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You Make the Call!

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TheInquisitiveOne:
Hello there!

I wrote this because I wanted the opinions of many of you at the board. These could be hypothetical situations, but these actually happened. Think about these...

In an episode of Match Game PM, the \"Super Match\" was set to be played for $10,000. Naturally, Richard Dawson was chosen for this, and here was the puzzle:

Pall ______.

Gene Rayburn also took the time to spel the word as \"P...A...L...L.\" The contestant listened, and answered \"Bearer.\" Richard, however, probably did not and answered \"Newman.\"

Who is at fault? Richard for not exactly listening, or the contestant for not taking the Hollywood route and matching Richard? You make the call!

In the ABC version of \"Who Wants to be a Millionaire,\" a contestant was debating on which answer was the correct answer (it was relating to the U.N.; anyone who has the full question and choices please feel free to chime in). The question was for $500,000, and she eventually missed it, dropping back to $32,000. This was a somewhat controversial subject, since some were accusing Regis of goading her into answering the question. The contestant, at the same time, was swinging back and forth bewteen two possible choices. There was a time where she even considered quitting at this point.

Who is at fault here: Regis for (allegedly) pushing said contestant into an answer, or the contestant for not quitting on the spot (IMHO, she was not totally sure on her answer at all)? You make the call!

Have fun!

The Inquisitive One

Matt Ottinger:
Richard's clearly at fault for the first one, not that it helps the contestant any.  Saying \"Newman\" isn't \"the Hollywood route\" it's the \"not paying attention\" route.  The contestant had no reason to assume that Richard was going to go that way.

Just as clearly, the contestant is always responsible for his/her own decisions in WWTBAM.  That's pounded into them by the coordinators.  Philbin's job is to create good television, not to be counsellor.

Jimmy Owen:
Without rushing pall mall....., I mean, pell mell into a decision, I feel the contestant is always at fault when he or she loses.  Doesn't Gene say, \"Now what do you think will match Richard?\"  In the Regis case, since there is no time limit for deliberations, there is no one else to blame.

clemon79:
[quote name=\'TheInquisitiveOne\' date=\'Jul 5 2003, 07:45 PM\'] Gene Rayburn also took the time to spel the word as \"P...A...L...L.\" The contestant listened, and answered \"Bearer.\" Richard, however, probably did not and answered \"Newman.\"

Who is at fault? Richard for not exactly listening, or the contestant for not taking the Hollywood route and matching Richard? You make the call!
 [/quote]
I useta love these on Monday Night Baseball. Football, somewhat less so, but that's 'cuz I know baseball better. :)

Dawson, being the \"more experienced\" celebrity, has more of a responsibility to write down an answer the contestant can match. Therefore he has AT LEAST as much duty to pay attention to Gene as the contestant does, maybe more. Unfortunately, the fact that he didn't is unsurprising.


--- Quote ---In the ABC version of \"Who Wants to be a Millionaire,\" a contestant was debating on which answer was the correct answer (it was relating to the U.N.; anyone who has the full question and choices please feel free to chime in). The question was for $500,000, and she eventually missed it, dropping back to $32,000. This was a somewhat controversial subject, since some were accusing Regis of goading her into answering the question. The contestant, at the same time, was swinging back and forth bewteen two possible choices. There was a time where she even considered quitting at this point.

Who is at fault here: Regis for (allegedly) pushing said contestant into an answer, or the contestant for not quitting on the spot (IMHO, she was not totally sure on her answer at all)? You make the call!
--- End quote ---

All prospective contestants are, I would assume (those of you who have actually had the Millionaire experience may correct me if I'm wrong) briefed fully on the rules of the game prior to taping. One of those rules is that the player may take as much time as they need to to answer a question, or to decline to do so and take the money they have won. If the contestant was cowed by Regis \"Hurry up, while I'm young!\" schtick and didn't stand up for her right to take whatever time she needed, that's totally her problem.

pyrfan:
The contestant isn't always at fault. Gene didn't say, \"Now, what answer do you think will match Richard if he wasn't listening to me spell the word very clearly?\" Richard was absolutely to blame for the contestant's loss in that case.

As far as \"Millionaire,\" if I remember correctly, the reverse was true: Regis was trying to convince the contestant to walk with her $250,000 because it was clear she wasn't sure about her answer. And no matter what it sounded like Regis was coaxing her to do or not do, no one had a gun to her head. She could have taken the money and walked, but she decided to risk it. She's only got herself to blame.

Though it has nothing to do directly with the post, I definitely remember her shrugging off her husband when he tried to console her as they left the stage together and her snarky attitude toward Regis when she was interviewed later about the \"incident.\" It was one of the few times I was glad to see a contestant lose.

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