Ratings Update: “Millionaire” Not So Hot
Ratings for the last week of syndicated and network game shows are in. ABC’s 10th anniversary edition of Who Wants to be a Millionaire ratings have been a roller coaster which hit the bottom a bit last night. It started at 7 million and 3rd place, but still respectable on the first night. On the second night it stuck at 7 million and was at first place. But last night against reruns of NCIS and America’s Got Talent, as well as a new Hell’s Kitchen, the show could only muster a 3.9 rating and 5.9 million viewers. Likewise the most recent ratings for the daytime edition, in reruns, shows Millionaire at 2.4. I don’t know what’s happening with it really. Are the changes to the show not clicking with the primetime audience, or is the show just passed its prime? I want to see it do really well and come back for more, so be sure to tell people it’s back on. I don’t know how much it’ll do but we won’t be seeing the primetime edition back if not. Regis is getting a small bit better at the clock, though, and at least contestants are starting to interrupt Regis who continues to crack jokes during the time running costing people time and money.
For the other daytime games, Deal or No Deal has been stuck at a 1.4 rating. It’s been frozen around that area for the better part of 2009. The show’s moved to Connecticut to save budget but I still have to think that ratings level has to pick up if we want a third season. From what I’ve been told the new season is the same as last one, down to the $500,000 top prize and the set. Family Feud is also at a 1.4 and if Deal with a far higher budget can survive at that level, I think John O’Hurley will be the longest lasting host of this current edition of the Feud. Wheel of Fortune continues to put most primetime shows to shame getting a 5.8 and Jeopardy! at 4.8. Also, did you know Trivial Pursuit is still around? Apparently not many do, because it dropped to a .5. Enjoy it while you can, because it’ll be gone in the next month.
I'm not a big fan of the clock; I think it cuts into Regis too much, and he's a large part of why I'm watching.
It's my fault – I finally had time to tune in last night.
The main problem I see is that Regis makes it feel rushed. I don't get that same feeling from Meredith, so I'm blaming Regis and not the format. He does seem to be getting it together, as you can see the actual clock tension come into play in the 8-10th levels, but his desire to want to banter on the first 5 questions just sets a weird rushed feeling.
And if I had a choice between Regis or the clock – I'd take the clock. The clock has made some great tense moments so far, and Regis has killed enough plenty of those.
The audience is just so much more to blame than Regis—but Regis is making mistakes even not regarding the clock, saying the wrong money amounts—ultimately, this makes me think Meredith is a better textbook game show host than Regis.
Well, this is Regis' first time hosting the show since about 2004, when there wasn't a clock in the gameplay. So, I'm assuming that Regis' isn't used to the clock and he still makes those mistakes and whatnot. Then again, it's been three nights now…
Well. Summer ratings are always lousy anyways, and they fluctuate a lot. Hopefully the numbers will be worth it tonight, on night 4 of the return of WWTBAM in primetime!
It's sad, but this has been terribly mishandled. August is not a good time to launch a show, and the clock just plain doesn't work in primetime, as much as I love it for daytime. To be honest, I'd rather see a primetime Jeopardy.
Why are you guys blaming Regis, the guy is a game show god. The clock has got to go, it is a horrible rule. I think you should make it double millionaire with a money latter like this:
$2,000,000
$1,000,000
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000*
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000*
$1,000
$500
$300
$100
Why did they even add the clock, you know what they say if it ain't broke don't fix it. In Short Regis should stay and the clock should go with no talent Meridith.
I think the problem is the clock. The clock cuts into Regis's style of hosting. His strengths is his banter with the contestant in the hot seat during the question to make them more comfortable. The clock just neuters that strength of his.
To be perfectly honest, I don't watch the Daytime version of the show because I think Meredith is a horrible host, she mainly sounds like she's given up and is playing it by the numbers. I'd much rather have Tom Bergeron, or someone in there that at least cares and shows some passion about the job. I don't get that passion out of Meredith.
So why do you propose a new money tree? Every single game show that "doesn't work" is always followed with posts of "Take A Look At This Money Tree!"
The amount of money they're giving away (changed or not) isn't why everyone is watching at this point. People are watching because it's celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the show; then again, it might be a reason nobody is watching the show. It's all a matter of the taste that "Millionaire" left to the viewers when it left the airwaves the first time.
Rege a game show god? Yeah, as long as Barker has left the room. As for Meredith, not since John Charles Daly has there been a newsperson who can also competently host a game show. Meredith isn't a no talent, but she's no John Daly, either. Clock or no clock, WWTBAM "jumped the shark" years ago, when ABC relied too heavily on celebrities, and airing the program too often.
