Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, which began as a British gameshow called Fast-track to a Million in 1998, has since become the most popular international TV show of all time. Millionaire was as suspenseful as it was educational, which made for great entertainment. It had a number of unique aspects that seperated it from other gameshows of the time. It featured only one contestant versus a series of trivia questions, which allowed the contestants to take their time and think aloud (until some countries later introduced a time limit). To make the game both easier and more audience-interactive, questions were all multiple choice. Contestants also had a number of "lifelines" at their disposal, such as the ability to phone a friend for help, poll the audience, or eliminate two of the wrong answers. Here are some of the highlights from the show's illustrious history.
#10: Missing the $100 Question:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PW8VaBeqCQ
The first few questions are supposed to be no-brainers, and yet a surprising number of contestants left the show empty-handed. I'd feel bad for them if it wasn't so funny.
#9: Funny Blooper
I had to include an outtake, and this one was actually televised. Ironically, D was the correct answer.#8: Funniest Contestant Ever:
During a special movie-themed week, Millionaire got my favorite contestant, Jeff Jones (although Jack Black was a close second). The young, beer-loving Texan nearly creamed his pants when gets a question about one of his favorite movies.
#7: Ask the Audience Win
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSyUcTzrGcQ#7: Ask the Audience Win
In this once-in-a-primetime moment, 100% of the audience guessed the same answer.
#6: Ask the Audience Fails
However, the audience members weren't always so knowledgable. Here are three epic fails:
The record vote on a wrong answer was 91%: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klolmg4HeKE
A two-way tie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6uVlhRRLsw&feature=related
A three-way tie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZkoZQGKENs
The record vote on a wrong answer was 91%: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klolmg4HeKE
A two-way tie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6uVlhRRLsw&feature=related
A three-way tie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZkoZQGKENs
#5: Ask the Audience Smartass
After narrowing it down to B and D with his 50/50 lifeline, a contestant then asked the audience. Some smartass voted C anyway. Classic!
#4: Million Dollar Question Fail:
Some contestants you root for. Others you root against. Ken Basin, a 24 year-old Harvard law graduate, was the first contestant to ever guess wrong on the million dollar question. He was such a pretentious little dick, I'm sure I wasn't the only one cheering. He could have walked with a half mil, but no, he had to take a greedy guess, and left with only $25,000.
#3: Dumbest Contestant Ever:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/104386/man_uses_3_lifelines_on_a_500_question/
Many contestants have used all three lifelines on a single question. There have even been several contestants that used all three lifelines on one of the no-brainer questions. But only one man has ever used all three lifelines on an early question and still gotten it wrong. Wow. This guy was easily the dumbest contestant the show has ever had. But his wife was even dumber -- an English teacher that didn't know a simple grammar question!
#2: Smartest Contestant Ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeqPJojGqxc
Don Carpenter was the first contestant to ever win a million (in the U.S.). He got to the million dollar question with all three lifelines, and went out in true style. Who needs lifelines, anyway?
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/104386/man_uses_3_lifelines_on_a_500_question/
Many contestants have used all three lifelines on a single question. There have even been several contestants that used all three lifelines on one of the no-brainer questions. But only one man has ever used all three lifelines on an early question and still gotten it wrong. Wow. This guy was easily the dumbest contestant the show has ever had. But his wife was even dumber -- an English teacher that didn't know a simple grammar question!
#2: Smartest Contestant Ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeqPJojGqxc
Don Carpenter was the first contestant to ever win a million (in the U.S.). He got to the million dollar question with all three lifelines, and went out in true style. Who needs lifelines, anyway?
With the aid of an accomplice in the audience who indicated the correct answers by coughing, a former military major committed fraud and deception all over British television. He probably would have gotten away with it too if A) He didn’t read each answer over and over again B) He wasn’t such a lousy actor C) His wife didn't keep sneaking peaks at the accomplice, and D) The major quit around the $25,000 mark instead of going all the way. Greedy bastards. Can you imagine how the courtroom trial went? “Charles Ingram, how you plead?” “Let me think here for second. Guilty… Or not guilty…” *COUGH* “Definitely not guilty!” I wonder if the judge asked, "Is that your final answer?"
