Questions about lifelines

Message

Winnamill · #1 Post by **Winnamill** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:33 pm

This is still very premature as I have yet to be called, but from other posts the advice appears to be that one should be prepared in case the timing is tight. Therefore, I'm putting these questions out early just in case.

I skimmed the MillionaireTV rules and regs, but did not see the specifics on lifelines. Plus, it was last updated a year ago, and it sounds like new rules will be in effect anyway.

#1 -- When I was in the ROF seven years ago, one of my lifelines was a group where I work. Are groups allowed? Haven't ever seen any rules against them, but I'm not sure. Obviously, one person would be the contact, but any reason others can't be at the location as well?

#2 -- I believe a post mentioned that electronic assistance such as Google is not allowed. Is this correct? What about other sources such as dictionaries, globes, etc.?

Any advice anyone has would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Bob Juch · #2 Post by **Bob Juch** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:39 pm

In case you didn't see, you get only three PAFs now.

There's nothing that says you can't have a room-full of people, but you shouldn't have them use a speaker phone and if the person on the phone has to repeat the question and choices, that wastes time and sounds bad.

You can have your PAF use Google or anything else. Just make sure you pick someone who can do it in 30 seconds. Also, it sounds bad if you can hear them typing.

MarleysGh0st · #3 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:43 pm

Yes, the official rules are a year out of date. According to frogman, there's a significant change in the PAF lifeline this year: only 3 PAFs allowed on your list instead of 5, and they want photos and release forms from those PAFs. Read this thread for further discussion of that:

viewtopic.php?t=7316

As for the questions you asked, there's no prohibition against using google or other sources, they just don't want you to be too obvious in your discussion of using them.

There's also nothing to prohibit a group from helping a PAF. However, be careful about that. PAFs are supposed to use a land-line phone but not a speaker phone; they're worried about having good reception on the line. We've seen too many bad results when a PAF tries repeating the Q&A to a room, since there's not enough time for that, particularly if the Q&A are long and wordy.

themanintheseersuckersuit · #4 Post by **themanintheseersuckersuit** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:44 pm

Stan the intern still hasn't updated the official rules for 2008, but when he does I suggest you read them .

THE RULES

MarleysGh0st · #5 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:48 pm

We've also heard that they may be adding a new lifeline, something like the PAF or Three Wise Men lifelines, involving a webcam connection to past winners of the show (and possibly to other celebrities/experts), but we don't have any official details of how that would work or when it might come into play, so we really can't strategize about that yet.

peacock2121 · #6 Post by **peacock2121** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:54 pm

themanintheseersuckersuit wrote:Stan the intern still hasn't updated the official rules for 2008, but when he does I suggest you read them .

THE RULES

hmmm

Did Skippy the intern get fired?

MarleysGh0st · #7 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:56 pm

peacock2121 wrote:
themanintheseersuckersuit wrote:Stan the intern still hasn't updated the official rules for 2008, but when he does I suggest you read them .

THE RULES
hmmm

Did Skippy the intern get fired?

tmitsss just can't keep all those interns straight!

bazodee · #8 Post by **bazodee** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:59 pm

Ditto to everyone's comments.

The British version of the show is redrafting its rules to prohibit Phone-A-Friends from employing electronic media searches but as far as we know, TPTB (USA) hasn't changed this.

I couldn't agree more than when and if new rules are published, they should be read thoroughly.

sunflower · #9 Post by **sunflower** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:06 pm

If and when you get the call, a set of official rules will be mailed to you. I know you'd like to know now, but at least rest easy knowing you will have some time to review them prior to a taping.

I also agree on nixing the group/speakerphone idea, unless you practice. A lot. And even then I'd caution against it. Because it's harder to hear in the studio and 30 seconds is faster than you think.

TheConfessor · #10 Post by **TheConfessor** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:09 pm

bazodee wrote:The British version of the show is redrafting its rules to prohibit Phone-A-Friends from employing electronic media searches but as far as we know, TPTB (USA) hasn't changed this.

Seriously? How could they possibly enforce it? Hmm, maybe that's where the webcam comes in.

sunflower · #11 Post by **sunflower** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:11 pm

TheConfessor wrote:
bazodee wrote:The British version of the show is redrafting its rules to prohibit Phone-A-Friends from employing electronic media searches but as far as we know, TPTB (USA) hasn't changed this.
Seriously? How could they possibly enforce it? Hmm, maybe that's where the webcam comes in.

I don't know, I think the webcam might be for a select few (i.e., past champions). If you try to get into webcams for all PAFs now you're talking extra requirements...not only do you have to agree to be near a landline for 57 hours, you also have to have a computer of a certain speed, with a working webcam, etc etc. Very few people would be eligible.

kayrharris · #12 Post by **kayrharris** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:13 pm

Maybe they are thinking about only being able to Phone a Previous Big Winner (PAPBW) on the show....no practicing, and no googling allowed as opposed to having your own Phone a Friend. The 3 Wise People on SuperBam could confer with each other but not use outside sources.

frogman042 · #13 Post by **frogman042** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:36 pm

sunflower wrote:If and when you get the call, a set of official rules will be mailed to you. I know you'd like to know now, but at least rest easy knowing you will have some time to review them prior to a taping.

I also agree on nixing the group/speakerphone idea, unless you practice. A lot. And even then I'd caution against it. Because it's harder to hear in the studio and 30 seconds is faster than you think.

8 days to go and I've yet to recieve the new rules in any form - verbal, electronic or hard-copy... When I asked what the changes were, I was told that they couldn't tell me, but it would be in my packet. As of 2 days ago they told me that the haven't mailed it yet. I told them I'm leaving Austin on the 23rd (Wed) so if it is not mailed soon, I may not recieve it before I leave - I've been assured I will get a chance to see them before I leave and before I start toasting my butt in the Hot Seat (does it really have a seat warmer - or is it closer to 'Old Sparky' of Flordia Penal System fame?)

