Season 7 (U.S. syndication)

The seventh season of the U.S. syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? premiered on September 8, 2008.

From 2008 to 2010, the rules of the game have changed, clock added. Now the game has become even more dynamic, since for the answer to each question the participant is given a certain time limit: 1st-5th questions - 15 seconds, 6th-10th questions - 30 seconds, 11th-14th questions - 45 seconds, 15th question - 45 seconds + Time Bank.

The time counting starts immediately after the host fully read out the question (without answer options). In the event that the contestant does not have time to give an answer for the time allotted to him, this is tantamount to giving the wrong answer.

The Time Bank is the total amount of time unused on each question. Adds to 45 seconds of playing time to answer the last, $1,000,000 question.

For the first time in the American version's history, the contestant sees the topics of each question before they are asked. Categories can be useful to the player in making a decision: to take risks on the current question or to play further, for example, if the player is well-versed in the topic of future questions.

In addition to the main host, this season there were invited hosts. Cat Deeley on February 16-20, 2009 week hosted, Samantha Harris on May 11-15, 2009 week hosted, and Shaun Robinson on June 8-12, 2009 week hosted.

Lifelines
The contestant had four lifelines. The timer stops at the time of the use of lifelise.
 * Phone-a-Friend
 * Ask the Audience
 * Double Dip
 * Ask the Expert (after 5th question)

