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  February 12, 2004
Regis Ups Millionaire Jackpot
by Daniel R. Coleridge

Good news! Now, you don't have to win the lottery or cozy up to Ed McMahon to lay your greedy mitts on $10 million. Just get yourself on Super Millionaire — the amped-up version of ABC's Who Wants to be a Millionaire? debuting Feb. 22. And sorry, Meredith Vieira, original host Regis Philbin is back to emcee the big prime-time event. Here's how this Super-sized edition will be different...

The biggest change is the grand prize increase from $1 million to $10 million. They hope this'll lure back viewers who burned out on Millionaire, back when ABC was airing it in constant rotation. "It's a terrific jackpot," Philbin says, "and it's just what we need to energize the audience and get them in here with us." As producer Michael Davies explains: "Frankly, $1 million ain't what it used to be. A lot of shows have followed us in giving away massive prizes. So we're upping the ante."

Naturally, there are a few new twists. Upon reaching the game's $100,000 mark, contestants receive two brand new lifelines. Oh, they can still "Ask the Audience," do a "50/50" or "Phone a Friend." But now, there's the "Three Wise Men" option. See, instead of just ringing up a frustratingly clueless pal at home, contestants will consult a trio of "brilliant" trivia pros — including academic bookworms and past Millionaire winners. And despite the male-oriented title, women will be included in the expert threesome every night.

The other new tactical option is to "Double Dip." This gimmick "allows a contestant two opportunities to answer a question," Davies says, "but unlike any lifeline that's come before, the contestant waives their right to walk away from a question. There's no turning back."

By the way, Philbin's pay won't be multiplied by 10, like the show's grand prize. "As a matter of fact, I'm going for the same salary that I had last time," he says with a chuckle. "I'm trying to help out the network all I can. I'm thrilled to do the show again and, no, I'm not holding them up for any more money than I've gotten before."

Also, don't look for Philbin to sport those sharp, monochromatic outsfits he wore back in 1999, when the Millionaire craze started. "That look came from walking up [New York City's] Madison Avenue and looking at the fall display in the Calvin Klein window," Davies says. "Unfortunately, the fashionable look that exists now [won't work]. I don't think Regis wants to walk out in a belly shirt. But we're working on a progressive look that Reege hasn't done before."

Want to be a Super Millionaire? The contestant phone line is 1-800-999-7878 and opens up on Feb. 16.



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