Milionerzy (Millionaires) is a Polish game show based on the original British format of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?[1] The show is hosted by Hubert Urbański. The main goal of the game is to win 1 million Polish złoty by answering twelve[2]multiple-choice questions correctly. There are three classic lifelines[2] – ask the audience (pytanie do publiczności), fifty fifty (pół na pół, 50:50) and phone a friend (telefon do przyjaciela) – and also two other lifelines – ask the expert (pytanie do eksperta)[note 2][3] and switch the question (zamiana pytania).[4] From March to December 2010 contestant could choose risk game, where the second guaranteed sum (40,000 zł) was not guaranteed.[5] The first version of Milionerzy was broadcast from 3 September 1999 to 26 January 2003, the second version was broadcast from 19 January 2008 to 19 December 2010, and the third version has been broadcast since 9 February 2017. Since 2017, it is shown every Monday to Thursday at 8:50 p.m. or 8:55 p.m. (CET +1 or CEST +2) on the Polish commercial television station TVN. Since 2008, when a contestant gets the second question correct, they will leave with 1,000 zł. When a contestant gets the seventh question correct, they will leave with 40,000 zł.
The game's prizes
In the first version of Milionerzy, there were fifteen questions:[6]
Question number
Question value
1
100 zł
2
200 zł
3
300 zł
4
500 zł
5
1,000 zł
6
2,000 zł
7
4,000 zł
8
8,000 zł
9
16,000 zł
10
32,000 zł
11
64,000 zł
12
125,000 zł
13
250,000 zł
14
500,000 zł
15
1,000,000 zł
In the second and third versions of Milionerzy, there were twelve questions:[7][8]
From 1999 through 2003 we could see three changes of the studio stage design, some differ in stylistics. From 2008 through 2010, after resumption we could see the fourth stage design and now, from 2017 onward, the fifth one.
The first logo of Milionerzy from 1999 was very different from the standard model used in other editions of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. It was a violet rhombus on one of vertexes and rings standing on themselves on background of "Milionerzy" caption.[note 4] The second one, modelled on the traditional style and introduced with the changes of credits and scenography in 2000, is round with green question marks.[9] The third one is used from 2008 until now, but in a different color scheme (question marks are gold).[10]
The first and second version of the opening credits were similar with people looking and aiming on Milionerzy logo. It was patterned on British credits of this time. From 2008 until 2023, the opening credits of the program featured an animation showing in sequence all prizes to one million złoty – it was patterned on the second British version.[note 5]
From 1999 to 2003, the boxes depicting the question and answer options in the game were black, in the shape of a rounded hexagon, with a light blue outline.[11]
In 2008 the show switched to rave graphics based on the Macedonian version: the question and answer boxes were navy-blue and smaller than before.[12] Also some sound effects and background music changed.[13]
In 2017 the show switched to rave graphics inspired by the 2011 graphics in the Dutch version. The question boxes were brighter, also fonts were different. The background was not interlaced.
In 2023 the show switched to graphics inspired by the design of Olga van den Brandt. The dominant color is purple, while the question and answer boxes are navy blue.[14]
Production
Recording studio
The first edition was recorded in the Warsaw-based WFDiF studio, 21, Chełmska St. from 1999 until 2000[15] and in the TVP studio on 17, Woronicza St until 2003. In 2008 and 2009 Milionerzy was recorded in the TVP studio in Kraków, 44, Nowohucka St.[16] In 2010, the show was recorded in Farat Film studio in Warsaw, 22, Notecka St.[17]
From January 2017 to the end of 2018, the show was filmed at the Transcolor studio in Szeligi near Warsaw. From January 2019 to November 2020, the program was recorded in Sękocin Stary at the TVN SCENO-KREACJE studio.[18] In February 2021, recordings returned to Szeligi.
From November 2018 to February 2019, episodes for the Italian version were recorded at the TVN SCENO-KREACJE studio in Sękocin Stary near Warsaw. From 7 December 2018 to 14 March 2019, they aired in Italy on Canale 5, owned by Mediaset. Italy decided to record Millionaire in Poland due to a proposal from Sony Pictures Television, the licensor of the rights to the international format. Representatives stated that the Polish version is considered the best in the world. When agreeing to produce the show in Poland, the Italians had to provide transport to Poland for the production team, the host, and the contestants. Production and substantive support was handled by Jan Kepinski's company Jake Vision, which holds the license of the Polish version of Millionaire. Jake Vision was also responsible for finding an Italian audience in Poland, while the broadcast van was provided by TVN.[19] On 22 and 23 May 2019, four episodes were recorded here to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Spanish version of the show.[20]
Executive producer
The executive producer of the program was Endemol in the first version,[21] Intergalactic in the second version,[22] and Jake Vision in the third version.[23]
Stage I – to become a contestant, you had to phone a special Telemedium number, then choose date of recording of the episode, then answer a question with four variants and tell your personal details. 100 people were drawn from those who answered correctly and told the same recording date and they went to the II stage.
Stage II – people, who were drawn, gave their telephone number, and a pollster called them in a 2-days time and asked questions, which didn't have answer variants. 20 people, who gave the most similar answers to the correct ones were going to the III stage.