Big surprise. ABC forced a bunch of changes (many deriving from syndibam), none of which actually improved the show, and most of which made it worse; and now viewers aren't tuning in for that watered-down crap. No one watches a game show to see an idiot like Sheri Shepherd answer a question; or to see a Skype phone call with George Stephanopoulos.
Millionaire had some tough competition last night with some other big shows. (AGT, Hell's Kitchen, Big Brother) Tonight it hopefully/should do better.
I'll chime in…
I enjoy the Millionaire format, have since the beginning, but I'm basically of the mentality the show is past its prime. I've been watching in primetime because, even though Meredith is a great host, and has really improved over the years, I enjoy Regis on the show, his hosting style is more in tune with hosts and shows I've enjoyed over the years, and, frankly, there's nothing else on TV I'd watch.
I think Americans are worn on the format, some people feel slighted by the changes and resultant awkwardness (the clock can stay in daytime, but with Regis, I don't think it works with his hosting style), and there's nothing that dramatically distinguishes this version from the daytime version (or any other version, especially if you don't like the clock). Regis is the only change, and given that Meredith is also a competent host, that becomes six of one, a half dozen to another.
The show needed to distinguish and individualize itself more, IMHO, to attract viewers again. The remedy is NOT necessarily an inflated money tree (that's been worn out too). While I think it has its flaws, Millionaire Hot Seat in AU has done this, and I think it is because it has been both channeling the original Millionaire and distinguishing itself from prior versions, it has hit a chord with viewers, and why it's been denting DoND's ratings.
Possible ideas for distinguishment? *Not to endorse any of these in particular, lol* I've read somewhere online about a version where 3 different money ladders were used, one of them with like a $500k prize, $1kk, and one with $2kk, with some method done before the 15 Q began that determined which would be used. Maybe that would be a way to go? A format like AU's Hot Seat might hit a chord with viewers, or maybe something similar but use only one person instead of 6 or w/e they have down under.
Just IMHO. As always, take it or leave it… :)
I disagree with you completely. Reege is NOT, IMO, a "game show god"; and he's the main reason I'm not watching. I'd rather watch Meredith. At least she puts the emphasis on whom it should be: the contestants.
The money tree, as it is now, is fine.
Meanwhile…hello? It's summer! It may be nighttime, but it's still summer. If this were on, say, during the fall, who knows?
There's only one reason Millionaire isn't working: the clock. Get rid of it, problem solved, next case.
Ditch the clock and we'll have a ratings winner. Clock and Regis just don't mix.
Regis IS a game show god. There's none better. The problem is that he can't be himself with the clock. And I love the clock, I really do, and I was optimistic about its use in primetime. While I'm still enjoying this 10th anniversary celebration more than I've enjoyed anything on television in years, I can see why people are put off by the clock. Regis is about tension, which really can't be built when you only have 45 seconds max to play around with. Meredith, by comparison, never builds tension, and that's why the clock works for her. The only time she ever makes contestants nervous is when she fakes them out, and that's after they've given their final answers.
But, I don't think that the clock is why ratings are low. The ratings are low because it has been facing serious summer competition on the schedule (Big Brother, Hell's Kitchen, America's Got Talent). As the show goes on, word spreads, and competition clears out of the way, Millionaire will do well again. I predict a major ratings improvement tonight.
I'm having a major problem with the online game at abc.com. The point clock ticks long before the answers are revealed on screen. By the time the answers show up on the TV, you're screwed–the points already tick down to 0 points (counting as 'missed'). It might be a problem with the change from analog to DTV. People with HDTVs probably see the show three seconds sooner than those watching DTV on your analog TV. Grrr…I gave up playing last night because of this.
I think I’m in the majority. Sure ratings were down last night, but it was because of Big Brother, Hell’s Kitchen, and America’s Got Talent, all of which are established Summer shows. Plus, I think (as I stated before) the clock is a problem as well. Why would they add the clock on the Primetime version? the Daytime version where it speeds the game up, whereas the primetime version is an hour long show, so it’s unnecessary for it.
To bondfool: August is not a good time to launch a show? If I recall, the original run of Primetime Millionaire premiered in August 10 years ago, and it was a hit. And as for a primetime Jeopardy!, it wouldn’t work simply because most stations air Jeopardy! during the Prime Time Access hour (7/6-8/7).
Hello! This is 2009 here. It's not 1999 anymore. TV has gone the way of movies in a so-called "52 week a year" cycles if you will. That means new shows pop up at least once a month. Yeah, August is not the time for ABC to do this, but what else would they put there? Even Shark Tank gets respectable ratings at best. I didn't like There Goes the Neighborhood last weekend. Therefore, I'll stick with Millionaire while it lasts(still dreads the possibility of an alternate way to watch Thursday's episode, YEESH!)
