Author Topic: Millionaire just isin't the same (Read 7684 times)

abba · « **on:** December 03, 2009, 02:08:34 AM »

Without the Phone a freind.Basically there are only 2 lifelines since Double Dip you must go for it. I think the show is really cheap.Anyone agree?

parliboy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2009, 11:46:31 AM »

[quote name=\'abba\' post=\'231541\' date=\'Dec 3 2009, 01:08 AM\']Without the Phone a freind.Basically there are only 2 lifelines since Double Dip you must go for it. I think the show is really cheap.Anyone agree?[/quote]

"Really cheap" is a relative term. Am I willing to buy Buzzerblog's line that the change was made with budget in mind? Yes. Does that mean the show is cheap? Not by any stretch.

Consider: I go on with my family on Family Feud. We win every game, and every fast money. Then we sell the car.
Expected total winnings ~$125,000.
Winnings per appearance = $25,000.

I go on Millionaire, and answer 10 questions correctly.
Total winnings $25,000.
Winnings per appearance = $25,000 (in less than one show).

Also: we just finished a tournament that was designed to (virtually) guarantee a million dollar win. Call it hackneyed if you want, but it certainly wasn't cheap.

abba · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2009, 03:54:37 PM »

What really bothers me is that there will be less $25,000 winners, due to the lost lifeline.

sotcfan2004 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2009, 05:08:45 PM »

I have to agree. Not cheap, just basically tougher to win. The reasoning for ditching PAF was that, because many of the PAF contacts were Googling the answers, the integrity of the game was being compromised. Players can still win a bundle; they'll just have to work harder to get it.

clemon79 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2009, 05:18:23 PM »

[quote name=\'sotcfan2004\' post=\'231568\' date=\'Dec 3 2009, 02:08 PM\']The reasoning for ditching PAF was that, because many of the PAF contacts were Googling the answers, the integrity of the game was being compromised.[/quote]
Which is cowcrap. The ability to quickly and accurately Google an answer in less than 30 seconds is in itself a pretty significant feat.

MizzouRah! · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2009, 06:36:07 PM »

Millionaire isn't appointment TV for me, so a couple questions...First, did the non-PAF eps begin w/ this week's Regis hosted shows? And, was there any mention of the lack of PAF?

parliboy · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2009, 07:53:28 PM »

[quote name=\'abba\' post=\'231565\' date=\'Dec 3 2009, 02:54 PM\']What really bothers me is that there will be less $25,000 winners, due to the lost lifeline.[/quote]

Well, yeah. But you're ignoring part of the budget issue. Answering question 10 awards you with a free look at question 11.

As to integrity of the game, that shipped sailed as a long time ago. Also, if you're someone who thinks the clock is important to the game, then PaF is damaging in a way, since it slows the game the most, and gives the contestant more time to think.

To that end, my vote for a lifeline would be one that does nothing but extend the clock by one minute. No help, just a bit more time to reason.

J.R. · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2009, 09:00:48 PM »

If they have to constantly gut and trim the game due to budgetary concerns, I'm all for just canceling the show.

Hey, it's been a great run. 10 years isn't bad, I'm not complaining.

petek66 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2009, 01:29:23 AM »

[quote name=\'J.R.\' post=\'231583\' date=\'Dec 3 2009, 08:00 PM\']If they have to constantly gut and trim the game due to budgetary concerns, I'm all for just canceling the show.

Hey, it's been a great run. 10 years isn't bad, I'm not complaining.[/quote]

I think Millionaire is still going strong. The spiffed up graphics, music, and the pre-title
contestant introduction bring back some of the energy of the primetime show for me at least.