Episodes
Sally Vander Veer ($16,000) Mary DeLoache ($1,000) Eric Cunningham (continued) Eric Cunningham ($100,000) Ellene Weber ($1,000) Lawrence Thomas (continued) Lawrence Thomas ($25,000) Merideth Early (continued) Merideth Early ($16,000) Chris Samperi ($25,000) Kathleen Bobrowski ($1,000) Marie Curren (continued) Marie Curren ($16,000) Walter Lindsey (continued) Walter Lindsey ($8,000) Louise Hauser (continued) Louise Hauser ($50,000) Jackie Owhoso ($16,000) Natalie Habig (continued) Natalie Habig ($0) Barbara Mayhall Hunter ($0) (see trivia) Ken Hinton ($16,000) Lori Fagan (continued) Lori Fagan ($50,000) Chris Bartell (continued) Chris Bartell ($25,000) Judy Kay Frome (continued) Judy Kay Frome ($50,000) Brianne Sherman (continued) Brianne Sherman ($250,000) Mildred, Karen, & Nicole Stubbs ($1,000) Helen Young & Lynne and Elizabeth Studer (continued) Helen Young & Lynne and Elizabeth Studer ($25,000) T.D., Kim, & Tom Johnson (continued) T.D., Kim, & Tom Johnson ($25,000) Betty, Diane, & Bree DeSilva ($1,000) Barbara A., Barbara P., & Alex Agrusa (continued) Barbara A., Barbara P., & Alex Agrusa ($50,000) Jim, Tracy and Conner Lawler (continued) Jim, Tracy and Conner Lawler ($250,000) Amy Heller (?) Nick Santillo ($1,000) Roger Storm (continued) Roger Storm ($250,000) Kevin Baker ($0) Carla Stitt ($50,000) Anthony Dickey (continued) Anthony Dickey ($25,000) Carlos Giron (continued) Carlos Giron ($250,000) Melissa Claire (continued) Melissa Claire ($50,000) Jim Batts (continued) Jim Batts ($250,000) Rich Gangel ($0) Eddie Kraus & Jen Sharkey ($25,000) Tom Colatosti & Amber Cox (continued) Tom Colatosti & Amber Cox ($16,000) James Wolfe & Brandee Graff (continued) James Wolfe & Brandee Graff ($16,000) Tony Biagioli & Kim Gibson (continued) Tony Biagioli & Kim Gibson ($25,000) Bryan Prock & Ally Bourbeau ($4,000) Nick Bird-Conliff & Anna Sears ($25,000) Rob Worman (continued) Rob Worman ($25,000) John-Anthony Cavanagh ($0) James Bond ($1,000) Bill Murray (continued) Bill Murray ($25,000) Barbara Eden (continued) Barbara Eden ($25,000) Janet Jackson (continued) Janet Jackson ($8,000) Seth Green (continued) Seth Green ($1,000) Bill Gates ($1,000) Eric Gunther ($25,000) Laila Bitar (continued) Laila Bitar ($25,000) James Booker (continued) James Booker ($50,000) Stefanie Payne ($0) Joey Gutmann (continued) Joey Gutmann ($25,000) Melissa Wagner (continued) Melissa Wagner ($50,000) Andrew Nelson (continued) Andrew Nelson ($50,000) Nicole Tatum-Hall (continued) Nicole Tatum-Hall ($16,000) Frank Cardia ($2,000)
 * Episode 1 (8th September 2008) - Expert: Bill Nye
 * Episode 2 (9th September 2008) - Expert: Bill Nye
 * Episode 3 (10th September 2008) - Expert: Bill Nye
 * Episode 4 (11th September 2008) - Expert: Bill Nye
 * Episode 5 (12th September 2008) - Expert: Bill Nye
 * Episode 6 (15th September 2008) - Expert: Ogi Ogas
 * Episode 7 (16th September 2008) - Expert: Ogi Ogas
 * Episode 8 (17th September 2008) - Expert: Ogi Ogas
 * Episode 9 (18th September 2008) - Expert: Ogi Ogas
 * Episode 10 (19th September 2008) - Expert: Ogi Ogas
 * Episode 11 (22nd September 2008) - Expert: Sam Greenfield
 * Episode 12 (23rd September 2008) - Expert: Sam Greenfield
 * Episode 13 (24th September 2008) - Expert: Sam Greenfield
 * Episode 14 (25th September 2008) - Expert: Sam Greenfield
 * Episode 15 (26th September 2008) - Expert: Sam Greenfield
 * Episode 16 (29th September 2008) - Expert: Lyn Payne
 * Episode 17 (30th September 2008) - Expert: Lyn Payne
 * Episode 18 (1st October 2008) - Expert: Lyn Payne
 * Episode 19 (2nd October 2008) - Expert: Lyn Payne
 * Episode 20 (3rd October 2008) - Expert: Lyn Payne
 * Episode 21 (6th October 2008) - Expert: Jay Thomas
 * Episode 22 (7th October 2008) - Expert: Jay Thomas
 * Episode 23 (8th October 2008) - Expert: Jay Thomas
