We have a champion of the Who Wants to be a Millionaire Tournament of Ten, and his name is Sam Murray. Sam, a bartender from Philadelphia, was seeded eight of ten and was the only person in the entire series to risk the money previously earned and claim the $1,000,000 check. The only thing standing in his way today was the amazing Jehan Shamsid-Deen. Her question was the following:
A rare example of a word that rhymes with “orange,” the Blorenge is a what?
A: River in Ireland, B: Forest in Scotland, C: Mountain in Wales, D: Desert in Australia
Jehan’s previous winnings totaled $250,000, and a guess at the question risked a $225,000 loss if wrong. She wasn’t positive and walked away. Unfortunately she would have guessed C, which is correct, but $225,000 is a massive risk for not being absolutely positive so who can really blame Jehan for walking? Some sites I’ve been pointed to are calling Jehan a “coward” for walking away, but they really didn’t have nearly a quarter million dollars to risk on what wasn’t a sure guess. Frankly the right thing to do, if you aren’t sure, is to walk at that level and no one winning $250,000 with how hard that show is today is remotely a coward. I know I’ve said it before but Jehan has easily been the most impressive contestant the show has had since Lyn Payne, the last $500,000 winner on the show, and the material has frankly become a bit harder even since then without the use of Switch the Question, so massive congratulations to her.
But the man of the hour is Sam Murray. Sam walked in with $50,000 and walked out with the first million dollar check from Millionaire since 2004. Sam did deserve it, though. A vast majority of the ten had their million dollar question figured out, but just couldn’t get sure enough to risk it. Sam was the only one who had the guts to go for it and did fantastic. I think it was a given by the end of last week that he would win but today was sure exciting. What will Sam do with the money? Sam said, “You don’t know what it means to me. I’ve done a million things in my life. I’ve been all over and I’ve just wanted to be able to go back to school. I really like helping sick people and I really want to go back and get my nursing degree. I feel like it’s my calling.”
So there we go. Finally a millionaire, just not the way I would have liked to have seen it. I would still adore to see just one person answer all 15 questions, but who knows. I really think we’ll see another massive winner in the next few weeks. Millionaire didn’t remove Phone A Friend to save the integrity of the game, which is what’s being claimed. They’re getting rid of it because someone won huge with it and they went into budget crisis mode, so they got rid of easily the most helpful thing on the show. But I may be way off and that group may be the most honest and ethical group of producers I’ve ever seen in my life.
Congratulations to Sam Murray, though, for actually having the guts to go with his instinct and being the only person to answer the $1,000,000 question and claiming the top prize.
Photo and video courtesy of Valleycrest Productions Ltd.
- Sam Murray or Jehan Shamsid-Deen. Who wins the “Millionaire” Tournament of Ten?
- “Millionaire”’s Tournament of Ten Day Three: Sam Murray
- “Millionaire” Tournament of Ten Day Eight: Jeff Birt
- Sam Murray Qualifies for “Millionaire” Top Prize; Tournament of Ten Day Four Features Robin Schwartz
- “Millionaire” Tournament of Ten Day Seven: Matt Schultz
43 Responses
I don't know if they can do this every year from a budgetary stand point, but it was actually really well done. This is the most exciting thing about the show in a long while. While I think they tried loads of different things this season and last, this is the only change I have really enjoyed. I also thing that the safe zone of $25,000 was a bit too low for the highest earners to go for the prize. If they had raised the safe amount to something like $50,000 for the people who earned $100,000 or more, I think more people might have gone for it. I mean, 6 of them knew the answer but didn't go for it.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 8:46 am
I don't know if they can do this every year from a budgetary stand point, but it was actually really well done. This is the most exciting thing about the show in a long while. While I think they tried loads of different things this season and last, this is the only change I have really enjoyed. I also thing that the safe zone of $25,000 was a bit too low for the highest earners to go for the prize. If they had raised the safe amount to something like $50,000 for the people who earned $100,000 or more, I think more people might have gone for it. I mean, 6 of them knew the answer but didn't go for it.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 8:46 am
Finally, a Million dollar winner since Bob O. It would've been better if it happened regularly, but beggers can be choosers. Hopefully someone will do so even with the removal of Phone a Friend. Speaking of which getting rid of Phone a friend was a mistake. The clock is already turning off viewers. They better do something to fix it or this show will face cancellation (And i thought changes in the U.K. version were bad.) Don't do Hot seat though.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 9:33 am
Finally, a Million dollar winner since Bob O. It would've been better if it happened regularly, but beggers can be choosers. Hopefully someone will do so even with the removal of Phone a Friend. Speaking of which getting rid of Phone a friend was a mistake. The clock is already turning off viewers. They better do something to fix it or this show will face cancellation (And i thought changes in the U.K. version were bad.) Don't do Hot seat though.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 9:33 am
Sorry to burst your bubble there, but I NEED Hot Seat since Millionaire's basically a shell of its former self now. I didn't like it with the Clock, now I don't like the idea of no Phone-a-Froend. Sheesh!
