'Millionaire' Returns to ABC for 10th Anniversary Special

[Zoneboy]

Link

ABC is making it official: "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" will return this August for a 10th anniversary special event.

Regis Philbin is back as host of the show, which will air on Sundays through Thursdays at 8 p.m. from Aug. 9 through 23.

Michael Davies will serve as exec producer. TV Week, which broke the story Wednesday morning, noted that the August "Millionaire" will air as a one-time event - but if the show comes back strong, ABC might consider bringing it back as an occasional stunt.

"Millionaire" first bowed on ABC in summer 1999 as a special - but quickly roared to the top of the Nielsens. After returning as an additional series of special events in the 1999-2000 TV season, "Millionaire" came back the following year as a regular series. But "Millionaire" then became overused by the net, and eventually faded away in prime.

"Millionaire" last aired on ABC's primetime sked in 2004, but continues as a daytime strip, hosted by Meredith Vieira.

[Pavan]

It starts tonight! I went to the night five taping and it was AWESOME! Tune in tonight for night one!


Night 1:

Pop-Rock Chartbuster Katy Perry Guest Stars;
Former Millionaire Winners Robert Essig, Joe Trela and Ed Toutant Will Also Appear;
ABC News' Sam Donaldson Is the "Ask the Expert" Lifeline


Finalists for the premiere of ABC's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," airing SUNDAY,
AUGUST 9 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), have been selected. Regis Philbin hosts this special two-week, 10th anniversary edition of the ABC Television Network's celebration of the original primetime smash hit, in which these contestants are vying for the $1 million top prize. The "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" special event will air for 11 nights, Sunday-Thursday at 8:00 p.m., with the finale on SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET).


Following is the list of finalists, who will compete in the "Fastest Finger" rounds to see who will make it to the "Hot Seat":

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9

1. Gary Cousins, Flint, MI
2. Teresa Reitmeyer, Danville, PA
3. Jessica Gerber, Fairfield, CT
4. Linda Sweeney, Acworth, GA
5. Neil Schwartz, West Bloomfield, MI
6. Stephanie Millien, Baldwin, NY
7. Brad Abbey, Tampa, FL
8. Ralph Cambeis, Staten Island, NY
9. Rob Placek, Alliance, NE
10. Kristen Williams, Cedar Hills, UT

As a special feature, chart-topper Katy Perry ("I Kissed a Girl") will conclude the episode by taking the Hot Seat, hoping to correctly answer a single question worth $50,000 for her favorite charity, St. Judes Children's Research Hospital.

ABC News' Sam Donaldson will be the expert for the "Ask the Expert" lifeline.

The following million-dollar winners visited (but did not compete) in the premiere night audience: Robert Essig from Ashtabula, Ohio, who was nicknamed Bob-O by his mother-in-law and won $1 million; Joe Trela from Gilroy, California, the third contestant to win $1 million; and Ed Toutant from Austin, Texas, who won a $1.86 million escalating jackpot.


Night 2:
FINALISTS FOR "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE," AIRING MONDAY, AUGUST 10

"Ugly Betty" Star Vanessa Williams Guest Stars;
Robby Roseman, the First Person to Lose on the First Question, Also Appears;
ABC News' George Stephanopoulos is the "Ask the Expert" Lifeline

Finalists for ABC's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," airing MONDAY, AUGUST 10 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), have been selected. Regis Philbin hosts this special two-week, 10th anniversary edition of the ABC Television Network's celebration of the original primetime smash hit in which contestants are vying for the $1 million top prize. "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" will air for 11 nights, Sunday-Thursday at 8:00 p.m., with the finale on SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET).

Following is the list of finalists who will compete in the "Fastest Finger" rounds to see who will make the Hot Seat:

MONDAY, AUGUST 10
1. Fred Roberts, Nashville, TN
2. Melissa Mayer, River Ridge, LA
3. Dan Green, Bronx, NY
4. Karl Allis, Denver, CO
5. Bobbie Laguio, Liberty, NY
6. Jeff Birt, Louisville, KY
7. Ron Geltz, Torrance, CA
8. Gabrielle McMahan, Springfield, VA
9. John Zimcosky II, Chicago, IL
10. Michelle Ribeiro, New York, NY

As a special feature, "Ugly Betty" star and recording artist Vanessa Williams will conclude the episode by taking the Hot Seat, hoping to correctly answer a single question worth $50,000 for her favorite charity, The Maria Torres Emerging Artist Project at the Amas Musical Theatre. ABC News' George Stephanopoulos will be the expert for the "Ask the Expert" lifeline.

As the show looks back at memorable moments, Robby Roseman from Las Vegas, who was the first person to lose on the first question, winning nothing, visited (but did not compete) in the August 10 audience.


Night 3:
FINALISTS FOR "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE," AIRING TUESDAY, AUGUST 11
"The View's" Co-Host Sherri Shepherd Guest Stars; Kevin Olmstead, the Show's Biggest Winner of Over $2 Million, Also Appears; CNN's Wolf Blitzer is the "Ask the Expert" Lifeline
"Episode 8003" -- Finalists for ABC's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," airing TUESDAY, AUGUST 11 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), have been selected. Regis Philbin hosts this special two-week, 10th anniversary edition of the ABC Television Network's celebration of the original primetime smash hit, in which contestants are vying for the $1 million top prize. "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" will air for 11 nights, Sun.-Thurs. at 8:00 p.m., with the finale on SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET).

