Thanks to Travis for finding this information (although I should just stress I can’t find a printed source for it, although I’ve got no reason to believe he’s making it up), it looks like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is making some changes.
Quote:
It looks like Millionaire is ringing in the changes for the new series. Twelve shows are being recorded this week and next and will feature the following changes.
-Fastest Finger First is gone, contestants now follow one after the other. Like the US daytime and Aussie Multi-Millionaire variants.
-The clock is being brought in, no word on what the time limits are.
–Switch the Question is being brought back and will be used as a fourth lifeline for anybody who reaches £50,000.
Interestingly, I’m sure there are still some carry over episodes from last year that have yet to be aired. ITV have given the show a 17 week run for the spring and summer.
Tom H wonders if we’ll get the lovely US graphics package, I’m more interested in what they’re going to do with the music – the Strachans’ clock-based revamps of the old standards are pretty superb, all told, and something suggests that reversionings of what we’ve currently got won’t work quite so well.
I entirely agree with your emphasis on the music. But then I hated the Covalo remix with a passion and couldn’t believe the Strachans did the new US cues but not ours.
There is no printed source as I got the information from someone who knows a contestant who is recording the show as we speak. He recorded his appearance on Friday and is returning to finish his game on Monday.
I suspect something will be officially released either next week (Millionaire’s Facebook hasn’t been updated), when they wrap up the twelve shows or two weeks before the new series is broadcasted.
I just relised there are some celebrity episodes that have yet to be aired. Namely one featuring Robin Gibb & Mike Read, which was originally pulled from the Christmas special. So that will fill some shows in the new series.
I don’t think we will have the clock music used in the US version. I know when Italy had Millionaire Hot Seat they had the clock but used the current BGM we use now. Also Aussie’s Multi-Millionaire had the 30 second stop clock (as the show was live it was used if someone was hesitating on a question) but also used the current BGM.
I’ve been searching for this for a while (as we had a link to it at some point) – but isn’t there the US millionaire clock music all online somewhere? Could we have the link to it again? That would be great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1s-kO2gEKM
Not downloadable, but there you go.
You can also find it here, but be warned the page is very tempremental:
http://gsthemes.freehostia.com/wwtbam08.html
Also: Real Audio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1s-kO2gEKM
Not downloadable, but here you go.
Oh bloody hell, what happened there.
I don’t recall Chris Tarrant giving his actual views of the big changes made in August 2007 – unless I simply wasn’t paying attention.
Wonder, then, what he might think of these latest big changes, if they really are upcoming?
Really don’t think these changes will make the blindest bit of difference to how the show fares – it’s had it’s time and it would be better if it had bowed out gracefully a couple of years ago. I do think long term there is life in the format – but it needs a good couple of years completely off screen before a big comeback.
These changes are probably only going to irritate those who’ve stuck with the show, and certainly aren’t going to be enough to encourage those who’ve ditched the show to return.
Personally I’d like to see them try the Hotseat format. I wasn’t sure at first when I heard about the Aus version, but I think it works quite well and is sufficiently different enough to bring in new viewers / bring back old viewers, but in keeping with the game to satisfy older viewers. Although a daytime slot at 5.30pm is probably out of the question, I think airing it a couple of nights a week in the 7.30pm slot wouldn’t be a bad idea.
I’m sure if they use the U.S. graphics, they probably will use the funky U.S. music.
Hope you enjoy the American format, Brits!