The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: mathwhiz on May 02, 2010, 03:50:46 PM
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Just for fun, if you could create a new lifetime for Who Wants to be a Millionaire - what would it be? I'm not saying I think they really need to add another one, but just was wondering what other lifelines they could add if they wanted to.
I would say to add an "Extra Time" option that you earn after the first 5 questions. You could pick this option to give you an extra 30 seconds of time on your clock. This 30 seconds would come from your banked time (if you didn't bank 30 seconds yet, you would get what was in your bank). That way if you still think you can figure out an answer but just need a few more seconds, you could get it. Also, this would give contestants a chance at using some of that banked time since so few get to the million dollar question.
So - what lifeline would you create?
Rich
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Ask Meredith.
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"Time Bank". At any time you can use it, and *all* the banked time goes for the current question.
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"Look At A Damn Map".
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Time Out
At any point from the third tier on, the contestant can get unlimited time on one question, just like in the old days. As for the time bank, at whatever point the contestant calls for his or her Time Out is the amount of time added to the bank.
Double Time
Contestant can double the amount of time on the clock, which goes into effect whenever the contestant asks. The only potential problem I see is that the show would probably have to adopt a millisecond clock, in the event of a contestant asking for this lifeline with an odd number of seconds remaining... No potential problem, I'm just an idiot. ;-) :-P
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Google It!
Contestant gets 30 seconds of internet time. Lets face it, most people couldn't pour piss out of a boot if instructions were printed on the heel, so this won't be as easy as most people think, look how many times it failed on PAF, which is why they should bring that one back.
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Time Out is an excellent one.
Ask Meredith would be a messy one, because if she gives an answer and it's wrong, it would make her look bad. (Especially if she pulls a "Rebar" and says she's positive about an answer and she ends up being wrong.) That's not terribly good TV.
I wouldn't mind seeing Switch the Question come back, with one change: the contestant gives them some sort of specialty category (like the ones from Debt) and the current question is replaced with one from that category.
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- Call Herb Stempel (self explanatory). I was going to say Call Dr. Bergen Evans but inasmuch as he's dead, that wouldn't work very well.
- Ask the Little Genius - ask an eight-year-old genius. Unfortunately, the Little Genius may already have been given the answers by the producer, possibly resulting in legal entanglements, so that one's out.
- Lower the Bubble - ABC may still have the giant plastic bubble used on 100 Grand. It may help contestants think better. Or not.
- Here's the Encyclopedia; Look It Up - also self explanatory.
This one isn't applicable to WWTBAM because it doesn't have an isolation booth, but there's
- Turn the Air Conditioning Back On, Please - air conditioning is restored to the isolation booth. The improved air circulation helps contestants remember the answers they had been given by Mr. Enright.
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'240217\' date=\'May 2 2010, 03:22 PM\']Time Out
At any point from the third tier on, the contestant can get unlimited time on one question, just like in the old days. As for the time bank, at whatever point the contestant calls for his or her Time Out is the amount of time added to the bank.
Double Time
Contestant can double the amount of time on the clock, which goes into effect whenever the contestant asks. The only potential problem I see is that the show would probably have to adopt a millisecond clock, in the event of a contestant asking for this lifeline with an odd number of seconds remaining...[/quote]
I like "Time Out" I was thinking of that name or "Stop the Clock!" as the name. I also like "Google It." Another one I was thinking of was similar to ATA where an audience member could tell you the answer if they knew it by either hitting a button on the ATA keypad and they'd selection someone that knew to answer it.
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[quote name=\'ten96lt\' post=\'240229\' date=\'May 2 2010, 05:03 PM\']Another one I was thinking of was similar to ATA where an audience member could tell you the answer if they knew it by either hitting a button on the ATA keypad and they'd selection someone that knew to answer it.[/quote]
Which is great until that audience member blows it for the contestant, and is afraid to leave the studio alone.
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[quote name=\'ten96lt\' post=\'240229\' date=\'May 2 2010, 08:03 PM\']Another one I was thinking of was similar to ATA where an audience member could tell you the answer if they knew it by either hitting a button on the ATA keypad and they'd selection someone that knew to answer it.[/quote]
Already available in the German version (see it in action there (http://\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY4kSKA4LX8&feature=related\")), if you elect to remove the second safety level. Lifeline allows the audience members that think they've got the right answer to stand up, contestant choose one of them who explain his choice , then they may confer a little, ala Ask The Expert. Would the audience member be right , he's awarded a 500€ prize.
