The spotlights have been hot and firing at the Connecticut Film Center, where up to thirty-five weeks’ worth of episodes of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? filmed recently and have been airing in syndication since September as part of the game show’s seventeenth season, its first from Stamford. Executive Producer James Rowley says that the new location (the show was previously produced in New York) gathered “as full a crowd as we’ve ever had,” while requests for free but highly demanded tickets filled online servers to the brim as soon as word got out. Watch a thirty-minute episode and you’ll know why.
You’ve probably already noticed a few changes to the show’s competitive format, including the addition of another lifeline and two more audience-driven mini-games. The lifeline, “Plus One,” allows contestants to receive help from the companion they brought to watch the show. “Fastest Feet” gives four audience members the chance to win $1,000 together as they answer a four-part question, and “Team Millionaire” lets two audience members collaborate for a chance at $1,000.
Viewers are now more connected than ever to the show, but Stamford residents needn’t dismay if they aren’t chosen to compete. The real prize of Millionaire’s move into town is its new host, former NFL player-turned-actor Terry Crews. Rowley nearly ran out of breath praising Crews’ presence on the show. “He shines,” he says. “He’s got a fresh energy, a warmth and connection with all the contestants.” Best known for his appearances in Old Spice commercials and star roles in sitcoms Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Are We There Yet? (also filmed at the CFC), Crews brings with him years of TV and film experience, along with a colorfully sharp fashion sense that Rowley says in the most complimentary way is “insane.”
Rowley also tells us that Millionaire has a winning formula here, and with more auditions already held a few weeks ago, plans to stick around for years to come are in the works. We’ve already fallen in love with this new rendition of a timeless show and can’t wait to see it continue an already powerful television legacy. And this time, it’s in our backyard.