Cedric the Entertainer: new host of syndicated "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"

Cedric the Entertainer named new 'Millionaire' host

Comedian Cedric the Entertainer has replaced Meredith Vieira as the new host of the syndicated Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, the original million-dollar game show. He follows in the footsteps of his friend and fellow comedian Steve Harvey, who is hosting Family Feud.

The format of the show is is also noticeably different from before, and these changes started in 2010. In round 1, there are 10 multiple-choice questions with random dollar values, ranging from $100 to $25,000, all of which are cumulative. After clearing round 1, round 2 is made up of four multiple-choice questions, which are not cumulative, and closer in style to the classic format. The only remaining original lifeline is Ask the Audience, and the other two lifelines are two "Jumps," which allow the contestant to skip the question, but will forefit the amount that the question was worth (in round 1). In round 1, when a contestant walks away, he or she leaves with half of the money accumulated in the bank; if he or she misses a question, the contestant leaves with a consolation prize of only $1,000. (In the original format, when a contestant missed a question within the first five questions, he or she left with nothing at all.) In round 2, when a contestant walks away, he or she leaves with all of the money in the bank; if he or she misses a question, the contestant leaves with $25,000. Unlike the 2008 format, there are no time limits to answering a question, and the game is played standing up, rather than sitting down in a "hot seat," like before.

In addition to the format, they also changed the music, which is nothing like the original music that was inherited from the original British version.

I watched an episode with Cedric today, and I actually liked him more than Meredith, as he was funnier (he's a comedian, obviously), though the original, Regis Philbin, will always be the best.

Isn't he dead?

Edit: Oh wait, I was thinking about Bernie Mac. Sorry about that.

As for this, I actually don't know if he's the best choice to be host for this game.

I quit watching this show when Regis left :colbert:

Yeah, Regis was the best host and the new way this game is played just doesn't really interest me.

If they asked "Who is Cedric the Entertainer?" I would not win a million dollars :(

When you have to specify that you're an entertainer, chances are pretty high you aren't that good of an entertainer. :shrug:

Somebody else probably gave him that name, and it stuck. His real name is Cedric Antonio Kyles.

As for the new format of the show, I think they should bring back the 50/50 and Phone a Friend lifelines.

They've also had various guest hosts over the years who have filled in for Meredith Vieira, and one of them was none other than the original Regis Philbin.

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Originally Posted by Agent Proto

Isn't he dead?

Edit: Oh wait, I was thinking about Bernie Mac. Sorry about that.

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I thought they were both dead until I read this thread!

Lmfao. No Ced is alive and kickin.

I often get him mixed up w Bernie Mac tho. Haha

Eh, I like Cedric, he's enjoyable enough.

Won't be watching cause I don't like the show anyway though.

I had no idea Who Want's To Be A Millionaire was still on.

I had no idea there were people who actually found Cedric the Entertainer entertaining.

Cedric the Amuser is more appropriate.

No one will ever beat this guy.

He's funny in that Tommy Lee Jones movie w the UT Austin cheerleaders...

I like Cedric. No where near my favorite comic, but I get some decent enough laughs from him. :p

That clip you posted, Jinx, is from Slumdog Millionaire, but in India, the show's official title is Kaun Banega Crorepati, which translates to "Who Will Become a Millionaire?"; a "crore" is 10 million rupees. And the film was influenced by the Charles Ingram scandal, in which he cheated to win £1 million on the UK version of the show.

Back in the U.S., I figured I'd update this thread after seeing two first-time attempts at the $1 million top prize in the new "shuffle" format.

Chip Esten Million Dollar Question 11/21/13 - YouTube

On a recent celebrity special, Charles "Chip" Esten, from the ABC TV drama Nashville, won $500,000 for charity, walking away from the $1 million question.

Josina Reaves' Million Dollar Question - Who Wants to be a Millionaire [Season 12] - YouTube

A regular contestant named Josina Reaves recently became only the second contestant to miss the $1 million question, though her loss was not quite as devastating in terms of raw figures or percentages, because she previously won $100,000 and then used her two jumps to skip the $250,000 and $500,000 questions, and an incorrect answer drops the contestant to $25,000, so she would up losing $75,000, or 75% of her winnings.

The first ever contestant to miss the $1 million question was Ken Basin during the finale of the 10th anniversary celebration, which used the clock format that ran on the syndicated version from Fall 2008 to Spring 2010. He suffered a devastating $475,000 loss, falling from $500,000 all the way down to $25,000; that is a devastating 95% loss in winnings. He used his Ask the Audience lifeline for assistance, and we all know that this lifeline is generally not useful anymore after question 10. Previously, the most money lost was $225,000 in the syndicated version, when a contestant got the $500,000 question wrong, and fell from $250,000 to $25,000, a 90% loss. Back in the original primetime era, which used the original UK money tree, question 10 was worth $32,000, question 11 was worth $64,000, and question 12 was worth $125,000; the syndicated version initially kept these amounts, but later reduced them to $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000, respectively. A number of contestants on the original primetime version have also answered the $500,000 question incorrectly, and lost $218,000, falling from $250,000 to $32,000.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Agent Proto

Yeah, Regis was the best host and the new way this game is played just doesn't really interest me.

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I also just thought: if this new "shuffle" game format and the new host don't interest you, then what would be your ideal game format, and who would be your ideal host? I have a few concepts for new game formats and hosts in mind, but I'd also like to know your ideas.

Did they ever prove Ingram cheated? I lost interest before the whole scandal came to a close.

Yeah, I know the clip is from a movie. Thanks for telling me.