RegisFan
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Post by RegisFan on Oct 23, 2013 1:34:14 GMT -5
Credit goes to Gagamillionaire for posting this in the Shout Box, but here's a dedicated thread for a topic that will likely stir a lot of emotions for many members here. Chris Tarrant is stepping down as the host of Millionaire in the UK, and the series is ending with his resignation.
The writing has been on the wall for a while now, but both Chris and the show that started a worldwide phenomenon will be greatly missed. The UK has been blessed to have the original series cranking out new episodes for all these years, even if the presentation has changed dramatically since the show's inception. Chris is very much a part of the show's charm, and, as sad as it is to see the end of UK Millionaire, I think it's probably wise to end the show with his departure. I doubt we've seen the last of the series in the UK forever, but, for now, let's pay our respects to the show that started it all and express our gratitude to the man who helped make Millionaire what it is. |
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Victor
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Post by Victor on Oct 23, 2013 3:21:08 GMT -5
That is truly the end of an era.
Millionaire is one of the few TV formats that have revolutionized TV. Just listen to the way the theme music is used during the show. Like a movie score, you hear it constantly with subtle transitions from one cut to another. It's used to tell the story of the contestants and their journey to the million dollar question. Most game shows used music just to be inject some happiness into the show. Today most game shows have copied Millionaire. That all started with Chris Tarrant and the British version.
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Kimarough
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Yup, still here!
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Post by Kimarough on Oct 23, 2013 4:03:02 GMT -5
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. One of the most blunt yet amazing names ever created. A name that caught peoples eye and wonder what it could be about, made people tune in and see. What they got was a show like no other, a show that made an atmosphere like no other, a show that inspired a legacy like no other. A legacy like mine. If it weren't for Millionaire, I wouldn't be the man I am today. None of this knowledge and none of the people I have met would have been in my future and I am thankful for it. I wouldn't have gotten the love for game shows and questions I would have today. I wouldn't be a part of this forum as it wouldn't of existed.
What I am trying to say is UK Millionaire will forever be a part of me and I thank Chris for all the years of entertainment and Knowledge he has given me.
Who Wants To Be a Millionaire
1998-2013 Thank you and may you inspire more.
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Post by boyardman on Oct 23, 2013 5:35:35 GMT -5
15 years, it's huge for this kind of TV show. It's clearly the end of an era in game show history.
WWTBAM (and Chris Tarrant) brings many things in the way of thinking about game shows, especially the drama, the importance of the lights, the musics, the "arena" set.
It's true that since 2010, in the US and the UK, the show has faltered, maybe owing to new kinds of game shows, like "The million Pound Drop" or panels game etc... In fact, the gameplay, the set, the broadcast frequency were revised but it might be the wrong way, I don't really know.
For the specific case of the UK WWTBAM, I think it's the best decision because the show was so
supported
by Chris Tarrant that it would have been difficult to find another host. He really embodied the game.
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wwtbamfan
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Post by wwtbamfan on Oct 23, 2013 5:40:14 GMT -5
Ahh, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The game was very simple, just answer 15 multiple-choice questions, and you're a millionaire. It seems like the easiest way to win a million. In fact, I think there's a 1/60 chance of winning a million if you guessed.Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? was a show of great fun. To seeing people like John Carpenter win the million and his phone call to his dad (yeah, we all remember that one, right?) and seeing the answers for D in the first 5 rounds just makes the show the great show it was. I hope US Millionaire and other versions don't get cancelled... but as for the UK Millionaire, it's been a good 15 years. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was the best game show. Zachary wwtbamfan  EDIT: There's a 1/1,073,741,824 chance of winning a million.  Thanks kplewisvox! |
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Post by Misp on Oct 23, 2013 7:30:18 GMT -5
"We've still got several Celebrity specials coming up and we certainly want CT to go out with a bang! News coming soon!"
I hope that the last episode will be fantastic. I can't belive that this is the end of that show and in some way an era... 15 fantastic years with Chris...
We have to watch every new episode and of course the last one...
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FrankT
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Post by FrankT on Oct 23, 2013 9:58:07 GMT -5
Oh dear. That signals a period of mourning for a whole nation. Now that the UK has fallen... the rest of the world must surely follow.
