The ninth season of the syndicated U.S. version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? premiered on September 13, 2010 and ended on June 10, 2011. It is the first season of the U.S. shuffle format.
In the shuffle format, the timer from the 2008-2010 U.S. Clock Format was removed. Gameplay was split into two rounds. In the first round, the contestant would face ten questions with random shuffled difficulty and random unknown values ranging from $100 to $25,000; answering these questions correctly would reveal the amount behind it and add such amount to the contestant's "bank". In the second round, the contestant would face four increasingly difficult questions; answering these questions correctly would increase the contestant's "bank" value up to $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, and $1,000,000, in that order.
Like the original format, the contestant can end the game by walking away from a question without answering it. Answering a question incorrectly would still end a contestant's game. In the first round, the contestant would leave with only half of the "bank" value upon walking away from a question; in this round, the contestant would leave with $1,000 upon answering a question incorrectly. In the second round, the contestant would leave with the entire "bank" value upon walking away from a question, unlike the first round; in this round, the contestant would leave with $25,000 upon answering a question incorrectly.
This season introduced a game called "Who Wants to Be a Thousandaire?" (originally called "The $1,000 Question" from 2010-2013); a random audience member is given one chance to win $1,000 by answering the next question intended for the previous contestant. No lifelines were given to the contestant. From 2010-2013, regardless of the outcome, the audience member received a copy of the Millionaire video game for the Nintendo Wii console or Microsoft's Xbox 360 console. In 2012, this prize was changed to Facebook Credits for the Millionaire Facebook game. In 2013, the question asked became a separate question, rather than being the next question for the previous contestant. In 2014, with the elimination of the categories in Round 1, this change was reverted. For "Double Your Money Weeks", answering the question correctly won the contestant $2,000. On September 30, 2010, the first audience contestant appeared.
In addition to the main host, Meredith Vieira, three guest hosts appeared on this season: Tim Gunn guest-hosted between April 18–22, 2011, D.L. Hughley guest-hosted between June 20–24, 2011 and Sherri Shepherd guest-hosted between March 14–18, 2011.
Lifelines[]
In addition to Ask the Audience, the contestant had two Jump the Question lifelines - they allow the player to "jump" the question without answering it. However, the contestant will not receive money for this question. If the player retains both "jumps" until the second round, they will start on the $500,000 (13th) question.
- Ask the Audience
- Jump the Question (two times)
Episodes[]
- Episode 1 (September 13, 2010)
David Hill ($1,000 - lost on Q9) Ellen Kennedy ($100, continued)
- Episode 2 (September 14, 2010)
Ellen Kennedy ($5,800) Nadia Hansen ($1,000 - lost on Q5) Brian Foley ($7,000, continued)
- Episode 3 (September 15, 2010)
Brian Foley ($19,300) Kate Jovin ($20,600, continued)
- Episode 4 (September 16, 2010)
Kate Jovin ($1,000 - lost on Q9) Shawn Behrens ($9,000) Anna Northrup ($10,100, continued)
- Episode 5 (September 17, 2010)
Anna Northrup ($14,050) Eric Linn ($6,500, continued)
- Episode 6 (September 20, 2010) - Celebrity Alzheimer's Week (1)