When I get them (I've been assured I will get them) and if there is a non-disclosure on the rules I wont be able to say anything, but if there is no non-disclosure (and I get permission to disclose as well - not taking any chances here) I will let you know what changes are in store - in the meantime I'm on pins and needles about the changes and wondering why it is taking them so long to publish them - maybe they haven't gotten the kinks out of the changes or they are waiting for the lawyers to sign off on them?

---Jay (Yikes, 1000 days to go, how could this be!!!)

MarleysGh0st · #14 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:21 am

frogman042 wrote:---Jay (Yikes, 1000 days to go, how could this be!!!)

There are 10 kinds of people--those who understand binary and those who don't.

Here's Fanny! · #15 Post by **Here's Fanny!** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:49 am

MarleysGh0st wrote:
frogman042 wrote:---Jay (Yikes, 1000 days to go, how could this be!!!)
There are 10 kinds of people--those who understand binary and those who don't.

You know that I usually don't like the smarty pants, "it's a brain thing, you wouldn't understand" type stuff, and that I tend to rag on Marley in particular.

But I found this tremendously funny! And I fall into the latter half of the statement.

MarleysGh0st · #16 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:04 am

Here's Fanny! wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote:
frogman042 wrote:---Jay (Yikes, 1000 days to go, how could this be!!!)
There are 10 kinds of people--those who understand binary and those who don't.

You know that I usually don't like the smarty pants, "it's a brain thing, you wouldn't understand" type stuff, and that I tend to rag on Marley in particular.

But I found this tremendously funny! And I fall into the latter half of the statement.

I was only responding to the line frogman gave, you know!

Besides, now that it's Friday, he only has 111 days left to go!

Here's Fanny! · #17 Post by **Here's Fanny!** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:07 am

MarleysGh0st wrote:
Here's Fanny! wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote: There are 10 kinds of people--those who understand binary and those who don't.

You know that I usually don't like the smarty pants, "it's a brain thing, you wouldn't understand" type stuff, and that I tend to rag on Marley in particular.

But I found this tremendously funny! And I fall into the latter half of the statement.
I was only responding to the line frogman gave, you know!

Besides, now that it's Friday, he only has 111 days left to go!

I know, I found both of you funny! I was going to make a joke in return, but I didn't know binary for 3. Of course, if I did know it, then the basis for the joke would have been flawed anyway. Ha!

MarleysGh0st · #18 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:10 am

Here's Fanny! wrote:I was going to make a joke in return, but I didn't know binary for 3.

Spoiler

11

#19 Post by **littlebeast13** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:10 am

Here's Fanny! wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote:
Here's Fanny! wrote: You know that I usually don't like the smarty pants, "it's a brain thing, you wouldn't understand" type stuff, and that I tend to rag on Marley in particular.

But I found this tremendously funny! And I fall into the latter half of the statement.
I was only responding to the line frogman gave, you know!

Besides, now that it's Friday, he only has 111 days left to go!
I know, I found both of you funny! I was going to make a joke in return, but I didn't know binary for 3. Of course, if I did know it, then the basis for the joke would have been flawed anyway. Ha!

Your avatar's flashing the binary number for 3!

lb13

Here's Fanny! · #20 Post by **Here's Fanny!** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:19 am

Thanks, guys! I'm including Marcus in the 'guys' there.

"So, actually there are 11 kinds of people, those that understand binary, those that don't and those who know enough about it to get the joke but not enough to make it themselves."

That was really worth it, wasn't it? Ha!

#21 Post by **littlebeast13** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:21 am

Here's Fanny! wrote:Thanks, guys! I'm including Marcus in the 'guys' there.

"So, actually there are 11 kinds of people, those that understand binary, those that don't and those who know enough about it to get the joke but not enough to make it themselves."

That was really worth it, wasn't it? Ha!

We'll have to quit talking about binary before I start thinking of christie as liking the number 15....

lb13

Bob Juch · #22 Post by **Bob Juch** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:25 am

littlebeast13 wrote:
Here's Fanny! wrote:Thanks, guys! I'm including Marcus in the 'guys' there.

"So, actually there are 11 kinds of people, those that understand binary, those that don't and those who know enough about it to get the joke but not enough to make it themselves."

That was really worth it, wasn't it? Ha!

We'll have to quit talking about binary before I start thinking of christie as liking the number 15....

lb13

Or would that be 33?

If you count in binary on your fingers, watch out for 100.

frogman042 · #23 Post by **frogman042** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:06 am

MarleysGh0st wrote:
Here's Fanny! wrote:I was going to make a joke in return, but I didn't know binary for 3.

Spoiler
11

When I turned 48 2 years ago - I made a point of telling folks I was 30 and I wasn't lying about my age (any takers - folks have told me I have a very base sense of humor)

---Jay (Lucky Number Sleven)

slam · #24 Post by **slam** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:16 am

frogman042 wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote:
Here's Fanny! wrote:I was going to make a joke in return, but I didn't know binary for 3.

Spoiler
11

When I turned 48 2 years ago - I made a point of telling folks I was 30 and I wasn't lying about my age (any takers - folks have told me I have a very base sense of humor)

---Jay (Lucky Number Sleven)

Apparently, you're a hexadecimally based guy.

themanintheseersuckersuit · #25 Post by **themanintheseersuckersuit** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:28 am

Speaking of numbers, here's a new source of potential contestants

Tribe living without numbers

apologies in advance to our own tribe.