Game Show NewsNet

100 Mexicanos Dijeron by Jason Hernandez, GSNN

Air time: 7p ET/6p CT on Telefutura
Host: Marco Antonio Regil

I97…98…99…100 Mexicanos Dijeron!

Buenos noches! Welcome to a new season of 100 Mexicanos Dijeron! (Mexico’s version of Family Feud) First off, Marco Antonio Regil would like to thank everyone in Mexico on “Canal de las Estrellas” (channel of the stars) and Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, and the USA for watching the show and making it a hit. Thank you all!

For those of you not familiar with the show, this is an hour-long Feud show, with two new families pitted against each other in the first half of the show, and then the winner of the first half plays against the champions in the second half. The format is just like the classic Feud with 3 single rounds, 1 double round, and 1 triple round. Both halves of the show end with “Dinero Rapido,” which is Fast Money. The second Dinero Rapido has higher stakes, which I will get to at the end.

Tonight, the Cruz (Karla, Norma, Ismael, Luis, and Victor) family takes on the Pulido family (Anita, Maggy, Guillermo, Fer, and Maria Elena) in the first half of the show, and the winner of this match will play against the champions in the second half of the show. Now that we know everybody, it’s time to play the game. “Vamos a jugar!”

Round 1: “Ademas de morir, completa la frase: ‘soy muy joven para…’” (Translation: Way before you accept your death, complete this phrase: “I’m very young for…” or “I’m too young for…”) (7) Karla got the ‘numero uno’ response with ‘casarme’ or MARRIAGE! But the next two family members quickly got two strikes, with one of the answers being ‘to become a grandfather.’ Luis then got the #2 response with WORK. Victor gave the Cruz’ their third strike with handling the home. The Pulido stole the bank worth 57 points with the #7 response: ‘sufrir’ or suffering! Here was the board: casarme (marriage) – 41, trabajar (work) – 13, amar (to love) – 10, enfermarme (to get ill) – 6, salir (to leave) – 4, enviudar (to die) – 3, sufrir (to suffer) – 3

Round 2: “Dinos una razon por la que alguien te impone respeto” (Translation: give a reason that someone doesn’t respect you) (5) Maggy quickly gave the #1 response with “edad” or your age! Guillermo gave the #4 answer with education, and then Maria gave the #5 with mom and dad, or because they are your parents! Heh, I guess that applies everywhere, eh? However, the Pulido family quickly struck out, and gave the Cruz family a chance to steal, but they couldn’t capitalize on that he is strong. Here was the board: edad (age) - 44, tamaño (size) – 15, inteligencia (intelligence) – 7, educacion (education) – 6, autoridad (authority, parents) – 5

This gives the Pulido family a 112-0 lead right off the bat! Now on to round three. Vamos a jugar!

Round 3: “Sin marcas cual es el tipo de medicamento, que actua mas rapido” (not being specific, a type of medication that acts really fast) (5) Ismael said “una pastilla” (a tablet) and he heard the ring, and he thought he had the number one answer as he quickly ran back behind his family’s podium…but it was number two with 26! Nuh-uh-uh! After Marco chastised and embarrassed him about going back and jumping the gun too early, Guillermo Pulido gave the number one answer with “inyeccion” (an injection); 28 people responded with that answer, just two ahead of tablets. After the Pulidos got the #3 and #5 answers, they struck out just like that. The Cruz family was ready to strike again with “capsulas” (capsules), but that wasn’t the #4 response, and the Pulido family wins their third bank in a row giving them a commanding 189-0 lead! Here was the board: inyeccion (injection) – 28, pastilles (tablets) – 26, jarabe (syrup) – 18, efervescentes (effervescence) – 6, pomada (medical ointment) – 5

After the break, the Pulido family needed just one round to win the game! On to round four where the points are DOUBLED! Quarto round…a jugar!

