Pros and Cons of Million Dollar Password - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

howierules86 · 06-02-2008, 08:14 AM

PROS
Regis Philbin hosting (sue me)
The choice of celebrities (well, at least for this week)
No cliffhanger commercials
The platform rising up before the $1M climb (so cool!)
Contestants having the choice to give or recieve the clues
The cluegiver getting a sneak peek at the $250K and above clues before deciding to go on

CONS
Too much canned applause
The loss of the Password Puzzle & Alphabetics bonus round
Only 3 clues can be given in the climb to $1M game (should be more)
Trying to use the 60s version's bonus round as the maingame

Personally, I think this show's structure is similar to the Power of 10's. I wish PO10 was still on, I think this would have been a perfect companion to it for sure. I think if this was a completely new show like PO10, it wouldn't be ragged on nearly as much.

So, how about you? What did you think?

JT · 06-02-2008, 09:44 AM

I only saw the last twenty minutes, which was pretty much just the bonus round with Neil Patrick Harris and the guy Eric. I enjoyed it a lot, surprisingly. I don't know how I'd like the main game, though.

Personally, and I said this before, I think the coolest thing they could do to bring back the "Password" franchise is to do a daily syndicated version of "Password Plus" (or they could call it "Super Password" if they want to). IMO, the addition of the Password Puzzle and the Alphabetics/Super Password bonus round made the new game so much more exciting than the original format that the original can get boring very fast. I love all three to death, but if I had to take one on a desert island, it'd be P+ without a doubt.

And I agree about the celebrity choices. I think that because its network primetime, they can get people who are relatively big names, TV-wise. I have no clue who the other celebrities will be, but I see Betty White in the promos, and that's always a good thing!

Jude The Obscure · 06-02-2008, 01:06 PM

I enjoyed this a lot!!!! Neil Patrick Harris was cool and it would be wise to have him back (provided the show is greenlit for more episodes). I hope it did well in the ratings! My mother also enjoyed this and certainly thought NPH was cute

I like the format's throwback to the '60s game play. Basically what we have though is two half hours joined to make an hour. I can see this one getting picked up for daily syndication.

Jude The Obscure · 06-02-2008, 01:09 PM

CBS and NBC shared leadership on this first Sunday in June, with CBS
first in total viewers and NBC No. 1 among adults 18-49. In
series-premiere news, CBS game show revival Million Dollar Password
opened with a first-place 10.69 million viewers and a 2.2 rating/7
share among adults 18-49 from 8-9 p.m. Comparably, that built from
lead-in 60 Minutes (Viewers: #1, 10.04 million; A18-49: #1: 1.5/ 5 at
7 p.m.) by 650,000 viewers and 47 percent among adults 18-49.
Congratulations, Reege!

JT · 06-02-2008, 03:45 PM

The real test is to see the ratings for subsequent episodes, though. It's a great sign that a lot of people tuned in for the pilot, so hopefully they all come back! When's the next time it airs?

Pavan · 06-02-2008, 03:52 PM

Next airing is Sunday at 8pm with Rosie O'Donnell and Tony Hawk. Betty White will be with Susie Essman on a special night Thursday, June 12 at 8pm for episode three. Steven Weber and Shanna Moakler are the celebs on episode 4 on Sunday, June 22. Monique Coleman is in one of the last 2 episodes. 6 episodes will air.

JulieSomoski · 06-02-2008, 04:25 PM

I gotta say, I really enjoyed watchng this last night. It was something fresh to watch on Sunday nights. Personally, if ratings stayed around 10 million, I wouldn't be surprised to see CBS keep it around in the fall or winter.

I think the great thing about it last night was that they had A-list celebrities, rather than the D-list ones we usually see on gameshows and reality shows (like Dancing with the Stars). And, even though I did kind of miss the main puzzle game, I don't see it working anyother way when a million dollars is at stake. Plus, Regis was great in this game! You can just tell he's suited for gameshows like this. It was almost like watching Millionaire again in primetime!

Pavan · 06-02-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieSomoski

I gotta say, I really enjoyed watchng this last night. It was something fresh to watch on Sunday nights. Personally, if ratings stayed around 10 million, I wouldn't be surprised to see CBS keep it around in the fall or winter.

I think the great thing about it last night was that they had A-list celebrities, rather than the D-list ones we usually see on gameshows and reality shows (like Dancing with the Stars). And, even though I did kind of miss the main puzzle game, I don't see it working anyother way when a million dollars is at stake. Plus, Regis was great in this game! You can just tell he's suited for gameshows like this. It was almost like watching Millionaire again in primetime!

Julie, two of the stars on Password have been on Dancing with the Stars...Shanna and Monique. These are the same style celebs as DWTS. D listers only go on shows like Surreal Life, Celebrity Rehab or Celebrity Boxing.

