UK “Millionaire” Goes US Style
Depending on how some of our British readers feel about the changes that have occurred to the American version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, we may have a few not-so-happy viewers. Our friends at Bother’s Bar have found out that the original British version of the hit quiz show will be changing more this new series. In the past few years they have adopted upgraded graphics, a techno-remix music score, and a new twelve step money chain. Now they are going a bit American with their style.
The British edition of Millionaire will be adding the clock for the new series. No word on the exact time specifics, but I’d safely guess they’ll go with the US and Australian time limits. Like it or not the clock has produced some really great dramatic moments (as well as some annoying ones) and has had to have saved money and production time. The way the worldwide economy is, any way to save money without completely sacrificing the game is the way to go. The clock has been successful here, so they’re the next to go for it. I’m a fan of the clock so I’m fine with that.
Interestingly they will also be removing Fastest Finger. The British Millionaire will use the United States syndicated style of sending one contestant out immediately after another. Not completely sure of the point of this change other than, again, to save any tape time and just keep moving along constantly, but there we go. Finally, they are adding a fourth lifeline. If you reach the 2nd milestone of £50,000, you will receive the Switch the Question lifeline. Another pretty good change and something I wish we’d add back into the American version given how hard and rare it is now to see anyone even get to the $15,000 level let alone the $25,000.
So I know some Americans will say what they think, but I’m more curious from the British readers. What do you think about this? Of the possible US additions you could have brought it, these have to be the best at least. You could have axed Phone A Friend and got Ask the Expert, so be grateful.
That sucks i would never expect uk millionaire to jump on the timer band wagon. The timer just makes the game feel rushed and takes away something special Millionaire had i always like when the host and contestant banter during the questions. I totally lost interest in the Us Millionaire when they started using the timer its going to be interesting to see how British people respond to this i have a feeling Millionaire is going to lose ratings. And no fastest finger thats like Tpir getting rid of contestant row
And i hope the uk version doesn't use the Contestant video intros like the Australian version did
Off Topic i been a huge fan of weakest link i wish they would do something uk weakest link is boring Annie looks bored shes not mean anymore and the show lags and drags. They need to make new music and graphics and get someone else to host.
I like our current format, but I agree with you that they should bring back the swithch the question lifeline. It was a good lifeline and I dont see why they should have got rid of it.
That sucks i would never expect uk millionaire to jump on the timer band wagon. The timer just makes the game feel rushed and takes away something special Millionaire had i always like when the host and contestant banter during the questions. I totally lost interest in the Us Millionaire when they started using the timer its going to be interesting to see how British people respond to this i have a feeling Millionaire is going to lose ratings. And no fastest finger thats like Tpir getting rid of contestant row
And i hope the uk version doesn't use the Contestant video intros like the Australian version did
Off Topic i been a huge fan of weakest link i wish they would do something uk weakest link is boring Annie looks bored shes not mean anymore and the show lags and drags. They need to make new music and graphics and get someone else to host.
That sucks i would never expect uk millionaire to jump on the timer band wagon. The timer just makes the game feel rushed and takes away something special Millionaire had i always like when the host and contestant banter during the questions. I totally lost interest in the Us Millionaire when they started using the timer its going to be interesting to see how British people respond to this i have a feeling Millionaire is going to lose ratings. And no fastest finger thats like Tpir getting rid of contestant row
And i hope the uk version doesn't use the Contestant video intros like the Australian version did
Off Topic i been a huge fan of weakest link i wish they would do something uk weakest link is boring Annie looks bored shes not mean anymore and the show lags and drags. They need to make new music and graphics and get someone else to host.
If the clock is one way to save money, so be it.
As for Switch the Question, I'm anxious to see how the Brits utilize that lifeline. Did we REALLY need to sacrafice that lifeline in favor of the clock? SHEEESH!!!!
If the clock is one way to save money, so be it.
As for Switch the Question, I'm anxious to see how the Brits utilize that lifeline. Did we REALLY need to sacrafice that lifeline in favor of the clock? SHEEESH!!!!
It could have been much worse.
I'm still a fan of traditional Millionaire – but this is probably a reasonable set of changes, and certainly not as bad as the music changes from 2007. Hey, can we have your music cues for the clock? At least the Strachans themselves did those!
It could have been much worse.
I'm still a fan of traditional Millionaire – but this is probably a reasonable set of changes, and certainly not as bad as the music changes from 2007. Hey, can we have your music cues for the clock? At least the Strachans themselves did those!
