Rumor Control: “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” Gets a New Money Chain After All
Who Wants to be a Millionaire will apparently be receiving a new money chain after the first week of shows. Nothing’s confirmed and they have not used this chain in actual play yet. We’re being told that the new chain is as follows:
$1,000,000
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$50,000
$25,000*
$15,000
$12,500
$10,000
$7,500
$5,000*
$3,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
The new chain is fine by me, but tt’s time for my favorite: Random Ass Theory Time. To all future producers, your job is to make the show as entertaining and exciting as you can while keeping a budget and really trying to save whatever money you can. The figures are larger, yes. This should cause a small amount of more walk-aways this season. But the big picture is $5,000 is now the theoretical benchmark since few don’t make it past that first tier. $5,000 is a very nice amount of money. People will be more willing to gamble money if they know they have $5,000 to fall back on. This will cause a few more higher wins, yes, but most likely it will cause more people losing money and going back down to $5,000, thus saving money. I’d like to hope people have enough sense to not go for $15,000 if they don’t know it, since they are risking $7,500 for $2,500 more which is an absolutely idiotic gamble, but I’d guess a large amount of people will.
I would just like to say I don’t think it’s that bad of a chain. The only figure which baffles me is the $12,500 but beyond that, eh, whatever. It’s the same old show. It’s just my theory that they are looking for people to walk away earlier and/or make people gamble more with the $5,000 fall back. The rest of the chain beyond the $12,500 I’m fine with. There’s just something strange about that figure.
I know it’s a nice and heartwarming feeling to think that they are trying to help people out and give them more money, but I can just about guarantee that’s not the case. The show hasn’t used this money chain yet. Want to throw out your suggestions for a money chain for shiggles? Knock yourself out. For instance, I think that 2nd tier would be much smarter to just go $6,000; $8,000; $10,000; $15,000; and finally $25,000. It accomplishes the same goals they are trying to get but doesn’t look at bizarre. But again, I have no real issue with the new chain. It’s more money. I won’t complain about that. This is not the end of the world and the end of the show like many make it out to be.
Damn. I expect the contestants to beat Millionaire at it's own game and bust the budget. Then top value will be $10,000 next season. Either that or they will(mid-season or next season)Get rid of the $25K milestone and have $5K be the only milestone question. Didn't Davies say that this was an idea bandied about before they reduced the money amounts and activated "Switch the Question"?
Those dollar amounts look really funky too. $12,500? Really? How is Meredith Vieira gonna say that without giggling or stumbling over it? Or even worse, Regis, who can't read a teleprompter and answers to save his life.
I'm glad that they have a new money tree.
I was waiting for one, and thought it was going to happen, because, lets face it, $1,000 after 5 if friggin cheap.
More people will risk $10,000, walking away with $5,000, to win $25,000, than risking $15,000 to win $1,000.
But I still think a 10 Question or 12 Question format would work best. Looking at the latter it would be
$1,000,000
$250,000
$100,000
$75,000
$50,000
$25,000*
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000*
$2,500
$1,000
$500
$250
But, I'm happy with the new one
Everyone's assuming that in spite of the new money chain, the question difficulties will remain the same, with the first five still being caveman-easy. My guess is that the first five questions (with the exception of maybe the first) will now at least be SOMEWHAT more difficult.
This would mean three things:
1.) The show is more consistently entertaining because there's no tedious, super-easy portion to wait through
2.) The show can jack up the amount of money it's offering to contestants
3.) More people will walk with nothing (and it won't be embarassing), thus perhaps offsetting the cost.
This is the only way the new chain makes sense. After all, without my theory, the producers would be giving away more money, when just a few seasons ago they adopted the current chain in order to save cash.
