The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: mcsittel on October 06, 2009, 10:22:39 PM
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Millionaire has apparently discontinued the Phone-A-Friend lifeline.
A contestant who is taping his episode next week was briefed of this change in the lifelines. I'm not sure if it will be replaced with something else.
A check of Millionaire's official rules (updated today, in fact) says there are now only the remaining 3 lifelines: http://www.millionairetv.com/rules.html (http://\"http://www.millionairetv.com/rules.html\")
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Alex had mentioned this on a twitter post, but I hadn't see anything else about it since then.
I just don't get it. What was so broken about the game that they had to go in and futz with it over the last two years? Sigh.
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[quote name=\'mcsittel\' post=\'227913\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 07:22 PM\']Millionaire has apparently discontinued the Phone-A-Friend lifeline.
Anyone else heard about this?[/quote]No sir. But I'll echo the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot sentiments.
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[quote name=\'Hastin\' post=\'227914\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 09:25 PM\']Alex had mentioned this on a twitter post, but I hadn't see anything else about it since then.
I just don't get it. What was so broken about the game that they had to go in and futz with it over the last two years? Sigh.[/quote]I have not until tonight. Why would they even do that?
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I suppose they don't want Phone-a-Google anymore. Not being able to rely on somebody who can Google the answer for you would probably cut their prize budget....
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[quote name=\'Fedya\' post=\'227919\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 10:55 PM\']I suppose they don't want Phone-a-Google anymore....[/quote]
Somehow, I'm thinking this has less to do with preserving the sacred integrity of their game and more to do with making the TV show easier to produce.
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'227920\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 07:56 PM\'][quote name=\'Fedya\' post=\'227919\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 10:55 PM\']I suppose they don't want Phone-a-Google anymore....[/quote]
Somehow, I'm thinking this has less to do with preserving the sacred integrity of their game and more to do with making the TV show easier to produce.
[/quote]
Are you sure isn't "desperate attempt to kill the show?"
/are advertisers really that much down on quiz shows?
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'227920\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 07:56 PM\'][quote name=\'Fedya\' post=\'227919\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 10:55 PM\']I suppose they don't want Phone-a-Google anymore....[/quote]
Somehow, I'm thinking this has less to do with preserving the sacred integrity of their game and more to do with making the TV show easier to produce.
[/quote]
BINGO, Matt.
After the addition of the clock to end the l-o-n-g "thinkings", the phone-a-friend was the only element that required editing in post.
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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Don't you have to have a landline phone to be a PAF? Perhaps the dwindling number of landline users has something to do with it. On a similar note, whenever I've listened to the radio show Loveline, Dr. Drew asks for callers to be landline users, for concerns of calls dropping out. I'm rambling now, so I'll let someone with more tech knowledge take over from here, but I'd make at least one guess as to that being one reason.
Or not.
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[quote name=\'Game Show Man\' post=\'227921\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 11:02 PM\']Are you sure isn't "desperate attempt to kill the show?"[/quote]
Yes. I'm sure it isn't that.
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[quote name=\'Game Show Man\' post=\'227921\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 08:02 PM\']Are you sure isn't "desperate attempt to kill the show?"[/quote]I really don't understand this. Why would a production company do something like this voluntarily? Maybe if it was the last ditch effort to save the show, I might understand it, but I don't get it.
My guess? When in doubt, follow the money.
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'227923\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 11:12 PM\']After the addition of the clock to end the l-o-n-g "thinkings", the phone-a-friend was the only element that required editing in post.[/quote]
Well boo hoo. What they either aren't realizing or don't care about is that they're making a game that nobody's won and few have come close to winning in seven years even more difficult with changes like the clock and the removal of the PAF. Of all the current game shows, Millionaire is the one I care least about watching because it's practically a given that nobody's going to get past the quarter million, and it gets boring as heck watching an endless stream of contestants bail or blow it at the $10K-$50K levels.
Also, have they finished taping all the episodes for the "Tournament" That's Not Actually A Tournament of Ten yet, or are they making this change in the middle of that? Not that they can't make the change before the "tournament" ends, but then the players who appear after the PAF is removed are at a disadvantage there, leaving another bad taste in my mouth.