Following is the list of finalists who will compete in the Fastest Finger rounds to see who will make the Hot Seat:

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11
1. Kellie Wilko, Layton, UT
2. Mike Pulcini, Fairport, NY
3. Anthony Sloan, Washington, DC
4. Dina Grassi, Lake Hiawatha, NJ
5. Brian Slope, Berlin, PA
6. Jessica Pliner, San Francisco, CA
7. Kim Burress, Dover, FL
8. Don Farrell, Franklin, TN
9. Jillian Elliot, Indianapolis, IN
10. Max Nussenbaum, Newton, MA

As a special feature, "The View's" Sherri Shepherd will conclude the episode by taking the Hot Seat, hoping to correctly answer a single question worth $50,000 for her favorite charity, the March of Dimes. CNN's Wolf Blitzer ("The Situation Room") is the expert on the "Ask the Expert" lifeline.

As the show looks back at memorable moments, Kevin Olmstead from Ann Arbor, Michigan, the show's biggest winner with an escalating jackpot totaling $2.18 million, visited (but did not compete) in the August 11 audience.

Nights 4-11 :
details coming.



Celeb list:

As a special feature, each episode will conclude with a celebrity player taking the hot seat during the last act of the show, hoping to correctly answer a single question worth $50,000 for his or her favorite charity.

Following is a list of appearance dates for the previously announced celebrities playing for their favorite charities, as well as the Expert who will be on the other end of their "Ask the Expert" lifeline:

8/9 Chart-topper Katy Perry ("I Kissed a Girl"), playing for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Expert: Sam Donaldson
8/10 Vanessa Williams ("Ugly Betty"), playing for The Maria Torres Emerging Artist Project at the Amas Musical Theatre
Expert: George Stephanopoulos
8/11 Sherri Shepherd, co-host of "The View," playing for the March of Dimes
Expert: Wolf Blitzer
8/12 Lauren Conrad ("The Hills), playing for m.powerment by mark
Expert: Cokie Roberts
8/13 Shawn Johnson, Olympic gold medalist and champion of "Dancing with the Stars," playing for Blank Children's Hospital
Expert: Candy Crowley
8/16 Rachael Ray, TV personality, author and cook, playing for Yum-O Organization and ASPCA
Expert: Connie Chung
8/17 Patricia Heaton (ABC's new comedy "The Middle"), playing for the Westside Pregnancy Clinic and Lighthouse Medical Missions
Expert: Jodi Picoult
8/18 Country star Wynonna, playing for Backpack Mission Ministries
Expert: Gwen Ifill
8/19 Rapper Snoop Hospital
Expert: Candy Crowley
8/16 Rachael Ray, TV personality, author and cook, playing for Yum-O Dogg, playing for the Snoop Dogg Youth Football League
Expert: Ken Jennings
8/20 NBA star Steve Nash, playing for The Steve Nash Foundation
Expert: Mo Rocca
8/23 Surprise guest
Expert: Bill Nye

[ryan423]

Originally Posted by Pavan

8/23 Surprise guest
Expert: Bill Nye

Rumor has it that it's Suze Orman.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by ryan423

Rumor has it that it's Suze Orman.

Rumored where? and why on Earth would she be considered a surprise guest?

[Schmoopie]

Wow, hard to believe it's been ten years since that show first started. I always found it a bit silly, since they gave the contestants SO many chances to win (phone calls, audience help, etc). Whatever happened to giving ONE answer and if it's wrong, well.. too bad!

[ryan423]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Rumored where? and why on Earth would she be considered a surprise guest?

I read it on Google news the other day...it was a random article from a local post. It was probably false, as is to why I said rumor, but the more I think about it, you're right, and it's probably someone huge! Sorry for passing on the info.

[Pavan]

My guess for the surprise is Dev Patel or someone else from Slumdog Millionaire.

[PrettyinPink55]

Originally Posted by Pavan

My guess for the surprise is Dev Patel or someone else from Slumdog Millionaire.

That would be AWESOME!!!!

I can't believe it's been 10 years!!!!

[MrCleveland]

I hope they do re-air this show and on Sundays too!

Maybe Game Shows will be the revival for the next decade, **** the Reality Show Decade (the 00's).

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

Wow, hard to believe it's been ten years since that show first started. I always found it a bit silly, since they gave the contestants SO many chances to win (phone calls, audience help, etc). Whatever happened to giving ONE answer and if it's wrong, well.. too bad!

I know!! Do you think the show (and Regis) are in it for the long haul?

[JulieSomoski]

I'm enjoying the return so far. Seems to me like Regis is really enjoying doing the show again. I would honestly love to see ABC turn it back into a weekly series again. As long as there's some distinction between the primetime and syndicated versions, it could work.

[JulieSomoski]

Loved the surprise guest - tonight's episode was definitely the best way possible for this to go out with a bang.

[ryan423]

Originally Posted by JulieSomoski

Loved the surprise guest - tonight's episode was definitely the best way possible for this to go out with a bang.

AGREED.

[Lewis84]

Same here! That was an awesome way to finish up the primetime return!

I wish we could've seen Meredith play the game too though. Like having her and Regis switch places back and forth, so both hosts would've had a chance to be contestants.

[JulieSomoski]

Originally Posted by Lewis84

Same here! That was an awesome way to finish up the primetime return!

I wish we could've seen Meredith play the game too though. Like having her and Regis switch places back and forth, so both hosts would've had a chance to be contestants.

That would have been cool, but getting Meredith for the last primetime show was a great idea. Her and Regis together was hysterical, especially after seeing that guy miss the million dollar question. Overall, I hope we see primetime Millionaire back again soon.