And as much as I disliked some of the other stunts shows have pulled to give away the big
prize this Million Dollar Tournament did end up generating some serious suspense at the end.
I miss the classic lifelines but I'm still watching.

clemon79 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2009, 03:48:08 AM »

[quote name=\'petek66\' post=\'231592\' date=\'Dec 3 2009, 10:29 PM\']this Million Dollar Tournament did end up generating some serious suspense at the end.[/quote]
In what WORLD is "I quit. #7 wins." suspenseful AT ALL?

petek66 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2009, 11:16:03 AM »

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'231596\' date=\'Dec 4 2009, 02:48 AM\'][quote name=\'petek66\' post=\'231592\' date=\'Dec 3 2009, 10:29 PM\']this Million Dollar Tournament did end up generating some serious suspense at the end.[/quote]
In what WORLD is "I quit. #7 wins." suspenseful AT ALL?
[/quote]

Did you even see the program? She was hovering over the right answer,
down to the final ten seconds. A simple "C Final Answer" and she wins a
MILLION DOLLARS and another guy loses a MILLION DOLLARS in the same
moment. Maybe they should have cut to a commercial with a "we'll find out
the answer... RIGHT AFTER THIS" and today's audiences would find it
suspenseful.

Offshored2007 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2009, 12:27:12 PM »

[quote name=\'petek66\' post=\'231602\' date=\'Dec 4 2009, 11:16 AM\'][quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'231596\' date=\'Dec 4 2009, 02:48 AM\'][quote name=\'petek66\' post=\'231592\' date=\'Dec 3 2009, 10:29 PM\']this Million Dollar Tournament did end up generating some serious suspense at the end.[/quote]
In what WORLD is "I quit. #7 wins." suspenseful AT ALL?
[/quote]

Did you even see the program? She was hovering over the right answer,
down to the final ten seconds. A simple "C Final Answer" and she wins a
MILLION DOLLARS and another guy loses a MILLION DOLLARS in the same
moment. Maybe they should have cut to a commercial with a "we'll find out
the answer... RIGHT AFTER THIS" and today's audiences would find it
suspenseful.
[/quote]
Wasn't it the 8th seeded person who won the million? No pure millionaire winner since 2003 in the syndicated version. The tournament of 10 was cute, but a gimmick, and for the lone person who went for it and got it right, almost wasn't awarded.

MikeK · « **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2009, 04:39:02 PM »

[quote name=\'petek66\' post=\'231602\' date=\'Dec 4 2009, 11:16 AM\'][quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'231596\' date=\'Dec 4 2009, 02:48 AM\'][quote name=\'petek66\' post=\'231592\' date=\'Dec 3 2009, 10:29 PM\']this Million Dollar Tournament did end up generating some serious suspense at the end.[/quote]
In what WORLD is "I quit. #7 wins." suspenseful AT ALL?
[/quote]

Did you even see the program?[/quote]
I did. The #1 seed hemming and hawing over whether to play or not, then choosing to walk is not great TV. A contrived $1M winner < > suspenseful or good TV.

xavier45 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2009, 04:44:46 PM »

[quote name=\'petek66\' post=\'231602\' date=\'Dec 4 2009, 11:16 AM\'][quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'231596\' date=\'Dec 4 2009, 02:48 AM\'][quote name=\'petek66\' post=\'231592\' date=\'Dec 3 2009, 10:29 PM\']this Million Dollar Tournament did end up generating some serious suspense at the end.[/quote]
In what WORLD is "I quit. #7 wins." suspenseful AT ALL?
[/quote]

Did you even see the program?
[/quote]
I saw it, and was not excited at all.

I agree with Chris on this one. Having someone say "I don't know the answer", and then "Okay, Sam wins the Million". Nothing exciting, or suspenseful about any of it.

clemon79 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 04, 2009, 05:45:41 PM »

[quote name=\'petek66\' post=\'231602\' date=\'Dec 4 2009, 08:16 AM\']Maybe they should have cut to a commercial with a "we'll find out
the answer... RIGHT AFTER THIS" and today's audiences would find it
suspenseful.[/quote]
No, because the moment I cite (and #7, #8, #42, I could really give a rat's ass who it actually was) is complete garbage TV no matter how many commercial breaks you front-load in front of it in a pathetic attempt to make it interesting.