$1,000,000***
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$50,000
$25,000 ***
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$1,000***
$500
$300
$200
$100
You said you wanted a suggestion :D
How about this:
$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
$200
$100
…naw, it'll never work. ;-)
PASS THIS BAD BOY ON TO DAVIES:
$1,000,000 ***
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$50,000
$25,000 ***
$10,000
$7,500
$5,000
$2,500
$1,000 ***
$500
$300
$200
$100
In all seriousness, GET RID of the nasty looking 6's in the prize figures! A guarentee of $100 or such instead of 0 is nice. FAST TRACKING the prize ladder is always sexy. During Millionaire's 1000th show the prize ladder was also HOT!
I screwed up my ladder. It should be:
$1,000,000 ***
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$50,000
$25,000 ***
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$2,500
$1,000 ***
$500
$300
$200
$100
I've got a great idea for that tree
$1,000,000***
$500,000
$300,000
$200,000
$100,000
$50,000***
$25,000
$10,000
$6,000
$5,000***
$3,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
Actually, that would be better for PTBAM
maybe
$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
$200
$100
:)
If it aint broke, don't fix it, but you screwed up in 2004
here's my money chain:
$50
$100
$250
$500
$1,000***
$2,500
$5,000
$10,000
$25,000
$50,000***
$100,000
$250,000
$500,000***
$750,000
$1,000,000
Notice how I make a 3rd safety level of $500,000 (which might eliminate someone pulling a Ken Basin and losing over $400,000 on a stupid move). It would also encourage people to go for the million dollar question.
Here's my own 12-question format:
$1,000,000
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$50,000
$25,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
I like the 12 question format because it would allow them to cut to the chase. The first few questions are usually automatic, so why not eliminate them and speed up gameplay?
I just want to add, regarding the $12,500 figure, that it's no more awkward to me than the $1200 and $1600 clues were when they doubled the money on Jeopardy!
Or this:
$1,000,000
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$64,000
$32,000*
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000*
$2,000
$1,000
$500
It's probably an old debate at this point, but Millinoiaire if not jumped, at least introduced itself to The Shark, when it dropped it's $32K question to $25K. I will always say that if you can get through 10 questions on this show (even the softballs from the latest prime time version), you deserve at least $32K.
It's probably an old debate at this point, but Millinoiaire if not jumped, at least introduced itself to The Shark, when it dropped it's $32K question to $25K. I will always say that if you can get through 10 questions on this show (even the softballs from the latest prime time version), you deserve at least $32K.
I agree it's not that awkward in that money sense. Just the jump is weird. A $7500 risk for $2,500 more is a bit odd to me.
My idea for a money tree:
$1,000,000
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$50,000
$25,000**
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$7,500
$5,000**
$2,500
$1,000
$500
$250
And regarding the $12,500 amount, I don't think it's any weirder than $175,000 on [i]Millionaire for idio[/i]- Sorry, [i]5th grader[/i]
15-step idea:
15: $1 MILLION
14: $500,000
13: $250,000
12: $100,000
11: $75,000
10: $50,000**
9: $25,000
8: $15,000
7: $10,000
6: $7,500
5: $5,000*
4: $2,500
3: $1,500
2: $1,000
1: $500
12-step idea:
12: $1 MILLION
11: $500,000
10: $250,000
9: $100,000
8: $50,000
7: $25,000**
6: $15,000
5: $10,000
4: $5,000
3: $2,500*
2: $1,000
1: $500
I don't like the new tree. The one we have now's OK. That $12,500 stands out like a sore thumb. Thwy tinkered too much with that tree. Can't they leave a good thing alone? Apparently not. OY!
I figured taking the first 5 amounts from Super Millionaire to begin with…..So if you increase the value of the first safehaven, why not increase the value of the second safehaven?
$1,000,000
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$75,000
[b]$50,000[/b]
$25,000
$15,000
$10,000
$7,500
[b]$5,000[/b]
$4,000
$3,000
$2,000
$1,000
At the $75,000 mark, taking a guess for $100,000 is not to shabby. It's a $25,000 swing either way.
I figured taking the first 5 amounts from Super Millionaire to begin with…..So if you increase the value of the first safehaven, why not increase the value of the second safehaven?