I'm pretty pleased by the changes (at least the ideas anyway, how they execute them is an entirely different story, of course). I felt quite a while ago that Millionaire had gotten stale and needed freshening up – the main thing is that is drags on… and…. on… and… on… and… on… etc. So – I'm looking forward to the timer. As David says, can we have your music please, it rocks!
I'm pretty pleased by the changes (at least the ideas anyway, how they execute them is an entirely different story, of course). I felt quite a while ago that Millionaire had gotten stale and needed freshening up – the main thing is that is drags on… and…. on… and… on… and… on… etc. So – I'm looking forward to the timer. As David says, can we have your music please, it rocks!
I'm pretty pleased by the changes (at least the ideas anyway, how they execute them is an entirely different story, of course). I felt quite a while ago that Millionaire had gotten stale and needed freshening up – the main thing is that is drags on… and…. on… and… on… and… on… etc. So – I'm looking forward to the timer. As David says, can we have your music please, it rocks!
As an American viewer I've gotten used to the clock, and I think that it fits well with the host. Meredith in the old format rarely engaged the contestants in meaningful conversation so just going through the questions is good for her. Chris Tarrant is a lot different from Meredith. He talks to the contestants, helps the ponder the question, and makes jokes to make them comfortable. I feel like the clock will take away from his dead-panesc wit and that's going to be a shame. However, I am not anti-clock, just anti-clock with Chris.
As for getting rid of Fastest Finger First…WHY!? I mean I guess it saves money on production costs, but I really feel that FFF adds a level of competition to show that keeps the show fresh. IDK I just like FFF and I'm sad that it is going.
As for the music, I think that having the dichatomy is pretty good. I am interested to see what music they will come up with.
As an American viewer I've gotten used to the clock, and I think that it fits well with the host. Meredith in the old format rarely engaged the contestants in meaningful conversation so just going through the questions is good for her. Chris Tarrant is a lot different from Meredith. He talks to the contestants, helps the ponder the question, and makes jokes to make them comfortable. I feel like the clock will take away from his dead-panesc wit and that's going to be a shame. However, I am not anti-clock, just anti-clock with Chris.
As for getting rid of Fastest Finger First…WHY!? I mean I guess it saves money on production costs, but I really feel that FFF adds a level of competition to show that keeps the show fresh. IDK I just like FFF and I'm sad that it is going.
As for the music, I think that having the dichatomy is pretty good. I am interested to see what music they will come up with.
I don't mind the clock for the most part. Here in America, I agree with Martin, it suits with Meredith. Plus really, I don't care too much about the first 7 questions of the tree, so anything to move that along is fine by me.
In England though? This was the original millionaire! I think it's going to take some serious investment by the viewers to get comfortable with the clock.
I will say Switch the Question is a nice compromise though. I feel we need it back here in America. We've used a four lifeline game now for I think 5 years (except for when we had super millionaire, which had 5 lifelines!). Now we're back down to 3. I know thats how the original game started. But with the clock, and the lower dollar amounts on questions 9-12, I think it's a nice assist to contestants.
Plus it seems, only half of our contestants use double dip. They'll use it if they're near the last milestone. But we rarely see it on the $15,000 question anymore! So in reality, our contestants are only using 2 lifelines before calling it quits!
I don't mind the clock for the most part. Here in America, I agree with Martin, it suits with Meredith. Plus really, I don't care too much about the first 7 questions of the tree, so anything to move that along is fine by me.
In England though? This was the original millionaire! I think it's going to take some serious investment by the viewers to get comfortable with the clock.
I will say Switch the Question is a nice compromise though. I feel we need it back here in America. We've used a four lifeline game now for I think 5 years (except for when we had super millionaire, which had 5 lifelines!). Now we're back down to 3. I know thats how the original game started. But with the clock, and the lower dollar amounts on questions 9-12, I think it's a nice assist to contestants.
Plus it seems, only half of our contestants use double dip. They'll use it if they're near the last milestone. But we rarely see it on the $15,000 question anymore! So in reality, our contestants are only using 2 lifelines before calling it quits!
not that i have anywhere else to place this, but how does everyone else feel about these friggin video ads with audio interrupting your reading of the website–if it doesn't stop, I'll just get my news elsewhere.
not that i have anywhere else to place this, but how does everyone else feel about these friggin video ads with audio interrupting your reading of the website–if it doesn't stop, I'll just get my news elsewhere.
