Season Finale of Primetime “Millionaire” Tonight; Featuring Meredith Vieira, a Huge Surprise, and a Million Dollar Moment
ABC really (accidentally) saved the best for last in this season finale of the primetime revival of Who Wants to be a Millionaire hosted by Regis Philbin. Most people seem to agree that the first two or three episodes of the series were really rough, but by Monday last week the show was at the basic comfort level that we know and like. I’ve been really digging the show the past week, so I’m crossing my fingers. The ratings have been relatively stable around the seven million viewer mark which for summer isn’t bad. Hell, it’s not that bad looking at the ratings for a lot of Fall shows. As many have said before, if Big Brother can survive at this ratings level each summer I don’t see a reason why Who Wants to be a Millionaire can’t return next summer for some new shows.
Tonight includes a lot of special and surprising moments. First off, Meredith Vieira, host of the daytime version of Millionaire, will be the special celebrity guest at the end of the show. She’s got a big surprise for Regis, too. She’ll be asking Regis a question for his favorite charity. She previously appeared on the show and won $250,000 a while ago. She’s got a big surprise for players in the studio. It’s great and you’ll have to watch tonight to find out what it is.
The most exciting is that it’s confirmed that tonight will feature the first $1,000,000 question since Lyn Payne in November 2007. ABC has said this million dollar moment is, “like we’ve NEVER seen before,” which has me really wondering. We’ve seen someone go all the way with all lifelines left and basically burning all lifelines really early. Could we have the first person to miss the $1,000,000 question? But maybe we have the first million dollar winner in seven years and the first under the new format. It’s the most anticipated Millionaire episode of the year and it’s definitely something not to miss. The season finale of Millionaire is tonight at 8:00PM ET on ABC.
That was really surprising someone actually missed the million dollar question.
Looks like my prediction was right… no one would win more than $100,000 on the 10th anniversary special, just like the daytime version. I knew it! I highly doubt no one will ever will $1 million on this show ever again, thus rendering it a waste of time. Mark my words (no pun intended). Like I said before, they should change the title to Who Wants To Win $100,000 Or Less, because it is certainly a much more accurate title.
Hopefully next year they pick the contestants via a Fastest Finger test on the web, and NO CELEBRITIES
I guessed at the answer… and I was right. For that guy, he had guts and I thought in my heart he was going to be a millionaire. Unfortunately, since 2004, no millionaire winner.
So, the 9 contestants will be on Meredith's version! That caught me by surprise
Well, Pam's made enough money on Jeopardy anyhow, so she doesn't need him, right? lmao
Seriously, they are a smart young couple who will make millions in life anyhow, they'll be just fine
Was there any way of working out? e.g. the age of the brands?
P.S. What is it with brandname questions on Millionaire?
I'd love to see Super Millionaire on ABC again. Sweeps + Millionaire works great.
Or, something like this:
While syndie Millionaire takes a break, Regis steps in and does a summer season. We see two to three episodes a week. Rules are generally the same as the syndicated version (whatever those are at the time).
On a side note, I'm really, really saddened by this. My biggest fear is we won't see another $1,000,000 question for a long time. And if season 7 is any indication, my fears are realized.
Oh, believe me, this idiot is so dumped. Making a fool of yourself on national TV is grounds to be dumped, I would think.
The majority of the questions stacked were WAY WAY too easy? I mean, the geographic center question for $$$$$$$? C'mon!
No wonder he missed, they gave him false confidence by allowing him to breeze through to the upper tier. Clearly not a genius at the gameplay either, as it seemed to make sense to use Ask the Audience at 500k and leave Ask the Expert for a million.
Meant to write an ! after 'easy', not a question mark.
that's the way the cookie crumbles
his was one of the most delicious moments ever in game show history, and I'm so glad that I watched it "live."
Early on it was apparent that Basin was a really smart guy and an overachiever (visited 6 continents by the age of 24 and a Harvard law grad? Nicely done.) But as he progressed through the questions (and boy, did he get a comparatively easy stack), his arrogance and self-absorption became more and more pronounced.
This is the first time I have ever rooted against a game show contestant with the opportunity to win at the highest level, and I could not have been happier that this cocksure attorney screwed himself out of $475,000. What a moment.
Give me the million dollars, indeed.
His girlfriend hugged him; so your case is gone, Mark.