About the time-extender lifelines ... wouldn't they just most of the time lead to diastrous moments like the million-dollar lose from last summer ? Freezing clock would be a better solution.
As for ideas of new lifelines :
Ask MY Expert - basically ATE, but you choose the "Expert" from one of your relatives - making it a PAF , without the 30-sec clock and Google. Fair enough ?
Trade Up - allows you to exchange the upcoming question with one from an higher level of your choice , if you think one of the future categories from the Millionaire Menu would be easier to play with.
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'240217\' date=\'May 2 2010, 03:22 PM\']Double Time
Contestant can double the amount of time on the clock, which goes into effect whenever the contestant asks. The only potential problem I see is that the show would probably have to adopt a millisecond clock, in the event of a contestant asking for this lifeline with an odd number of seconds remaining...[/quote]
Double 23 is 46... why the need for fractions of a second? Or am I not understanding?
I've pondered the concept of an absolute clock. The contestant has eight minutes at the top of the show and the clock runs from the time Meredith finishes the options to the time the contestant says "Final answer," including uses of lifelines.
With the current set-up, I like the idea of tapping from banked time in one form or another.
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Buy a Clue.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'240240\' date=\'May 2 2010, 07:07 PM\']Buy a Clue.[/quote]Would it still be $250 per clue, or would you adjust for inflation? :)
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[quote name=\'dale_grass\' post=\'240239\' date=\'May 2 2010, 10:05 PM\'][quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'240217\' date=\'May 2 2010, 03:22 PM\']Double Time
Contestant can double the amount of time on the clock, which goes into effect whenever the contestant asks. The only potential problem I see is that the show would probably have to adopt a millisecond clock, in the event of a contestant asking for this lifeline with an odd number of seconds remaining...[/quote]
Double 23 is 46... why the need for fractions of a second? Or am I not understanding?
[/quote]
It just hit me how badly I suck at math (hence me majoring in journalism), and that I somehow confused multiplication with division (sheesh-I blame sleep deprivation).
/Thanks to all who like Time Out
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'240212\' date=\'May 2 2010, 12:55 PM\']Ask Meredith.[/quote]
Over in one.
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Here's one: Crapshoot. You roll two giant dice onto the floor. If they come up 7 or 11, they just give you the answer. 2, 3 or 12 is the same as a wrong answer. The rest, you gain or lose nothing.
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Time Machine
Allows the contestant to revert to original Millionaire rules and lifelines when he/she tires of the current format. May only be used once.
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[quote name=\'phvHounds2010\' post=\'240295\' date=\'May 3 2010, 06:40 PM\']Time Machine
Allows the contestant to revert to original Millionaire rules and lifelines when he/she tires of the current format. May only be used once.[/quote]"This is for $500..."
"I'd like to use my Time Machine lifeline, please."
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[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'240297\' date=\'May 3 2010, 10:09 PM\'][quote name=\'phvHounds2010\' post=\'240295\' date=\'May 3 2010, 06:40 PM\']Time Machine
Allows the contestant to revert to original Millionaire rules and lifelines when he/she tires of the current format. May only be used once.[/quote]"This is for $500..."
"I'd like to use my Time Machine lifeline, please."[/quote]
Cue Philip J. Fry seeing what you did right about now.
Assuming the rules include the original money ladder values, I'd play it on question 13, making the $100K question worth $125K, risking $25K to win $75K.
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[quote name=\'mathwhiz\' post=\'240211\' date=\'May 2 2010, 12:50 PM\']Just for fun, if you could create a new lifetime for Who Wants to be a Millionaire - what would it be?[/quote]
I would create a lifetime in which I am the creator of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," which is a much better way to make money than being a contestant.
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No one's asking for an "I Win" button? Surprising.
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[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'240305\' date=\'May 3 2010, 11:24 PM\']No one's asking for an "I Win" button? Surprising.[/quote]
I prefer the Any Key.
