Today's Entertainment

’Theirs to lose’ Fox fl ips game shows upside down By Christina Davies TV Media B y now, everyone is familiar with the standard game show format: answer tougher and tougher questions, or work your way through more and more difficult physical chal- lenges, to progressively earn more and more cash. This sea- son, Fox is flipping the tried-and- true formula on its head by giv- ing contestants $1 million right off the bat. In “Million Dollar Money Drop,” airing for four consecu- tive nights starting on Monday, Dec. 20, contestants work in pairs not to earn money, but to hang on to the stack of cash they are given up front. Contestants can choose to risk it all on just one answer, or to play it safe by spreading the money across a few answers to questions such as: “Which of the following is the most popular Thanksgiving side dish?” If they’ve placed their dough on a wrong answer, they must watch in horror as it disappears down through the “money drop.” If the quiz-show industry were a game board, every other show would be ladders and this one would be chutes. ”’Million Dollar Money Drop’ Kevin Pollak hosts “Million Dollar Money Drop” starts off the opposite of any other game show on television: We give each pair $1 million in cash, and the money is theirs to lose,” said Mike Darnell, presi- dent of alternative entertain- ment for Fox. “It is a riveting and dramatic new show that will have viewers on the edge of their seats the entire week.” Entire week indeed. Fox is pushing hard for the success of this new venture, airing it for four straight nights -- the first and last of which will see episodes clock- ing in at two full hours -- pre- empting network heavy-hitters such as “House,” “Bones,” and Stutzman MOTOR SALES , INC. 08 Chevrolet Impala LT 4 dr., loaded, heated leather seats, p. sunroof, CD, black, 47,000 mi. 06 Chevrolet Impala LS 4 dr., loaded, p. seat, tilt, cruise, CD, silver, 48,000 mi. 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The tactic is reminiscent of the week-long shove Fox gave “Deal or No Deal” when it premiered in 2005, and that seemed to turn out well. ”Million Dollar Money Drop” will feature Kevin Pollak as its host, marking the second time the comedian and actor has been slated to host a game show on the network. This past Janu- ary, Fox was set to premiere “Our Little Genius,” featuring child prodigies answering trivia ques- tions to earn their families mon- ey. However, a week before its scheduled release, allegations surfaced that contestants may have received too-generous coaching and perhaps exact an- swers to questions before film- ing. An FCC investigation was launched and Fox, as well as pro- ducer Mark Burnett, agreed to pull the plug on the show. Although Pollak had some- thing of a practice round with the defunct “Genius,” the game show world is one of the few genres in which he’s yet to im- merse himself. First making a name for himself as a stand-up comedian, known for his dead- on imitations of celebrities such as Alan Arkin and William Shat- ner, Pollak soon found himself on the big screen. Though he can be found almost exclusively in sup- porting roles, the films that bear his name in the credits are noth- ing to sneeze at, among them 1992’s “A Few Good Men,” 1995’s Oscar-winning mystery crime thriller “The Usual Sus- pects” and 1995’s Martin Scors- ese flick “Casino.” All told, Pollak has appeared in more than 60 films. Lately, he has moved on to the talk show scene, not on televi- sion but online, with “Kevin Pol- lak’s Chat Show.” Next up, he is looking to expand on his already massive movie resume by ap- pearing in Kevin Smith’s latest venture, “Red State,” and will be appearing alongside Steve Mar- tin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson in “The Big Year.” ”Million Dollar Money Drop” executive producer Jeff Aploff cut his game show teeth on an- other Fox series, “Don’t Forget the Lyrics,” and the production company behind it is Endemol USA, the force behind some oth- er recognizable game and reality Glasses • Contacts • Eye Exams • Sunglasses EYEWEAR GALLERY S PECTRU M 56028 Parkway Ave., Suite E - Elkhart • 574-970-7444 EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2010 50% OFF * COMPLETE EXAM David R. Britzke , O.D. A/Dr. Brietzke B/Acoustic Audio 2 x 2” *Offer not valid with insurance or other offers. Allergies? Asthma? We Can Help! 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Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. shows such as “Fear Factor,” “Big Brother,” “Deal or No Deal” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” ”We are thrilled to be bringing it to Fox,” Endemol North Ameri- ca chairman David Goldberg said in a release. “In the latest of a long line of innovative and capti- vating game shows from En- demol, the show is wrought with emotion, and viewers won’t be able to take their eyes off ‘Million Dollar Money Drop.’” Homestyle Country Dining On or off-site catering All occasions Dine under the glow of gas lanterns Breakfast & Lunch Meals also available Open Tuesday through Saturday Mullets Dining 2 x 3” Mullet’s Dining, LLC 574-773-2140 Voice Mail 72280 CR 100 N • Nappanee Deborah Ponce, RN, MSN, NP-C Nurse Practitioner Our friendly staff is ready to help you! Now Accepting Medicare life

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