Monday, August 16, 1999
Regis in prime time with 'Millionaire' show
BY JOHN KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Hard to imagine, but Regis Philbin somewhere along the way lost his passion for prime-time TV.
The exuberant Mr. Philbin, who likes to boast that he's “out of control!,” gave up his quest after Almost Anything Goes 23 years ago.
“I just never got involved,” says the co-host of the hugely popular Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee. “I was always involved in morning talk shows, and that's where I stayed until this show came along.”
This show is ABC's two-week summer series, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Every night, for 13 of the next 14 days, up to 10 contestants will be asked multiple choice questions for a chance to win up to $1 million.
“I tell you, it's really terrific television. It knocked me out,” says Mr. Philbin about the game show that debuted last fall in Great Britain.
“The first time I saw this show, I was so excited by it!” he gushes. “I love the way it is produced! I love the lighting effects, the music, everything about the show!”
So he called executive producer Michael Davies, who also produces Drew Carey's Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and pitched himself for the American version.
It didn't hurt that his daytime talk show and the game show are both owned by Disney, which owns ABC.
10 contestants per show
For each show, ABC will fly 10 contestants to New York for a taping the night before broadcast. These people have auditioned for the show via a toll number (900-933-9391), which remains open through Aug. 26. Each call costs $1.50.
Contestants on the show will be quizzed about a wide range of trivia, from pop culture to literature, sports and current events. The difficulty escalates along with the cash prizes, until a person reaches $500,000. If the player misses the $1 million question, he or she goes home with $32,000.
Millionaire offers a few new twists to the typical TV game show. Contestants will be shown the question — and four multiple-choice answers — before deciding whether they want to play.
They also are offered three “Lifeline” options:
• For one question, they get a “50/50” chance, with Mr. Philbin eliminating two of the four possible answers.
• Once they're allowed to “Ask the Audience” for help picking the correct response.
• And they have one chance to “Call a Friend.” The contestant has 30 seconds to discuss the multiple-choice answer with a relative or friend.
“An English professor will not win on this show,” Mr. Davies says. “It's going to be very, very difficult for them, if they're just a specialist in one field of academic knowledge, to win on this program.”
No big winner yet
So far, nobody has won $1 million on the program, when versions have aired in Great Britain and four other countries.
Mr. Philbin says he was immediately attracted to the simplicity of the format. As Monty Hall once said, every great game show has one moment where the contestant can win it all, or lose everything.
“I think the simpler the game show, the more effective it is,” says Mr. Philbin, whose daytime talk show will be in reruns this week. He will do double duty next week, as he celebrates his 65th birthday (Aug. 25).
“It's very easy for me,” he says, “just to go across town, and meet the 10 people that ABC will be flying in for each show, get them relaxed, and then do the show later that night. No problem at all!”
Mr. Philbin last appeared on a prime-time series in 1976, on a 13-week run of an outdoors Beat The Clock-style show. In 1975, he hosted The Neighbors for ABC, in which he asked people to gossip about folks on their street.
“I forget what the rules were, but it did lead to a lot of friction,” he says. “It wasn't one of my highlights. All right?”
Began with Bishop
Regis Francis Xavier Philbin became a national celebrity in 1967, as the sidekick on The Joey Bishop Show, ABC's short-lived competition for Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. He's still a late-night celebrity, making more than two dozen appearances on CBS' Late Show with David Letterman.
Mr. Philbin has been teamed with Kathie Lee Gifford since 1985, and in national syndication since 1988. He also hosted Lifetime's highest-rated show, The Regis Philbin Show.
Yet prime-time fame has been elusive — if you don't count hosting the Miss America pageant with Kathie Lee, or appearing on her specials.
“In the last few years, I've been asked to consider reviving some of the old classic games shows. People have sent me tapes ... (of) Johnny Carson's Who Do You Trust?, but I didn't want to do that,” he says.
“This (show), with the addition of the Lifelines and the million dollars, look to be about as exciting and fresh as I've ever seen a new show.
“I just wanted to be part of it,” he says. “That's why I'm here!”
He could be back for more episodes this winter if Who Wants to be a Millionaire? is a ratings hit.
Without Kathie Lee.
John Kiesewetter is Enquirer TV/radio critic. His column appears Monday and Wednesday. Write: 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202; fax: 768-8330.
