"Who Wants To Scam People For Ratings"

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Apparently the TPTB of "Millionaire" can't seem to beat ER in the ratings, so they have resorted to adding 8 extra minutes on to thier show to "steal" viewers of ER! Those bastards! :) I don't even watch the show anyway, but on E! online there was an article about it. It said, (and I am only quoting the good parts) "Adding 9 minutes of unscheduled overtime just to keep viewers away from the best competition it has to offer". "But toying with the loyal ER fans could be dangerous. Though the ratings boost was nice for the network's ego, one ABC exec cautiously told the New York Times,"I really don't think it's in the best interest of Millionaire to regularly tick off the fans of ER." Just thought I'd share a piece of that info with ya'll. Those slimes! :)

-- Joy (joijoy@webtv.net), May 09, 2000

Answers

You know, I noticed that. I watched Millionaire on Thursday, and when it was over, I realized that ER had already started. I missed most of the beginning. I was pretty miffed. I thought that it was maybe just my retarded cable company who always does that kind of stuff...now I what happened. Those meanies!

-- M. Harmon (er_fan@harmonworks.com), May 09, 2000.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. ABC obviously can't come up with any quality original programming anymore, so they have to put "Millionaire" in every time slot. They are pathetic. I like Regis, but I refuse to watch this show. I'll admit that I watched it the first few weeks that it was on, but then I started to get sick of it. Why can't they just pick one time slot during the week and leave it there? Look at the show "Wonderland." They were foolish to put it on opposite "ER" in the first place, but if they really wanted it to have a chance, they should have put it on in one of the "Millionaire" slots. Well, here's hoping that people will wisen up and the "Millionaire" craze will end soon.

-- Katrina (cattrek@ga.freei.net), May 09, 2000.

That is a really stupid and unfair thing that ABC is doing, adding 9 extra minuites onto ER. I say this because up here in Canada we get the new Episodes on CTV, and it just so happens that on Thursday nights that Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is on right before ER. I wonder what the station is going to do? I hope they cut Millionaire off short, not start ER late. Or maybe they'll cut back on the 11 o'clock news. Any way this extra 9 minuites is going to throw things off up here.

Amy

-- Amy (areinders@hotmail.com), May 09, 2000.


ABC is riding high as a kite today, but it's going to be interesting to watch the fall when this game-show craze goes bad. Saturday Night Live has been doing some hilarious stuff mocking "Millionaire" and ABC. Last week they said something about ABC basing their entire programming schedule around a game show, which is true. This adding time though seems like a adolesent trick.

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), May 09, 2000.

P. S. Joy, great title for this thread! LOL.

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), May 09, 2000.


Not that I want to defend the Millionaire show (I hardly ever watch), but I think I heard the only reason that it ran over was because it was the celebrity round and Ray Romano was the last one left and had not yet finished so they held it over. Although, I suppose in editing they could have taken out a few minutes here and there to make it fit in the hour time slot!

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), May 09, 2000.

If I read correctly Amanda, it also mentioned that they are adding extra time on to Millionaire when the season finale of ER is on too...I could be wrong, but I think that's what it said. I hope they don't make this a regular occurrence or there's gonna' be hell to pay! :)

-- Joy (joijoy@webtv.net), May 10, 2000.

Personally, I've watched part of the quiz show before and it drives me wacky. Way too slow. Give me Jeopardy any day. Each question drags on and on. I'm a busy person and I don't have time to "waste" like that show does. I'm definately not one of the people boosting their ratings.

-- Joan (joanofarc24@hotmail.com), May 10, 2000.

Me neither. . . but apparently SOMEONE's watching, cause ER finished 5TH last week behind 4 episodes of that awful show! C'mon people!!!

-- joy (joygirl01@yahoo.com), May 10, 2000.

I have to admit...I did watch a couple of times last week since it was the celebrity millionaire shows. I think that is the only reason they won all of those nights. Personally, I think it is getting rather old and can't stand to watch it. When the contestants try to act all cute and talk through the questions I get so embarrassed for them! I'd rather watch a repeat of ER than Millionare anyday!

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), May 10, 2000.


I actually like game shows but HATE "Millionaire" and don't understand the attraction. What causes me concern is how popular it is and how mindless at the same time--does that say something about America or what? Someone said it above: give me Jeopardy any day. I hope ER beats the socks off it the next two weeks and this craze ends soon. I dislike it so much: if I want to watch an ABC show (which is seldom since they have so few other than "Millionaire") and if I turn over there and this is still on, I turn back to something else until it's gone!

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), May 10, 2000.

There's an article about last week's ratings at Yahoo! Entertainment Headlines, dated Sunday May 14. The title is 'ER' GOODBYE IS GOOD NEWS FOR NBC. ER beat "Millionaire" last week! And it goes on to talk about Julianna's exit, which gave ER it's second highest ranking this season (the number one was when Kellie Martin died). It also mentions George Clooney's departure and surprise brief return and has a picture of JM. "Millionaire" has had a drop in viewership since their celebrity week last week too. Just thought you might want to know so you could check out the article.

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), May 15, 2000.

Wow...All in the Family beat out Such Sweet Sorrow?! I mean I knew it was big (yay for Noah Wyle and Kellie Martin!) but I thought that the release of information about the "surprise reunion" hours before would bring the most ratings. Well I'm glad either way, I loved both of these episodes and I just don't get AT ALL why people are so interested in watching a game show all week long.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), May 15, 2000.

please tell me is the millonaire show taped?,,,or is it a live show?

-- cecil burrus (ceburrus@ezl.com), March 09, 2001.

i think "millionaire" is taped, because don't they have a little disclaimer in the end credits that says, "parts of this show that did not affect the outcome of the competition have been edited out"?

-- e. kerry (efields01@yahoo.com), March 09, 2001.


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