 * Episode 24 (9th October 2008) - Expert: Jay Thomas
 * Episode 25 (10th October 2008) - Expert: Jay Thomas
 * Episode 26 (13th October 2008) - Expert: Dave Kerger
 * Episode 27 (14th October 2008) - Expert: Dave Kerger
 * Episode 28 (15th October 2008) - Expert: Dave Kerger
 * Episode 29 (16th October 2008) - Expert: Dave Kerger
 * Episode 30 (17th October 2008) - Expert: Dave Kerger
 * Episode 31 (20th October 2008) - Teacher Week (1) - Expert: Nancy Christy
 * Episode 32 (21st October 2008) - Teacher Week (2) - Expert: Nancy Christy
 * Episode 33 (22nd October 2008) - Teacher Week (3) - Expert: Nancy Christy
 * Episode 34 (23rd October 2008) - Teacher Week (4) - Expert: Nancy Christy
 * Episode 35 (24th October 2008) - Teacher Week (5) - Expert: Nancy Christy
 * Episode 36 (27th October 2008)
 * Episode 37 (28th October 2008)
 * Episode 38 (29th October 2008)
 * Episode 39 (30th October 2008)
 * Episode 40 (31th October 2008)
 * Episode 41 (3rd November 2008)
 * Episode 42 (4th November 2008)
 * Episode 43 (5th November 2008)
 * Episode 44 (6th November 2008)
 * Episode 45 (7th November 2008)
 * Episode 46 (10th November 2008)
 * Episode 47 (11th November 2008)
 * Episode 48 (12th November 2008)
 * Episode 49 (13th November 2008)
 * Episode 50 (14th November 2008)
 * Episode 51 (17th November 2008) - Family Week (1)
 * Episode 52 (18th November 2008) - Family Week (2)
 * Episode 53 (19th November 2008) - Family Week (3)
 * Episode 54 (20th November 2008) - Family Week (4)
 * Episode 55 (21st November 2008) - Family Week (5)
 * Episode 56 (24th November 2008)
 * Episode 57 (25th November 2008)
 * Episode 58 (26th November 2008)
 * Episode 59 (27th November 2008)
 * Episode 60 (28th November 2008)
 * Episode 61 (1st December 2008)
 * Episode 62 (2nd December 2008)
 * Episode 63 (3rd December 2008)
 * Episode 64 (4th December 2008)
 * Episode 65 (5th December 2008)
 * Episode 66 (8th December 2008)
 * Episode 67 (9th December 2008)
 * Episode 68 (10th December 2008)
 * Episode 69 (11th December 2008)
 * Episode 70 (12th December 2008)
 * Episode 71 (5th January 2009)
 * Episode 72 (6th January 2009)
 * Episode 73 (7th January 2009)
 * Episode 74 (8th January 2009)
 * Episode 75 (9th January 2009)
 * Episode 76 (12th January 2009)
 * Episode 77 (13th January 2009)
 * Episode 78 (14th January 2009)
 * Episode 79 (15th January 2009)
 * Episode 80 (16th January 2009)
 * Episode 81 (19th January 2009)
 * Episode 82 (20th January 2009)
 * Episode 83 (21st January 2009)
 * Episode 84 (22nd January 2009)
 * Episode 85 (23rd January 2009)
 * Episode 86 (26th January 2009)
 * Episode 87 (27th January 2009)
 * Episode 88 (28th January 2009)
 * Episode 89 (29th January 2009)
 * Episode 90 (30th January 2009)
 * Episode 91 (16th February 2009)
 * Episode 92 (17th February 2009)
 * Episode 93 (18th February 2009)
 * Episode 94 (19th February 2009)
 * Episode 95 (20th February 2009)
 * Episode 96 (23rd February 2009)
 * Episode 97 (24th February 2009)
 * Episode 98 (25th February 2009)
 * Episode 99 (26th February 2009)
 * Episode 100 (27th Februry 2009)
 * Episode 101 (2nd March 2009)
 * Episode 102 (3rd March 2009)
 * Episode 103 (4th March 2009)
 * Episode 104 (5th March 2009)
 * Episode 105 (6th March 2009)
 * Episode 106 (9th March 2009) - Million Dollar Movie Week (1)
 * Episode 107 (10th March 2009) - Million Dollar Movie Week (2)
 * Episode 108 (11th March 2009) - Million Dollar Movie Week (3)
 * Episode 109 (12th March 2009) - Million Dollar Movie Week (4)
 * Episode 110 (13th March 2009) - Million Dollar Movie Week (5)
 * Episode 111 (16th March 2009)
 * Episode 112 (17th March 2009)
 * Episode 113 (18th March 2009)
 * Episode 114 (19rd March 2009)
 * Episode 115 (20th March 2009)
 * Episode 116 (23rd March 2009) - Wedding Week (1)
 * Episode 117 (24th March 2009) - Wedding Week (2)