I have to wonder if people really, really believe if the clock were gone we'd suddenly see 1999 numbers again. If so, get a bit of a grip on the reality of TV here in 2009.
My thoughts: Regis should never have come back to the show. He isn't used to the clock (which COULD have been resolved with more rehearsal time), and the fact that he's making mistakes with the amounts is just plain inexcusable. Again, this could have been resolved with more rehearsals.
As for his bantering….to me, that was a major flaw in BOTH the original Millionaire and MDP. He thinks every show that he's a part of (and I will include "Live" in there, too) is about him…and it's not. Game shows are about the contestants. After all…no contestants…no show.
The clock IS part of the show. He needs to get used to it.
I think the 10th Anniversary idea was a bad one. MDP is gone…and, someone (I don't know who) thought it would be a great idea to give him another thing to do.
Meredith is a much better host, in my opinion.
I think Regis is getting it together now on night 4. I really don’t think the show is past it’s prime..it just comes off rushed with this clock. Def when we stop the clock, ask the aud. Start the clock, stop the clock again, ask the expert, start the clock again. stop the clock, double dip now!! Enough! Just takes away from what people got bult up to right be for that final answer. Regis wants to be Regis & can’t because of the time presure. I think they should have made the prize $2 million & made it all old gameplay with the new graphics. Super millionaire felt more classic then this. & it’s prize was ten million. Tell me whats wrong with that picture when this is called classic? I really didn’t have a problem with the clock till this. The ratings fell when the clock came last season, now where still not doing too hot when the syndi show was always at or near the top of the ratings without the clock. I wish it would go but will live on watching it with the clock just because I like the show. Hopefully the ratings will pick up.
The clock and the "celebrity" moment. Especially when you have no idea who the hell the celebrity is?
Regis seems to be getting used to the clock, but I agree that it was a bad idea to include it, he's not used to it and that has caused some abrupt moments. I feel they should have left the originals amount values for prime time, $32, $64 and $125K instead of $25, $50 and $100K, but this may be a cost -cutting move. Overall, it's good to see Regis back in the "hot seat" and the last couple of celebs weren't as painful to watch. Memo to producers: NEVER have Katy Perry back again.
THE GOOD NEWS:
Philbin helps save ABC from record low ratings
By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer
Tue Aug 11, 12:35 PM PDT
Regis Philbin has saved ABC again — this time from embarrassment.
The first night of a two-week run of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" prime-time specials on Sunday was seen by 7 million people, Nielsen Media Research said. That's very different from summer 1999, when the show had audiences as big as 22 million the first time out.
Yet it was twice what ABC averaged in prime time last week. ABC's average of 3.48 million viewers was the second-lowest in the network's history, Nielsen said. Without Philbin, ABC would no doubt have a lower average than the 3.46 million it had the same week in August 2008, its low-water mark. Philbin was credited by some for "saving" ABC with the original "Millionaire" when the network was in a ratings trough.
"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" gave ABC its biggest summer audience on a Sunday for a nonsporting event in two years.
FROM YAHOO.COM NEWS
Compared to Super Millionaire, with new innovations and near-flawless execution, this was not "event" programming. It feels too much like daytime, and the clock does not befit Regis. This would have been a great opportuntiy to get Tom Bergeron back in the game show arena, who could have handled the clock (or not) and the contestants, and would have helped the demographics a bit. Plus, $2 million would have made sense here, at minimum. Oh, and bag the celebrity guests — big waste of time. Has ABC primetime learned nothing after 10 years?
I'm aware that it's 2009, I'm just saying that it's a good time to launch a show mainly because other shows are in reruns, so, at best, you can take a chunk of that show's ratings there. As for TGTN, I didn't like it either. Isn't it the same concept ABC tried to do a couple of years ago? I'm just thinking I heard of it before.
WWTBAM originally launched in August 10 years ago, and it started a renaissance in game shows in prime time for a few years.
What I think they should do is:
1. Reveal each answer one at a time
2. Regis reads them out as they appear
3. As soon as Regis reads the last answer, THEN start the clock.
That's exactly what they did at "Millionaire–Play It!" when that was still around. I still don't understand why they don't just follow the execution of the clock there…(though I will give them credit for the time bank, as MPI didn't have that…)
Its the damn way they put up the show. We have hopes and dreams about the NEW Millionaire, but its trashed for the F***ED Daytime version. I want to see a primetime Millionaire again, but we have to watch it to see how it'll be. If there's a blog by saying "Thank God Millionaire's Out of Primetime", then we are the stupidest ass rednecks in this living marble.
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