WWBTAM Changes

[Terry K]

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080818abc04

The key change I want to comment on is this:

The hot seat will become hotter than ever, as contestants will face a clock with each "Millionaire" question. Contestants will be required to give host Meredith Vieira their "final answer" within a pre-determined time limit that increases as questions become more difficult. If a contestant fails to give an answer before time expires, a buzzer sounds and the contestant will walk away with money they have already earned. The only way a contestant can stop the clock is to give an answer or choose a lifeline. Whatever time a contestant doesn't use for the first 14 questions is banked for use on the million-dollar question.

According to Davies, contestants are allotted 15 seconds for the first five questions (valued at $100 -- $1,000), 30 seconds for the next five questions ($2,000 -- $25,000), 45 seconds for the next four questions ($50,000 -- $500.000), and 45 seconds plus banked time for the final million-dollar question.

If you ask me this change is a positive one.  What took them so long?

[Clay Zambo]

[quote name=\'Terry K\' post=\'194473\' date=\'Aug 19 2008, 12:51 PM\']
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080818abc04

The key change I want to comment on is this:

<story about time limits snipped>

If you ask me this change is a positive one.  What took them so long?
[/quote]

Nothing wrong with it; it's just different.  And I have to think it will make the show easier to tape: less need to edit out dull deliberations.

I'm interested, too, in the listing of categories for each question.  Will the contestants get to see that list, too?

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'Clay Zambo\' post=\'194474\' date=\'Aug 19 2008, 09:57 AM\']
I'm interested, too, in the listing of categories for each question.  Will the contestants get to see that list, too?[/quote]
This is the part I don't get. Since you always get to hear a question before deciding whether to answer or walk, I'm not sure how much help this would be to a contestant.

I must be missing something. Someone want to explain the strategic ramifications of this to me?

[chad1m]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'194476\' date=\'Aug 19 2008, 01:07 PM\']Someone want to explain the strategic ramifications of this to me?[/quote]You might be more inclined to risk it on a question you're not entirely sure of just to get to that next higher-value question, which is in your repertoire of expertise.

[Kevin Prather]

Here's what I think:

Clock on the questions - Both a good and bad idea. A time limit on the first ten, I'll absolutely agree with, but for me, part of the excitement of the last 5 questions is watching the contestant spend several minutes seesawing back and forth between different answers and the decisions to play or walk. Case in point: Ogi Ogas' $500k and $1M questions. You can say whatever you want about the guy, but you have to admit that those two questions were awfully suspenseful.

If it were me, I'd say 20 seconds for the first 5, 30 or 45 seconds for the next 5, and no time limit for the last 5. This will speed the game along, and either get contestants out of the game faster or to the big money faster.

New lifeline lineup - I like this. 50:50 was always, in my mind, a dubious lifeline because it was usually a straight gamble. At least with Phone a Friend and Ask the Audience, giving reasonable thought before using the lifeline will increase the lifeline's chance of effectiveness. Double Dip will accomplish the same goal as 50:50, only with more effectiveness.

I'm also glad that Switch the Question is going. I was never a fan of that lifeline, and seeing some people lose a lifeline because they decided to switch was a huge turn-off.

Ask the Expert looks like an interesting idea. We've seen the Three Wise Men lifeline work with mixed results. How will only One Wise (Wo)man turn out?

Millionaire Menu - This, to me, is the worst change they've made. In my opinion, part of the excitement is the moment of "Whoa, what the hell is that?" when some completely out-there question pops up. The only good I can see coming from this is the "menu" influencing the contestant's decisions. ("Well, I'll burn my last lifeline on this question because I really like the category for my next one.") Then again, I wonder if that's really a good thing.

All in all - Eh. I'll watch the premier, but I dunno.

[abba]

Is there more time to answer a question on the taping. And the time limit is just for the airing?

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'194480\' date=\'Aug 19 2008, 10:16 AM\']
You might be more inclined to risk it on a question you're not entirely sure of just to get to that next higher-value question, which is in your repertoire of expertise.[/quote]
That's ridiculous, considering that the subjects are vague enough that the next topic STILL might not be something you know.

It seems to me that looking past the current question is going to be a big budget saver for the production.

[Hastin]

I'm not bothered with the lifeline or menu. However, the time clock still irks me. After all, wasn't the goal of Millionaire to intimidate you, without any serious 'pressure'? The loud music in your ear, and risk of money. Now, there's this pressure of the time-clock. Too much pressure I say.

