Wednesday, April 22, 2009

'Millionaire' (and Regis) back on ABC this summer

"Who Wants to be a Millionaire" -- and original host Regis Philbin -- will return to prime time on ABC in August for a 10th anniversary special. According to the network, Philbin will be back to host the show on Sundays through Thursdays from Aug 9-23.

The show and its popular line "Is that your final answer?" quickly became a smash hit for ABC when it was first shown in the U.S. in 1999, drawing up to 30 million viewers per episode.

But ratings slid when the network programed it four nights a week, and it was canceled. A syndicated daytime version has aired in the U.S. since 2002, with Meredith Vieira as host.

Interest in the program has been revived by the success of the movie "Slumdog Millionaire", which won eight Oscars in February and is based on the Indian version of the TV quiz.

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2 comments:

Andre said...

Given our slumping economy, it's very well possible that some of the contestants on the show could be vying to become another "Slumdog Millionaire." The drama likely to be generated from those scenarios would make for some great primetime ratings.

Very smart move by ABC.

Deb Sistrunk Nelson said...

Andre: Excellent point. I agree.