Then at the end they might get an answer, or an "I don't know". I don't think it works anymore. Back in 1999 few people were standing by with their computer, and they actually went from their own knowledge. Now that happens on very rare occasion.
Yes, the show needs to replace it. 4 lifelines still feels weird to me, but with the clock I think just 3 is slightly unfair. They do get Ask the Expert at the start now, but their "experts" have SUCKED half the time this season. Did anyone catch the contestant last week that wanted to ask Mo Rocca (a good expert IMO) on the $5000 question, and ran out of time because he didn't have that lifeline? (Much like the "you're not allowed to walk away" moment.) I fear that his confusion may have been the tipping point for this decision. I'm not even sure what a good 4th lifeline would be. Trust the audience? Ask Meredith? Ask an audience member? None of it fits.
It was about time something was done to this lifeline, but they're not doing the right thing.
Hello, I am a fan of the Show Who wants to be a Millionaire, and I have made a Facebook Page devoted to finding ways to save this lifeline! If you want to help me persaude the people who produce millionaire to keep the lifeline come join us at http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Help+Save+Phone…
Somewhere between the addition of the clock and the removal of the PAF, Millionaire has jumped the shark.
Over the past few months, I've found myself watching less and less. It just doesn't seem like Millionaire anymore. The Tournament of 10, the strange new money tree, Ask the Expert and Double Dip replacing two well-known lifelines… I'm sorry, but some of the "cost cutting" ideas are too much. Yes, I know it's not #1 in the Neilsens anymore, and yes, I know that the show is on a budget, but it's sucking out that classic feel.
Somewhere between the addition of the clock and the removal of the PAF, Millionaire has jumped the shark.
Over the past few months, I've found myself watching less and less. It just doesn't seem like Millionaire anymore. The Tournament of 10, the strange new money tree, Ask the Expert and Double Dip replacing two well-known lifelines… I'm sorry, but some of the "cost cutting" ideas are too much. Yes, I know it's not #1 in the Neilsens anymore, and yes, I know that the show is on a budget, but it's sucking out that classic feel.
Millionaire is unfortunately turning into the Simpsons of Gameshows…once great, but thanks to producer incompetence, now declining in quality.
"That said, why not give the contestant the chance to Google the Answer as a lifeline? Yes, it will not be a zero cost, but likely less than the Phone a Friend."
The online ABC.com version of Duel actually had this as a 'lifeline' with MSN Search.
I stuck with Millionaire when it switched the Money Tree… twice
I stuck with Millionaire when it got rid of 50:50
I stuck with Millionaire when it added the Clock
I stuck with Millionaire when Regis would cost contestants $200
But now, I just can't do it anymore
The Cube better be good, or Game Shows will have just fell through the Crapper
Remember the time this past season when someone walked away without using phone a friend because they didn't have a friend available? They always make sure a friend is available on the date of filming, so they will answer the phone. THAT is why they always answer. The friends know to wait beside the phone. With people paying their own way to the Millionaire set in the syndicated version, do you think they can afford a second, third, and fourth plane ticket every single day? Come on.
Remember the time this past season when someone walked away without using phone a friend because they didn't have a friend available? They always make sure a friend is available on the date of filming, so they will answer the phone. THAT is why they always answer. The friends know to wait beside the phone. With people paying their own way to the Millionaire set in the syndicated version, do you think they can afford a second, third, and fourth plane ticket every single day? Come on.
That's exactly what I'm thinking; ever since they added That Damned Clock, Millionaire has become a shadow of its former self. I personally would've taken the UK's 12-question "fast track to the million" any day over the clock.
Now, as for the PAF itself…I'd gladly take it over Ask the Expert any day. Basically, the contestant's screwed if it's anyone that's not a former contestant, Ken Jennings, Mo Rocca, or Bill Nye (it seems). With PAF, at least they could choose their assistance…maybe put a few trivia buffs on their side. Besides, think of all the people who probably would've crashed if it weren't for the PAF…
Along with that, "Slumdog Millionaire" could've ended very differently if there was no PAF…
I bet the change occurs right after the end of the Tournament of 10. That makes the most sense. And to be fair, when the experts are good, it is more useful than phone a friend.
I know it's ridiculous, but I have been thinking… what if GSN picked up the show after it gets canceled? Because I do see the time ticking down on this show. If that happened, one of the ways I have been thinking GSN could afford it is to have all six lifelines and make them less useful just to burn time. Go back to pre-picking 50:50 answers and getting rid of the two answers that are least helpful to the contestant. Ban Googling (it is possible). Make the experts dumb, and of course Switch the Question is useless in itself (although I have been thinking had it been available before the $25,000 level it could have been useful.) LESS lifelines make the show go quicker, and actually winds up in more money being given away.
Maybe they see PAF as useless these days since if the person doesn't Google it, they usually don't come up with the right answer and are getting rid of it exactly BECAUSE it takes so much time—there is no doubt it is the slowest of the lifelines once you get them on the line, have the host talk to them, and begin the 30 seconds—but this wasn't helped when they added the pictures and the host began naming off the entire list!
I don't know. I don't watch Millionaire anymore because I went to college and it was taken off the air in this area, and I can't say I even care about that anymore. The first two syndicated seasons were great to me, and I don't know what happened.
GSN can't afford to give away a million dollars, not even once a year or two. I don't think they can even afford to give away $32,000 every week without cutting back on their other shows. If people aren't even getting to the top tier, there's no point in having the show in the first place.
that's when the cost cutting happened…
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