After five seasons of grueling questions, witty bantering, and millions of pesos in total prizes, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? goes on a break but promises something bigger next season. The game show that pioneered the craze over game shows on Philippine TV found a new home via TV5 when it started airing last summer of 2009.
"We'll be back. That's our final answer," host Vic Sotto stressed while pitching the viral buzz-phrase used by players when answering tough questions. The ace comedian-host has been effective in throwing difficult questions with light humor, while managing to comply with strict standards of the show's "bible."
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is making way to upgrade the show with up-to-date set technology and content for its loyal viewers. Traditionally, in other countries, the show is required to take a break every end of the season.
"We'll adhere to this tradition but expect us to come back with an improved program," said Mr. Perci Intalan, TV5's Head of Creative and Entertainment Production. "We managed to run the local franchise for five seasons straight because of the consistent high viewership we've been enjoying. Definitely, we will return with better and much-improved Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," he added.
TV5's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? recorded a first in local franchise history after Sharon Cuneta finally won the P2 million-peso jackpot last January 9. The Megastar holds the record as one of the first millionaires of the first Philippine version.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, a world-wide hit game show franchise, invaded the country by storm when it first aired in 2000. Almost a decade after TV5 brought the show back to give Filipinos a chance to fulfill the "overnight-millionaire" dream, the game show has become one of the top-rating programs in the Kapatid network. It also introduced changes in format; a redesigned logo, a new opening sequence and a modified "money tree," all in line with standards of the franchise.
Among the celebrities who won big cash prizes for their chosen charities include Ms. Coney Reyes and Arnel Ignacio winning P600,000. The program also adapted a special charity edition titled "Who Deserves to Be a Millionaire?" last Christmas season when celebrities played for their chosen charities.
CNN Hero of the Year 2009 and Ako Mismo host Efren Peñaflorida, and Paparazzi and upcoming artista-search show Star Factor host Ruffa Gutierrez, helped their chosen charities take home P400,000. Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero won P250,000 together with his preferred charity; while P.O.5 host and 4th district of Leyte representative Lucy Torres-Gomez won P150,000 for her chosen charity.
In the finale episode taped last July 31, one regular player came closer to reaping the P1 million pot money, but chose to walk away with P600,000. To end the season, the game show taps ten entertainment reporters to vie and get in the hot seat to play for charity.
Catch the last episodes of the hit game show every Saturday, 6:30-7:30pm on TV5.