//Maybe I'm just bitter I blew the 1mil question on Play It! due to the time clock.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'Hastin\' post=\'194500\' date=\'Aug 19 2008, 12:25 PM\']
I'm not bothered with the lifeline or menu. However, the time clock still irks me. After all, wasn't the goal of Millionaire to intimidate you, without any serious 'pressure'? The loud music in your ear, and risk of money. Now, there's this pressure of the time-clock. Too much pressure I say.[/quote]
Has no damn idea what you are talking about.

[mxc0427]

From the article:

"After just a few days of taping, we've already noticed how having a clock on the questions, speeds up game play and builds tension-both with the contestants and the audience," says Davies. "The visual clock and this intense ticking sound reinforces the drama, making it that much more exciting."

I'm actually looking forward on how they are going to execute the timing. Will the stage lights flash with the ticking? How intense will the ticking sound be? I'm actually going to a taping next Tuesday, so I finally get to see how this pans out.

[toetyper]

from the link-

The "Millionaire Menu" reveals the categories of the contestant's 15 questions -- from "Scary Movies" to "SNL Characters" -- giving home viewers a sneak peek at what's coming up on the show/


to  me this means the contestants dont see the menu

[Ian Wallis]

Clock on the questions - Both a good and bad idea. A time limit on the first ten, I'll absolutely agree with, but for me, part of the excitement of the last 5 questions is watching the contestant spend several minutes seesawing back and forth between different answers and the decisions to play or walk.

I was going to say the same thing.  The first few questions I can understand why, maybe even up to the first 10; but only 45 seconds for the top tier?  I don't think there should be a limit at all on the last few questions, considering how much money you're potentially gambling with.  Even if there has to be a time limit, 45 seconds is way too short (IMHO).

I wonder if the ratings aren't as high as they were hoping to be by now and they figure these changes might increase intrest in the show again(?)

Still, it's just about my favorite show on the air and I'm looking forward to the new season.

[Robert Hutchinson]

I haven't watched Millionaire in quite a while, so it doesn't really affect me, but it seems a shame to get rid of the agonizing moments where a contestant is dying to lock in an answer but just isn't sure enough.

Obviously, the clock has to stop during at least the PaF and Ask the Expert lifelines. I wonder how many people will use them just to get that extra minute or so of thinking time?

And if one of the goals is to get rid of contestant silence, well, they may have broken it up into smaller chunks, but I'm sure as hell not going to chat with Meredith about what I think the answer might be while a clock is ticking.

[chad1m]

[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'194527\' date=\'Aug 19 2008, 06:34 PM\']Obviously, the clock has to stop during at least the PaF and Ask the Expert lifelines. I wonder how many people will use them just to get that extra minute or so of thinking time?[/quote]Well, here's a quote from user Bob Juch on the WWTBAM Bored:

 [quote name=\'Bob Juch\' date=\'July 31 2008\']The time didn't seem to bother most people. One person got down to just three seconds before using the PAF LL. After the time for the PAF expired, Meredith said, "Now you have just three seconds to answer." Then they started the 3 second clock. The HSer said, "X. blat, final answer" in time.[/quote]

[MrBuddwing]

[quote name=\'Kevin Prather\' post=\'194481\' date=\'Aug 19 2008, 01:21 PM\']
Here's what I think:

Clock on the questions - Both a good and bad idea. A time limit on the first ten, I'll absolutely agree with, but for me, part of the excitement of the last 5 questions is watching the contestant spend several minutes seesawing back and forth between different answers and the decisions to play or walk. Case in point: Ogi Ogas' $500k and $1M questions. You can say whatever you want about the guy, but you have to admit that those two questions were awfully suspenseful.

If it were me, I'd say 20 seconds for the first 5, 30 or 45 seconds for the next 5, and no time limit for the last 5. This will speed the game along, and either get contestants out of the game faster or to the big money faster.
[/quote]


I like your suggestion. I can appreciate people's complaints about slow game shows, and of course, WWTBaM is the slow show that started it all, but it's supposed to be leisurely paced. Running a clock on each question will undoubtedly speed things up, but I can't help think it will take some fun out of the game. I've enjoyed watching intelligent contestants reason things out and come up with the right - or wrong - answer, just as I've enjoyed watching some contestants spouting some very questionable logic and still staying in the game.

Besides, if I were ever to become a contestant myself (hope springs eternal, etc.), I would like to be able to take full advantage of the heavy tape editing and think things through, whether it's to come up with a "final answer" or something half-witty to say to Meredith Vieira.