10 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 17, 1999 Regis, 'Millionaire' roll in the money for ABC ratings LoAngeles Tines Some key answers on the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" phenome- non a week into the quiz show's return - August wasn't a fluke. While some people remained skeptical after its late summer premiere versus repeats, the show is now an undeniable ratings sen- sation - easily winning its time slot nightly against original sweeps pro- gramming, including NBC's vaunted "Frasier" on Thursday. Send in the clones - Every network will try boarding this gravy train, while ABC has yet to decide how best to ride the wave, debating whether the show is a "Hula-Hoop," as some rivals hope. This is true "appointment" viewing. Despite its success, the franchise yields only a marginal "halo effect" - that is, viewers spilling over into adja- cent ABC programs. . White men can answer trivia: The vast majority of contestants continue to be white men, with one woman and no racial minorities thus far finding their way into the "hot seat" to com- pete for $1 million. Clearly, "Millionaire" has been a wake-up call to the networks and per- haps even some sitcom and drama pro- ducers, who - having lost prime-time real estate to newsmagazines - could see more hours devoted to game shows, which share news' advantage of being a lower-cost programming alternative. The show is delivering more than 20 million viewers each night -- territory normally reserved for NBC's top-rated Thursday lineup - and leading ABC toward what could be its first "sweeps" victory since 1994. Moreover, some of that audience is being wooed back from cable as opposed to the other networks. In a display of its power, an hour of "Millionaire" averaged more than 23 million viewers against NBC's "Must- See TV" comedies. The second half outdistanced "Frasier" by nearly 7 mil- lion viewers, becoming the first ABC series to beat an NBC Thursday night sitcom since 1983. Notably, once those shows ended more than 4 million people switched to "Greed," a hastily assembled Fox knockoff that gave away $1 million in Thursday's episode. That project greatly has improved Fox's Thursday ratings but still drew less than half "Millionaire's" audience. With other imitators piling onto the bandwagon (CBS, NBC and numerous syndicators are developing their own quiz concepts), there's fear that removing the show would invite rivals to cannibal- ize the franchise; still, ABC has yet to make a decision what to do with it beyond November Executive producer Michael Davies said he is "prepared to go forward in any way they want to"-- either as a period- ic weapon or a series airing once or more nature of its success. We've basically been getting everyone - younger, middle, older, kids." The producers are hard-pressed to rectify this because of the blind screen- ing process, which has people around the country dial in and answer ques- tions by phone, offering no means of "casting" the series, as is done on game shows such as "Jeopardy!" or "Wheel of Fortune." More women are watching than men, even though the stated intent of broad- ening the contestant base hasn't materi- alized. Six shows into the new batch of episodes, 50 of the 60 contestants have been men, and only a few have been minorities. What isn't clear is why this is hap- pening, although there are theories rang- ing from bias in the questions to men simply being better at this form of triv- ial pursuit. Davies is convinced women are not calling up in equal numbers. Part of the problem, he suggested, might be the requirement contestants clear a two-day window on short notice to come tape the show in New York City. "You eliminate almost every mother of younger chil- dren out there," he said. "Mothers are not going to drop everything." "It may be that you're getting a major- ity show that hasn't percolated (out) to the minority audience," added Harry Pachon, president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute. a thnnk tank alfiLted with the Claremont Graduate Uninsitv in Southern (alifoirna. The overall solune of calls has be en astounding, w ith 659,00) pourng in one night. "We're crashing out i phone system," Davies said. Although no thnnie minorities hase had the opportunity yet to play forihe money, the show has featured gay ni- testants. Although some viewers tnoted one gay player's partner in the audience was not shown rooting for him after stn initial introduction, as wives and giri- friends have been. According to Davies, however, "ike any of the contestants, we cut to (guests) when they have a good reaction goi on. I don't want (gays) to be treated a> differently when this happens." The producers' admission hbfItjc "Millionaire's" new episodes began air- ing that they hoped to book mbr' females prompted NBC late-night host Conan O'Brien to crack; "Apparentl, most women who want to be million- aires just marry and divorce Donald Trump." Sure enough, in the rush to copy t "Millionaire' phenomenon, the joke could soon have a grain of truth. Among specials under discussion t Fox is one tentatively titled "Whd Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?, in which women would vie for the right to wed a wealthy bachelor. Courtesy of ABC Regis Philbin offers a reward for the head of Kathy Lee Gifford In "Millionlare." per week - but acknowledged his own preference would be to stick with the current formula, presenting the show as a two-week event each sweeps period. "I know that this works, and it terrifies me to do anything different," he said. Like "ER," perhaps the last new pro- gram to arrive with such ratings fury, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" is a show people tune in for specifically - in this case, finding it on different nights and times. ABC points to certain series that have benefited from "Millionaire's" after- glow, such as Wednesday's live "The Drew Carey Show," which captured its biggest audience since early last year; and "The Practice," which hit a ratings high on Sunday. "You can certainly make a case for 'Millionaire' helping the other pro- grams," said Larry Hyams, ABC's vice president of audience analysis. "The key thing is really the broad-based Does Morality Need God? A public lecture by Dr. John Hare Philosophy professor at Calvin College And author of The Moral Gap Date: Thursday, November 18', 1999 Time: 7:30 pm Place: Rm. 116, Hutchins Hall, School of Law NE corner of Monroe and State Streets For more info, see www.campuschapel.org Sponsored by Campus Chapel Ministries, Graduate Christian Fellowship, Christian Legal Society, andAdHoc (Christians atSSW) Stop by