ABC Revives "Millionaire" Quiz Show, Adds

Electrical Shocks for Contestants and Regis

 

Human Rights Advocates Denounce Grueling Programs

 

You thought television quiz shows and particularly Reigs Philbin and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" were dead? Think again.

ABC Television is readying a knockoff of "Millionaire" and, believe it or not, Regis Philbin will be the host.

The new program: "Who Wants to Be Regis Philbin?"

The viewer hook: Contestants can win up to $1 million, but in the process both contestants and Regis must endure electrical shocks that grow stronger as the amount of money at stake increases with each correct answer.

ABC, which announced the new quiz show over the weekend, said that each time a contestant gives a correct answer, he or she will receive an electrical shock as they advance to the next level and more money. But in an unusual twist, the network said that each time a contestant gives an incorrect answer, Philbin will get the shock instead.

"We're very excited by this new quiz show format," said a spokesman for ABC Televison, which is a subsidiary of Disney. "Our research shows that this version of 'Millionaire', with the heightened tension of electrical shocks, will be even bigger than the original program."

A spokesman for Philbin, best known as a daytime syndicated talk show host, said he was "ecstatic at the prospect of returning as the host." The spokesman said Philbin is already training daily with a psychologist and physical therapist who administer electrical shocks similar to those expected on the new show.

ABC has not revealed precisely how strong the shocks will be and how quickly they will escalate in intensity as the amount of money involved increases.

"We are only saying that AC electricity will be used and for a very short period, less than a millisecond," the ABC spokesman said, adding that as the money approaches $1 million "the shock will be something like briefly sticking your finger in a light bulb socket." There will also be a dramatic countdown each time a shock is administered with the studio audience chanting the seconds remaining until the jolt is delivered.

Jonathan Swiftman, an associate professor of psychology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who has studied human reaction to electrical shocks, said introducing shocks into a game show might produce unexpected results.

"You have a contestant who could win a lot of money, but to get there he has to endure stronger and stronger shocks," he said. "Our work has shown bizarre behavior can crop up." He said crying, shouting obscenities, fidgeting and jerking erratically wouldn't be surprising. A contestant might suddenly jump up and run out of the studio.

"Then you have your host, who is supposed to be neutral," Swiftman said. "But if the host wants to avoid getting shocked, it's in his best interest if the contestant gets the right answers and has to take the shocks. Imagine if the contestant is a dolt and the host has to take all these shocks. Think of the bizarre behaviors that might manifest themselves in your shocked host."

Arthur Kingsman of the London-based Human Rights Forum denounced the program. "It's disgusting, revolting. You will be able to watch humans being tortured on televison," he said. "American audiences will love it." November 3, 2003

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