RegisFan
Administrator 
Game Show Host
Let's Play!
Posts: 4,494
|
Post by RegisFan on Oct 19, 2020 21:53:28 GMT -5
hastin, that is a great catch. Maybe they weren’t satisfied with the quality of the aged SD graphics on their HD program? Or maybe they were using raw footage from before graphics were layered in (though that seems like a lot of work). Either way, it looks good. I say clean up all the classic episodes and get them on streaming.  Or don’t even clean them, just make them available.
|
|
|
|
Post by panampat on Oct 19, 2020 22:22:03 GMT -5
A very interesting first show, I must say. I agree with millionairenut and trevor above me about how Tiffany Haddish is annoying, although not Nikki Glaser level of annoying (I agree with the use of her as a unit of measurement for annoyingness). She embodies the kind of contestants I'm not particularly fond of on Millionaire, the ones who habitually explain (in detail) their answers and rules out the ones it isn't, especially on the really easy questions in the lower half of the tree (I don't mind it when they do it going into the six figure level, because its understandable; those are generally hard questions). Because of that, we got a grand total of just 8 questions from the second and third tiers (in an hour, which is less than the average of 13 we'd get with Chris and 17 or 18 we'd get with Regis). I was really hoping the pacing would pick up. I know I like to say that I think the ABC original went by too fast, but there is such a thing as too slow, with too much banter. But, it would be unfair to compare this to those averages, since those averages all come from non-celebrity episodes (and God knows when we'll have one of those with Kimmel). That's also why I've chosen to continue holding off on evaluating Kimmel as a host, although I think he's doing pretty good so far. The set (with its light arrangements in lieu of audience seating) is great. I also think it pops more and is more beautiful than the current British set. I wish it got darker (like, near pitch black, a la the original), but this is one of those things that I can live with. The money tree redesign is great and makes it far superior to the British one or the one from last season. The music I'm not too fond of, if only because I was never really a fan of the clock-era suite of music (the only cue I liked is the one used for the clock itself at higher level questions; it got really intense as you came closer to '0') and I'm a bit of a purist/traditionalist (pure Strachan tracks used at the right time in the right place for the right thing, although the rave cues were pretty good too) That tribute was wonderful. It really summed up in 90 seconds what made Regis great. I'm happy they included the 'I'm a fat man bit'; it's my second favorite 'blooper' (if you can call it that, since it wasn't cut from the show) after the one (I can't find it on YouTube nowadays) where Regis was about to read a question for a half million (I presume) and he announces "Here it is, for fifty million dollars.", catches himself, and then corpses. And of course, no tribute to Regis or recap of the best moments from that era of Millionaire would ever be complete without John Carpenter. It was really sad to see him say at the end, "I've enjoyed it a lot. See you soon. Bye bye." followed by his (according to Shazam) cover of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra's 'Where or When'. We've enjoyed it a lot too, Regis. Thank you. There'll never be another one like you. The whole cover, the one used over the closing credits last night. It's actually a very good song, and he has such a voice too! A couple of observations from that tribute I couldn't help but notice:  The contrast on those lozenges is outstanding. I don't know if they were retouched or if this is how they appear on the master tapes (which is what I assume Davies and company used to make this tribute), but they are beautiful and classic. You know what else is beautiful and classic? ITC Conduit. What font do they use now? It's so... bland and plain to me.  There's something you won't see anymore. And yes, I know I keep harping on it, but I can't pass up on it here. Seeing those straps have reminded me of how graphically lacking this and the British revivals are in some departments. The sets are so beautiful and the graphics that are in use now so crisp, but a number of things are missing. And in terms of graphics animations (aside from the intro), we haven't really moved forward from 2007, have we? |
|
|
|
Post by FinalAnswer19 on Oct 20, 2020 0:22:05 GMT -5
Regis was about to read a question for a half million (I presume) and he announces "Here it is, for fifty million dollars.", catches himself, and then corpses. Here it is: |
|
|
|
Post by purplefuku on Oct 20, 2020 0:25:11 GMT -5
Haha! I was literally just about to post that clip!
He really was the best! ❤
|
|
|
|
Post by millionairestar64 on Oct 20, 2020 3:45:31 GMT -5
|
|
trevor
Just a guy who loves Millionaire
Posts: 281
|
Post by trevor on Oct 20, 2020 6:40:06 GMT -5
There was no host like Regis. He had that New York charm.
About the graphics, yes, I agree, the animations and font should be changed (maybe they don’t want to pay royalties to use Conduit, but they started using it again for the PAF friend lozenge and the credits, and that’s one of the few things syndicated Millionaire got right before 2018, and maybe the only version to get it right by then), and the straps should be added. Attention to detail is what makes the highest-quality product.
|
|
arman
Fan Games Pass Holder 
Herzlich Willkommen zu "Wer wird Millionär?"!
Posts: 380
|
Post by arman on Oct 21, 2020 8:52:27 GMT -5
Since the US version is really a remake of the British one, it makes complete sense why they got rid of the same stuff as the UK did...
|
|
|
|
Post by millionairefan64 on Oct 21, 2020 23:00:01 GMT -5
Regis was about to read a question for a half million (I presume) and he announces "Here it is, for fifty million dollars.", catches himself, and then corpses. Here it is: Now that was hilarious! I miss Regis! |
|
wwtb3am
Fan Games Pass Holder
Posts: 150 
|
Post by wwtb3am on Oct 25, 2020 17:45:52 GMT -5
I hope the ratings this week are better. WWTBAM struggled last week. Personally, I love the set and Jimmy picked things up last week, however ABC seems to be missing the mark with what people want. Twitter is full of negative comments. This is not a time that people want to see celebrities playing for a million dollars, and there's a lot of people who won't watch because of Jimmy Kimmel hosting. These are not A list celebrities that are playing. ABC needs to get it together, or we will be mourning the loss of another fantastic opportunity.
