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`Who Wants To Be A Millionaire` (ABC/Disney image)
"Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" (ABC/Disney image)

'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,' with host Meredith Vieira, premieres 11th season on Monday, Sept. 3

by jmaloni
Wed, Aug 29th 2012 01:00 pm

New season kicks off with "Celebrity Week," airing Sept. 17-21, and featuring Mo'Nique, Paula Deen, Cheech Marin, Jackée and Tony Dovolani

Millionaire also welcomes cast members from "General Hospital," "American Pickers" and Broadway's "The Lion King" this season

Press release

"Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," known for its unpredictable fun and life-changing cash prizes, will debut its 11th season in syndication on Monday, Sept. 3. The hit game show is helmed by Emmy Award-winner Meredith Vieira, who has hosted more than 1,800 episodes and given away more than $70 million to "Millionaire" contestants since the show debuted in 2002.

Check local listings or go to http://www.millionairetv.com for time and channel.

You never know what will happen on "Millionaire." Each weekday, contestants are given the extraordinary chance to turn their lives around and win $1 million by answering 14 general knowledge trivia questions. As America's richest game show, "Millionaire" continues to be the only game show to offer a $1 million prize to each and every contestant. With its cleverly written trivia questions that reveal fun and entertaining facts, contestants and viewers alike are able to get a playful learning experience filled with dramatic suspense that keeps everyone on the edge of their seats.

Last season "Millionaire" hosted several celebrity contestants who won more than $1 million for various charities. The show will continue its tradition of giving by kicking off its 11th season with a brand new installment of "Celebrity Week" to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. The series will air Sept. 17-21 in conjunction with World Alzheimer's Day on Friday, Sept. 21. Participating celebrities include Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress Mo'Nique; America's favorite cook and best-selling author, Paula Deen; comedian and actor Cheech Marin; television icon Jackée; and Tony Dovolani from "Dancing with the Stars."

"Millionaire" also will present several single episodes featuring famous faces from the entertainment industry. "Millionaire" will celebrate ABC's "General Hospital" by hosting cast members who will play the game for charity. In return, Vieira will have a cameo on "GH," leading up to the show's 50th anniversary on ABC in April 2013. Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz from History Channel's "American Pickers" will play on "Millionaire" to benefit America's VetDogs, an organization that provides assistance dogs and training to disabled veterans and active service members.

During "Millionaire's" "Broadway Week," contestants will have the chance to win tickets to see a Broadway show in addition to their "Millionaire" money. As part of the specialty week, cast members from "The Lion King" will play on "Millionaire" for charity and Vieira will make a cameo appearance at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre in "The Lion King's" iconic opening number, "Circle of Life," in celebration of the production's 15th anniversary. Contestants will be able to win a Disney Cruise Vacation during "Millionaire's Cruise In and Win Week" and, during a separate vacation giveaway week, can win a Walt Disney World Resort vacation to experience the new Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom Park, opening in December.

Several popular themed weeks will be brought back this season, including "Movie Week," featuring movie trivia buffs answering movie-themed questions, and "Double Your Money Week," where contestants can win as much as $50,000 by doubling the money attached to any single randomly selected question in the first round of the game. "Double Your Money" episodes will air throughout the season, with inaugural episodes airing Oct. 1 to 5.

"Millionaire" will continue the popular format changes, which were implemented in 2010, highlighted by the removal of the famed "hot seat," the addition of "Jump the Question" lifelines and randomized questions with shuffled monetary values. From the very first question, viewers now see more strategy and unpredictability as a contestant's hardest question can be worth as little as $100, while their easiest question can be worth as much as $25,000.

For "Millionaire's" 11th season, the show has moved to a brand new studio and will use a newly constructed set with several updates that will modernize the look of the show to match its upbeat and energetic format.

Make sure to keep up-to-date with all things "Millionaire":

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