Regis coming back to host 'Millionaire'
04-22-09, 05:24 PM
#1
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Regis coming back to host 'Millionaire'
LOS ANGELES, April 22 (Reuters) - "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" -- the television quiz show that heralded a flood of reality programming on U.S. television -- will return to prime time screens in August for a 10th anniversary special, ABC television said on Wednesday.
Original host Regis Philbin will be back to host the show on Sundays through Thursdays from Aug 9-23.
The show, which was created in Britain, and its popular line "Is that your final answer?" quickly became a smash hit for ABC when it was first shown in the United States in 1999, drawing up to 30 million viewers per episode.
But ratings slid when the network programmed it four nights a week, and it was canceled in 2002 only to return later as a shorter, syndicated daytime show.
Interest in the program has been revived by the success of the movie "Slumdog Millionaire", which won eight Oscars in February and is based on the Indian version of the TV quiz.
U.S. network TV is experiencing slumping audiences this year because of competition from other forms of entertainment including videogames, DVDs, the Internet and digital music.
"Who Wants to be a Millionaire" spawned a revival of quiz shows on U.S. television and helped usher in a craze for reality-style game shows including "American Idol", "Survivor", "The Bachelor" and "Fear Factor". (Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
Original host Regis Philbin will be back to host the show on Sundays through Thursdays from Aug 9-23.
The show, which was created in Britain, and its popular line "Is that your final answer?" quickly became a smash hit for ABC when it was first shown in the United States in 1999, drawing up to 30 million viewers per episode.
But ratings slid when the network programmed it four nights a week, and it was canceled in 2002 only to return later as a shorter, syndicated daytime show.
Interest in the program has been revived by the success of the movie "Slumdog Millionaire", which won eight Oscars in February and is based on the Indian version of the TV quiz.
U.S. network TV is experiencing slumping audiences this year because of competition from other forms of entertainment including videogames, DVDs, the Internet and digital music.
"Who Wants to be a Millionaire" spawned a revival of quiz shows on U.S. television and helped usher in a craze for reality-style game shows including "American Idol", "Survivor", "The Bachelor" and "Fear Factor". (Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
04-22-09, 06:51 PM
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04-22-09, 07:20 PM
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Re: Regis coming back to host 'Millionaire'
I think it would be sweet if they did a special show with Anil Kapoor as the host and Dev Patel as the contestant!
Last edited by bdshort; 04-22-09 at 07:25 PM.
04-23-09, 02:46 AM
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Re: Regis coming back to host 'Millionaire'
I'm actually really surprised that some of you are happy this is coming back. I think Millionaire was one of the reasons why the networks decided to go with cheaper game shows and reality programs as opposed to scripted TV. I was actually glad when ABC aired nightly several years ago and people finally got sick and tired of it and it got canned.
04-23-09, 02:54 AM
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Re: Regis coming back to host 'Millionaire'
Did they hire Regis because this guy was not available?
04-23-09, 10:56 AM
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Re: Regis coming back to host 'Millionaire'
I wish they would bring back the telephone qualification too. I used to get all three questions a lot then sit around anticipating a callback for the second level 5 questions, which I only got through twice. No call back for the NY trip, though 
Now you have to send an audition tape to qualify.
Now you have to send an audition tape to qualify.
04-23-09, 06:03 PM
#12
Re: Regis coming back to host 'Millionaire'
I'm actually really surprised that some of you are happy this is coming back. I think Millionaire was one of the reasons why the networks decided to go with cheaper game shows and reality programs as opposed to scripted TV. I was actually glad when ABC aired nightly several years ago and people finally got sick and tired of it and it got canned.
I wonder if they will try to give away ten million?
04-23-09, 06:21 PM
#13
Senior Member
Re: Regis coming back to host 'Millionaire'
I wish they would bring back the telephone qualification too. I used to get all three questions a lot then sit around anticipating a callback for the second level 5 questions, which I only got through twice. No call back for the NY trip, though
Now you have to send an audition tape to qualify.
Now you have to send an audition tape to qualify.
04-23-09, 07:53 PM
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DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Regis coming back to host 'Millionaire'
I'll watch. I'm a huge Regis fan regardless, so I'll watch anything he does.
04-26-09, 12:19 PM
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04-26-09, 01:18 PM
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Re: Regis coming back to host 'Millionaire'
I think these limited run game shows are ideal for summer times. Password is another one. Celebrity Family Feud as well, but apparently NBC canceled that.
08-09-09, 06:53 PM
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08-09-09, 07:04 PM
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Re: Regis coming back to host 'Millionaire'
Just happened to have this channel on. Funny to recall the excitement when this show was on the first time around with Regis.
08-09-09, 07:15 PM
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Re: Regis coming back to host 'Millionaire'
I don't like it, either; that component was added to the daytime version sometime last year, I think.