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[quote name=\'Speedy G\' post=\'240306\' date=\'May 3 2010, 11:40 PM\'][quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'240305\' date=\'May 3 2010, 11:24 PM\']No one's asking for an "I Win" button? Surprising.[/quote]
I prefer the Any Key.
[/quote]
Any key I don't see an Any key? I have Esk(Esc) Kitarawl (Ctrl), Pig Up, Pig Dunn (Pg up, Pg Dn) Num lock (..really?), uh... a wavy flag thingy, Siss Reck? (Sys Rq) what the hell is a Sys Rq? meh forget it matbe I'll pause for a break (hits Pause/Break) (^_^)
ok ok... Really As for for mine, the first is R-Rated
F--- the Rules: It basically throws the rules out the window. Especially useful if you're in a double dip situation . Like this guy in this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjGwO189Lb4 (http://\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjGwO189Lb4\")
YOINK!: Use this when the host Show you the next check the you could win.
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'240247\' date=\'May 3 2010, 12:10 AM\']/Thanks to all who like Time Out[/quote]
....and I'm surprised a certain somebody hasn't compared this to a Wonderwall pit stop :)
/there goes my over-under
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OVER THE SHOULDER
You get to ask the person in the relationship chair what they think the answer is. (Similar to Second Chance on 21-2000.)
/used the same name as the 'net Millionaire lifeline
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I like Dave Barry's suggestion from a column he wrote back when the show first premiered: "You have the 50/50, Ask the audience, or you can have me shout out the correct answer, like this: 'IT'S D, YOU MORON!'"
In all seriousness, I'd advocate a return of the 'Switch the Question' lifeline, but with a twist. The contestant gives the show what s/he thinks are their three best categories before the show, and when s/he chooses to change the question, it's swapped out with a question from one of these areas. Call it 'Hey, remember that Wink Martindale show 'Debt?' That was pretty cool.' Or maybe just Switch the Question again.
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25:75, taking away three incorrect answers.
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Here's my concept.
"Double Time" (Not to be confused with a concept from earlier in the thread with the same name)
This lifeline would be earned after the completing the first 10 questions (i.e. reaching the $25,000 level in the U.S. version). Its primary purpose would be to revive a lifeline used on a prior question at a cost of speeding up the clock in "double time" for the remainder of the game, thus halving the time the contestant has to answer the questions. The idea here would be sacrifice game clock time in order to use a lifeline a second time to possibly further themselves in the game. This could have several different strategic applications depending on the contestant's mindset.
There also can be an incentive tied to this lifeline as well, if a contestant does not use any of their lifelines by the time they reach the Million Dollar Question (a la John Carpenter), the contestant can then use the "Double Time" lifeline to double their time they have to answer the question.
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My idea for A Sponsored Lifeline:
"Grab a Sandwich sponsored by Quiznos" - Feeling "toasted" by a question? Stop the clock and get a commerical break to enjoy a hot and toasted Quiznos sandwich.
Now that's delicious, and game changing. :p
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[quote name=\'Jumpondees\' post=\'240365\' date=\'May 4 2010, 07:42 PM\']"Double Time" (Not to be confused with a concept from earlier in the thread with the same name)
This lifeline would be earned after the completing the first 10 questions (i.e. reaching the $25,000 level in the U.S. version). Its primary purpose would be to revive a lifeline used on a prior question at a cost of speeding up the clock in "double time" for the remainder of the game, thus halving the time the contestant has to answer the questions.[/quote]
<click>
"Hey, Cletus? Why's that clock running fast?"
"I dunno, Brandine. What's on Judge Judy?"
<click>
(In other words: way too convoluted.)
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'240389\' date=\'May 5 2010, 01:18 PM\']<click>
"Hey, Cletus? Why's that clock running fast?"
"I dunno, Brandine. What's on Judge Judy?"
<click>
(In other words: way too convoluted.)[/quote]
You're assuming Cletus "grad-jee-ated" primary school and knows what a clock is. :-)
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Last week on a lark, I pointed my browser to hulu.com and watched the first several episodes of the show, and remembered what hooked me in the first place. A simple game being played for life-changing money by a cross-section of America. Regis would explain the rules of the game "the more questions you get right, the more money you'll win" and he went over the three lifelines in detail that would seem absurd ten years later, but back then, the idea that you could get that sort of help was revolutionary.