/If it were about the budget, they'd also have replaced "Ask the Audience" with "Ask a Magic 8 Ball"
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[quote name=\'WilliamPorygon\' post=\'227929\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 10:54 PM\']Well boo hoo. What they either aren't realizing or don't care about is that they're making a game that nobody's won and few have come close to winning in seven years even more difficult with changes like the clock and the removal of the PAF. Of all the current game shows, Millionaire is the one I care least about watching because it's practically a given that nobody's going to get past the quarter million, and it gets boring as heck watching an endless stream of contestants bail or blow it at the $10K-$50K levels.[/quote]
All the Brits did was take out three questions, up the money in the mid-levels, and write some HARD! questions. Nobody's made it past £250k since. I don't want to talk about the US version anymore. It's not the show that got me -- got us all -- hooked 10 years ago. Nearly everybody who's monkeyed with the game post-Celador has gone cheap. I'd say it's time to be realistic. Rename the damn thing "Who Wants to be a Quarter-Millionaire?"
At least WoF, for all its tweaks, still looks and plays like WoF. Geez.
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[quote name=\'WilliamPorygon\' post=\'227929\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 11:54 PM\']Millionaire is the one I care least about watching because it's practically a given that nobody's going to get past the quarter million, and it gets boring as heck watching an endless stream of contestants bail or blow it at the $10K-$50K levels.[/quote]
Agree, agree, agree. Last time I made a point of watching was a time or two this past fall to see the clock in action. It's still good trivia, but far from appointment television on my set.
-Jason
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As a n00b to the PAF circuit and as someone who is intrigued by the drama and excitement displayed when the lifeline is executed, I'm very disappointed by this news.
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I'd say this is about the equivalent of killing one of the Daily Doubles in the Double Jeopardy round. Might work better for production, but you're gonna irk the viewerbase a great deal.
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[quote name=\'WilliamPorygon\' post=\'227929\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 10:54 PM\']Also, have they finished taping all the episodes for the "Tournament" That's Not Actually A Tournament of Ten yet, or are they making this change in the middle of that? Not that they can't make the change before the "tournament" ends, but then the players who appear after the PAF is removed are at a disadvantage there, leaving another bad taste in my mouth.[/quote]
The Tournament episodes taped September 23 and 24.
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Who uses phones anymore? Why not "Text a Friend" or "Tweet a Friend"?
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I can see why they would cut that from a production standpoint. I would suggest "Turn to a Friend" you have in the relationship seat in studio.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'227950\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 08:18 AM\']I can see why they would cut that from a production standpoint. I would suggest "Turn to a Friend" you have in the relationship seat in studio.[/quote]
This is actually not a half-bad idea. Would really show the human side of these contestants and their in-studio counterpart. Opens up a dialogue to the friend after questions: "would you have known that?" etc.
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[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'227939\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 01:00 AM\']As a n00b to the PAF circuit and as someone who is intrigued by the drama and excitement displayed when the lifeline is executed, I'm very disappointed by this news.[/quote]
Wait...there's a PAF circuit? I can't imagine that TPTB would be too excited over that sort of thing.
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Personally, I think this is another budget-saving measure for the show.
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[quote name=\'GrandMasterGalvatron\' post=\'227941\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 11:28 PM\']I'd say this is about the equivalent of killing one of the Daily Doubles in the Double Jeopardy round. Might work better for production, but you're gonna irk the viewerbase a great deal.[/quote]I suppose, but I think this is worse. At least you still have a Daily Double to work with. Ask the Audience allows you a freebie on the low levels; Double Dip might get you out of trouble, but the only bit of assistance that's truly helpful on the upper levels is Phone-a-Friend/
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'227950\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 05:18 AM\']I can see why they would cut that from a production standpoint. I would suggest "Turn to a Friend" you have in the relationship seat in studio.[/quote]Australia's most recent non-sucky version of Millionaire had the contestant bring friends down to the studio in the same way, but it was still called Phone-a-Friend.