Chris Tarrant is really slow. Even with Regis it seemed like the game was sped up in comparison. I don't like the 30 second wait before revealing the right answer. I think the clock will help this problem a bit.
Chris Tarrant is really slow. Even with Regis it seemed like the game was sped up in comparison. I don't like the 30 second wait before revealing the right answer. I think the clock will help this problem a bit.
This is just a crap.
It deprives the game of its essential property – ability to follow player's train of thought and all the rest going inside him.
If it happens, it will be saddest thing that might happen to that wonderful game :(
This is just a crap.
It deprives the game of its essential property – ability to follow player's train of thought and all the rest going inside him.
If it happens, it will be saddest thing that might happen to that wonderful game :(
I always thought the game would benefit if they got rid of the clock for the last three questions. Those are the big money questions, and all that extra time mulling over the answers IS dramatic. I can understand wanting to cut down the time spent on the 6th question of the game. But for those big life changing dollar amounts, why not turn the clock off?
Essentially, I'm using the British version to make all the same complaints I made with the American version.
I always thought the game would benefit if they got rid of the clock for the last three questions. Those are the big money questions, and all that extra time mulling over the answers IS dramatic. I can understand wanting to cut down the time spent on the 6th question of the game. But for those big life changing dollar amounts, why not turn the clock off?
Essentially, I'm using the British version to make all the same complaints I made with the American version.
Somehow, I wouldn't be surprised if Chris struggles with the clock at first, just like with Regis in the primetime revival last summer.
Somehow, I wouldn't be surprised if Chris struggles with the clock at first, just like with Regis in the primetime revival last summer.
Some people also think that the clock prevents questionable behaviour like the Ingram scandal in 2001.
Also, this is the way the clock shoud go:
Q1-2: 15 seconds
Q3-7: 30 seconds
Q8-11: 45 seconds
Q12: 45 seconds + banked time
The million dollar question in the U.S. version is usually 45 seconds plus all of your unused time for the previous questions. Let's say, you get a question right and you have 10 seconds left on the clock when you get the question right. If you're right, that 10 seconds get added to the banked time and so on, so don't think you will have too little time for the last question.
Also, this is how I think the money board should go in the UK:
£1 Million
£500,000
£400,000
£200,000
£100,000
£50,000*
£25,000
£10,000
£5,000
£3,000
£1,000*
£500
The money tree is just my opinion
Also, this is the way the clock shoud go:
Q1-2: 15 seconds
Q3-7: 30 seconds
Q8-11: 45 seconds
Q12: 45 seconds + banked time
The million dollar question in the U.S. version is usually 45 seconds plus all of your unused time for the previous questions. Let's say, you get a question right and you have 10 seconds left on the clock when you get the question right. If you're right, that 10 seconds get added to the banked time and so on, so don't think you will have too little time for the last question.
Also, this is how I think the money board should go in the UK:
£1 Million
£500,000
£400,000
£200,000
£100,000
£50,000*
£25,000
£10,000
£5,000
£3,000
£1,000*
£500
The money tree is just my opinion
Sometime ago, I've chatted with a few British Millionaire fans online, and they've been saying that their version has gotten stale and much like our version has gotten cheaper (as far as i know, only has reached as far as question 13 since the 12 question format was implemented and a few handfuls have reached the second milestone).They've been asking for changes including a clock, so hopefully this will freshen things up a bit.
Personally my reaction with the clock is mixed. Sometimes i like it, sometimes i miss not having it. I'm used to it now…what i think is really hurting the US version is the huge difficulty of the questions and there aren't many smart contestants invited to the show. I think low ratings compared to prime time and the economy is the reason for that though.
Oh and yes, they should get the music and graphics like the US version. If you seen the Japanese clock format videos, it looks a little weird.
Sometime ago, I've chatted with a few British Millionaire fans online, and they've been saying that their version has gotten stale and much like our version has gotten cheaper (as far as i know, only has reached as far as question 13 since the 12 question format was implemented and a few handfuls have reached the second milestone).They've been asking for changes including a clock, so hopefully this will freshen things up a bit.
Personally my reaction with the clock is mixed. Sometimes i like it, sometimes i miss not having it. I'm used to it now…what i think is really hurting the US version is the huge difficulty of the questions and there aren't many smart contestants invited to the show. I think low ratings compared to prime time and the economy is the reason for that though.
Oh and yes, they should get the music and graphics like the US version. If you seen the Japanese clock format videos, it looks a little weird.