I don't know whether it is funny, sad or somewhere in between that we're trying to "fix" a show that was not broken for a long long time.
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[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'240436\' date=\'May 5 2010, 09:53 PM\']I don't know whether it is funny, sad or somewhere in between that we're trying to "fix" a show that was not broken for a long long time.[/quote]
From a viewer standpoint, the show was not broken. However, from a production standpoint, the open-ended questions could be a taping nightmare. I get the point of the clock, and updating the money tree. They've only messed with the lifelines because they didn't want to make it too easy. The only problem is that they made it too hard.
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The Staples "Easy" button. Hit it and your question is replaced with a $100 level question. That was easy.
Instant Safe Zone. You can make the last question you asked a safe zone but you lose the option to quit after hearing the question for the next two questions.
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[quote name=\'Hastin\' post=\'240440\' date=\'May 6 2010, 03:04 AM\']From a viewer standpoint, the show was not broken. However, from a production standpoint, the open-ended questions could be a taping nightmare. I get the point of the clock, and updating the money tree. They've only messed with the lifelines because they didn't want to make it too easy. The only problem is that they made it too hard.[/quote]
Agreed...I remember reading reports that contestants were taking almost an hour to answer just one question. To me, it's like a math exam; you can spend all the time in the world deliberating on the answer, but you either know it or you don't. I like the clock for that reason.
However, I still dislike the fact that the clock starts as soon as the choices are read, and Meredith's reading eats away at the time a bit. Plus, you get semi-obnoxious contestants like that guy who kept interrupting Meredith earlier this season. I'd have her read the four choices then say, "Ready...Go!"
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Longshot!
Contestant draws from a deck of 3 cards, 1 of which skips him/her ahead to the million dollar question and 2 of which drop the contestant to the last safe level and ends the game.
/As long as we're being unrealistic... :P
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[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'240444\' date=\'May 6 2010, 04:32 AM\']Instant Safe Zone. You can make the last question you asked a safe zone but you lose the option to quit after hearing the question for the next two questions.[/quote]
That's actually pretty interesting! I'd adjust it to "until the next safe haven" rather than the next two questions. That could raise an interesting decision: Make $100,000 a safe haven, but agree to answer every remaining question up to the million. Would you do it?
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[quote name=\'Kevin Prather\' post=\'240471\' date=\'May 6 2010, 04:10 PM\']Would you do it?[/quote]Make the tree ($100k)-$100k-$100k-$1m?
Pass. :)
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[quote name=\'Kevin Prather\' post=\'240471\' date=\'May 6 2010, 07:10 PM\'][quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'240444\' date=\'May 6 2010, 04:32 AM\']Instant Safe Zone. You can make the last question you asked a safe zone but you lose the option to quit after hearing the question for the next two questions.[/quote]
That's actually pretty interesting! I'd adjust it to "until the next safe haven" rather than the next two questions. That could raise an interesting decision: Make $100,000 a safe haven, but agree to answer every remaining question up to the million. Would you do it?
[/quote]
Honestly, even with the "contract", I prolly would, knowing I'm still walking out with a six-figure payday. However, $100,000 is still pretty darn life-changing, but dropping down to $100,000 doesn't sting as much as losing another $75,000 on top of it. At the very least, I'd consider the $100K safety net compared to the $25K.
I had an idea for implementing a safety net, but just didn't know how to execute it. I think I simply had it to where you just told Meredith you wanted to use that as your net, nothing more, nothing less. However, I like the Good Doctor's suggestion as well. The more I think about it, the more I like it. Here's a modification: you can't quit through the rest of the tier...would some good strategy, you implement the safety net after your fourth question of that tier, that way, you're only obligated to the one question...
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'240473\' date=\'May 6 2010, 06:24 PM\'][quote name=\'Kevin Prather\' post=\'240471\' date=\'May 6 2010, 07:10 PM\'][quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'240444\' date=\'May 6 2010, 04:32 AM\']Instant Safe Zone. You can make the last question you asked a safe zone but you lose the option to quit after hearing the question for the next two questions.[/quote]
That's actually pretty interesting! I'd adjust it to "until the next safe haven" rather than the next two questions. That could raise an interesting decision: Make $100,000 a safe haven, but agree to answer every remaining question up to the million. Would you do it?