Victor Garber ($10,000 - lost on Q10)
- Episode 7 (September 21, 2010) - Celebrity Alzheimer's Week (2)
Melora Hardin ($10,000 - lost on Q7) Melissa Rivers ($36,000, continued)
- Episode 8 (September 22, 2010) - Celebrity Alzheimer's Week (3)
Melissa Rivers ($22,250) Evan Lysacek ($28,500, continued)
- Episode 9 (September 23, 2010) - Celebrity Alzheimer's Week (4)
Evan Lysacek ($21,800) Mario Cantone ($39,000, continued)
- Episode 10 (September 24, 2010) - Celebrity Alzheimer's Week (5)
Mario Cantone ($32,000) Jean Smart ($27,500 - see trivia)
- Episode 11 (September 27, 2010) - Celebrity Alzheimer's Week (6)
Peter Gallagher ($68,100)
- Episode 12 (September 28, 2010)
Eric Linn ($1,000 - lost on Q9) Frank Stasio ($1,000) Meghan Nelson (continued)
- Episode 13 (September 29, 2010)
Meghan Nelson ($30,500)
George Santoro ($6,250)
- Episode 14 (September 30, 2010)
Daniel Lee ($1,000)
Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 15 (October 1, 2010)
Steve Duncan, Jr. ($1,000) Valerie David ($4,000) Greg Roth (continued)
- Episode 16 (October 4, 2010)
Greg Roth ($12,500) Carol Lee ($1,000) Audience contestant (Douglas Mendelman) ($1,000)
- Episode 17 (October 5, 2010)
Sean Pollock ($61,600)
- Episode 18 (October 6, 2010)
Sunny Snyder ($60,600) Vik Vaz (continued)
- Episode 19 (October 7, 2010)
Vik Vaz ($25,000)
Marty Frazier (continued)
- Episode 20 (October 8, 2010)
Marty Frazier ($28,300)
Christine Wertheimer (continued)
- Episode 21 (October 11, 2010)
Christine Wertheimer ($25,000)
Dan Maggin (continued)
- Episode 22 (October 12, 2010)
Dan Maggin ($1,000) Diana Zalewski ($61,600, continued)
- Episode 23 (October 13, 2010)
Diana Zalewski ($61,600)
Jamaal Bailey ($29,750)
- Episode 24 (October 14, 2010)
Cyndi Rix ($1,000) Dan Kelly ($25,000) Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 25 (October 15, 2010)
Kimberly Collins ($100,000, continued)
- Episode 26 (October 18, 2010)
Kimberly Collins ($250,000)
Katie Murphy ($25,000)
Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 27 (October 19, 2010) - Pawn Stars
Rick, Corey and Chumlee ($10,000)
- Episode 28 (October 20, 2010)
David Sharp ($9,250) Karolina Koszut-Ledogar (continued)
- Episode 29 (October 21, 2010)
Karolina Koszut-Ledogar ($53,600)
Anthony Illiakostas ($1,000)
- Episode 30 (October 22, 2010)
Derek Ziegler ($27,000) Reid Baumann ($1,000 - lost on Q1) Amy Hauser (continued)
- Episode 31 (October 25, 2010)
Amy Hauser ($25,550) Lucy Elliot ($13,500) Michael Rooney (continued)
- Episode 32 (October 26, 2010)
Michael Rooney ($25,000 - lost on $250,000)
Julie Buck (continued)
- Episode 33 (October 27, 2010)
Julie Buck ($55,600)
Alex Papp ($24,750)
- Episode 34 (October 28, 2010)
Michael Miyazaki ($100,000) Stacey Dangle ($1,000)
- Episode 35 (October 29, 2010)
Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson ($61,100)
- Episode 36 (November 1, 2010)
Joe Stanton ($1,000) Joan Saunders ($8,300)
- Episode 37 (November 2, 2010)
Bethany Harvey ($100,000)
- Episode 38 (November 3, 2010)
Adam Colvin ($1,000) Carmel Sasaki (continued)
- Episode 39 (November 4, 2010)
Carmel Sasaki ($17,300)
Aidan O'Connell ($12,050)
Shirley Alfano (continued)
- Episode 40 (November 5, 2010) - 1,500th show
Shirley Alfano ($18,250)
Akiva Fox (continued)
- Episode 41 (November 8, 2010)
Akiva Fox ($100,000) Sam Raman ($26,750) Ellen Murray (continued)
- Episode 42 (November 9, 2010)
Ellen Murraay ($12,500) Lee Graham ($1,000) Erwin Escobar (continued)
- Episode 43 (November 10, 2010)
Erwin Escobar ($32,000) Jessica Rudman ($21,750) Jonathan Galvez (continued)
- Episode 44 (November 11, 2010)
Jonathan Galvez ($1,000) Erica Rosbe ($1,000) Chris Clem (continued)