Here's my question, though. It's merely an inconvenience to ask three of your friends to be PAF for a day. But how many people do you know that would fly with you to New York, knowing that two of them won't get to be used, and maybe the third if the contestant flubs.
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'227923\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 11:12 PM\'][quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'227920\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 07:56 PM\'][quote name=\'Fedya\' post=\'227919\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 10:55 PM\']I suppose they don't want Phone-a-Google anymore....[/quote]
Somehow, I'm thinking this has less to do with preserving the sacred integrity of their game and more to do with making the TV show easier to produce.
[/quote]
BINGO, Matt.
After the addition of the clock to end the l-o-n-g "thinkings", the phone-a-friend was the only element that required editing in post.
[/quote]
Wouldn't the Ask An Expert also involve some editing as well? There never seemed to be a time limit on how long a contestant can discuss the possible answers with the "expert". And wasn't there a recent episode (primetime specials?) in which the expert apologized for taking so long to answer?
If they replace the 4th lifeline with another, I say go with "Switch The Question".
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'227923\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 11:12 PM\']After the addition of the clock to end the l-o-n-g "thinkings", the phone-a-friend was the only element that required editing in post.[/quote]Hunh. That's new to me. Alex Davis mentioned the "drama" aspect of it, but I didn't know that factored in, as well. I thought modern producers weren't shy about using the editing booth.
[quote name=\'WilliamPorygon\' post=\'227929\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 11:54 PM\']Well boo hoo. What they either aren't realizing or don't care about is that they're making a game that nobody's won and few have come close to winning in seven years even more difficult with changes like the clock and the removal of the PAF. Of all the current game shows, Millionaire is the one I care least about watching because it's practically a given that nobody's going to get past the quarter million, and it gets boring as heck watching an endless stream of contestants bail or blow it at the $10K-$50K levels.[/quote]I concur.
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I've penned an article on the demise of PAF for CNN.com. Check it out, and please leave comments!
http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/07/ph...nger-available/ (http://\"http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/07/phone-a-friend-no-longer-available/\")
JD
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[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'227954\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 08:31 AM\'][quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'227950\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 05:18 AM\']I can see why they would cut that from a production standpoint. I would suggest "Turn to a Friend" you have in the relationship seat in studio.[/quote]Australia's most recent non-sucky version of Millionaire had the contestant bring friends down to the studio in the same way, but it was still called Phone-a-Friend.
Here's my question, though. It's merely an inconvenience to ask three of your friends to be PAF for a day. But how many people do you know that would fly with you to New York, knowing that two of them won't get to be used, and maybe the third if the contestant flubs.
[/quote]
It worked on Maury's "Twenty-One." At least it's not what did the show in. I can imagine them limiting it to one friend, presumably not your significant other in the audience.
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'227923\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 11:12 PM\']After the addition of the clock to end the l-o-n-g "thinkings", the phone-a-friend was the only element that required editing in post.[/quote]
Doesn't Ask the Audience still take longer in-studio than it does on the air? Or have they gotten that down to real time?
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As of the taping that I attended last month, it took about 30-45 seconds to tabulate... that music kept playing over and over and over.
Ryan.
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[quote name=\'MSTieScott\' post=\'227980\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 11:04 AM\'][quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'227923\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 11:12 PM\']After the addition of the clock to end the l-o-n-g "thinkings", the phone-a-friend was the only element that required editing in post.[/quote]
Doesn't Ask the Audience still take longer in-studio than it does on the air? Or have they gotten that down to real time?
[/quote]
Although right now I'm working for that company (Embassy Row), I haven't asked. I know from the voting element on other shows that it CAN be done in real time. I don't know if WWTBAM is doing it "live" - now that you mention it, likely not, with the graphic they use.
I thought modern producers weren't shy about using the editing booth.
