1. UK Game Shows Experience Success in America
Elizabeth Riddle

2. Some of the shows… Cash Cab Changing Rooms/ Trading Spaces
United Kingdom
United States
Cash Cab
Changing Rooms/
Trading Spaces
Hell’s Kitchen
Pop Idol/American Idol
Strictly Come Dancing/
Dancing with the Stars
2004
2005
2000- present
2004
2005
2001
2002
2004
2005

3. Similarities between the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” versions
Different from other game shows:
Only one contestant at a time
Focus on suspense, not speed
Contestant must correctly answer 15 successive multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty
Lifelines: Phone-A-friend, Ask the Audience, Double Dip, Ask the Expert
Hosts often trick contestants
“Is that your final answer?”

4. Differences: The united kingdom: The united states:
First aired: September 4, 1998
Taped: Elstree Film Studios in Hertfordshire
Host: Chris Tarrant
Top Prize: £1,000,000
Original working title: Cash Mountain
2007- format changed to 12 questions
First aired: August 16, 1999
Taped in New York
Hosts:
Regis Philbin (primetime)
Meredith Vieira (daytime) present
Top Prize: $1,000,000
Special Editions
10th anniversary- show returned to ABC primetime in August 2009 with Regis Philbin for a 2-week event

5. Videos of “Who wants to be a Millionaire?”:
United kingdom video
United States video

6. Conclusion:
Many U.K. game shows have experienced success in the United States
Many formats do not need to be altered in shows going from the United Kingdom to the United States, because they have similar cultures
Aside from the different accents and minor insignificant changes, The U.S. version is the same as the original U.K. version of “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?”