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 9:44 am
Sorry to burst your bubble there, but I NEED Hot Seat since Millionaire's basically a shell of its former self now. I didn't like it with the Clock, now I don't like the idea of no Phone-a-Froend. Sheesh!
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 9:44 am
Sorry to burst your bubble, but you ain't getting it with Hot Seat, as it's a totally different game.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 9:48 am
Sorry to burst your bubble, but you ain't getting it with Hot Seat, as it's a totally different game.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 9:48 am
Plus, opinions are subjective. Many of you people, especially "the british are better than us" crowd fail to realize that.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 9:53 am
Ha! They can have their Countdown! I don't want it! Too "brainy" for me,
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 10:14 am
Ha! They can have their Countdown! I don't want it! Too "brainy" for me,
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 10:14 am
Too brainy? Only in the States can a game show fail for being too cerebral.
And I actually prefer that they did away with phone-a-friend. Looking up the answer at home really does constitute cheating.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Sorry to bust your bubble, but the show will never be cancelled because of the clock and the removal of phone a friend.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Congrats to Sam Murray for being the only one to have the "what the hell" attitude to go for it (to use his words).
Having said that, if they do choose to do it again, I kinda want to see a Fastest Finger-style tournament. Fifteen questions (each representing one rung up the regular money ladder), those who get a question wrong are out, last person standing wins. Time breaks any ties. This way, it'll really be more like an elimination-style tournament (seeding will only be used for qualification purposes), and everyone is, theoretically, on the same playing field.
And Tony DuMont…you know what, as far as cerebral game shows are concerned, you may be right. Jeopardy!'s probably still going only because it's established itself as an icon–if it were a new show nowadays it would be decried as too hard (heck, some people still complain it is).
But if it's Millionaire we're talking here, I think as long as there's still the play-along factor, people will watch. People may drop off because of the removal of the PAF, but there are still going to be people who watch for the questions. If that's good enough to keep the show running, then it's good enough.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Congrats to Sam Murray for being the only one to have the "what the hell" attitude to go for it (to use his words).
Having said that, if they do choose to do it again, I kinda want to see a Fastest Finger-style tournament. Fifteen questions (each representing one rung up the regular money ladder), those who get a question wrong are out, last person standing wins. Time breaks any ties. This way, it'll really be more like an elimination-style tournament (seeding will only be used for qualification purposes), and everyone is, theoretically, on the same playing field.
And Tony DuMont…you know what, as far as cerebral game shows are concerned, you may be right. Jeopardy!'s probably still going only because it's established itself as an icon–if it were a new show nowadays it would be decried as too hard (heck, some people still complain it is).
But if it's Millionaire we're talking here, I think as long as there's still the play-along factor, people will watch. People may drop off because of the removal of the PAF, but there are still going to be people who watch for the questions. If that's good enough to keep the show running, then it's good enough.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
One question @ dropzone5: What if (and this is a big what if) someone wins the million dollars on the regular game? Would you invite them to the tournament? Having said, the to10 was great, and I agree, they should do this more often, at least do it like Pyramid use to do, have a to10 3 times a season, particularly during the 3 sweeps months.
@ SaddenedFan: I don’t think the show will face cancellation because they’ve discontinued a lifeline. If that was the case, the show would’ve been cancelled when they dropped the 50:50. Besides, I doubt that ratings will drop because they dropped Phone-A-Friend.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 7:49 pm
no.. thats just their opinion.. which is subjective.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I agree that the loss of Phone-a-friend will not hurt the show's ratings, and after all a million dollars should not be too easy to win.
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 2:04 am
I agree that the loss of Phone-a-friend will not hurt the show's ratings, and after all a million dollars should not be too easy to win.
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 2:04 am
Well Alex, Sam won it similar to the way you would in Britain.
He answered 12 total correctly (11 from his first game, and the MDQ) and won a $1,000,000
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 2:17 am
Much like this tournament wouldn't invite a millionaire, that format I proposed wouldn't either.
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 6:59 am
I think the removal of PAF will alienate a few loyal viewers that might've just had enough at this point. In addition, though, the 50/50 sucked as opposed to PAF which was easily the favorite. The show won't cancel from just that, but I can easily see an eventual cancellation bc of the combination of many changes.
Watching the show on GSN as opposed to now, the show really isn't what it used to be…and in a bad way. In addition, the same thing that happened to "H2" may happen here…the ratings were SO good at one point that even if they are just a little under "Family Feud"'s ratings, for example, they may be cancelled bc of the huge drop from 5 years ago and etc, whereas "Feud" will probably almost never be cancelled bc it's always been right around the same area of ratings. We'll see…
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 3:48 am
I think the removal of PAF will alienate a few loyal viewers that might've just had enough at this point. In addition, though, the 50/50 sucked as opposed to PAF which was easily the favorite. The show won't cancel from just that, but I can easily see an eventual cancellation bc of the combination of many changes.
