Ten years ago, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire graced the US airwaves. It marked the beginning of an avalanche of reality programming that started from across the Pacific (including Dancing with the Stars, and that beast American Idol). It was a downright phenomenon, capturing the attention of nation. Unfortunately, ABC bashed America over the head with Millionaire so often that it eventually burnt out. Can you say overexposure?
Ten years later ABC is bringing back the show (including host Regis Philbin) for a two week event. Does anyone care?
Now, I was a Millionaire fan back in 1999. As a huge trivia nerd, I thought it was pretty awesome and used to watch it with my family. However, over time I grew annoyed with the small flaws in the show: the stupidly easy questions at the beginning, “final answer,” the faux-drama created through lights and music, and… Regis. God Bless him, even the Rege started to drive me nuts after a while. Long story short, my lifetime quota of Millionaire has been filled, and then some. Night after night of the show just wore me down and eventually, I wasn’t interested anymore, not in the least.
Now it’s ten years later and I still don’t want to watch Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. I can’t help wondering if I’m alone here. Is there anyone really excited about this? I mean, if you were some kind of superfan you could have been watching the show in syndication, or maybe just bought yourself a copy of Slumdog Millionaire and watched it over and over again.
So what do you think, are you excited for more Millionaire, or are you like me and you just don’t care?
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Aug 06, 2009 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
Yawn….
Not really but the show is a game show and not a reality program.
You’re right, but I could argue Survivor and American Idol are game shows too, though I don’t think I would. It would be a weak argument at best.
“Unscripted” probably would have been a better term, as it’s a show in primetime that takes up a slot that could be going to some quality drama or sitcom. I hate the term “unscripted” though… just sounds like a euphamism to me.
A game show to me you need to have some common sense, Survivor and American Idol you don’t need either.
Common sense? Clearly you’ve never seen Wheel of Fortune or Deal or No Deal, you don’t need that for either of those…
Wheel of Fortune you have to have common sense, I have seen people with every letter but one and they will look confused as all hell and then ask for a Z. lol
Deal or no deal isn’t a game show, it’s a ripoff of a minigame from Price is Right.
Yes, I’m excited….although I’ll probably be flipping back and forth watching something else if they are still giving them so long to answer (that’s what I do for “Fifth Grader”). I watch those shows, and Jeopardy, to answer the questions myself. I only occasionally watch the syndicated Millionaire because of work, so I’m looking forward to Primetime Millionaire.
Nah, but I have been waiting for Moment of Truth to return; what the hell?!?