Note: Denise's column appears every week in our Entertainment section. Have a question? Comment? Send it in.
Let's face it, asking "who wants to be a millionaire" is a silly question. But offering the average Joe a chance to win $1 million almost instantly is smart TV.
At least three programs are trying to cash in on the success of ABC's surprise-hit summer quiz show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?," including the alphabet's 15-day return of the series.
The highly rated syndicated "Hollywood Squares" is upping its usual $1,000 per game jackpots to give away $500,000 in cash, cruises and prizes Nov. 8 through 19, culminating with one TV audience member winning $1 million at the end of the month.
So, instead of just sitting at home and wishing they could choose Billy Baldwin to block, viewers can call in and correctly identify that day's secret-square celebrity and instantly win. Now that's interactive television ...
According to Reuters, Jay Redack, senior vice president of production at "Squares" said introducing the $1 million target had little to do with the ABC show.
Giving away $1 million "sounds better than $820,000," Redack said.
Well, FOX's new game show "Greed" isn't being modest about its pay-out. The question-and-answer show is giving away (bring pinky finger to bottom lip and raise eyebrow) $2 millliooonnn.
Hosted by Chuck Woolery, "Greed" has two five-member teams answering increasingly difficult questions. As the stakes get higher, it becomes every man for himself. Sounds like typical FOX fare: "When Game Show Contestants Attack."
During the rating-monitoring period known as sweeps, it's every network for itself. And which station will come out on top is anybody's guess.
This summer, "Millionaire's" limited run finale drew an 8.7 rating in the coveted 18 to 49-year-old set, bringing in more than 22.4 million viewers.
Yes, ABC struck it rich with Regis Philbin's "Millionaire." But that was during the summer, when its only competition was "Friends" reruns and "Behind The Music" marathons.
No amount of studying will help TV executives correctly guess which show will end up on top.
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