Watching the show on GSN as opposed to now, the show really isn't what it used to be…and in a bad way. In addition, the same thing that happened to "H2" may happen here…the ratings were SO good at one point that even if they are just a little under "Family Feud"'s ratings, for example, they may be cancelled bc of the huge drop from 5 years ago and etc, whereas "Feud" will probably almost never be cancelled bc it's always been right around the same area of ratings. We'll see…
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 3:48 am
Much like this tournament wouldn't invite a millionaire, that format I proposed wouldn't either.
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 6:59 am
Much like this tournament wouldn't invite a millionaire, that format I proposed wouldn't either.
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 6:59 am
I think a better alternative to getting rid of Phone a Friend would to have the friends backstage. Each one would be separated, of course, so it's wouldn't be like a "Three Wise Men" lifeline. They could still pretend that it was their friend at home answering their phone, and it would be able to go exactly the same way without any use of other resources (computer, dictionary, etc.).
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I think a better alternative to getting rid of Phone a Friend would to have the friends backstage. Each one would be separated, of course, so it's wouldn't be like a "Three Wise Men" lifeline. They could still pretend that it was their friend at home answering their phone, and it would be able to go exactly the same way without any use of other resources (computer, dictionary, etc.).
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Isn't Sam the first million dollar winner who has to wait 20 years to receive payment in full?
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Isn't Sam the first million dollar winner who has to wait 20 years to receive payment in full?
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Every show, every single one, gets cancelled eventually. That makes it possible for anyone to claim "See, I was right," regardless of whether the 'changes' made, or lack thereof, really made a difference either way.
Audience tastes change, it's as inevitable as the rising and setting sun.
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Every show, every single one, gets cancelled eventually. That makes it possible for anyone to claim "See, I was right," regardless of whether the 'changes' made, or lack thereof, really made a difference either way.
Audience tastes change, it's as inevitable as the rising and setting sun.
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
actually it's 20-Months
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
actually it's 20-Months
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Ryan_Z — Good idea, but it may prove difficult since the show requires contestants to pay their own way to play. Can't see the show footing the tab for the contestant's friends, and that puts those outside the NYC area at a disadvantage. As I mentioned previously, WWTBAM needed to have something in place to replace PAF — getting rid of it midseason is not good TV and lousy PR.
A possible alternative to Tournament of 10 is one I mentioned a few weeks back (and one I forgot about when I posted earlier :) ) — Top 10 players appear at the end of each show in the "Ring of Fire." Fastest Finger is played — winner gets the $1M question. If the question isn't answered, player returns to the Ring and another FF is played tomorrow. Keep going until the $1M question is answered.
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Ryan_Z — Good idea, but it may prove difficult since the show requires contestants to pay their own way to play. Can't see the show footing the tab for the contestant's friends, and that puts those outside the NYC area at a disadvantage. As I mentioned previously, WWTBAM needed to have something in place to replace PAF — getting rid of it midseason is not good TV and lousy PR.
A possible alternative to Tournament of 10 is one I mentioned a few weeks back (and one I forgot about when I posted earlier :) ) — Top 10 players appear at the end of each show in the "Ring of Fire." Fastest Finger is played — winner gets the $1M question. If the question isn't answered, player returns to the Ring and another FF is played tomorrow. Keep going until the $1M question is answered.
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Then they're paying for the friends to come out to New York (or forcing the contestant to pay for up to three more plane tickets). That's just NOT going to happen….
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Then they're paying for the friends to come out to New York (or forcing the contestant to pay for up to three more plane tickets). That's just NOT going to happen….
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 at 9:21 pm
This is true. Meh. I vote for fifty-fifty back, then. :P
Yay for the scenario that never happened on Super Millionaire with 50/50 and the Double Dip.
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 at 9:24 pm
It is 20 years. $250,000 the first year and $750K split up each year for 20 years.
Jehan made the right decision. I'm just amazed that she was able to deduce the answer correctly. She's wise and beautiful.
Posted on November 24th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
It is 20 years. $250,000 the first year and $750K split up each year for 20 years.
Jehan made the right decision. I'm just amazed that she was able to deduce the answer correctly. She's wise and beautiful.
Posted on November 24th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Not to mention that Bob-O also answered twelve questions to win his million.
Posted on November 26th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Hey, I would like to know why in recent weeks contestants are not going past the $25,000 mark. I mean all contestants ever win in recent shows are $10,000-$15,000, but no one goes past $25,000! What's with this? Are the questions that hard or something? Come on!
Posted on January 14th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Hey, I would like to know why in recent weeks contestants are not going past the $25,000 mark. I mean all contestants ever win in recent shows are $10,000-$15,000, but no one goes past $25,000! What's with this? Are the questions that hard or something? Come on!
Posted on January 14th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
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