- Episode 45 (November 12, 2010)
Chris Clem ($100,000)
Beverly Bell (continued)
- Episode 46 (November 15, 2010)
Beverly Bell ($56,600) Candace Daniels ($1,000) Rose Hewitt (continued)
- Episode 47 (November 16, 2010)
Rose Hewitt ($27,250) Jay Caton ($20,300) Gail Wauford ($20,000, continued)
- Episode 48 (November 17, 2010)
Gail Wauford ($10,750) Paulette Renna ($18,000) Michelle McNamara ($1,000 - lost on Q6)
- Episode 49 (November 18, 2010)
Leonard Kingsley ($18,050) Jessica Jaquay (continued)
- Episode 50 (November 19, 2010)
Jessica Jaquay ($25,750) Duke Szymanski ($25,000 - lost on $100,000)
- Episode 51 (November 22, 2010)
Caile Ohs ($19,250) Timothy Duffy (continued)
- Episode 52 (November 23, 2010)
Timothy Duffy ($28,050)
Kathryn Finney (continued)
- Episode 53 (November 24, 2010)
Kathryn Finney ($31,050)
Adrienne Winokur ($23,550)
- Episode 54 (November 25, 2010)
Will Choy ($1,000) Bill Blank ($10,500)
- Episode 55 (November 26, 2010)
Greg Scordato ($1,000) Teresa Power ($1,000) Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 56 (November 29, 2010) - "Play it Forward" Week (1)
Keith Jones and Ginger Gadsden ($5,000) Dave Malkoff and Frank Buckley (continued)
- Episode 57 (November 30, 2010) - "Play it Forward" Week (2)
Dave Malkoff and Frank Buckley ($20,750) Maureen O'Boyle and Paul Cameron (continued)
- Episode 58 (December 1, 2010) - "Play it Forward" Week (3)
Maureen O'Boyle and Paul Cameron ($43,500)
Dan Kleckner and Stephanie Vigil (continued)
- Episode 59 (December 2, 2010) - "Play it Forward" Week (4)
Dan Kleckner and Stephanie Vigil ($12,500)
Marcus Leshock and Lourdes Duarte ($18,300)
- Episode 60 (December 3, 2010) - "Play it Forward" Week (5)
Julie Sidoni and Scott Schaffer ($24,300) Megan Newquist and Patrick Hammer (continued)
- Episode 61 (December 6, 2010)
Megan Newquist and Patrick Hammer ($63,600)
Joseph Potts ($1,000)
Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 62 (December 7, 2010)
Denise Westerfield ($1,000) Scott Reid (continued)
- Episode 63 (December 8, 2010)
Scott Reid ($1,000) Tony Di Costazo ($1,000) Jennifer Smythe ($1,000) Zach Baker (continued)
- Episode 64 (December 9, 2010)
Zach Baker ($25,000) Amy Hawkes ($1,000) Craig Alcantara (continued)
- Episode 65 (December 10, 2010)
Craig Alcantara ($24,000) Jaimie Boyd ($26,000) Byron Wilson (continued)
- Episode 66 (December 13, 2010)
Byron Wilson ($11,000) Jillian Matos ($1,000) Marla Miller ($68,000, continued)
- Episode 67 (December 14, 2010)
Marla Miller ($250,000)
Andrew Keyes ($1,000)
- Episode 68 (December 15, 2010)
Jill Brim ($1,000 Jay Norris ($1,000) Scott Harrigan ($22,750) Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 69 (December 16, 2010)
John Serenita ($18,300) Kat Keating (continued)
- Episode 70 (December 17, 2010)
Kat Keating ($66,500)
Mike Beeman ($20,750)
Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 71 (January 10, 2011)
Patrick Ralston ($25,000) Nicole Labruto ($63,600)
- Episode 72 (January 11, 2011)
Michelle Skinner ($13,500) Ann Yoh Johnson ($1,000) Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 73 (January 12, 2011)
Alex Gonzalez ($1,000) Vinnie Cunningham ($1,000 - lost on Q7)
- Episode 74 (January 13, 2011)
Aida Gashi ($6,000) Jackie Sanchez ($25,000) Paul Bowden (continued)
- Episode 75 (January 14, 2011)
Paul Bowden ($16,250) Joey Sustrick ($1,000) Cheryl Van Geison (continued)
- Episode 76 (January 17, 2011)
Cheryl Van Geison ($25,000) Don Bongiovi ($1,000)
- Episode 77 (January 18, 2011)
Jay Rogers ($25,000 - lost on $100,000) Nancy Wolff (continued)
- Episode 78 (January 19, 2011)
Nancy Wolff ($1,000)
Lathi Smith ($17,300)
Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 79 (January 20, 2011)
David Rhodes ($1,000 - lost on Q4) Jim Edwards ($9,750) Steve Hallock (continued)
- Episode 80 (January 21, 2011)
Steve Hallock ($20,550)
Jesse Sanchez ($1,000)
Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 81 (January 24, 2011)
Jennifer Koch ($19,300) Rich Robertson ($1,000)
- Episode 82 (January 25, 2011)
Bridget Irelan ($5,300) Priscilla Geissal ($1,000) Billy Ernst (continued)
- Episode 83 (January 26, 2011)
Billy Ernst ($25,050)
Mary Lally (continued)
- Episode 84 (January 27, 2011)
Mary Lally ($100,000) Nora Goldman ($1,000) Richard Angehr (continued)
- Episode 85 (January 28, 2011)
Richard Angehr ($17,550) Connie Ford ($1,000) Sue Ann Sidell (continued)
- Episode 86 (January 31, 2011)
Sue Ann Sidell ($25,000)
Debbie Cataldo ($1,000)
- Episode 87 (February 1, 2011)
Jon Arnold ($1,000) Roger Sandmann (continued)
- Episode 88 (February 2, 2011)
Roger Sandmann ($61,600) Susan Heinz ($1,000) Bill Cooke (continued)
- Episode 89 (February 3, 2011)
Bill Cooke ($15,500) Ashley Croft ($1,000) Amy Baldassare ($36,000, continued)
- Episode 90 (February 4, 2011)
Amy Baldassare ($18,000)
Darrell Perry ($25,000)
Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 91 (February 7, 2011)
Michael Sziklai ($58,100) Joann Chan ($32,500, continued)
- Episode 92 (February 8. 2011)
Joann Chan ($25,000 - lost on $250,000)
Hannah Miller ($12,500)
- Episode 93 (February 9, 2011)
John Blanton ($9,550) Zakiyyah Saleem ($1,000) Chris Breen (continued)
- Episode 94 (February 10, 2011)
Chris Breen ($43,500)
Ingrid Vogelfanger (continued)
- Episode 95 (February 11, 2011)
Ingrid Vogelfanger ($40,600) Merritt Green ($7,500) Mara Bernstein ($1,000) Karen Koontz ($18,500, continued)
- Episode 96 (February 14, 2011) - Valentine's Day Week (1)
Karen Koontz ($65,500) Alfred Guy ($52,600, continued)
- Episode 97 (February 15, 2011) - Valentine's Day Week (2)
Alfred Guy ($250,000) Shara Statler ($1,000) Steve Ogden ($22,000, continued)
- Episode 98 (February 16, 2011) - Valentine's Day Week (3)
Steve Ogden ($16,500)
Nicole Erickson ($48,600)
- Episode 99 (February 17, 2011) - Valentine's Day Week (4)
Carter Prescott ($25,000 - lost on $250,000) Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 100 (February 18, 2011) - Valentine's Day Week (5)
Jon Hoffman ($25,000 - lost on $100,000) Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 101 (February 21, 2011)
Courtney Foley ($100,000)
- Episode 102 (February 22, 2011)
Gregory Charette ($17,750) Beth Shepard (continued)
- Episode 103 (February 23, 2011)
Beth Shepard ($1,000) Cathy Anthony-Gudel ($17,500) Scott Mullkin (continued)
- Episode 104 (February 24, 2011)
Scott Mullkin ($15,000) Rodger Pille ($2,050) Márcia Nunes ($5,100, continued)
- Episode 105 (February 25, 2011)
Márcia Nunes ($20,050)
Mat DeKinder ($1,000)
- Episode 106 (February 28, 2011)
David Guzman ($42,600) Jamie Bond (continued)
- Episode 107 (March 1, 2011)
Jamie Bond ($18,750) Sarah Monson ($11,000) Daniel Pecoraro ($1,000)
- Episode 108 (March 2, 2011)
Vince Villa ($29,000) Wendy Webber (continued)
- Episode 109 (March 3, 2011)
Wendy Webber ($15,500) Andy Kravis ($1,000) Jan O'Sullivan (continued)
- Episode 110 (March 4, 2011)
Jan O'Sullivan ($60,600)
Paul Ryan (continued)
- Episode 111 (March 7, 2011)
Paul Ryan ($25,000)
Demetrius Lettley ($1,000)
Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 112 (March 8, 2011)
Max Fick ($1,000 - lost on Q1) Lindsay Stokes ($1,000) Barton Brooks ($8,750) David Hankins (continued)
- Episode 113 (March 9, 2011)
David Hankins ($100,000) Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 114 (March 10, 2011)
