Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/mediaweek/20080820/ad_bpimw/tvtidbitsnotesofinterest;_ylt=AniTFToybcxCgIeXzqsiLMJxFb8C)

Underrated Disney-ABC game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, which opens season No. 7 in first-run syndication on Sept. 8, will feature some changes next season.

The contestants will now answer questions against a clock, with the timing as follows: 15 seconds for the first five questions, 30 seconds for the next five questions, 45 seconds for the next four, and 45 seconds plus banked time for the final million dollar question.

There will also be a new �Ask the Expert� lifeline in a partnership with Skype, where experts will appear via a live-to-face video call. And the Double Dip lifeline will be revived, giving contestants two guesses on any question.

I hate to burst anyone's bubble here, but I think it's ridiculous that they have the "call a friend" feature on this show. The contestants aren't losing anything by being on the show, so who cares if they get the question wrong or not?! I have seen this show many times and the thing that annoys me most is when they are pondering over an answer as though they are going to be exceuted if they get it wrong!

Andrea

I don't like them being timed. The fact that they have unlimited time rathcets up the suspense to the nth degree

I didn't even know it was still on the air. :lol:

That sucks, IMO. Really. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to edit it down so that the show has less of a serialized format and more of a one-game-per-show set-up.

This sucks. Millionaire is the only daytime gameshow I watch on television, and it seems to me like they're trying to put the nail in the coffin with this show. It's not like ratings have been sinking, because I actually think ratings were up in season 6 from season 5. It's still the top rated syndicated gameshow, so why try to mess with it?

The time limit as absolutely horrendous - some people need more time to answer a question, and now the contestants are going to be pushed to give an answer or not. Makes no sense to me at all.

Does anyone know if there will be a new host for the show?

Does anyone know if there will be a new host for the show?

I'm sure Meredith will be back - she's really a great host for the show. I'd be pissed if she wasn't coming back as host :mad:

I'm sure Meredith will be back - she's really a great host for the show. I'd be pissed if she wasn't coming back as host :mad:

I agree!!! She's the best. I feel very calm when I watch her on the show.

I agree!!! She's the best. I feel very calm when I watch her on the show.

Yeah, she's definitely a great host and very underrated on Millionaire. Personally, I like her better than Regis only because Regis always tries to make the show about himself, but Merideth always makes sure to put the contestants in the spotlight!

I think it's a terrible idea to put the contestants against the clock. Millionaire has been a success primarily because it builds drama and suspense when the contestants take their time on a big money question. Leave the format alone. As for Meredith Viera, she has done what Betty White, Vicki Lawrence, Elaine Joyce and Louise DuArt failed to accomplish--host a game show with a long, healthy run.

I didn't even know it was still on the air. :lol:

I'm surprised Meredith Vieira's version has even lasted this long (6 years?!) to begin with for the following reasons:

1. It took me four (yes, four) years just to warm up to Meredith Vieira hosting this version. (I was a big fan of Regis' version, BTW.)

2. The removal of the "Fastest Finger" competition (At least that gave contestants some sort of incentive to have to get to the hot seat).

3. From what I've seen (I probably only watch this version only once a month at best), contestants really have been taking too much time to answer the questions.

4. It was on this version that the "Wait until after the commercial to reveal the answer" thing was done to a contestant for the first time. As soon as Meredith did that, I immediately changed the channel. (This was never done on Regis' version, BTW.) In addition, this also takes away a contestant interview in the process.

I'm surprised Meredith Vieira's version has even lasted this long (6 years?!) to begin with for the following reasons:

1. It took me four (yes, four) years just to warm up to Meredith Vieira hosting this version. (I was a big fan of Regis' version, BTW.)

2. The removal of the "Fastest Finger" competition (At least that gave contestants some sort of incentive to have to get to the hot seat).

3. From what I've seen (I probably only watch this version only once a month at best), contestants really have been taking too much time to answer the questions.

4. It was on this version that the "Wait until after the commercial to reveal the answer" thing was done to a contestant for the first time. As soon as Meredith did that, I immediately changed the channel. (This was never done on Regis' version, BTW.) In addition, this also takes away a contestant interview in the process.

I don't mind the fastest finger thing not being on this version, only because without it, it ensures that every contestant has a chance to win money. And when did a contestant every have to wait to find out an answer after the commercial? I don't recall that ever happening on any version of Millionaire, but I could be wrong. I do know, though, that this doesn't happen now.

Yeah, she's definitely a great host and very underrated on Millionaire. Personally, I like her better than Regis only because Regis always tries to make the show about himself, but Merideth always makes sure to put the contestants in the spotlight!


It would be great if Merideth ends up getting her own talk show.

It would be great if Merideth ends up getting her own talk show.

She is basically the only reason I still watch the Today Show - I love her interviewing styles.

She is basically the only reason I still watch the Today Show - I love her interviewing styles.

I think the ratings for the Today Show have gone up since she has been on the show.

I'm not sure if it aired in all markets yet, but who caught the first Millionaire episode of the season today? I personally didn't like it as much as I have in the past, and you could tell it was a different show. Not a fan at all of the clock - it rushes the contestants too much, and it's not fun to watch like that. I also don't like how they gave the categories for the questions - what's the fun in that if you know what it's going to be about?

I don't mind the double-dip lifeline, but did they have to replace 50-50? I can't believe they actually replaced an original lifeline. Also didn't like the ask an expert lifeline - they used in Super Millionaire awhile ago, and it was much better that way instead of via sattelite. Overall, I'll still have to get used to the changes, but I think it would have been better keeping things the same.

This sucks. Millionaire is the only daytime gameshow I watch on television, and it seems to me like they're trying to put the nail in the coffin with this show. It's not like ratings have been sinking, because I actually think ratings were up in season 6 from season 5. It's still the top rated syndicated gameshow, so why try to mess with it?

The time limit as absolutely horrendous - some people need more time to answer a question, and now the contestants are going to be pushed to give an answer or not. Makes no sense to me at all.


what about price julie? You still watch that right?

The time thing stinks like high heaven. A timer? No way! This show was been airing here in the US since 1999 and they decide to change things up now? I don't like it.

what about price julie? You still watch that right?

Of course I do! I should have said it was the only "syndicated gameshow" I watch. My mistake!

I'm really looking forward to the Price season premiere. Can't wait to see some of the changes!

The time thing stinks like high heaven. A timer? No way! This show was been airing here in the US since 1999 and they decide to change things up now? I don't like it.

Yeah, I don't get why they're making changes now. The timelimit sucks - how slow were they answering the questions that a clock was needed?-LOL

Of course I do! I should have said it was the only "syndicated gameshow" I watch. My mistake!

I'm really looking forward to the Price season premiere. Can't wait to see some of the changes!


sept 22nd is the day & thankfully just a few changes!!! For now

sept 22nd is the day & thankfully just a few changes!!! For now

I can't wait!!!! :happyface

I didn't even know it was still on the air. :lol:

:lol: :lol: Me Neither. The show hasn't been the same since Regis left, the woman isn't bad but isn't as good. The anticipation was part of it- making it timed now, I definitely won't look forward to watching it.

I didn't even know Meredith Vieira's version was still on the air. :lol:

There, fixed that for you.