Milionerzy

Milionerzy ("Millionaires") is a Polish game show based on the original British format of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" The show is hosted by Hubert Urbański. The main goal of the game is to win 1 million Polish zloty (€240,000) by answering twelve multiple-choice questions correctly. In previous editions, there were three or four "lifelines" - fifty fifty ("pół na pół, 50:50"), ask the audience ("pytanie do publiczności") and ask the expert ("pytanie do eksperta"), the experts were: Bartosz Węglarczyk, Michał Ogórek, Szymon Hołownia, Dorota Wellman and Jan Wróbel; in the previous season - Andrzej Fabianowski, Piotr Gąsowski and Kazimiera Szczuka. Earlier there was (and since 2017 there is) phone a friend ["telefon do przyjaciela"] instead of ask the expert ["pytanie do eksperta"]. In March 2010 contestant could choose "risk game". If the contestant wanted risk game, a new lifeline called "switch the question" ("zamiana pytania") was added - if the contestant chose to play the version with this lifeline, the second guaranteed sum (40,000 zł) was not guaranteed. The first series of "Milionerzy" was broadcast from 3 September 1999 to 26 January 2003, and the second version has been broadcast since 19 January 2008. It was shown every Sunday at 6 p.m (CET +1 or CEST +2) on the Polish commercial television station TVN. Now, it is shown on 8:55 p.m from Monday to Thursday (CET +1 or CEST +2) Executive producer of first series was Endemol. Now, the executive producer of programme is Intergalactic. Since 2008, when a contestant gets the second question correct, he or she will leave with 1,000 zł. When a contestant gets the seventh question correct, he or she will leave with 40,000 zł.
The game's prizes.
In the current version of "Milionerzy", there are twelve questions:
In the original version of "Milionerzy", there were fifteen questions:
Appearance and changes of appearance.
From 1999 through 2003 we could see three changes of the studio stage design, some differ in stylistics. From 2008, after resumption we could see the fourth stage design and now, in 2010, 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. The second one, modelled on the traditional style, is round with green question marks. It was introduced with the changes of credits and scenography in 2000. It is used also now, but in another colour scheme (question marks are gold).
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, the opening credits of the programme feature an animation showing in sequence all prizes to one million zlotys - it is patterned on the newest British version.
In 2008 except for the opening credits, no big changes were made on graphics and sounds. The 2008 edition had refreshed graphics: the fields with questions and answers were navy-blue and blue (earlier black) and smaller than in first edition of "Milionerzy", and the field with won prize was blue (earlier brown and navy-blue). Also some sound effects and music we could hear in the background when player answers a question, changed.
In 2010 opening credits were changed, fields, where players' names are shown in Fastest Finger First are smaller, question fields and money tree are smaller, also fonts were changed. Also, there are no commercial break intros and outros.
Now (since February 2017), the show is recorded in Farat Film studio in Warsaw, 22, Notecka St. The first edition was recorded in the Warsaw-based "WFDiF" studio, 21, Chełmska St. from 1999 until 2001 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.
Light effects during second edition (2008-2010).
Scenography of the second edition (2008-2010). Studio has these light effects:
Way to become a contestant.
1999–2003
2008-2010
The highest prizes by episodes.
Legend: number of episode • broadcast date; took consideration to prizes of 40,000 zł or more
Notable contestants.
Second edition.
500,000 zlotys winners.
Four players guessed the correct answer after resigning from playing.
First edition.
500,000 zlotys winners.
All three player guessed the correct answer after resigning from playing.
Special episodes.
1999–2003
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 zlotys one person left the team and went to the audience, after winning 125,000 zlotys another person left and only one person had to answer last three questions. Najwyższa wygrana w tych wydaniach to 250 000 złotych.
From 2008
Number of viewers.
The biggest number of viewers was on 5 March 2000, when a contestant won 250,000 zł as the first person in the show. The number of viewers of this episode was 6,510,000 people.
Average number of viewers of the January 2008 - April 2008 episode was 3,500,000 viewers. First episode of 2008 series (19 January 2008) was watched by 3,500,000 viewers. The biggest number of viewers in 2008 series was on 5 April 2008, when the 1,000,000 zł question came up the first time in the 2008 series. The episode from 6 April 2008 in which contestant got the 500,000 zł question wrong was watched by 4,200,000 viewers.
Questions for million zlotys.
Legend:
In "Milionerzy", thirteen questions for one million zlotys appeared. Eleven times the player resigned, and two times player answered the question. Once, in special edition with participation of children, the player answered the question incorrectly and once player answered and won 1 million zlotys. Here are the questions: