‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’s Most Controversial Move Just Ruined One of the Greatest Game Shows

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was better when the contestants were everyday people looking to change their lives, rather than celebrity contestants competing for charity. Jimmy Kimmel‘s reboot of the fan-favorite game show series looks quite a bit different from its original iteration. The two-part Season 4 premiere featured trivia king Ken Jennings and Kimmel’s nemesis, actor and philanthropist, Matt Damon, and soared to the top of ABC’s ratings. However, the change from using everyday competitors to bringing in celebrity contestants isn’t simply surface level, but it affects the viewing experience. Despite bringing in massive viewership, the Season 4 premiere also highlighted the fact that the series was more exciting when the competitors were everyday people trying to earn the top prize.

‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ Was Better Without Celebrity Contestants

As Jennings quickly deduced the answer to the final question that would earn him and Damon the million-dollar top-prize for water.org, Kimmel observed with his typical wry timbre: “I have to say, this is the least dramatic million-dollar moment in Who Wants to be a Millionaire history, because that is absolutely right.” Amid the celebration onstage, where Damon excitedly pointed out his charity can now assist over 200,000 people access clean drinking water, the moment rang slightly hollow as Kimmel’s comment reverberated. Compared to other million-dollar moments in the series’ history, it did feel anti-climactic, and not just because Jennings was so quick to answer. The million-dollar moment going to a well-known celebrity, even if it is for an excellent charitable cause, doesn’t hit home the same way as when an everyday contestant wins the life-changing amount of money.

By swapping out the regular contestants — everyday people hoping to change their circumstances — for celebrities competing for charity, the suspense is considerably lessened. While giant corporations giving back to charitable organizations is always a good idea, in this case, it completely changes the dynamic of the series. Even the title no longer truly makes sense, since the competitor is no longer an individual hoping to become a “millionaire,” but rather two celebrities competing for the charities of their choice. The basic gameplay may be the same, but the change in competitors has taken the heart out of the viewing experience.

The Heart of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ Was Everyday People Changing Their Lives

While the gameplay in the new iteration is similar to the original game, the stakes are significantly lowered, and the celebrities are there to promote themselves as well as their charities. All of this results in a watered-down viewing experience, since the name of the game, someone hoping to become a millionaire based on their trivia knowledge, is no longer at stake. Even the plot of the beloved film that features the Millionaire franchise, Slumdog Millionaire, understood that the greatest feature of the game show was the opportunity for everyday individuals to elevate their lives. The heart of the series was the moment when a contestant realized they were earning a life-changing amount of money, and with celebrity contestants, that quality has been lost.

Furthermore, when there are too many comedians in the room, Kimmel’s banter with contestants can escalate beyond the moment, drawing out the filler time between gameplay and watering down the viewing experience. If this were Who Wants To Be a Millionaire: Celebrity Takeover, a supplementary addition to the franchise, there would be nothing to complain about. But without the presence of everyday competitors looking to earn the top prize, the series has lost its soul. Millionaire earned top spot in ratings for ABC with its premiere, but they won’t be able to walk out celebrities of Matt Damon’s caliber each week. It seems like the network will have to keep pulling out the stops if they want the celebrity-led game show to continue holding audience interest and earning them that top spot.