Doble: “De que rellenas algo, para que quede blandito?” (Loose translation: Name a stuffing that is soft?) (4) Luis Cruz said chocolate, which wasn’t up there. Then Fer said the number one answer of “algodon” (cotton). They got the #3 answer of feather pens, then got two strikes with polyester and water, but Guillermo got the #4 answer with “borra” (flock), and now we are back to Fer! One more to go, and one more strike! She calmly answered correctly with the #2 answer of “esponja” (sponge, of course) and that won the game for the Pulido family! Here was the board: algodon (cotton) – 33, esponja (sponge) – 29, plumas (feathers) – 13, borra (flock) – 10

With 170 in that round, the Pulidos swept 359 to zero! The Cruz family will take home a set of cordless phones. Yippee. Fer and Maria will play Dinero Rapido for $100,000 pesos! Good luck to them! Here are the 5 questions:

1) menciona una señal que da desde cachorro un perro muy bravo (a sign that makes a puppy a very brave dog)
2) algo para limpiarse la cara (something you clean your face with)
3) el regalo de bodas mas util (a useful wedding gift)
4) a que hora es mas comun que este nublado (at what time is there usually a storm)
5) algo que se usa para andar en la nieve (something used to walk in the snow)

Here are Fer’s answers:
muerde (biting) – 27
toallitas (toiletries?) – 20
licuadora (blender) – 15
6:00 pm – 38 (muy bien!)
esquis (skis) – 72 (MUY BIEN!)
TOTAL – 172 points!

Wow! Those were dynamite answers! Marco thinks they have this one won! As Maria comes out, he joked with her that this will be very difficult to overcome as she needs 180 points…but then he tells her to turn around, and she sees that Fer got 172 points by herself! He then said to be prepared to repeat answers because they were all great answers. Maria then gave some incredible answers herself! Here we go with Maria’s answers:

mueve la cola (wagging tail) – 0 (FUH?)
pañuelo (napkin) – 14 (crema was #1)
vajilla (set of dishes) – 14 (200 points!!)

The Pulido family won Dinero Rapido easily raising their total winnings to $105,000 pesos, which is less than $10,000 American dollars! They will play in the second half of the show and face the Godoy (Marco, Paco, Patty, Rocio, and Juan) family from Mazatlan and Culiacan. They are back for their second day, with winnings of only $10,000 pesos, losing Dinero Rapido twice. Vamos a jugar!

7 answers: “Atentamente, es una manera de terminar una carta menciona otra” (Translation: Kindly, a way to finish a letter to another person). Anita rings in with “cordialmente” (cordially) at #4, but then Marco snags the #1 answer with “postdata” (or PS). Paco and Rocio are the only two to get answers at #2, adios, and #6, con amor (with love) before getting two strikes. Marco then gets #5 with “sin mas por el momento” (not at the moment?) and young Paco gets the #3 answer with “hasta luego!” Patty then gets the third strike with only the #7 answer remaining. The Pulidos have one answer they can steal, and it’s the #7 answer! They try with “sin silamente” but they get a strike, and the Godoys nab 55 points. #7 was saludos.

Second round! 6 answers on the board now: “dinos algo especifico que tradicionalmente se hace en las fiestas de boda” (Translation: Name something specific that the couple traditionally does at a wedding) Paco buzzed in saying “carne,” and the judges accepted that with “comer” (to eat) at #4. Maggy then said “bailar,” and then she had to be more specific with “bailar el vals” (have their first dance, basically) at #3. Guillermo then said the #1 answer with “aventar el ramo (de flores)” (throwing the bouquet). After Fer got a strike, Maria then said the #5 answer of “brindis” (make a toast). After that, the Pulidos struck out and gave the Godoy family a chance to steal. However, they couldn’t steal and the Pulido family took the lead, 56-55! Close game!

Ay yay yay! Only a one point lead! Here we go with the third round and 5 answers on the board: “Nombra un pais que esta cerca de Italia” (Translation: Name a country near Italy) Guillermo quickly buzzed in with the #1 answer: “Francia.” Fer and Maria got the #2 and #5 answers, and then after a strike, they got the #4 response, as well. Guillermo then said “Suisa” and got another strike?!? Uh oh! Fer tried Belgium, but that wasn’t up there, either! The Godoys had a chance to steal the #3 answer with Portugal… And they got a strike, giving the Pulidos the bank of 78 points and a big lead! Here was the board: Francia (France) – 36, España (Spain) – 29, Grecia (Greece) – 9, Inglaterra (England) – 7, Alemania (Germany) – 6

The Pulido family leads, 134-55 over the Godoy family so far. It’s break time, but first:

If you are living in Mexico and your family would like to be on the show, or for ticket info, call: 51-66-66-37, if you are in Mexico. Otherwise, you could write to them:
100 Mexicanos Dijeron
Boulevard Adolfo Lopez Mateos 2551
Lomas de San Angel Inn
Mexico D.F.
01790

Doble: “Especifica un aroma natural que tartan de reproducer en los productos de limpieza.” (Translation: Name a specific natural aroma that is reproduced in cleaning products) (4) Rocio Godoy buzzed in with “canela” (cinnamon), but that was nowhere to be found. Fer then said “flores,” and that was up there at #2. Maria then gave the #1 answer with “pino” worth a whopping 59! After two strikes, Guillermo said with great confidence, “BOSQUE!” (forest) That was #3, and now there was 168 points up for grabs! This would give the Pulido family another win if they can get the sweep! Only one more answer, the #4 answer. Then Fer felt the pressure and said “de bebe.” (soft drink) Of course, that wasn’t up there…and this gave the Godoys a chance to get the #4 answer, otherwise the game would be over and the Pulidos would win their second game in a row! The Godoy family said fruit aromas, but they had to be more specific, so they said, “manzana” (apples) Would that be up there…? No! The Pulidos win 302-55 and add another $5,000 pesos to their total! Here is the board: pino (pine) – 59, flores (flowers – 17, bosque (forest) – 8, naranja (oranges) – 4

We have to say goodbye to the Godoy family, but they leave the show with $10,000…slightly less than $1,000 American dollars. Once again, Fer and Maria will team up in the second Dinero Rapido round to try for $200,000 pesos! Here’s how the big Dinero Rapido round works:

-The first family member will pull a piece of wrapped candy (it was lollipops last season) from a basket, and attached to those candy wrappers are yellow ribbons which determine your prizes. Here is what you can pull:

* Buena Suerte: If you pull this, it simply means, “Buena suerte” or good luck!
* $5000: If you pull this, $5000 pesos are added to your grand total, not bad!
* Puntos Extra: If you pull this, the amount of points inside your wrapper are added to your Dinero Rapido score. This can range anywhere from 5 to 50 points. This is most useful if your family team only gets 190 points, and you need the extra points…you have a pretty good chance of getting at least 10 points inside your wrapper! Very nice!
* DOBLE: If you pull this, and only if you pull this…instead of playing for the normal amount of $100,000, the stakes are doubled! Meaning, you are now playing for $200,000! INCREDIBLE!

With that said, let’s see what Fer pulls out of the candy basket… DOBLE! They are now playing for $200,000 pesos! Wow! Let’s hope they can play Dinero Rapido like they did last time! Here are the 5 crucial questions:
a partir de que edad las empresas, no te contratan? (at what age do companies stop hiring you?)
1) juego del area infantile, de un restaurante (a game you play in a restaurant)
2) transporte publico (public transportation)
3) lo primero que se aprende cocinar (something you first learn to cook)
un tipo de inspector (a type of inspector)
4) Fer gave some excellent answers! Here they are:
5) 50 años – 6 (WHA? I thought that should have been more)

resbaladilla (slide) – 41
camion (truck) – 45
huevo (eggs) – 58
seguridad (security officer) – --- (only 50 points away) --- --- --- --- --- (the single-person record on DR is 194, could she break it?) --- --- --- --- --- (She could be the first person to win DR by herself) --- --- --- --- (SIX?!? Surprise, surprise!)

Well, I thought she had won it all by herself with those answers, but 156 points is still a great score! They are only 44 points away from $200,000 pesos! Marco cautioned Maria that she may repeat answers, so expect to hear the “bzz, bzz” sound effect as he tapped her in rhythm to the “bzz, bzz!” This could be a HUGE day for the Pulido family, let’s see what Maria said:

40 años -- -- -- -- -- (Marco is milking the moment) -- -- -- -- -- (#1!) -- -- (Oh, this is so spectacular!) -- -- -- (This is great TV, isn’t it?) -- -- -- (How much time do we have?) -- -- -- (La encuesta…) --- --- --- 28!!!
los columpios (swings) -- -- -- (THIS could be it…) -- -- -- (#1 was already given) -- -- -- -- -- -- (only 16 points away) -- -- -- -- 14! (Ay yay yay!)
pesero (microbus, or bus) -- -- -- (#1 was given) -- -- -- -- (only two points away!) -- -- -- -- (Dos, dos, dos, dos) -- -- -- 11!!
In just one day, and many tense moments later, the Pulido family won $310,000 pesos, or nearly $30,000 in American money. That is already a life-changing amount of money for this family, and they deserve it! The Pulido family will be back tomorrow to defend their title. For now, Marco Antonio thanks you for watching “100 Mexicanos Dijeron!” Now…we dance to the great mariachi theme song! Adios, mi amigos!

Family Feud by Chico Alexander, GSNN

Air time: Check listings or familyfeud.com
Host: Richard Karn

It's a new season, and because Jason Hernandez won't shut up about it (tee hee), the set looks more like "100 Mexicanos Dijeron" while still retaining that new Feud smell from seven years ago. Enough prattle, though. Let's meet...

Hintz (Maj. Jimmy, Marisa, Denise, Doug, Sean) from New Orleans

Valdez (Rick, Sam, Adelina, Victor, Violet)

Round 1: something a man might lose that would cause him to freak out (7). Rick gets #3, ring. Jimmy gets car keys, #2. Marisa gives balding Jimmy one-for with "hair" for #4. But wallet goes for #1. Thanks, Sean! Other answers: job and woman, but the Valdez have the chance to steal with "children". Not there; Hintz get 72. Other answer: Sex drive.

Round 2: The first thing you do when you get off an airplane flight (7). Marisa wins control with #3, get luggage. The rest of the family comes up with find bathroom, smoke, and Marisa's #1, stretch. Can the Valdez steal this time with "locate family?" Yes! They get 78. Other answers: thank God, have a drink.

Remember, this is the documented opinion of 100 average Americans.

Double Round: Past or present, a famous dumb blonde who's very smart with her career (full board). Denise gets #5, Britney. Marilyn Monroe and Richard's old friend from "Home Improvement" Pamela Anderson (Sean's #1) make the survey. Rick agrees on Jessica Simpson with his family... Up there for the 70, giving them 148. Other answers: Suzanne Somers, Goldie Hawn.

Triple Round: If a baby was six feet small, something you'd have a hard time buying for him (4). Victor's diapers beat Doug's crib, 2 to 3. Violet gets #1, clothes. The Hintzes steal "car seat" to win the game, 360-148.

Jimmy & Marisa step to the Fast Money board for the season's first shot at $10,000. Jimmy scores 100, including a topper for "a servant that a rich man might employ" (butler). Not to be outdone, Marisa gets 49 from "something you might need if you break your leg" (crutches), but it's one point short of what she needed, giving her only $995 for the family in their first outing.

Jeopardy! by Chico Alexander, GSNN

Air time: Check listings or jeopardy.com
Host: Alex Trebek

Welcome to another great season of answers and questions... and a little bit of competition behind it. As we've said before, we have the two new members of the J! Clue Crew - Kelly Miyahara & Jon Cannon - and later this season, the milestone 5000th episode. But first, let's meet the players!

David Madden (graduate student orig. from Ridgewood, NJ, now living in Berlin, Germany); $333,301, 14 days

Catie Camille (student from Rochester, NY)

Willy Jay (attorney orig. from Churchville, MD)

David begins where he left off a month and a half ago, that is with an off-level playing approach. He starts today with $1000 State of the Union Addresses. And the Madden jump isn't working this opener, as he is getting his head handed to him by the time he finds the Daily Double under the $800 clue. He bets $1000 of his $1200 to tie Catie. The clue: "He began his third annual message with gratitude for good harvests, then moved on to the 'inexcusable insurrection'." "Who is Lincoln?" Right on for the tie at $2200.

Over the recess (or possibly earlier), Dave tried bungee jumping. "That gave me the biggest headache of my life." This match was probably a close second.. until David regains his footing and gets the lead at the half, $7600 to Willy's $5600. Catie, with $2800, starts Double Jeopardy!...

... with $400 This Movie is a Disaster! Willy finds the first Daily Double under the category that David started looking in, $800 Battle Stations. In the lead, he safeguards a bit and plays only $2400 of his $2800 lead. "Site of a fierce September 1914 WWI battle, this river joins the Seine north of Paris." "What is the Marne?" Right for $14,000. With $16,800 to David's $10,000, Willy picks up the second under $2000 University Latin Class. He risks $4200 on the one-word Latin motto of Harvard. "What is veritas?" Right on for $21,000. After the Double Jeopardy! round, it looks like we're in for quite a season, if the first game is any indication. David trails Willy by a mere $1400, $23,200 to his $24,600. Catie has $4400.

Final Jeopardy! in "Broadway Musicals": "No matter how hopeless, no matter how far, to fight for the right without question" is from this show. Correct response: What is "Man of La Mancha"?

Catie goes all in with the right answer. David only bets $1800 with.. "Les Miserables". Could be a winfall for Willy. "What is Camelot?" ... Or not. Anything more than $3200 and David's a winner. $21,801... Man, David's been touched by a whole chorus of angels there, as he returns tomorrow with $354,701.

Lingo by Chico Alexander, GSNN

Air time: 7p ET/6p CT on GSN
Host: Chuck Woolery

Great friends and caterers Carmen & Jaime

Friends Don (courthouse intern) & Bryan (childcare provider)

Carmen & Jaime get the first of THREE before the first commercial break, followed by GANGS, CRASH, MILKY, DEATH, and the Lingo for the 175-0 shutout. Don & Bryan give each other the pat-on-the-back move after avoiding the platter of Krispy Kremes with RANCH. But the good times end as the ladies get HONKS for the steal, following with another Lingo... and the honk of the round-ending ... thing. Score now favors the Yellows, 250-25.

Scores are doubled, so it's Don & Bryan's chance to come back. Not gonna happen, though. Carmen & Jaime get APART, SHOCK, MOUTH, and Lingo! It's 500-25, and I'm wondering if there's some sort of skunk rule in place. Don & Bryan get POOLS... cue the clip of Chuck singing "Hallelujah" from season 2, because they Lingo! They have 175 to the Yellows' 500, and that's all she wrote.

With four Bonus Lingo letters, Carmen & Jaime get FIXED, POKES, GHOST, HEFTY, KUDOS, BOOTH, YARNS, and THUMP for eight bills and eight balls. If the first one is 19, it's $10,000. Carmen gets... 63. Looking at the board, we see that there is still a remote chance that they will miss the five large. Doesn't happen, but you'd be surprised at how close they were. They get it on the seventh pull.

Trato Hecho by Gordon Pepper, GSNN

Air time: 12p ET/11a CT on Univision
Host: Guillermo Huesca

Buenos Tratos for everyone! Well, we hope so - and so does Hawaiian girl Nora, who 'Leis' Guillermo. Oooh La La. Nora has curtain #2, and with it a picture of the Count of MonteTrato! But is what's behind it a good thing or a Chasco? Nora can trade the picture (and what's behind it) for the box - and whetever she doesn't want, Juan the superhero gets. Nora wants the Box, which has the Coat and Tie of the Count of MonteTrato, which is El Chasco!

Meanwhile, Juan has the picture and what's behind it. Would he prefer Curtain #1 instead and give up the Count to Gypsy Woman Lydia? Yes he would, and he gets a mini television and a Gaming DVD set worth $1,050! Super Juan can now fly back to his seat.

We still have Lydia and the Count. Does Lydia want to give the Count back to Guillermo for $500? Yes she does, and she takes the money. She could have had...a wonderful bedroom group worth $2,181! All three of them had it, and none of them kept it.

We have another Juan with us - and he gets to see a small box. He can keep it and see what's inside, or he can take some Vitacilina and whatever's attached with it. He takes the Vitacilina, and gives up, a $1,000 certificate to Home Depot! Ouch. There is money in the Vitacilina, but today, there's only $50. Another Juan bites the dust.

It's time to grab more people out of the audience. Victoria the overworked housewife gets the call, and Guillermo even shows her what she has - a tiny replica of a dusty windmill for a Chasco. There is something, however that goes with it, so she can wither stay with it go go with Curtain #3. Victoria wants the curtain, so Guillermo gives the sculpture to Martita. What's behind the curtain? Patio furniture worth $668 for a nice prize.

Martita now has the decision to keep the sculpture or go for Curtain #2. She keeps the sculpture and gives up...a large sized version of the sculpture, this time adding a large stuffed cow with pigtails. What was attached with the small sculpture? $800 - which goes to Martita.

But will it stay there? It's time for the Gran Trato, worth over $5,000! Super Jose goes first, and he gives away the DVD/TV set. Martita keeps the money, and Guillermo goes to Victoria, who immediately jumps out of her seat to give away the furniture and join Super Juan.

Who will be looking super today? Juan wants to be super and picks #3 while Victoria picks #2. Neither person picks #2, which today had $750. Juan can stop flying over the room and start flying to Cancun! That is a nice trip worth $2,300, but that means that Victoria has the Gran Trato, and she is getting a nice living room set with cell phones worth $5,342!

Though Martita is the woman that won, it's Juan that's flying over the room - again. Join us tomorrow to see who is truly soaring.

Wheel of Fortune by Jason Block, GSNN

Air time: Check listings or wheeloffortune.com
Hosts: Pat Sajak & Vanna White

Yes, it's me, Jason Block..in my 2nd year of recapping "Wheel of Fortune". Wheel starts off it's 23rd season in syndication! And we start off this season with a cartoon intro...(oh boy!) and Wheel Around the World week!

The $1,000 Tossup is a THING. Marcus Mcintyre is from Gladstone, MO. He solved THE GENUINE ARTICLE for $1,000. He is a foreman at a concrete company. Gloria is from Santee, CA. She is a court reporter. Julie Elliott is from West Branch, Michigan. She has 4 kids. She dabbles in photography.

The $2,000 Tossup is a PERSON. Marcus is 2 for 2 with STRONG SWIMMER. He has $3,000 and starts this round...but in the new season, here is where we add a prize to the wheel....a Collette Vacations trip to Rio de Janeiro with airfare provided by American Airlines. It's worth $5,544.
It's BEFORE AND AFTER...he misses...over to Gloria. She hits Bankrupt and loses $2,000...over to Julie. She hits and picks up the $1,000 aa.com gift certificate. She solves LUXURY BOX OF KLEENEX for $3,050. She has $4,050 in cash and prizes. And now we take our first break.

We are back with the Jackpot round which is sponsored by Centrum Silver. The category is TV TITLE. Gloria starts...and hits Bankrupt. Over to Julie... she hits and picks up a TiVo Package with includes a DVD Recorder and lifetime Tivo Service. She hits and picks up a Free Spin. She hits Lose A Turn. but uses the Free Spin. She hits the $3,500 wedge, but can't capitalize...over to Marcus...he misses...back to Gloria. She solves DANCING WITH THE STARS for $1,200. Everyone has money!