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woowho
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Post by woowho on Oct 23, 2013 11:24:40 GMT -5
You can't deny that Millionaire changed not just the genre, but the world. I mean, think about it--when Millionaire premiered in 1998, that was just three years removed from the cancellation of Bullseye, which was doling out maybe several hundred pounds (plus some--let's face it--crappy prizes) to winning couples every week. Blockbusters (cancelled in 1994) was still doling out £5 a question. Bruce's Price is Right wasn't exactly knocking on the budget doors of the American version, either. Countdown and 15-to-1 weren't paying a penny to their winners. (Countdown still isn't.)
And then, along comes Millionaire and it breaks down the door when it comes to top prizes.
Think of what's come after it. Deal or No Deal with its £250,000 jackpot. The Million Pound Drop. The Chase, with its potential for a huge payout. Pointless...well, it's giving away more than Countdown is. You couldn't have those shows playing for pocket money these days, because Millionaire basically made it cool to give boatloads of money away.
And we'd definitely be a lot poorer--both on TV and in the wallet--without it.
Also to think about--what other show has been sold to over 100 countries? The fact that basically anyone will answer the simple question, "Who wants to be a millionaire?" in the affirmative, appeals to basically everybody. Weakest Link is the only other one I can think of that might come remotely close, but no show has ever had the global impact that Millionaire has had.
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woowho
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Post by woowho on Oct 23, 2013 19:41:57 GMT -5
Jeez, it's like you're talking about Tarrant like he died or something. Let's not lose sight of the fact that he's only stepped down. Ah, Play It. I said this in my introduction thread, but I once went to all the shows in a single day just trying to get into the Hot Seat. No such luck then, but when I go back for the first show the next day, my then-9-year-old sister gets in the chair! |
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Post by kplewisvox on Oct 26, 2013 23:44:54 GMT -5
Ahh, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The game was very simple, just answer 15 multiple-choice questions, and you're a millionaire. It seems like the easiest way to win a million. In fact, I think there's a 1/60 chance of winning a million if you guessed. Nope. The way to figure it is a 1/4 chance to the 15th power, not times 15. 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/4, etc. Comes in at 1/1,073,741,824. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2013 0:15:16 GMT -5
^Still a better chance than me getting a girlfriend |
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wwtbamfan
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Zachary
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Post by wwtbamfan on Oct 27, 2013 8:07:27 GMT -5
Ahh, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The game was very simple, just answer 15 multiple-choice questions, and you're a millionaire. It seems like the easiest way to win a million. In fact, I think there's a 1/60 chance of winning a million if you guessed. Nope. The way to figure it is a 1/4 chance to the 15th power, not times 15. 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/4, etc. Comes in at 1/1,073,741,824. You're right. But that's a really small chance of getting a million. Heck, if you guessed, you would've gotten a 1/1024 chance of getting just $1,000! Zachary wwtbamfan |
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Tim0n
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Post by Tim0n on Oct 27, 2013 9:12:19 GMT -5
^Still a better chance than me getting a girlfriend Join the club!  Not to go completely off-topic though, let me just say that I am sort of happy to see Millionaire go with Chris leaving, as opposed to trying to find a different host. It's a bit silly, but after 15 years we got used to Chris' style and anybody else would cause the show to flop. Of course, WWTBAM is a brilliant format and we're all sad to see it go, but maybe this is the right time for it to happen. We will see what the future will bring us. |
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RegisFan
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Post by RegisFan on Nov 6, 2013 17:55:00 GMT -5
Here's an interesting article. Apparently, Chris thinks that the decline of WWTBAM in the UK is due to a decrease in risk-taking during the recession. While I certainly do think that affected WWTBAM across the globe, I can't help but think that the change in presentation might have played an even bigger factor.
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woowho
Hot Seat Survivor
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Post by woowho on Nov 8, 2013 0:01:10 GMT -5
If he's complaining about that, he should've seen the US version prior to Super Mix.
But he's right. Nobody's really had the cojones to go for it on either side of the pond, and the only reason we got a MDQ here in the States recently was because she skipped two questions late in the game...something you can't do anywhere else in the world.
The other factor, too--maybe the questions have just gotten harder/more obscure/more trashy pop culture nonsense?
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) I guess the next on will be Poland then...