Jude The Obscure · 06-02-2008, 04:28 PM

I really like the fact that the more traditional old school games are doing fairly well in the ratings! Hopefully we will see more well done revivals of other old Goodson-Toddman games.

JulieSomoski · 06-02-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

Julie, two of the stars on Password have been on Dancing with the Stars...Shanna and Monique. These are the same style celebs as DWTS. D listers only go on shows like Surreal Life, Celebrity Rehab or Celebrity Boxing.

You're right - I guess D-list was a bit harsh for DWTS. Still, Neil and Rachael are more of A-list celebrities, so it was nice to see them on Password.

I thought I'd edit this in - the premiere skewed extremely old last night, which I guess isn't surprising at all, but it got a huge 8.1 rating in adults 50 and older, and only 2.2 for the 18-49 demo.

Pavan · 06-02-2008, 04:38 PM

Sunday, June 8 (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT)
Rosie O'Donnell ("The View") and skateboarding superstar Tony Hawk.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12 (8:00 - 9:00 PM ET/PT)
A special Thursday night broadcast with legendary comedic actress Betty White ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Golden Girls") and Susie Essman ("Curb Your Enthusiasm").

Sunday, June 22 (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT)
Steven Weber ("Brothers & Sisters," "Wings") and Former Miss USA Shanna Moakler ("Dancing with the Stars").

Sunday, June 29 (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT)
Steve Schirripa ("The Sopranos") and country singer Sara Evans ("Dancing with the Stars").

Sunday, July 6 (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT)
Monique Coleman ("High School Musical," "Dancing with the Stars") and Damien Fahey (MTV's "TRL").

Make it three former DWTS stars...Sara Evans too.

JT · 06-03-2008, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

Sunday, June 8 (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT)
Rosie O'Donnell ("The View") and skateboarding superstar Tony Hawk.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12 (8:00 - 9:00 PM ET/PT)
A special Thursday night broadcast with legendary comedic actress Betty White ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Golden Girls") and Susie Essman ("Curb Your Enthusiasm").

Sunday, June 22 (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT)
Steven Weber ("Brothers & Sisters," "Wings") and Former Miss USA Shanna Moakler ("Dancing with the Stars").

Sunday, June 29 (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT)
Steve Schirripa ("The Sopranos") and country singer Sara Evans ("Dancing with the Stars").

Sunday, July 6 (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT)
Monique Coleman ("High School Musical," "Dancing with the Stars") and Damien Fahey (MTV's "TRL").

Make it three former DWTS stars...Sara Evans too.

LMFAO, so it's safe to say that the popularity of the celebrities drops with each episode. I just don't get it. In the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and even the 1980s, all of the big TV stars did game shows all the time, and many of those shows were daytime or syndicated shows, but here we have big, primetime shows, and still, I can imagine countless stars turning their noses up.

Some people need to get over themselves! Seriously!

JT · 06-03-2008, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

I really like the fact that the more traditional old school games are doing fairly well in the ratings! Hopefully we will see more well done revivals of other old Goodson-Toddman games.

ITA! All I ask is that we get nothing like the 2002 version of "Card Sharks" or the 1998 version of "Match Game." I think the best revival of any game show in the last couple of years was without a doubt "Pyramid." Donny Osmond was an awesome host and the game was basically the same, and I loved every minute of it.

JulieSomoski · 06-03-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT

ITA! All I ask is that we get nothing like the 2002 version of "Card Sharks" or the 1998 version of "Match Game." I think the best revival of any game show in the last couple of years was without a doubt "Pyramid." Donny Osmond was an awesome host and the game was basically the same, and I loved every minute of it.

Once you mentioned it, it hit me that this show kind of seems like a revived version of Pyramid rather than Password. Think, the first round where the 2 contestants go against each other to get to the money round is almost exactly like Pyramid, and even the main money round is in a way like Pyramid. Just a thought.

Jude The Obscure · 06-04-2008, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT

ITA! All I ask is that we get nothing like the 2002 version of "Card Sharks" or the 1998 version of "Match Game." I think the best revival of any game show in the last couple of years was without a doubt "Pyramid." Donny Osmond was an awesome host and the game was basically the same, and I loved every minute of it.

Well TBS is reviving "Match Game" in a new late night version--so we can just imagine how taudry and raunchy this version will be

Yes, the '70s version had it's share of wink winks and nudge nudges, but it was not to the point where everything had to be some sort of referral to sex.