The mystery round prize (with new wedges for 2005) is a 2006 Kia Rio worth over $13,000...the category is FUN AND GAMES...and it's the first PRIZE PUZZLE of the new season. Julie starts and misses...over to Marcus. Marcus hits and picks up the Rio trip. He misses...over to Gloria. She misses...back to Julie. She loses $300 on Bankrupt...over to Marcus. He misses...back to Gloria. She missed the new "No More Vowels" Graphic, and bought a vowel...over to Julie once again. She solves FULL DAY GUIDED KAYAK TOUR for $1,500. And you can do that in Puerto Rico. It's a trip to the Westin Del Rio Mar Resort and Spa...it's worth $6,470...and if you have CR03561 you are the first SPIN ID winner of the season. That round was worth $7,970...and she has $12,020 in cash and prizes.

The $3,000 Tossup is next...and it's an OCCUPATION. Gloria misses, Marcus misses...and Julie adds to her lead with ACUPUNCTURIST. She has $15,020. She starts this round which is PHRASE...but it's FINAL SPIN time. $1,300 a letter tonight. Gloria solved A FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC... (not Ric) for $2,600...and leaves with $3,800 in cash. Marcus leaves with $3,000 in tossup money. And Julie heads to the bonus round with $15,020 in cash and travel prizes.

Now, the bonus round is a little different this year...and you Wheel Watchers--pay attention. If Julie wins a Chevy Trailblazer or BMW Z4 convertible... a lucky SPIN ID winner will win one too! So here we go...Julie lands on the B in BONUS...Pat says there are more car spaces on the wheel. The category for tonight is THING...with the normal 6 of RSTLNE and her choices of GMC O we have:

_ O O _
G L _ E

She had GLUE...but it was WOOD GLUE. And she didn't stick onto the 2005 Chevy Trailblazer...but she leaves with $15,020 in cash and prizes. Nice way to start the new season!

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire by Don Harpwood, GSNN

Air time: Check listings or millionairetv.com
Host: Meredith Vieira

Time to begin a fourth season of Millionaire! It has a slightly shorter opening sequence, and the logo appears to have been touched up a bit, but the game is the same as last season, so let's get right to it!

First up is Ginger Ferniany (Mobile, AL), whose hometown was hit by Hurricane Katrina a couple of days before the taping of this show. Her family is safe, and now, she hopes to win enough money to at least get the house fixed. She starts by knowing that the board game Clue is often described as a "whodunit" (though I bet a game called CSI: Candyland would sell well on the name alone). Other questions along the way has her figuring out that an adult male pig is a boar, and identifying "Meet the Parents" as the movie whose sequel kept its title after it was proven to censors that "Focker" was an actual Canadian family name. Then, at the $16,000 level, she gets this...

The U.S.'s largest Indian reservation by size and population, Navajo Nation occupies the northeast corner of what state?
A: Oklahoma
B: South Dakota
C: Arizona
D: Nevada

Ginger asks the audience, and 50% of the studio audience says C, while the AIM poll is closer, though C is still in front with 34%. Ginger goes with the audience... and she's right! She then makes it to $25,000, but the $50,000 question is as follows...

The Dalai Lama's followers often refer to him as "Kundun," a Tibetian word meaning what?
A: The Belief
B: The Presence
C: The Highest Point
D: The Ancestors

The 50/50 takes away A and D, and Ginger then goes with her gut and says C... but it's B! At least she gets $25,000 to fix her home.

Up next is Tom Spencer (Columbus, OH), who seems really excited to be there, judging by his entrance. His road to a possible million starts with him knowing that it was St. Patrick who banished snakes from Ireland according to legend. Another few questions later, including one where he quickly says that the primary focus of "Closing Bell" on CNBC is financial markets, and Tom reaches the $1,000 mark.

And that's where this first episode of the new season will end. Tom will return tomorrow, likely just as excited as he was today.