Contestants answer a series of
progressively harder trivia questions, on their way up to winning a million
bucks. When ABC brought this game show over from the UK and put Regis Philbin as
the host, it was taking a big gamble. The network built a very expensive set,
spent plenty of promotional dollars, and cleared the prime time schedule for two
weeks to make room for the premiere of the show. The gamble paid off; ABC was
rewarded with stunning ratings and a revived interest in game shows.
Overview
Once in the Hot Seat,
contestants face 15 multiple choice questions to the million dollars. They start at the $100
level with the chance of often doubling their winnings with each correct
answer. The player has the option to choose to walk away at any question and
keep what they have won so far, or to go for it and continue on to become an
instant millionaire.
The Fastest Finger
Question
The Fastest Finger Question is
the question that puts a contestant into the hot seat. They're called
Fastest-Finger Questions because you have to be the first person to
correctly place four items in a certain order within the allotted time
(20sec). Succeed, and you're in the "hot seat", ready to start climbing your
way to the big million.
An example
of a fastest-finger question would be like this:
Using their
nicknames, Place these U.S. Cities in order from east to west
A. Big Easy
B. Baghdad by
the Bay
C. Big
Apple
D. Big D
The correct answer
would be C, A, D, B
Life in the Hot
Seat
Once in the hot seat
contestants and 15 questions away from one million dollars. You are given a
question and 4 possible answers. Question get harder as you win. When
contestants reach the $1,000 or $32,000 they are agreed to leave with that
much money. The contestant has the option to choose to walk away from any
question with what they have won so far, or choose to answer the question.
If the answer to the question is right, they will move on to the next
question. If the question is answer incorrectly, they will drop down to the
$0, $1,000, or $32,000 level.
You can use 3 lifelines to
help you as you go along in the game.
50:50- Takes away two of the wrong answers leaving one wrong answer
and leaving the correct one.
Phone-A-Friend- Phone A Friend is a life line that you can contact
anyone in the United States for 30 seconds of help on a question.
Before the show you give the show 5 potential PAF and on the show you pick
one of the 5 to call for help.
Ask The Audience- You
can poll the studio audience to see what they thing the correct answer is.
(Most of the time they are right)
For absolute official rules go the
official millionaire site.
Once in the Hot Seat,
contestants face 15 multiple choice questions to the million dollars. They start at the $100
level with the chance of often doubling their winnings with each correct
answer. The player has the option to choose to walk away at any question and
keep what they have won so far, or to go for it and continue on to become an
instant millionaire.
The Fastest Finger Question is
the question that puts a contestant into the hot seat. They're called
Fastest-Finger Questions because you have to be the first person to
correctly place four items in a certain order within the allotted time
(20sec). Succeed, and you're in the "hot seat", ready to start climbing your
way to the big million. 
Once in the hot seat
contestants and 15 questions away from one million dollars. You are given a
question and 4 possible answers. Question get harder as you win. When
contestants reach the $1,000 or $32,000 they are agreed to leave with that
much money. The contestant has the option to choose to walk away from any
question with what they have won so far, or choose to answer the question.
If the answer to the question is right, they will move on to the next
question. If the question is answer incorrectly, they will drop down to the
$0, $1,000, or $32,000 level.
50:50- Takes away two of the wrong answers leaving one wrong answer
and leaving the correct one.
Phone-A-Friend- Phone A Friend is a life line that you can contact
anyone in the United States for 30 seconds of help on a question.
Before the show you give the show 5 potential PAF and on the show you pick
one of the 5 to call for help.
Ask The Audience- You
can poll the studio audience to see what they thing the correct answer is.
(Most of the time they are right)