NEW YORK (CNM) -- It has no celebrities, no laugh track and a top prize that would barely cover a nice dinner for four in Manhattan. Yet "Who Wants to Be a Thousandaire?" drew an estimated 29 million viewers last week, more than any other show on television.
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| The set of 'Who Wants to Be a Thousandaire?' |
Host Monty Vance, a 58-year-old former weatherman, asks each contestant a series of questions of increasing difficulty, pausing for dramatic music before revealing whether the answer is correct. His catchphrase -- "Is that your final answer, or are you just saying that?" -- has become a playground staple.
The show's lifelines include "Ask the Studio Audience," "Phone a Neighbor" and "Consult the Encyclopedia," a single volume covering the letters M through P.
Network executives say they will add a fourth weekly episode in January. "People like the tension," said one. "And they like that they could win, too. A thousand dollars is a very achievable dream."
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