06-02-2008, 09:44 AM	#2
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,219	I only saw the last twenty minutes, which was pretty much just the bonus round with Neil Patrick Harris and the guy Eric. I enjoyed it a lot, surprisingly. I don't know how I'd like the main game, though. Personally, and I said this before, I think the coolest thing they could do to bring back the "Password" franchise is to do a daily syndicated version of "Password Plus" (or they could call it "Super Password" if they want to). IMO, the addition of the Password Puzzle and the Alphabetics/Super Password bonus round made the new game so much more exciting than the original format that the original can get boring very fast. I love all three to death, but if I had to take one on a desert island, it'd be P+ without a doubt. And I agree about the celebrity choices. I think that because its network primetime, they can get people who are relatively big names, TV-wise. I have no clue who the other celebrities will be, but I see Betty White in the promos, and that's always a good thing!
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06-02-2008, 03:52 PM	#6
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,814	Next airing is Sunday at 8pm with Rosie O'Donnell and Tony Hawk. Betty White will be with Susie Essman on a special night Thursday, June 12 at 8pm for episode three. Steven Weber and Shanna Moakler are the celebs on episode 4 on Sunday, June 22. Monique Coleman is in one of the last 2 episodes. 6 episodes will air.
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06-02-2008, 04:25 PM	#7
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	I gotta say, I really enjoyed watchng this last night. It was something fresh to watch on Sunday nights. Personally, if ratings stayed around 10 million, I wouldn't be surprised to see CBS keep it around in the fall or winter. I think the great thing about it last night was that they had A-list celebrities, rather than the D-list ones we usually see on gameshows and reality shows (like Dancing with the Stars). And, even though I did kind of miss the main puzzle game, I don't see it working anyother way when a million dollars is at stake. Plus, Regis was great in this game! You can just tell he's suited for gameshows like this. It was almost like watching Millionaire again in primetime!
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06-02-2008, 08:14 AM	#1
howierules86 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 05, 2007 Location: Opelika, AL Posts: 29,462	Pros and Cons of Million Dollar Password PROS Regis Philbin hosting (sue me) The choice of celebrities (well, at least for this week) No cliffhanger commercials The platform rising up before the $1M climb (so cool!) Contestants having the choice to give or recieve the clues The cluegiver getting a sneak peek at the $250K and above clues before deciding to go on CONS Too much canned applause The loss of the Password Puzzle & Alphabetics bonus round Only 3 clues can be given in the climb to $1M game (should be more) Trying to use the 60s version's bonus round as the maingame Personally, I think this show's structure is similar to the Power of 10's. I wish PO10 was still on, I think this would have been a perfect companion to it for sure. I think if this was a completely new show like PO10, it wouldn't be ragged on nearly as much. So, how about you? What did you think?

06-02-2008, 01:06 PM	#3
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	I enjoyed this a lot!!!! Neil Patrick Harris was cool and it would be wise to have him back (provided the show is greenlit for more episodes). I hope it did well in the ratings! My mother also enjoyed this and certainly thought NPH was cute I like the format's throwback to the '60s game play. Basically what we have though is two half hours joined to make an hour. I can see this one getting picked up for daily syndication.

06-02-2008, 01:09 PM	#4
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	CBS and NBC shared leadership on this first Sunday in June, with CBS first in total viewers and NBC No. 1 among adults 18-49. In series-premiere news, CBS game show revival Million Dollar Password opened with a first-place 10.69 million viewers and a 2.2 rating/7 share among adults 18-49 from 8-9 p.m. Comparably, that built from lead-in 60 Minutes (Viewers: #1, 10.04 million; A18-49: #1: 1.5/ 5 at 7 p.m.) by 650,000 viewers and 47 percent among adults 18-49. Congratulations, Reege!

06-02-2008, 03:45 PM	#5
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,219	The real test is to see the ratings for subsequent episodes, though. It's a great sign that a lot of people tuned in for the pilot, so hopefully they all come back! When's the next time it airs?

06-02-2008, 04:28 PM	#9
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	I really like the fact that the more traditional old school games are doing fairly well in the ratings! Hopefully we will see more well done revivals of other old Goodson-Toddman games.

06-02-2008, 04:38 PM	#11
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,814	Sunday, June 8 (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT) Rosie O'Donnell ("The View") and skateboarding superstar Tony Hawk. THURSDAY, JUNE 12 (8:00 - 9:00 PM ET/PT) A special Thursday night broadcast with legendary comedic actress Betty White ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Golden Girls") and Susie Essman ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"). Sunday, June 22 (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT) Steven Weber ("Brothers & Sisters," "Wings") and Former Miss USA Shanna Moakler ("Dancing with the Stars"). Sunday, June 29 (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT) Steve Schirripa ("The Sopranos") and country singer Sara Evans ("Dancing with the Stars"). Sunday, July 6 (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT) Monique Coleman ("High School Musical," "Dancing with the Stars") and Damien Fahey (MTV's "TRL"). Make it three former DWTS stars...Sara Evans too.