Stage III – before the recording participants had to arrange answer variants in correct order. 12 people, who did it correctly went to the IV stage. They were 10 Fastest Finger First players and two reserves. Pollster phoned them to confirm that they participate.
2008–2010
Stage I – to become a contestant, you had to send a SMS with Milion text to a shown number, and then answer two questions with four answer variants sent by a SMS and to give your personal details. The first 100 people who registered, answered those 2 questions and gave their personal details, went to the second stage.
Stage II – agent of the producer of the program phoned those 100 people. The call was recorded, about what those people were informed at the beginning of the call. Potential participant had to say about him, his hobby, job etc. Next, he had to answer several general knowledge questions, which didn't have variants. People chosen in the phone casting were informed about it in a 7-days time and invited to the studio.
2017 onwards
Stage I – to apply for the program, you must complete the questionnaire available on the program's website, in which you must provide both personal data and answers to the open-ended questions contained therein.
Stage II – selected individuals will have an interview with a program representative. This may be a face-to-face interview, by phone or Skype. During these interviews, the representative wlll ask contestants open-ended questions without answer options.
Average of number of viewers from September 1999 to October 2008
The biggest number of viewers was on 5 March 2000, when a contestant won 250,000 zł for the first time in the history of the show. The number of viewers of this episode was 6.51 million people.[22][48][49]
Average number of viewers of the January–April 2008 season was 3.5 million viewers. First episode of second version (19 January 2008) was watched by 3.5 million viewers. The biggest number of viewers in second version was on 5 April 2008, when the 1,000,000 zł question came up for the first time in this version. The episode from 6 April 2008 in which a contestant got the 500,000 zł question wrong was watched by 4.2 million viewers.[50]
First episode of third version (9 February 2017) was watched by 3.4 million viewers.[51]
In June 2023, TVN announced plans to produce nine special episodes of the show under the name Milionerzy. 2 miliony (running on similar principles as the three million euro week in the German version[59]). The top prize in the ninth episode is two million złoty[60] – this amount is the highest (nominally, in PLN) prize offered so far in Polish game shows. The first episode of this special edition aired on 9 October 2023, and the final on 20 October.[61]
Rules
During the first eight episodes, the contestants play in the traditional format – with twelve questions and one million złoty to win, with the difference, however, that there is a custom second milestone (introduced in the original British version in 2018) – before asking a question for a given stake, the host asks whether this amount – after giving a correct answer to the question – is to become the guaranteed sum; the contestant can therefore set the second milestone according to their own preferences.[60]
Anyone who answers at least seven questions correctly advances to the final question. The finalists once again compete in Fastest Finger First. The winner of the elimination decides whether to keep their winnings from the elimination episode and end their appearance in the show, or play for two million, risking to end the game with a lower winnnigs. Before making a decision, the host informs how much of the original winnings the contestant will be able to keep regardless of the outcome of the game for two million.[60]
On Children's Day there were two special episodes, were shown on 1 and 2 June 2002, the prizes were given to the TVN charity. The participants were children attending primary schools. The prizes were the same as in usual episodes, but the questions were easier. Amount of money won in those episode was 64,000 złoty.[64]
On 29 and 30 June there were special episodes where participants were people from Polish Big Brother. Players were playing in pairs: Monika Sewioło with Piotr Gulczyński, Ilona Stachura with Arkadiusz Nowakowski, Monika Brochacka with Piotr Borucki, Agnieszka Frykowska with Łukasz Wiewiórski, Alicja Walczak with Sebastian Florek and Karolina Jakubik with Wojciech Glanc. Winnings were given to Nie jesteś sam charity.[65]
Also in 2002 TVN was broadcasting series of family episodes. Teams of three people were taking part, and all had to be related. Every team had its captain. The rules were the same as in normal episodes, but the captain decided about choosing an answer after consultations with the rest of family members. After winning 32,000 złoty, one person left the team and went to the audience; after winning 125,000 złoty another person left and only one person left had to answer last three questions.[66] The highest prize in these editions was 250,000 złoty.[66]
2008–2010
On 1 June 2008 (Children's Day) episode celebrities of Polish television were playing for money to build a cancer prevention center. The first pair of players were Piotr Gąsowski and Katarzyna Skrzynecka who won 40,000 złoty, and the second pair of players were Szymon Majewski and Ewa Drzyzga who won 125,000 złoty. Whole amount of money won was given to the Nie jesteś sam charity.[67]
Next episodes were broadcast on 6 and 7 December 2008. In the first episode, Kinga Rusin and Bartosz Węglarczyk won 40,000 złoty, and in the second, Renata Dancewicz and Piotr Adamczyk won 500,000 złoty. The winnings were given to Nie jesteś sam charity.
Next episodes were broadcast on 25 and 26 December 2009. On the first day, Julia Kamińska and Filip Bobek won 40,000 złoty. On the second day, Marcin Prokop and Szymon Hołownia won 250,000 złoty. All of the winnings were given to Nie jesteś sam charity.[68]
In 2010, special episodes were broadcast on 12 and 19 December. In the first episode, Karolina Korwin-Piotrowska and Michał Piróg won 500,000 złoty, and on the next episode (broadcast on 19 December) they didn't answer the final question for 1 million zł. Next contestants were Anita Werner and Grzegorz Kajdanowicz – they won 40,000 złoty. Winnings were to given to Nie jesteś sam charity.