I am watching the second episode now. Civilian Millionaire is so much better!!
|
|
RegisFan
Administrator
Game Show Host
Let's Play!
Posts: 4,494
|
Post by RegisFan on Oct 25, 2020 21:25:55 GMT -5
Watching Oliver Fry, and ordinary person with something at stake who isn’t dialed up to eleven at all times, certainly proved that civilian contestants are what makes this show so special. He wasn’t a celebrity or chosen by a casting directory because he was “high energy,” he was chosen because he deserved the opportunity to play. He reminded me more of the memorable contestants from the original run than any contestant in the past 10 years.
Looking forward to our next first responder contestant!
|
|
|
|
Post by millionairenut on Oct 25, 2020 21:29:09 GMT -5
I liked seeing Oliver Fry and Julie Bowen tonight, but it can be a bit much when there’s too much discussion and chit-chat. I feel like this hour went by too fast. The questions were a mixed bag, with most of them easy enough, though some tough ones. I agree with RegisFan that is was great seeing a civilian again in the hot seat and looking back, he did remind me of those original contestants a bit.
|
|
RegisFan
Administrator
Game Show Host
Let's Play!
Posts: 4,494
|
Post by RegisFan on Oct 25, 2020 21:31:31 GMT -5
On another note, there was even more Clock Era music tonight. Keep it coming. The beat fits so well with the modern set design and overall presentation.
|
|
|
|
Post by panampat on Oct 28, 2020 13:54:37 GMT -5
Last Sunday's episode was fairly good. 14 middle and upper third questions (the most ever in the revival thus far, I think), which means we've hit the question average of the British version with Chris, although the action still felt... sluggish. And I have a hypothesis as to why. There's WAY too much banter, especially with the celebrity contestants. We'd do like, 2 minutes of question and then another minute and a half of banter, I feel, which unnecessarily slows down the game. Most of the 42 minutes of the show, I felt, is taken up by unnecessary banter with the contestants or their help/Guest/Plus One. If there was less of that banter, I'm almost certain we would've hit the Regis question average of about 18 or so. The 14 question rate only works if the time spent is equally divided on question asking/answering and some banter interspersed in between the questions (this is how the original British version got it to work especially on the upper third: we get a question, contestant mulls question, final answer, they get it right, presentation of the check, a little banter, next question, repeat). Something is off with the formula here and I don't know exactly what. I'll have to watch more carefully in the upcoming Sundays. The jump in difficulty in questions was a bit much more me at certain points (especially once we wander into six figure territory, question 12 and above). The writing is still godawful and long-winded as all heck (probably the thing I hate most about any American version of this show; would it kill them to just ask "Who sang the song "Watermelon Sugar?" or "Which children's novel was written by E.B. White?" instead of adding all that unnecessary detail, do the writing team get paid by the character?) Is it just me, or does this version not have a proper intro sequence? Like, we get a 'Last Time' recap, then we get the logo, then we jump in with everyone already sitting there. No more walk-in, no actual intro. I'm saddened this is the state of television now. We got to have so many commercials now that we no longer have time for proper intros (I mean, the length of the intro sequences have shrunken across both the British and American versions over the years, but now, at least in America, they're nonexistent). Oliver was great and I concur with wwtb3am. I think, when this show comes back next year for the next season (and I'm hoping it does; I'm hoping it continues to be strong in the ratings), they must do a pure civilian version lest they want to condemn this revival to the same death the original British version on ITV suffered in 2014 with that endless parade of celebrity specials. These celebrities aren't A-listers, they're not extremely well-known, and generally speaking, celebrities are a bit more... thick compared to civilian contestants who actually really want to be there and "take on the computer with its cash for questions" (as Chris once put it) and are thus better prepared for such a quiz. If the British can do it, ABC can sure as heck do it and I hope they won't end up misgauging the wants of the television audience and shoot this revival in the head the same way they did with the original by overexposing it (luckily, they don't seem to be doing that now, but I don't 100% trust ABC to be competent). We will see. |
|
|
|
Post by FinalAnswer19 on Oct 28, 2020 19:18:50 GMT -5
Jimmy is getting better, the music person is (slowly) getting better, BUT I couldn't stand how Julie used the help of her guest on. every. single. question. Play the game and figure it out yourself otherwise you just look dumb. I get it. Lots of pressure, etc. But come on, that was ridiculous.
|
|
|
|
Post by kplewisvox on Oct 28, 2020 21:43:01 GMT -5
Jimmy is getting better, the music person is (slowly) getting better, BUT I couldn't stand how Julie used the help of her guest on. every. single. question. Play the game and figure it out yourself otherwise you just look dumb. I get it. Lots of pressure, etc. But come on, that was ridiculous. And I get that, but on the other hand, if your guest is available to you on every question, there's no reason not to double check. It costs you nothing to be 100% sure. |
|
) I guess the next on will be Poland then...
Or don’t even clean them, just make them available.
