It seems like whenever someone answers a question on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” Regis teases them a little. “I’m sorry Bill but your answer is ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!!” And so on. Is he doing it for suspense or is he just sadistic? An even better question: What would be the best way to jerk the contestant’s chain?
Definite power trip. That’s how you keep the suspense, which is how you keep those high ratings! I personally think the following is the cruellest thing on TV nowadays:
Regis (asks question, the contestant has no idea)
Contestant: well I have no lifelines left and I’ve won $125,000 so I think I should just stop. I don’t know the answer.
Regis teases contestant for a while, when he doesn’t budge, says: OK well now that you’re out of the game, what WOULD you have answered?
Constestant: I guess I would have answered B.
Regis: Well you WOULD have won $250,000! Too bad for you!
Haha!
If I ever get on the show, I’m going to yank his chain for a change. I’d like to get on and pretend to agonize over every single question for like 20 minutes, then all of a sudden pop out with the right answer. Oh yeah, and never use a lifeline no matter how often he prods me to.
[hijack] Brunetter’s sig “Look! I’ve got ONE job on this lousy ship, it’s stupid, but I’m gonna DO it!!” was a great line by Sigorney Weaver. I love it in your sig. [/hijack]
Unfortunately, Regis is too stuck on himself to even allow another into the sadistic equation. He thinks he’s being charming and witty.
What a weasel!
A guy did that already. Regis was like, “Is that your final answer,” - “Yes, Regis.” “Are you SURE…is that your FINAL answer.”
“It’s my final answer, Regis! Will you just tell me if I got it right or not?!”
Regus: (shock) “Well you were WRONG!! HAHA!! WRONG!!”
I swear that is exactly what happened. eeesh…
Thanks Chief! This is the first comment I’ve gotten on my sig. I love that line!! I figured anyone who recognized it and responded to it could be in my good books. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
curtsey
He did do this to a contestant recently, and the poor guy walked off in tears! Of course, the cameras followed him off stage, to film him sobbing on his mother’s shoulder. Camera cuts back to Reege with that damn smirk on his face.
Sadistic Bastard!
Well, I think the choice has been made for us. Regis must go. We can’t let him remain as a threat to… stuff.
No, no, people, this is the gig, not the host.
The Australian version has Eddie McGuire doing the same stuff. Throw to a break when tension is great. Insist on answer even when they’ve taken the money. Half-badger them to continue when they’ve decided to go.
It’s an English game, blame the Poms.
picmr
In the original British series, they reversed what you are saying.
Contestant: I think I’l go with answer two.
Host: Congratulations, how does it feel? You just lost 32,000 dollars! Bye!
Or something like that. I heard it from a friend, so it may not be true. That would be the way I’d run a game show, though.
Here’s my “if I was on the show” bit:
You wouldn’t see me babbling stupid non sequitors, like “well, I know George Washington liked bananas, and bananas grow in bunches, so I’m going with ‘B’, OJ Simpson.” Nope, I’d just give the final answer, period.
Regis: gives answers
Me: B, final answer.
Regis (incredulous): Are you sure?
Me: Yes, a**hole, are you deaf?
Regis (scowling): B is right!
Now, be honest, wouldn’t you want to see that on TV?
I want to go on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” get up to the thousand dollar mark and quit right there, saying “Thanks dude, I just needed enough for the plane-ride home.”
Dontcha think that while you’re on the plane to NYC, you’d map out some rules for yourself? I mean, beyond the obvious “I’m not gonna let Regis make me cry on camera.” Seems to me you’d say, up to a certain level, I will always go for it. Past this mark, I’d have to be xx% sure before going for it. (you decide how gutsy you can be and still live with yourself if you blew it). I will be happy to get my stupid lousy $1000 or $32000 and go home if I screw it up having met these parameters, it’s more money than I walked in with, etc etc. Also: when I phone a friend, the answer is ultimately up to me. If I blow it based on poor guidance from the friend, it’s my fault for not knowing the answer myself. I will not plot his death all the way home because he told me the wrong answer.
You gotta lay it out for yourself like that (at least I would) otherwise you play “What If?” and torture yourself afterwards.
[hijack]
Then I’m pleased to make yer acquaintance as well, Brunetter…LOVED Galaxy Quest. Scary thing is…I recognized some of my friends in that movie. Yipe. Next on my fan’s “To Watch” list: Trekkies. Actually KNOW someone in that movie…
[/hijack]
I learned some of the number patterns.
So, if the first three answers are a, c, d then I know that the fourth is going to be ‘b’ cause they don’t use the same letter twice. So, after number three Id just say to Regis, the next answer is ‘b’ so, lets jump to the fifth question.
Guy, I’d watch that EVERY NIGHT. That’s freakin’ hilarious. I hate that rambling on and on that the contestants do too, as if trying to convince themselves they know the answer. Get on with it moron!
Regis: “B.” Is that your final answer?
manhattan: Actually, Reej, it’s not. I’m going to switch to “A”
Regis: You know, manny, this is the third time you’ve switched at the last minute and we’re only up to $125,000.
manhattan: Figured that out all by yourself, did you, quiz-boy?
Regis: (to stagehand) Go backstage and get those “special” questions. We’ll see what “Mr. Millionaire” here knows about Holly Hobby, Sanskrit verb forms and Curling strategy.
My other idea is to start shouting the correct answer before he reads the choices. You know, put your hands over your ears like an obnoxious 6 year old and scream, “The Magna Carta, the Magna Carta” while Regis is trying to spit out, “A. The Declaration of Independence…”
Regis does not sound like a name, but like an all-purpose word.
You win the lottery–> I won! Regis! (excited)
You get kicked in the 'nads—> F-ck you, you monkey-eating regis!
You buy a hotdog–> Would you like saurkraut and extra regis on that?
You buy a car–> would you like to order the premium option package with alloy rims and a seating system with a genuine regis pivot movement?
Getting orchestra seats, train tickets, a 'round the world cruise–> And for you sir, a complimentary upgrade to our regis section.
Buying a watch–> And only gucci watches have the patented regis watchband, guaranteed until the universe collapses in upon itself.
Motor oil—> our new patented motor oil with the new regis™ molecule! It allows you to drive your car without changing your oil ever! And that’s final!
Shoes–> You can jump higher with Regis™!
I could go on forever, but I need to go to lunch so I can get back to work and post more to the board.