2017 onwards
In 2020, a special edition related with Santa Claus aired on 3 December. Winnings were given to the Nie jesteś sam charity.[69]
Notable contestants
First edition
1,000,000 złoty question wrong (lost 468,000 złoty)
Filip Łapiński – 2 June 2002 (special edition with participation of children)
In Milionerzy, 34 questions for one million złoty appeared. 24 players walked away, and 10 players answered the question. Two players answered incorrectly, while eight players answered correctly and won 1 million złoty. Here are the questions:
Władysław Kostrzewski – 21 October 2000 (resigned)[70]
Mikołaj Masłowski – 2 December 2020 (resigned)[94]
1,000,000 zł (12 of 12)
The names of the five Polish cities are engraved on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, dedicated to the memory of the Napoleonic victories. Among the given cities with the one not engraved is:
Przemysław Zieliński – 21 April 2022 (resigned)[97]
1,000,000 zł (12 of 12)
Paddington Bear, whom the Brown family found at a train station in London, comes from the dark corners in...
⬥ A:Peru
⬥ B:Mexico
⬥ C:Russia
⬥ D:India
Tomasz Orzechowski – 19 September 2022 (gave a right answer)[98]
1,000,000 zł (12 of 12)
Who in the mid-19th century composed the famous "Prayer of the Virgin", a piece played in Europe, in the United States, but the most popular in Japan to this day?
Mateusz Żaboklicki – 12 March 2024 (gave a right answer)[100]
1,000,000 zł (12 of 12)
Tetrapods do not include:
⬥ A:reptiles
⬥ B:amphibians
⬥ C:birds
⬥ D:insects
Tomasz Boruch – 3 April 2024 (gave a right answer)[101]
1,000,000 zł (12 of 12)
In what strait are two islands called Yesterday and Tomorrow, separated by less than four kilometers but with a time difference of as much as 21 hours?
⬥ A:in the Bosphorus Strait
⬥ B:in the Strait of Magellan
⬥ C:in the Caleta Strait
⬥ D:in the Bering Strait
Sławomir Świątecki – 17 April 2024 (resigned)[102]
1,000,000 zł (12 of 12)
"Like the masters of sweets, they first give gifts when they train boys to make promises." The promise, i.e.:
⬥ A:alphabet
⬥ B:solemn oath
⬥ C:body rounding
⬥ D:harlotry
Marek Wojtuń – 13 November 2024 (gave a right answer)[103]
1,000,000 zł (12 of 12)
The structure of the digestive system of which animal indicates that it is a predator?
⬥ A:llama
⬥ B:koala
⬥ C:panda
⬥ D:roe deer
Faux pas
In Milionerzy there were three situations when a player lost because of a laxly said question and was restored to play.
The first player made a mistake in the question for 32,000 zł: "Who invented the steam engine?". He answered "James Watt", but the correct answer was "Charles Algernon Parsons". After a complaint to programme's producer, his answer was recognized as correct. The player won a guaranteed 32,000 zł, but he answered incorrectly in the next question for 64,000 zł.[104][105]
The second player made a mistake in the question for 500 zł: "How many cuts are on Kaiser rolls?". He answered: "4" (the correct answer was "5") and he won nothing. After recognizing his answer, he answered incorrectly in the question for 1000 zł and he left the studio with nothing for the second time.[106][107]
^The experts were: in the autumn 2009 season – Andrzej Fabianowski, Piotr Gąsowski, Michał Ogórek and Kazimiera Szczuka; in the 2010 seasons – Bartosz Węglarczyk, Michał Ogórek, Szymon Hołownia, Dorota Wellman and Jan Wróbel.
^ abThe exceptions are the 2017 Easter episodes, which aired on Saturday and Monday at 20:00, the final episode of the 2 million złoty special, which aired on Friday at 20:00, and the 2024 Easter episode, which aired on Monday at 18:00.
^The special episodes are longer, lasting 26–50 minutes. The final episode of the 2 million złoty special lasted 60 minutes.
^Not including the fourth (last) week of episodes.
^All episodes except two special episodes (14 February and 1 June).
^M. I. Niemczyńska, "Hitchcock w teleturnieju" ("Hitchcock in a game show"), Gazeta Telewizyjna (Television Magazine) – addition to Gazeta Wyborcza, N°21, page 9
^"Marzena "musnęła" milion!". milionerzy.plejada.pl (in Polish). 2009-04-25. Archived from the original on 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2009-04-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Gazeta Wyborcza Łódź". Issue of 24 December 1999. Page 1.
^"Gazeta Wyborcza". No. 30, issue of 5 February 2001. Page 9.
^"Gazeta Wyborcza". No. 220, issue of 20 September 2001. Page 10.
^Mirecka, Idalia (2003-02-03). "Koniec "Milionerów"". Tygodnik Przegląd (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. Retrieved 2010-03-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
