California Lottery cancels 'Millionaire' TV show

May 5, 2010, 8:57 am (12 comments)

California Lottery

The television game show that made Snow White a multimillionaire is going off the air.

California Lottery officials are canceling the lottery's weekly "Make Me a Millionaire" game, citing poor ratings. The last episode is July 3.

Launched in January 2009, "Make Me a Millionaire" was supposed to be a lively, entertaining promotion for the state lottery. It replaced "The Big Spin" program, which lasted for more than 20 years.

Last August, Natalie Marston, 22, who plays Snow White at Disneyland, won the show's record jackpot of $5.2 million.

But "Make Me a Millionaire" also was a source of embarrassment for lottery officials, when contestants were accidentally prevented from vying for millions of dollars in February 2009.

Ultimately, just as New Coke flopped because consumers preferred the original, "Make Me a Millionaire" didn't prove as popular as "The Big Spin."

"There is this core audience that really, really liked 'The Big Spin,' " lottery spokesman Alex Traverso said of the former program, in which holders of lottery Scratcher tickets played for top prizes of $3 million.

"We thought we could update that with a new show. And it just didn't happen."

Traverso said "Make Me a Millionaire" was losing money and wasn't worth the annual $22.7 million the lottery was spending to air the program statewide. It airs in Sacramento at 6 p.m. Saturdays on Fox 40.

"We're in the business of making money," Traverso said. "It is not helping us maximize our revenues for education."

There are no plans to bring back "The Big Spin." Traverso said lottery officials will put money spent producing "Make Me a Millionaire" into prizes for Scratcher games.

The demise of the "Millionaire" game seemed to underscore frustrations over the state lottery.

Schools in recent years have received $1.1 billion annually in lottery funds. Yet among the 10 most populous lottery states, California ranks last or near the bottom in prizes, sales and profits.

Voters last year rejected a special-election measure that would have allowed the state to borrow $5 billion in future revenues from a revamped lottery that offered bigger prizes to generate more sales.

But "Make Me a Millionaire" had other troubles.

After a Feb. 8, 2009, taping, it was discovered that names on contestant forms were transposed. As a result, nine contestants played for more money they were eligible to win and nine played for less.

After Josefina Sineriz, 61, of Bakersfield won $2.8 million in a progressive jackpot, lottery officials realized other contestants should have been eligible for the big prize draw.

The lottery ultimately paid $264,000 in winnings to nine players who were allowed to participate in a future draw.

Traverso said consumers can purchase "Make Me a Millionaire" Scratcher tickets until June 30.

"Even though the show is going off the air, people will still have the opportunity to play the games and win prizes," he said.

Fresno Bee

Comments

lottocalgal's avatarlottocalgal

All I can say is Good Riddance!  That game had extremely weak prizes and difficult chances to even get on the show.    Now if they take that money and put it towards bigger prizes we would all be happier for it.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

The state government wanted to "borrow" $5 billion from the lottery? Is this the same state government that handles money so well that they're going bankrupt?

Whoa, deja vu all over again.

That's where our social security trust fund went. The government "borrowed" it. It's now about empty and full of worthless IOU's from the government which is now looking for new places to "borrow" money for it's massive spending sprees.

As far as the TV shows I've always thought the lotteries ought to just stay focused on the game and making it as player friendly and attractive as possible without getting sidetracked with all the sideshows.

sully16's avatarsully16

Borrow money from the lottery??????? YEP , TIME TO FILL THE MASON JARS!

Dollar419's avatarDollar419

What is the saying, if it ain't broke, don't fix it; I knew that show will fail big time because: a) they made the prizes too small; b) it was harder to get on it even though you had to mail out a zillion of the 2nd coupons when you bought a $5.00 Fantasy 5 to get the chance to get on the show; c) the co-host was dressing in terrible outfits--I guess try to attract more male viewers. 

The Big Spin was very exciting to watch every week and they never should have changed it to begin with.

Since the show is cancelled, I wonder what I will do with all of my 2nd coupons which I spent $5.00 each...can I get my money back--I certainly doubt it.  Unhappy  They better come up with better games big time to make up for this fiascoWink

barbos's avatarbarbos

  Instead of bringing PowerBall to California those guys are working out some silly game with a 1M jackpots - which is less than some scratchers games. I guess thats gonna be a "fix" for a Super Lotto Plus. I probably should be thankful to those guys - they will save me a few bucks, but somehow don't feel grateful at all.

lottocalgal's avatarlottocalgal

"Since the show is cancelled, I wonder what I will do with all of my 2nd coupons which I spent $5.00 each...can I get my money back--I certainly doubt it.    They better come up with better games big time to make up for this fiasco."

I would still buy multiples-- but I too, was wondering what happens to my Fantasy Five 2nd chance tickets.  Maybe they will add it to a higher payoff in that monthly 2nd chance scratchers we have maybe instead of $1,000, you get $5000.

Maybe  I can get my Powerball now!

Dollar419's avatarDollar419

Quote: Originally posted by lottocalgal on May 5, 2010

"Since the show is cancelled, I wonder what I will do with all of my 2nd coupons which I spent $5.00 each...can I get my money back--I certainly doubt it.    They better come up with better games big time to make up for this fiasco."

I would still buy multiples-- but I too, was wondering what happens to my Fantasy Five 2nd chance tickets.  Maybe they will add it to a higher payoff in that monthly 2nd chance scratchers we have maybe instead of $1,000, you get $5000.

Maybe  I can get my Powerball now!

I certainly agree with you..and I hope you are right--they need to do something to make up the cost; perhaps you can e-mail your great suggestion.  Wink

TigerAngel's avatarTigerAngel

They had a good show before and changed it into crap!

diamondpalace's avatardiamondpalace

They shouldn't cancel the show. They should fire the ones who was responsible for logistics.

CAL-LottoPlayer

I never watched it, not even once.  Didn't even know when or what station it was on.

psykomo's avatarpsykomo

Quote: Originally posted by diamondpalace on May 6, 2010

They shouldn't cancel the show. They should fire the ones who was responsible for logistics.

I Agree!PukeBat>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>PSYKO is stupidido>>>>>>>>>we TRAVEL^^^^^^!!!!

we get ttaped >>>>>>>>ALL over DDDDDDD>COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!>>>>>>>>>we TRAVEL>>>>>>!!!!

when U control D mony>why <snip> D show DOWN??

?????????????????????????????????????????????

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

larry3100's avatarlarry3100

It's a shame the millionaire game show had to go.I liked the old show "The Big Spin" with the original host Chuck Woolery.

End of comments
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