$1,000,000
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$75,000
[b]$50,000[/b]
$25,000
$15,000
$10,000
$7,500
[b]$5,000[/b]
$4,000
$3,000
$2,000
$1,000
At the $75,000 mark, taking a guess for $100,000 is not to shabby. It's a $25,000 swing either way.
I figured taking the first 5 amounts from Super Millionaire to begin with…..So if you increase the value of the first safehaven, why not increase the value of the second safehaven?
$1,000,000
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$75,000
($50,000)
$25,000
$15,000
$10,000
$7,500
($5,000)
$4,000
$3,000
$2,000
$1,000
At the $75,000 mark, taking a guess for $100,000 is not to shabby. It's a $25,000 swing either way.
I figured taking the first 5 amounts from Super Millionaire to begin with…..So if you increase the value of the first safehaven, why not increase the value of the second safehaven?
$1,000,000
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$75,000
($50,000)
$25,000
$15,000
$10,000
$7,500
($5,000)
$4,000
$3,000
$2,000
$1,000
At the $75,000 mark, taking a guess for $100,000 is not to shabby. It's a $25,000 swing either way.
$1,000,000
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$50,000 (justification: a "free" guess should gain less then double the safety net)
$30,000* (larger safety net, also 10x the first plateau)
$20,000 (forces careful decisionmaking again)
$15,000 (forces careful decisionmaking)
$10,000 (easy risk here)
$5,000 (justification: a free guess should gain less then double the safety net)
$3,000* (larger safety net then currently)
$2,000
$1,500
$1,000
$500
The new tree is awful. Like Alex said, it makes for some pretty idiotic gambling–you risk more and more money in the second tier to gain the same amount each step? I don't think so. If they were going to do this, then why didn't they increase the second milestone as well? It's hard enough to get there as it is.
Here's my idea for a money tree, possibly if it were for a network version:
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$1,000
$2,000
$5,000
$10,000
$25,000
$50,000
$100,000
$250,000
$500,000
$1,000,000
The first questions may be cheap, but then again they're the really easy ones with gag answers. Also, once a players reaches $500 they're guaranteed that amount plus they pick up the "Ask the expert" lifeline, and $25,000 gets that amount plus a "Wild lifeline" which can be used for any lifeline.
How about…
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
$1000
$10000
$100000
$1000000
$10000000
$100000000
After all ABC's paying out
Much as I appreciate them beefing up the values of the first five questions, I have to agree that the values of those middle questions are strange.
I agree with BobHagh; the ladder should be:
$1,000,000
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$75,000
$50,000*
$25,000
$15,000
$10,000
$7,500
$5,000*
$3,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
^^^^^If that doesn't work, then they shouldn't change it at all.
The $5,000 minimum relates to two things — (1) inflation, since $1,000 of ten years ago doesn't buy as much, but more importantly (2) the other problem is related to how US game show regulations work.
Contestants are required to pay their own way for game shows. By going to $5,000 after five, Sony (which owns the franchise) ensures contestants will earn enough to pay all travel expenses (since contestants are responsible for their own travel). Only when a player's appearance will cycle through multiple taping sessions split apart will Sony pay for return travel expenses. At $1,000 it wasn't enough now to pay for airfare to New York, since Sony cannot pay a contestant's travel expense unless it takes multiple sessions.
I liked Bob's idea:
$1,000,000
$500,000
$250,000
$100,000
$75,000
($50,000)
$25,000
$15,000
$10,000
$7,500
($5,000)
$4,000
$3,000
$2,000
$1,000
But I think at the 2nd milestone there should be a new lifeline afforded to the player involving the clock. My two thoughts, either a lifeline to restart the clock, or to take a timeout. If the player takes a timeout, it should stop the clock permanantly on the question, but after that, you may not walk away. And if you stop the clock, it may also lead to more use of the double dip if it's still there in the third tier.
And if the game is to be tweaked, the clock could use a touchup. I'd say 60 seconds for the final tier of questions, that way it starts at 15, and doubles each time.
Sorry if this is off-topic, but the GSN schedules have been replaced by a random screen. What's going on?