Richard Williams ($26,000) Lauren Palmisano ($1,000)
- Episode 115 (March 11, 2011)
Shaun-Katherine Robles ($30,250) Patrick Glenn ($1,000) Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 116 (March 14, 2011)
Michael Levy ($1,000) Matt Edwards (continued)
- Episode 117 (March 15, 2011)
Matt Edwards ($1,000)
Trilbe Wynee (continued)
- Episode 118 (March 16, 2011)
Trilbe Wynne ($20,050)
Kevin Spencer (contninued)
- Episode 119 (March 17, 2011)
Kevin Spencer ($1,000)
Andy Weiss ($20,050)
- Episode 120 (March 18, 2011)
Sandy Marino-Cappello ($64,600)
- Episode 121 (April 4, 2011)
Elizabeth Meyer ($1,000) Phillip Tabor ($33,000) Jack DeLorenzo (continued)
- Episode 122 (April 5, 2011)
Jack DeLorenzo ($16,550)
Lulit Semunegus ($13,300)
Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 123 (April 6, 2011)
Mark Hurley ($23,300) Jan Ibarra ($13,500) Ian Smith (continued)
- Episode 124 (April 7, 2011)
Ian Smith ($17,000) Ben Walker ($6,750) Drew Shade (continued)
- Episode 125 (April 8, 2011)
Drew Shade ($16,750) Gretchen Neidhardt ($1,000) Jeff Holder ($10,050) Peggy Moreno ($5,000)
- Episode 126 (April 11, 2011)
Jay Helgeson ($6,000) Brad Goodwill ($7,500) Kelly Jackson (continued)
- Episode 127 (April 12, 2011)
Kelly Jackson ($25,500) Candace Weddle ($14,000) Neal Racioppo ($15,100, continued)
- Episode 128 (April 13, 2011)
Neal Racioppo ($100,000)
Zachary Pfahler ($1,000)
Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 129 (April 14, 2011)
Lisa Iasch ($1,000) Amy Watanave ($12,800) Terri Alenikov (continued)
- Episode 130 (April 15, 2011)
Terri Alenikov ($1,000) Matt Morgan ($1,000) Butch Rubenstein ($5,000)
- Episode 131 (April 18, 2011) - Guest host: Tim Gunn
Natalie Garofalo ($12,500) Rick Kent ($24,300)
- Episode 132 (April 19, 2011) - Guest host: Tim Gunn
Deanda Wilson ($1,000) Eric Abrams ($19,000) Jaclyn Naster ($1,000)
- Episode 133 (April 20, 2011) - Guest host: Tim Gunn
Kevin Glaccum ($1,000 - lost on Q4) Tricia Barreiro (continued)
- Episode 134 (April 21, 2011) - Guest host: Tim Gunn
Tricia Barreiro ($100,000) Laura Catella ($21,000) Matt Hensrud (continued)
- Episode 135 (April 22, 2011) - Guest host: Tim Gunn
Matt Hensrud ($1,000)
Peg Debaise ($21,000)
- Episode 136 (April 25, 2011)
Judy Harris ($17,250) Connie Chen ($1,000) Audiece Contestant ($0)
- Episode 137 (April 26, 2011)
Chris Velazco ($17,500) Shawn Heaton ($1,000) Tom Magill (continued)
- Episode 138 (April 27, 2011)
Tom Magill ($1,000) Robert Ford ($42,600) Billie Johnston (continued)
- Episode 139 (April 28, 2011)
Billie Johnston ($250,000)
Rani Peffer (continued)
- Episode 140 (April 29, 2011)
Rani Peffer ($14,800)
Jennifer Donlon ($1,000)
Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 141 (May 2, 2011)
Clare Coughlin ($6,250) Suzanne Grodner (continued)
- Episode 142 (May 3, 2011)
Suzanne Grodner ($61,100) Matt Klein ($1,000) Seena Semerly (continued)
- Episode 143 (May 4, 2011)
Seena Semerly ($20,050) Rebecca Goldstein ($1,000) Will Kang ($52,000, continued)
- Episode 144 (May 5, 2011)
Will Kang ($26,000)
Steven Johnson ($29,800)
- Episode 145 (May 6, 2011)
Diane Pietrzak ($11,000) Chad Donah (continued)
- Episode 146 (May 9, 2011)
Chad Donah ($25,000) Rob Becker ($1,000 - lost on Q5) Janet Koenig ($20,050)
- Episode 147 (May 10, 2011)
Greg Peoples ($17,500) Adriana Gumbs ($1,000) Jason Cofield (continued)
- Episode 148 (May 11, 2011)
Jason Cofield ($24,800)
Casey Grossman ($19,000)
Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 149 (May 12, 2011)
Rich Steeves ($63,100) Liz Evanick (continued)
- Episode 150 (May 13, 2011)