Nobody is shy about post anymore. The last live-to-tape game (TPiR) is in the edit suite with every episode. But all producers do watch the number of hours. As they said for a season or two on TPiR: Time is Money
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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just give them a laptop for 30 secs; . let google sponsor it; god knows they have the money
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[quote name=\'tvmitch\' post=\'227951\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 08:22 AM\'][quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'227950\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 08:18 AM\']I can see why they would cut that from a production standpoint. I would suggest "Turn to a Friend" you have in the relationship seat in studio.[/quote]
This is actually not a half-bad idea. Would really show the human side of these contestants and their in-studio counterpart. Opens up a dialogue to the friend after questions: "would you have known that?" etc.
[/quote]
OK, so you make into the Hot Seat and you have to tell your non-trivia-loving (or is it trivia-non-loving?) husband/wife/partner/whatever that they can't be in the relationship seat because it's needed for a lifeline? That's [/i] undoubtedly going to make for some cheery discussions at home.
I'm in with Neumms on this; something similar to the way it was done on Maury's "Twenty-One" seems like it could work, but still, you'd be asking another friend to pay his or her way to New York. That could prove pretty difficult for a lot of people.
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I'm surprised all of this didn't happen before the season premiere in September. That's two major changes since they started the new season - once with the money tree, and once with the lifeline. Seems odd.
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[quote name=\'tomobrien\' post=\'227994\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 04:58 PM\']OK, so you make into the Hot Seat and you have to tell your non-trivia-loving (or is it trivia-non-loving?) husband/wife/partner/whatever that they can't be in the relationship seat because it's needed for a lifeline? That's [/i] undoubtedly going to make for some cheery discussions at home.[/quote]But you're still allowed more than one relationship seat, right? So you'd just be displacing someone a bit more tertiary, I'd think.
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'227923\' date=\'Oct 6 2009, 11:12 PM\']BINGO, Matt.
After the addition of the clock to end the l-o-n-g "thinkings", the phone-a-friend was the only element that required editing in post.[/quote]
The math doesn't add up for me. Ask the Expert looks like it could take forever if the contestant so desired, and I can't think of anything in the PAF process that couldn't be done in a way so that no post-editing is needed.
Another effect of this new age of Photoshop directing.
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'227997\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 04:05 PM\']I'm surprised all of this didn't happen before the season premiere in September. That's two major changes since they started the new season - once with the money tree, and once with the lifeline. Seems odd.[/quote]In fact it is odd now that the only one of the original lifelines left is Ask the Audience. Why just keep it the way that it is? It should not be hard.
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[quote name=\'Darion Blackwood Daniel\' post=\'228022\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 10:14 PM\'][quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'227997\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 04:05 PM\']I'm surprised all of this didn't happen before the season premiere in September. That's two major changes since they started the new season - once with the money tree, and once with the lifeline. Seems odd.[/quote]In fact it is odd now that the only one of the original lifelines left is Ask the Audience. Why just keep it the way that it is? It should not be hard.
[/quote]
Wait, 50-50's gone?
This is what happens when you stop watching once it moves to daytime.
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[quote name=\'GrandMasterGalvatron\' post=\'228026\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 09:57 PM\']Wait, 50-50's gone?
This is what happens when you stop watching once it moves to daytime.[/quote]
Well, Double Dip is basically the budget-cutter version of 50-50.
I agree that this is a WTF moment, because taking away a lifeline from a game that hasn't even been won in 7 years seems REALLY cheap. Sure, you Google-proof the game, but considering how hard the game is in the first place, I don't see why we can't keep it anyways.
Maybe this is their "catch" for raising the first five minimum from $1000 to $5000...and even that reason isn't solid.
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[quote name=\'rollercoaster87\' post=\'228029\' date=\'Oct 7 2009, 11:03 PM\']Well, Double Dip is basically the budget-cutter version of 50-50.[/quote]
I actually like Double Dip more than 50:50.
For example: How often did you hear contestants say "I think it's between two", use the 50:50, only to get unlucky and get stuck with those two answers anyway? At least with Double Dip, when you say "I think it's between two", you get a chance to actually see if it really was one of them with no penalty for choosing the wrong inkling. Literally putting your money where your mouth is, in other words.