BREAKING: Cedric the Entertainer one-and-done as host

Seems odd that they're moving Millionaire to Connecticut, even if it is for budget reasons. Wasn't Family Feud moved to Connecticut too?

Apparently Terry Crews is set to host. I'm ok with this. Terry is awesome in everything I've seen him in.

www.deadline.com/2014/04/terry-crews-host-who-wants-to-be-millionaire/

This is really surprising news, especially when you consider all of those reports that Cedric had signed a multi-year deal as host. The production has spent a lot of money marketing Cedric as the new host, and the ratings have improved. I'm surprised he'd walk away so soon.

I'm not sure how reliable the reports of Terry Crews being Cedric's replacement are, but I have to admit that I think he'd be a fairly good host. He's funny and charismatic and would maintain a high energy level. I will, however, always miss the days of veteran broadcasters bringing an extra layer of professionalism to the show.

I'm also shocked that the production is leaving New York. The show is so synonymous with New York that it's hard to imagine it taping anywhere else. It's certainly much cheaper to tape in Connecticut, and I hope the cost savings trickle down into the production values of the show. Disney would be wise to take this opportunity to change the format (or at least the presentation) to more closely resemble the way that the series was prior to the Shuffle format, although I doubt we'll see that happen. I'd really love to hear the classic music again, though, at the very least.

Maybe it's because they want Regis to host, and maybe he lives near Connecticut?
That's my view anyway.

I don't see Regis returning, he's a pretty high-dollar cost. Cedric's pay was a fraction of Meredith's and they are moving the show to a secondary market for budget reasons; I don't think they are looking to spend big bucks for a new host. They've also already named Terry Crews as the host, have they not?

It's never good to change a host that was accepted by the public after one season. Granted, I think Terry will do a better job personally, but when a show like Millionaire goes through the number of changes it has taken over the years, and changing hosts after a short time, people may start to lose interest. Moving it to Connecticut also paints a bad picture for me (Deal or No Deal, anyone?).

Remember back when the syndicated version was new you could sometimes see huge gaps in the audience attendance with tons of empty seats - even with altered camera angles? That was in New York where there were always people to pull off the street to watch the show. When I auditioned for the show some years back, some of my fellow hopefuls who had been to tapings said they were even pulling audience members from other shows in the same building to fill seats. They won't have that luxury in Connecticut. Seeing a show with only 1/3rd of the audience in the seats seems "blah".

Worst of all, if they are taking cost-cutting measures, it's unlikely they are going to "pass the savings" onto the contestants. If they continue with their penny-pinching, the next logical step is reducing contestant winnings. The only discreet way to do that is by ramping up the difficulty of the questions - the LAST thing this show needs to do, considering there hasn't been a legitimate winner in 11 years, and barely anyone even making it to the last question during that time.

It all paints a pretty grim picture in my book, and I hate to sound negative but I can't find any "good" out of these changes. Deal or No Deal lasted, what, half of one season, or one full season after their cost-cutting move? Let's hope the same doesn't apply here.

Mech

I remember watching my local channel about the news and I'm shocked. Although I've been in love with how Meredith was the host for about ten years, it was hard for me to adjust to Cedric, but eventually he grew on me and I was excited to see him go on with Millionaire. But now that hope ran out as they're making more changes. Honestly the Shuffle version as grown on me the same way but the changes being made are completely throwing me off guard even more.

I've always seen Millionaire's home being New York, just the mindset of it being moved to Connecticut is getting me worried. As Mech pointed out, they would fill seats by getting people off the street or in the same building. But in a different location, that may be much more difficult. The only way I could think they would compensate the smaller audience is by building a smaller set. If anyone's seen Millionaire from different countries, I remember seeing very small sets for Millionaire and they were pretty tiny. That's the one way I can come up with for Millionaire adjusting to a smaller audience.

I think I've already caught on the fact that Millionaire are cutting the budget by putting hard and obscure questions on the board. (Josina Reaves' Million Dollar Question threw her off big time.) The only stacks of questions I remember being somewhat easy are Chip Esten and Ken Basin's questions. With Ken admitting that the stacks were a little easier anyways. But questions these days are more about recent gossip or pop culture, aren't they?

Still it's a shame how more changes are being brought on. The biggest one being Cedric's departure from the show. Let's just hope for the best. I've seen Terry Crews before and he's really good.

As far as I know, Regis lives in New York - in fact, his building is, I believe, in easy walking distance to the ABC studios where Millionaire (and Live With Regis And Kathie Lee/Kelly) were taped.