 * Episode 118 (25th March 2009) - Wedding Week (3)
 * Episode 119 (26th March 2009) - Wedding Week (4)
 * Episode 120 (27th March 2009) - Wedding Week (5)
 * Episode 121 (30th March 2009)
 * Episode 122 (31st March 2009)
 * Episode 123 (1st April 2009)
 * Episode 124 (2nd April 2009)
 * Episode 125 (3rd April 2009)
 * Episode 126 (6th April 2009)
 * Episode 127 (7th April 2009)
 * Episode 128 (8th April 2009)
 * Episode 129 (9th April 2009)
 * Episode 130 (10th April 2009)
 * Episode 131 (13th April 2009)
 * Episode 132 (14th April 2009)
 * Episode 133 (15th April 2009)
 * Episode 134 (16th April 2009)
 * Episode 135 (17th April 2009)
 * Episode 136 (20th April 2009)
 * Episode 137 (21st April 2009)
 * Episode 138 (22nd April 2009)
 * Episode 139 (23rd April 2009)
 * Episode 140 (24th April 2009)
 * Episode 141 (27th April 2009)
 * Episode 142 (28th April 2009)
 * Episode 143 (29th April 2009)
 * Episode 144 (30th April 2009)
 * Episode 145 (1st May 2009)
 * Episode 146 (4th May 2009) - Famous Names Week (1)
 * Episode 147 (5th May 2009) - Famous Names Week (2)
 * Episode 148 (6th May 2009) - Famous Names Week (3)
 * Episode 149 (7th May 2009) - Famous Names Week (4)
 * Episode 150 (8th May 2009) - Famous Names Week (5)
 * Episode 151 (11th May 2009)
 * Episode 152 (12th May 2009)
 * Episode 153 (13th May 2009)
 * Episode 154 (14th May 2009)
 * Episode 155 (15th May 2009)
 * Episode 156 (18th May 2009)
 * Episode 157 (19th May 2009)
 * Episode 158 (20th May 2009)
 * Episode 159 (21st May 2009)
 * Episode 160 (22nd May 2009)
 * Episode 161 (8th June 2009) - Guest host: Shaun Robinson / Expert: Tom Spencer
 * Episode 162 (9th June 2009) - Guest host: Shaun Robinson / Expert: Tom Spencer
 * Episode 163 (10th June 2009) - Guest host: Shaun Robinson / Expert: Tom Spencer
 * Episode 164 (11th June 2009) - Guest host: Shaun Robinson / Expert: Tom Spencer
 * Episode 165 (12th June 2009) - Guest host: Shaun Robinson / Expert: Tom Spencer
 * Episode 166 (15th June 2009) - Expert: Ashleigh Banfield
 * Episode 167 (16th June 2009) - Expert: Ashleigh Banfield
 * Episode 168 (17th June 2009) - Expert: Ashleigh Banfield
 * Episode 169 (18th June 2009) - Expert: Ogi Ogas
 * Episode 170 (19th June 2009) - Expert: Ogi Ogas
 * Episode 171 (22nd June 2009) - Expert: Carmen Wong Ulrich
 * Episode 172 (23rd June 2009) - Expert: Carmen Wong Ulrich
 * Episode 173 (24th June 2009) - Expert: Carmen Wong Ulrich
 * Episode 174 (25th June 2009) - Expert: Carmen Wong Ulrich
 * Episode 175 (26th June 2009) - Expert: Carmen Wong Ulrich

Trivia

 * Barbara Mayhall Hunter was the final contestant of the September 24, 2008 episode. The episode ended after she answered the $300 question. She was expected to carry over to the next day's episode, but a new contestant was introduced instead. It is believed that she llamaed out on either the $500 question or $1,000 question and the producers felt that her return was not worthy to be aired.
 * Although Patrick Pugh won $25,000 on September 29, 2008, it was discovered that there was a malfunction on his computer screen on the $25,000 question that may have unfairly caused him to use lifelines. As a result, the producers brought him back 2 months later for a second chance. On November 24, 2008, they gave him back all of his lifelines and gave him a fresh $25,000 question. He got his new $25,000 question correct, but he once again failed to clear the $50,000 question.
 * Ed Mitchell is first contestant to lose money by failing to lock in two Double Dip answers before time expired.
 * Ogi Ogas, former Millionaire contestant, appeared as an expert on September 15-19, 2008. An another former Millionaire contestant, Lyn Payne also appeared as an expert on September 29-October 3, 2008. Nancy Christy also appeared on Teacher Week.
 * Bill Nye was the first expert when Ask the Expert was introduced.