"Millionaire" Celebrity Episodes

[Bob Juch]

How would most potential new viewers even know about the celebrity episodes if they don't already watch the show? I think at least 99% of non-viewers will be totally unaware of the celebrity episodes, but 100% of the people who regularly enjoy the civilian shows will have the celebs jammed down their throats. That seems like a formula for alienating regular viewers without attracting many new ones.

That's why they're doing the crossover with Meredith going on the shows the celebs are from first.

[Estonut]

How would most potential new viewers even know about the celebrity episodes if they don't already watch the show? I think at least 99% of non-viewers will be totally unaware of the celebrity episodes, but 100% of the people who regularly enjoy the civilian shows will have the celebs jammed down their throats. That seems like a formula for alienating regular viewers without attracting many new ones.

That's why they're doing the crossover with Meredith going on the shows the celebs are from first.

Not according to the dates in the OP.

[andyrinny]

Figured I'd check the Bored for what's up for the new season. Looks real exiting!

The article linked in the first post in this thread had one more paragraph:

Here's a question to you though: if you were going to plan something for the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire 10th season, what would you do? I don't mean permanent game changes, I'm talking about temporary twists, one-off additions, special bonuses, and that kind of thing. Comments are open!

I'm thinking, how about this for a temporary twist: Allow each game to build exitment (and make it more of a game of skill than luck) by having questions get harder and dollar amounts greater as the contestant progresses. How about this for a one-off: Try picking contestants through a phone game. And for a special bonus: Reduce the number of celebrity shows. OK, one more: Change the name of the show to "Who Wants To Play Classic Millionaire?"

Original BAM was such a well-crafted game. Current BAM is not. It was much better when the suspense was whether the contestant would get the question right - and whether the contestant would earn his or her way to $125K and beyond. Now the focus has shifted from the contestant to the randomness of the lower dollar amounts, as the audience hoots and hollers not when the contestant struggles and gets it right, but when the numbers $15,000 or $25,000 appear. OK, rant over. At least they did away with TDC.

[frogman042]

Figured I'd check the Bored for what's up for the new season. Looks real exiting!

Was this a Freudian Slip?

[frogman042]

How would most potential new viewers even know about the celebrity episodes if they don't already watch the show? I think at least 99% of non-viewers will be totally unaware of the celebrity episodes, but 100% of the people who regularly enjoy the civilian shows will have the celebs jammed down their throats. That seems like a formula for alienating regular viewers without attracting many new ones.

Sounds like a new reality show, with Celebrity Chefs, Man vs. Food and cannibalism all rolled into one - I would watch!

[TheConfessor]

Figured I'd check the Bored for what's up for the new season. Looks real exiting!

The article linked in the first post in this thread had one more paragraph:

Here's a question to you though: if you were going to plan something for the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire 10th season, what would you do? I don't mean permanent game changes, I'm talking about temporary twists, one-off additions, special bonuses, and that kind of thing. Comments are open!

I'm thinking, how about this for a temporary twist: Allow each game to build exitment (and make it more of a game of skill than luck) by having questions get harder and dollar amounts greater as the contestant progresses. How about this for a one-off: Try picking contestants through a phone game. And for a special bonus: Reduce the number of celebrity shows. OK, one more: Change the name of the show to "Who Wants To Play Classic Millionaire?"

Original BAM was such a well-crafted game. Current BAM is not. It was much better when the suspense was whether the contestant would get the question right - and whether the contestant would earn his or her way to $125K and beyond. Now the focus has shifted from the contestant to the randomness of the lower dollar amounts, as the audience hoots and hollers not when the contestant struggles and gets it right, but when the numbers $15,000 or $25,000 appear. OK, rant over. At least they did away with TDC.

Hi, Andy. Good to see you make a rare appearance here. An annual rant is cathartic, even if you're just preaching to the choir.

[andyrinny]

One of the most interesting twists is the introducation of special "Double Your Money" episodes. Beginning September 26th and running sporadically throughout the season, contestants will have the opportunity to double the amount of prize money for a single question in the first part of the game. Qualifying questions will be randomly selected at the start of the contestant's game.

Rant continued:

This is another step in the wrong direction. To me, the current random unveiling of $10,000 (yay!) or $500 (boo!) is just a distraction from the game play. The new random doubling of one of these numbers is just more so. Meredith will no doubt spend a great deal of time and energy each DYM episode telling us how exiting (sic) it all is.

[andyrinny]

Hi backatcha, Ed. I saw you today even before I got to the Bored. The 4th ranked result on google for the query "wwtbam bored" is a youtube video that someone put together of all US winners, and your face is on the still that is shown on the results page.

Has there been much critique here of the current method of Round 1 play? Does anyone like it? (It seems there are some issues that not everyone here agrees on. ) AFAIC, I don't know which is worse, the randomness itself or the ballyhooed "reveal" after each question.

[Bob78164]

Hi backatcha, Ed. I saw you today even before I got to the Bored. The 4th ranked result on google for the query "wwtbam bored" is a youtube video that someone put together of all US winners, and your face is on the still that is shown on the results page.

Has there been much critique here of the current method of Round 1 play? Does anyone like it? (It seems there are some issues that not everyone here agrees on. ) AFAIC, I don't know which is worse, the randomness itself or the ballyhooed "reveal" after each question.

I like it. I think that contestants showed more willingness this year to go for it than they have in previous years, and I think that's due to the structure. --Bob

[Bob Juch]

Figured I'd check the Bored for what's up for the new season. Looks real exiting!