Liz Evanick ($1,000) Sara Smith ($19,250) Jerry Dyess (continued)
- Episode 151 (May 16, 2011)
Jerry Dyess ($1,000) Brian Smiley ($1,000) Sarah Claspell (continued)
- Episode 152 (May 17, 2011)
Sarah Claspell ($17,800) Erhard Konerding ($21,500)
- Episode 153 (May 18, 2011)
Julie Criner ($1,000) Stefan Talley ($58,100) Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 154 (May 19, 2011)
Stephanie Chen ($15,000) Ross Dilegro ($1,000)
- Episode 155 (May 20, 2011)
Jeremy Roe ($1,000) Liz Williams ($22,800) Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 156 (May 23, 2011)
Virginia Thompson ($13,500) Greg Shelton ($21,500) Nancy Carmichael ($1,000)
- Episode 157 (May 24, 2011)
Pierce Johnston ($38,600) Erin Roberts ($1,000) Eric Lua (continued)
- Episode 158 (May 25, 2011)
Eric Lua ($1,000) Sarah Coons ($24,300) Philip Parker (continued)
- Episode 159 (May 26, 2011)
Philip Parker ($28,500) Michael McKinney ($2,050) Donnamarie Fontaine (continued)
- Episode 160 (May 27, 2011)
Donnamarie Fontaine ($19,250)
Steve Carson ($29,000)
Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 161 (June 13, 2011)
Dudley Roberts ($1,000) Karen Treczker ($12,500) Mark Lion ($12,500) Rachel Simon (continued)
- Episode 162 (June 14, 2011)
Rachel Simon ($1,000)
Ivan Alter ($1,000)
Audience Contestant ($0)
- Episode 163 (June 15, 2011)
Harison Fox ($15,500) Alistair Clark ($1,000) Victor English ($1,000) Jamie Wilson ($1,000) Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 164 (June 16, 2011)
Cristina Abello ($1,000) Andy Anderson ($9,000) Audience Contestant ($1,000)
- Episode 165 (June 17, 2011)
Monika Pollock ($1,000) Kevin Armento ($1,000) Kate Foley ($1,000)
- Episode 166 (June 20, 2011)
Mark Dubnoff ($26,500) Karah Rempe ($1,000)
- Episode 167 (June 21, 2011)
Deborah Barnes ($1,000) Ryan Servais ($14,750)
- Episode 168 (June 22, 2011)
Andy Adams ($1,000) Maria Catilo (continued)
- Episode 169 (June 23, 2011)
Maria Catilo ($15,750) Maureen Stutzman ($12,550) Natalie Sikorski ($1,000)
- Episode 170 (June 24, 2011)
Nathan Golden ($1,000) Phil Cantwell ($18,750)
Trivia[]
- This is the first season to use a brand-new set and theme music.
- On episodes 6-11, only celebrities appeared. During the week:
- All money won was donated to the Alzheimer's Association.
- Answering any question wrong during the first round would leave the celebrity with $10,000 instead of $1,000.
- On Friday episode, Jean Smart's run was interrupted by the klaxon, but the producers decided to let her finish the run. Jean's run after the klaxon was not carried over for Monday's episode and was never aired.
- In 14th episode, Desiree Barter (Valley Stream, NY) is first audience contestant in show's history who won $1,000.
- Reid Baumann and Max Fick are contestants who answered the 1st question wrong and walked away with $1,000.
- In 40th episode, the 1,500th show aired. Each contestant received additional $1,500 cash to their winnings.
- In 79th episode, an absolute record was set in the history of the U.S. (and worldwide until July 9, 2013 in the Costa Rican version) WWTBAM. Contestant David Rhodes used the Ask the Audience lifeline on the fourth question, but 91% voted for wrong answer, and 2% were right.
- This is also the last season to use the 2waytraffic logo without byline, as well as the original Valleycrest Productions logo.
Sources[]
| Preceded by Season 8 |
U.S. Seasons Season 9 |
Succeeded by Season 10 |
| Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (U.S. version) |
|---|
| Primetime: Original • Super Millionaire • 10th Anniversary • Revival (1 • 2) |
| Syndication: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 |