“Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” Is Over After A 20-Year Run

May 18, 2019 / Posted by:

The 20-year-old (!!!) gameshow Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? has been canceled, according to TV Line. “That show is still on?” you’re asking yourself. Me, too. What about the weak links show with that mean British lady? And Howie Mandel’s models with briefcases show? Are those still on? This is what you get when you cancel cable. You have no idea what terrible bullshit is still airing on regular TV. General Hospital’s still on, right? *panicked face*

A rep said this yesterday:

“After a successful 17-year run, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? will not return in national syndication for the 2019-20 season.”

Millionaire debuted in August 1999 on ABC, and was initially hosted by Regis Philbin. It was hugely popular and “averaged more than 28 million total viewers in its first full season.” And ended up being on five nights a week at the height of its popularity!

Speaking of weak links and Howie Mandel…

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire caught America’s attention and was “incredibly influential in the game show genre, spawning a host of imitators that copied its cerebral tone and dramatic lighting.”

Popularity fades, and ABC dumped the show into syndication in 2002 and Meredith Viera began hosting. Viera was followed by Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews and The Bachelor host Chris Harrison became Millionaire’s current and final host in 2015.

The show was also responsible for the catchphrase “is that your final answer?” The legacy it leaves behind is when you’re having a bad day and some asshole asks you a question and you answer and they jokingly go “is that your final answer?” Dads do that. Shut up, dad.

And for those of you into schadenfreude:

Pic: Disney-ABC

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