As a fan of Password, I was hopeful when CBS announced it would be bringing back the popular game show franchise as Million Dollar Password. However, I was also concerned that the powers-that-be would also find a way to make it fail, and that the show was going to be more about the celebrities and host Regis Philbin than the gameplay and the contestants.
After watching the premiere on Sunday night, I’m happy to say I’m not disappointed. The gameplay was quick, concise, simple and easy-to-follow. Celebrity partners Rachel Ray and Neil Patrick Harris were surprisingly competent when it came to giving and receiving clues, and Regis kept his dialogue mostly to the game.
I read about the format a few weeks before the show aired, and I was skeptical since it’s completely different from the previous 2 versions of Password (Password Plus and Super Password) in that the main game is not the 5-word password puzzle. Regardless, I do like the new format, as the old format would be too slow to attract and keep viewers nowadays (why do I feel like an old fogy using the word “nowadays”?)
As always, when I watch game shows, I like to yell at the TV when players make terrible decisions. The second guy to play for the money decided to risk his $100,000 for $250,000 after seeing what the first 5 words would be. I expected him to get the first 4, but the 5th word, “corner”, would be too risky, and without knowing the 6th and final word, I told the TV that he should take the $100K. Of course, he got the first 4, missed corner, and had to get Neil Patrick Harris to say “fiasco” using only 3 clues in 40 seconds. Of course, he didn’t get it, like I thought he would. He left with a measly $25,000. What a jerk.
So yes. Million Dollar Password is the goods.