[/quote]
Honestly, even with the "contract", I prolly would, knowing I'm still walking out with a six-figure payday. However, $100,000 is still pretty darn life-changing, but dropping down to $100,000 doesn't sting as much as losing another $75,000 on top of it. At the very least, I'd consider the $100K safety net compared to the $25K.
I had an idea for implementing a safety net, but just didn't know how to execute it. I think I simply had it to where you just told Meredith you wanted to use that as your net, nothing more, nothing less. However, I like the Good Doctor's suggestion as well. The more I think about it, the more I like it. Here's a modification: you can't quit through the rest of the tier...would some good strategy, you implement the safety net after your fourth question of that tier, that way, you're only obligated to the one question...
[/quote]
Would get very interesting if the contestant did it when the stakes got higher. For example you make $250K your safe haven making the $500K a free guess, but you have to gamble $250K to win the $1 Million. Could make for some exciting T.V.
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Phone a friend+ Ask the Expert.
Here's my thought. You bring your 5 friends to NY with you, they sit backstage. When you want to use the phone a friend, they're all backstage, no google or anything allowed. It then becomes an Ask the Expert type skype video call. That way they can bring Phone a Friend back and still keep their integrity. Producers out there? Are you reading? Hello?
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That's essentially how they do it in Australia - your companion is also your PaF, sequestered backstage and with a camera on them for when the time is needed to call upon them.
Why they didn't think of doing something like that instead of dumping the whole concept is rather puzzling. Either complaint with the Lifeline as it existed before (production costs, the Google factor) would be remedied with that.
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[quote name=\'Loogaroo\' post=\'240547\' date=\'May 9 2010, 03:11 AM\']Why they didn't think of doing something like that instead of dumping the whole concept is rather puzzling. Either complaint with the Lifeline as it existed before (production costs, the Google factor) would be remedied with that.[/quote]
Since the beginning of the syndicated run, when players suddenly had to pay their own way out to NY, how often do you see a contestant even bring a companion?
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Ask A Friend-You can contact a friend via Skype instead of an expert, this way you can be sure that your friend isn't using Google or anything like that.
Category Change-Similar to Jump The Question, except you get to change the question to a category of your choice.
Three Best Friends-Similar to Three Wise Men, three friends of the contestant each give they're own answers to the question.
I'd also like their to be a "Last Chance" for the final quesiton like there was in the US version of "It's Your Chance Of A Lifetime" If the contestant used up all their lifelines, they could re-use one lifeline of their choice, the catch is they'd be locked into answering the question if they used Last Chance.
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1) Why would I object to my friend using Google?
2) Your posting history suggests that you have a serious stiffy for Gordon Elliot.
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1) Why would I object to my friend using Google?
2) Your posting history suggests that you have a serious stiffy for Gordon Elliot.
I know you wouldn't object, but the producers certainly would, that's the whole reason why Phone A Friend got removed. Ask A Friend would eliminate that possiblity while still keeping everybody happy.
I'm pretty sure "Lifetime" wasn't the only show to have a "Last Chance" option, but it's the first one I thought of, and it would definitely come in handy.
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I'm pretty sure "Lifetime" wasn't the only show to have a "Last Chance" option, but it's the first one I thought of, and it would definitely come in handy.
Ooh, ooh ooh! Pick me!
If there was another show that had the last chance option, I've never heard of it. Can you name some? I've got plenty of time.
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I'm pretty sure "Lifetime" wasn't the only show to have a "Last Chance" option, but it's the first one I thought of, and it would definitely come in handy.
Ooh, ooh ooh! Pick me!
If there was another show that had the last chance option, I've never heard of it. Can you name some? I've got plenty of time.
I only said I was pretty sure, not 100% sure. The revival of TwentyOne did have the Second Chance lifeline, but that's about all I could find.
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I only said I was pretty sure, not 100% sure. The revival of TwentyOne did have the Second Chance lifeline, but that's about all I could find.
But that isn't allowing you to re-use a lifeline that you already had, which was the point of Last Chance.
Still got tons of time.