#Middlebury
Q: What happened to the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”? Will it ever return? – J.A.
A: “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” debuted 20 years ago with huge ratings in prime time with host Regis Philbin. It then went on to become a weekday syndicated show in 2002 with various hosts over the years, beginning with a long run by Meredith Viera followed by Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews and Chris Harrison. Alas, it was canceled in May 2019 and at this time there are no plans to revive it.
According to Slate.com, “At its peak, ‘Millionaire’ was more popular than ‘Monday Night Football.’” This was, of course, the original prime time version.
I think the show just needed a break and could be a big hit again. Perhaps a network will bring it back for occasional special events or for a full season in the summer months instead of a daily syndicated program. In the meantime, keep an eye out for reruns on cable or one of the streaming services, as old episodes also might be available in the future.
Q: Is Al Pacino still acting? I see Robert De Niro all over the place, almost too many movies, but I hardly see Pacino in anything anymore. – K.Y.
A: Al Pacino does seem to be more selective in the films he accepts roles in, but I have a feeling you’re going to like his most recent one. He’s currently playing Jimmy Hoffa in the Martin Scorsese film “The Irishman,” which recently was made available on Netflix after a brief run in theaters. Coincidentally, De Niro also is in the movie as a World War II veteran turned hitman. Now we’ll just have to see if the Academy takes notice and rewards them with more Oscars for their mantles.
Chrishell Stause Hartley (Depositphotos photo)
Q: I saw the actress who used to play Amanda on “All My Children” on the Netflix show “Selling Sunset” as a real estate agent. Does she really work in that field, or is she just playing a character? – T.M.
A: Chrishell Stause, who changed her name to Chrishell Hartley after marrying “This Is Us” star Justin Hartley two years ago, has worked as a real estate agent in the Los Angeles area for a while now. When she’s not acting on soaps (most recently as Jordan on “Days of Our Lives”), she’s selling homes in the Valley.
“Selling Sunset” is produced by Adam Divello, who created the fiction-meets-reality hit series “The Hills.” So if you’ve watched “The Hills” or its predecessor, “Laguna Beach,” you know that it’s not exactly a straight documentary. Only Chrishell knows how much of herself she’s bringing to her character and how much is scripted. If there’s another season, it will be interesting to see if Chrishell mentions her recent split with Justin Hartley, who has filed for divorce.
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
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