Daily Arts Arbmhiyo ho Arena to hostbriyewsw at2 p.m. today to £J1( o tban e pick up free concert- s. By Christopher Tkaczyk head. songs ever wrtten. tickets andC s of Daily Arts WriterA series of halluctnations and dreams "A New Brain" never made t the band All That When Music senior Thomas Foster bring the star of Mr. Bungee's Lily Pad, Broadway last season, but was hailed b emerged from the Mitzi Newhouse Mr. Bungee himself, to confront critics for its inventive charm. The Mitzi Theater at Lincoln Center last year, his Schwinn about the quality of songs he's Newhouse is an Off-Broadway venue, mind was racing with ideas about "A been writing. It becomes Schwinn's and the original production, starring New Brain"the new musical by William remaining duty to write that one great Chip Zien, Malcom Goetz and liz Finn he had just applauded. At that song, the life preserving tune that will Larsen, played for nearly four mopths. moment, he knew he would one day pull him through his coma and illness. The show is so new, in fact, that want to attempt his own "Brain" This "It's his new lust for life," said Music script this Basement cast has used is weekend brings those dreams to the senior Todd Buonopane, who portrays first draft, complete with Finn's chicken stage as Basement Arts welcomes "A Mr. Bungee. "It's about his quest to find scratch corrections, Buonopane said. Wino $10,000 Shoping Spree New Brain" as part of its fall season. the songs in his heart. He has so many Foster began rehearsals for "A New http://WinStuff ere.com Directed by Foster, the musical fea- songs to write, and he needs to keep Brain" on Oct. 1, since he wanted to tures students from the musical theater going to get them down." ensure great performances by a rcady department. This production of "A New "While he's sick, he can't do the cast. Directing a musical normally take. Brain" also is important for Foster things he's talented enough to do,"Foster more time than a play. The script and I I I because it combines the talents of University friends and fellow stu- dents. "I'm finally A New Brain working on a Arena Theater show with all of my colleagues, Thurs. & Sat. at 7 p.m who are all amaz- Friday at 7 & 11 p.m. ingly talented," Foster said. "A New Brain" was inspired by Finn's battle with a brain aneurysm, which found him in the hospital. The musical, written in response to Finn's illness, is also set in a hospital, after Gordon Schwinn, a composer for a children's variety show, falls ill from an aneurysm. Schwinn, portrayed by Foster in this production, collapses into coma, and the musical takes place inside his said. "He wants to leave something behind to give to everybody" The depressing subject of brain surgery might appear to make for a depressing musical, but such is not the case with "A New Brain." "It tells a terrible story in the most humorous way possible," Buonopane said. "The music is just wonderful. There's an underlying since of hope throughout the whole show. William Finn's music is its own style of theater." Finn, who doesn't read or write music, sits at the piano and tinkers with the melody until he arrives to the tune he hears in his head. Then, a music scribe will transpose the work onto paper for him."Finn writes the way you speak,' Foster said. "The rhythm of the words flow in the same way you speak." Andre Bishop, Lincoln Center's artis- tic director, praised Finn's work by call- ing "Heart and Music"a featured song in the musical, one of the most beautiful score for "A New Brain" are quite demanding, topping out at more than 300 pages. "It's a fast paced show. Itntakes quit@ bit of organization," said Foster, whose previous directing credits include pro- ductions of "Oliver," "Godspell" and "John and Jen,' a musical writtcn by University alum Andrew Lippa. Of "A New Brain," Foster hopes his production will move the audience vith its hope for life and survival. "The nature of the show is uplifting. In the end, the character is entirely tna formed. It needs color and brigtnesM bring it out. This production is very col{ orful Foster said. Admission to 'A New Brain ' is co nph- mnentary, but seating will be limited to less than 100. Musicals in'the Basement always are forced to turn away patrons, since the seating [sfirst comefirst serve. To secure a seat, plan to arrive early to beat the slo pokes Five Great Reasons to Get a Degee in Pharmacy From the University of Michigan Outstanding employment opportunities. (Retail practice is just one of many career paths from which to choose.) 2An average base annual salary of $66,793 for pharmacists with a PharmD degree - and climb- ing FAST. 3 You'd be part of a small, yet diverse student body. (Only 220 PharmD stu- dents total.) 4 An exceptional alumni network. (More than 3,000 worldwide, with a high concentra- tion in leadership posi- tions.) a 5 Consistently ranked among the nation's top three colleges of phar- macy in both US News & World Report and the Gourman Report. To learn more about the Pharmacy Program and the career opportunities for U-M Pharmacy graduates, contact Assistant Dean Valener Perry at (734) 764-5550; or by e-mail at vlperry@umich.edu. You can also visit our Web site at hap:!! www.umich.edul-pharmacy. Or visit the College in person at 428 Church St., Ann Arbor. t The Office of New Student Programs is now recruiting Summer 2000. Orientation Leaders For the New Student and Parent Orientation Programs Employment Dates: May 22nd - August 9th, 2000. Compensation: $2700 stipend plus room and board. Work Schedule: New Student Program: Leaders work 3 days a week with early morning through late evening hours. Some weekend work may be required. , Parent Program: Leaders work 4 days a week from approx. 8 AM - 5 PM. Eligibility: Must be an enrolled undergraduate student in good academic standing. Leaders may not be enrolled in classes during the 2000 Spring and Summer Terms. Application Process: Interested students can pick up an appli- cation at any of the Mass Meetings or at the Office of New Student Programs (3511 Student Activities Building) after November 15. All applicants must attend a group interview on January 22, 2000. Selected applicants will have an individual interview. Final selections will be made by February 16, 2000. Mass Meetings: November 16 at 6:30 in 3410 Mason, and November 17 and January 12 at 6:30 in Angell Hall Audito- rium D. If you are unable to attend a Mass Meeting, feel free to stop by the Office of New Student Programs (3511 Student Activities Building) to pick up an application. Call 764-6413 or e-mail onsp@umich.edu with any further questions. Applications are due by January 19 at 5FPM.