The article linked in the first post in this thread had one more paragraph:

Here's a question to you though: if you were going to plan something for the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire 10th season, what would you do? I don't mean permanent game changes, I'm talking about temporary twists, one-off additions, special bonuses, and that kind of thing. Comments are open!

I'm thinking, how about this for a temporary twist: Allow each game to build exitment (and make it more of a game of skill than luck) by having questions get harder and dollar amounts greater as the contestant progresses. How about this for a one-off: Try picking contestants through a phone game. And for a special bonus: Reduce the number of celebrity shows. OK, one more: Change the name of the show to "Who Wants To Play Classic Millionaire?"

Original BAM was such a well-crafted game. Current BAM is not. It was much better when the suspense was whether the contestant would get the question right - and whether the contestant would earn his or her way to $125K and beyond. Now the focus has shifted from the contestant to the randomness of the lower dollar amounts, as the audience hoots and hollers not when the contestant struggles and gets it right, but when the numbers $15,000 or $25,000 appear. OK, rant over. At least they did away with TDC.

It's just part of the TV industry pandering to the lowest-common denominator. Look at what's happened to the "educational" cable channels, e.g. History, A&E, TLC, etc.

[Rexer25]

Figured I'd check the Bored for what's up for the new season. Looks real exiting!

Was this a Freudian Slip?

I didn't know ol' Sigmund designed lingerie.

[Psycho Beast]

Figured I'd check the Bored for what's up for the new season. Looks real exiting!

Was this a Freudian Slip?

I didn't know ol' Sigmund designed lingerie.

Frilly, but sleeveless.

Ain't I sexy?

[The Men In White Coats]

Was this a Freudian Slip?

I didn't know ol' Sigmund designed lingerie.

Frilly, but sleeveless.

Ain't I sexy?

Well, you're no goat, but you'll do in a pinch...

[KilljoyWasHere]

I didn't know ol' Sigmund designed lingerie.

Frilly, but sleeveless.

Ain't I sexy?

Well, you're no goat, but you'll do in a pinch...

Awww, Siggy! I thought you had a thing for Mothers.....

[The Men In White Coats]

Frilly, but sleeveless.

Ain't I sexy?

Well, you're no goat, but you'll do in a pinch...

Awww, Siggy! I thought you had a thing for Mothers.....

I forgot how much you liked me coming around--you were jealous of the altar boys getting all the love!

[Liberace]

Well, you're no goat, but you'll do in a pinch...

Awww, Siggy! I thought you had a thing for Mothers.....

I forgot how much you liked me coming around--you were jealous of the altar boys getting all the love!

Every good altarboy needs to learn how to play the organ!

[frogman042]

Awww, Siggy! I thought you had a thing for Mothers.....

I forgot how much you liked me coming around--you were jealous of the altar boys getting all the love!

Every good altarboy needs to learn how to play the organ!

Wow, that comment was quite distasteful.

[jarnon]

Celebrity Week is here! According to the Millionaire website, the celebrities who will be playing this week, to benefit the Alzheimer's Association, are:
- Susie Essman (actress on Curb Your Enthusiasm)
- Vivica A. Fox
- Ashley Hebert (the Bachelorette)
- Carson Kressley (doing double duty on Millionaire and Dancing With the Stars)
- Anthony Anderson (actor in movies and Law & Order)

[MarleysGh0st]

Celebrity Week is here! According to the Millionaire website, the celebrities who will be playing this week, to benefit the Alzheimer's Association, are:
- Susie Essman (actress on Curb Your Enthusiasm)
- Vivica A. Fox
- Ashley Hebert (the Bachelorette)
- Carson Kressley (doing double duty on Millionaire and Dancing With the Stars)
- Anthony Anderson (actor in movies and Law & Order)

Club Millionaire is offering some extra contests this week for T-shirts signed by these celebs. So, if you actually care about these people, get your entries in quickly!

[vettech]

I'm not a big fan of the celebrity episodes, but from the FB video posted this weekend, this one looks like it might actually be fun. And of course, Ashley Hebert is a Maine girl, so I'll be watching (although I didn't see The Bachelorette - I have my limits! )

[jarnon]

I'm entering the Vivica A. Fox t-shirt contest.

Spoiler

My wife watched Carson Kressley today. Sounds like an exciting episode.

[jarnon]

I won the Vivica A. Fox t-shirt! (There were over 200 entries, and 59 of them were mine.) Not the Grand Prize, but it's better than a kick in the head.

[jarnon]

Here's an exclusive offer for Bored Buddies™:

Get a one-of-a-kind souvenir of one of the most entertaining and hilarious celebrity episodes in the history of Millionaire: a Club Millionaire t-shirt signed by Vivica A. Fox herself! All you have to do is make a contribution to this week’s featured charity, the Alzheimer’s Association.

Send me a PM with the amount of your pledge, before midnight on Monday, Sept. 26. The Bored Buddy™ who makes the largest pledge will get the t-shirt.

(I’m posting this message in multiple topics for wider visibility.)

[jarnon]

I've gotten no PMs so far in response to my offer. It expires at midnight Eastern time tonight (about 7 hours from now).

Just send me a PM saying how much you'll donate to the Alzheimer’s Association, and the t-shirt signed by Vivica A. Fox is yours!

[MarleysGh0st]

I don't want to sound callous, but perhaps you need to find a forum frequented by Vivica A. Fox fans?