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This is a continuation page of the special reports on the homepage.  For all other news please go to the other news page.

----SPECIAL REPORTS PAGE 2----

RATINGS UPDATE 2

UPDATE from http://tvgameshows.net/, Posted Here: 01-30-02

Perhaps the wait for Stephen King's scare fest paved the way but fast national Nielsens show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, with no celebrity contestant in sight, winning the Monday night 8-9 p.m. race by a nose.
     Overnights from the 49 largest markets gave the edge to Fear Factor with an 8.4 to a 7.9 for Millionaire.
     The previous Monday, WWTBAM had sunk to a 6.8 nationally, its lowest for a Monday episode to date.

RATINGS UPDATE and Response from Jason Block-

UPDATE from http://tvgameshows.net/, Posted Here: 01-23-02

The pack was bunched in the 8-9 hour Monday night with a slight edge going to Fear Factor in its showdown with Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
In fast national Nielsens, Fear---which had a strong edge in 18-49s---edged Real Human Being Millionaire 7.9/12 to 7.5/11.
The two CBS comedies in the hour barely won the slot with an average of 8.1/12.
The WWTBAM episode was the first with non-celebrities in the Monday slot since last September and was up six per cent over the previous week's finale with U.S. Olympic stars of the past.- GSCC

RESPONSE: From: http://tvgameshows.net/

Former $125,000 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire winner and online game phone-a-friend Jason Block says if ABC cancels the network version of the quiz, "It would not necessarily be a bad thing."
     Phoning into The Bill Moran Show on Business Talk Radio Sunday night during TVgameshows.net webmaster Steve Beverly's guest stint, Block said: "They have really killed the golden goose when they did four things---particularly when they killed the phone game."
 

For the rest of the article visit:

http://tvgameshows.net/

REGIS WILL NOT HOST DAILY MILLIONAIRE?!?!?!-

SPECIAL REPORT 4 from various sources, Posted Here: 01-19-02
Agent: "Regis already has a full plate."
The TV types get together in Las Vegas next week, where they'll be shopping around new shows, including the syndicated Millionaire and syndicated Pyramid. But Regis won't be plugging himself as host of Millionaire there. He's turned down the hosting gig -- not once, but twice. Philbin originally expressed interest in the job, but may have backed away for a number of reasons -- not the least of which is the network's treatment of the prime time show. They'll need to find a host quickly -- but daily Millionaire is already cleared in 85% of the country, and will go forward -- even if they don't have a host.

>>Post your thoughts, visit our forums: WWTBAMFanatics Message Board

or e-mail them to me at wwtbamillionaire2000@yahoo.com, I will be making a dedication to Regis on the site soon if this whole thing pushes though.<<

>>>Curt Alliaume Launches 'Save Regis' Online Campaign<<<

http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,9400,00.html

http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/37928.htm

http://www.stormseeker.com/games

http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?23267

Millionaire Lays Off Staff-SPECIAL REPORT 3

from http://tvgameshows.net/, Posted Here: 01-17-02
     TVbarn.com and The New York Post are reporting layoffs on the staff of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, which has completed taping its output for the current season and is going on hiatus.
     However, the semi-panic which is patrolling some areas of online discussion groups may be overblown. In past seasons, Millionaire has been a year-round, multiweekly operation. The cutback to two episodes a week, with only one (and sometimes none) featuring real non-millionaire human beings has reduced the need to maintain a production staff year-round.
     Production staffs have been laid off at the end of seasonal tapings for years in syndication and for cable. Staff salaries are not paid during hiatuses between taping cycles.

>>>Curt Alliaume Launches 'Save Regis' Online Campaign<<<

MILLIONAIRE'S FUTURE-SPECIAL REPORT 2

from www.stormseeker.com, Posted Here: 01-13-02

From the Associated Press:  
     Lloyd Braun insists that he has not lost faith or confidence in "Millionaire," or its host Regis Philbin. He points out the the show is going into syndication and he's confident that it will be a major presence on ABC in some form or another for years to come, although it might not be in the primetime format that orginally launched and quickly became a sensation.
     "Millionaire," as well as NBC's "Weakest Link," has received criticism for saturating the schedule with celebrity and theme editions, rather than sticking with the ordinary folks looking to win.
     "I actually think that probably was one of the reason that it lost some of its success," says Susan Lyne, ABC's recently appointed entertainment president, "is that is got away from what, I think, people loved about 'Millionaire,' which is that anybody, any woman, any guy could come on and win a million dollars and they weren't very slick."

--------Yahoo TV News--------By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

Braun agreed with analysts who say ABC neglected to develop strong new programming at a time it was airing ``Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' four nights a week, leaving the network bereft when the game show's ratings faded.

They suggested ``Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' needs to return to its roots and minimize the celebrity specials.

``It got away from what people loved about `Millionaire,' which was that anybody - any woman, any guy - could come on and win a million dollars,'' Lyne said.

ABC hasn't committed to airing the game show beyond this season. Its executive producer, Michael Davies, has said ``Millionaire'' may work better as a special event spread across several consecutive nights than as a regular series. --Full Article: http://tv.yahoo.com/news/ap/20020113/101096790000.html

-UPDATED (01-14-02):

http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?23087

http://orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/tv/o

PRIME TIME MILLIONAIRE OVER???-SPECIAL REPORT

from www.stormseeker.com, Posted Here: 01-12-02
(12/12/01 -- Updated) ABC may be putting all their eggs into The Chair. Stormseeker.com has been told that the "last prime time Millionaire" has been taped, and that a number of members of the staff have been reassigned to a "new game show." As far as stormseeker knows, a syndicated Millionaire is still planned, possibly with Regis Philbin as host. A recent contestant told Stormseeker.com Friday that flyers were being passed out to attend a taping of Millionaire with a "new format." It is unclear whether a ratings bomb or boost by The Chair might change anyone's mind. We have not heard anything official, but a similar report appears on the TVbarn.com message board.

WWTBAMFanatics is under full alert and will bring you more information as it comes in.

Earlier Reports:

WWTBAM TO POSSIBLY BE CANCELLED NEXT FALL - Revised

Includes a link to contact ABC to SAVE WWTBAM!!!!!

During a conference call to discuss ABC's significantly struggling lineup, Entertainment Co-Chairman Lloyd Braun said, "We cannot say with certainty that Millionaire will be on our fall schedule."

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