So You'd Like to Win a Million

PART I
THE SHOWS
INTRODUCTION
THE GREATEST SHOWS ON EARTH
A million dollars. We've heard those three little words often enough, but what do they really mean? It's just a figure, after all. Nothing but a nice round sum, petty cash to the likes of Bill Gates, a punchline in the Austin Powers movies, a poor lottery jackpot to the Superball fanatics, a week's work to Julia Roberts and the rest of Hollywood's $20 million club. But then again, imagine seeing all those zeroes on your bank statement ... $1,000,000.00. Talk about regaining your sense of perspective.
People have been known to kill for far less. Luckily, you won't have to resort to any such drastic measures to make your first million. The day of the $15,000 big Jeopardy win and the $50,000 Wheel of Fortune triumph has given rise to the night of the high-stakes game shows. One hundred thousand dollars, well, that's just a bowl of small potatoes to these quiz show titans. We're talking millions here, and there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't get in on the ground floor of the action.
So now that you're thinking big, what would you do with a million dollars if it was burning a hot little hole in your bank account? That seems to be the question on everyone's mind, and if you really want to win the prime-time booty (and, let's face it, who doesn't), you've got to know the answer.
While a million dollars won't buy you a townhouse in the heart of San Francisco, a deluxe penthouse inManhattan or a Beverly Hills manse the size of Aaron Spelling's, it should be enough to cover a three-bedroom home anywhere in the United States. If boats and cars are your passion, dream no more: a million dollars will put you at the wheel of any vehicle you shake your wallet at. Feeling fiscally responsible? Well, then a million dollars can be your retirement nest egg and your kids' college fund all wrapped up into one. Even a life of leisure can be yours for the taking, provided of course that your financial planning is sound.
The long and short of it is that becoming a millionaire can be to your advantage. But you probably already know all that. The rub is in the how?
ABC's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is just one way to win the big money. With a prize ceiling of $2 million (now we're talking Manhattan penthouses), Fox's Greed is no slouch, either. NBC's Twenty-One gives you yet a third chance to score big. And if all that isn't enough, CBS has recently come up with a souped-up version of The $64,000 Question, and don't be surprised if the six-figure payoff puts its relatively tame name to shame (word has it that the new game will be titled The $1,064,000 Question).
Believe it or not, these shows are just the tip of the iceberg that is the quiz show revival. More are on the way. Even as you read, networks are scrambling to come up with additional low-cost, high-profit ratings giants whose sole purpose is to make money by giving it away.
Of course, the lump sums of liquid assets don't go to just anyone. Unless your plan is to rough it on CBS's Survivor! (a game which deposits sixteen contestants on a deserted island and gives a mill to the last person left standing), you need a head full of trivia and plenty of confidence to win. That's where this book comes in. We'll tell you all about the various games, the behind-the-scenes drama, the insider's secrets, and the manyways to ensure you get your fair shot at the money. More important, we'll test your knowlege and put you on the road to bagging the score of a lifetime.
But ask yourself this, how much time is a million dollars worth to you? Are you prepared to spend one hour per day for three months running? Can you make a commitment to winning and then stick to it? If your answer is yes, then don't wait another second. Let's get started.
Copyright © 2000 by Elina and Leah Furman.