It’s Been Ten Years Since Million Dollar Mind Game and We’re Still Not Really Over It
We’re still never getting over Frank’s million dollar gamble. Take a look back at this classic quiz show.
The unfortunate case of ABC’s Million Dollar Mind Game, which ended ten years ago this weekend, still hasn’t left our minds. For the unfamiliar, Million Dollar Mind Game was an incredibly stylish, smart, and fun quiz show based on the Russian game What? Where? When?. Six contestants answered brain teaser questions against a clock for up to $1,000,000. Vernon Kay hosted.
The simple game was made so notable because of its play along, style, and infamy. Million Dollar Mind Game is made to scream answers at your television, discuss with friends, and shout with/at contestants. The look and feel of the show was ahead of its time as well. In an era when every game either looked like a space ship or a high-rise apartment, Million Dollar Mind Game kept things smaller and more contained, making the game feel like a high stakes underground club more than a puzzle game taking place on the ISS.
What happened to Million Dollar Mind Game? ABC got cold feet and shelved the show for several months before burning it off on Sunday afternoons, far away from prime time. In ABC’s defense the show was very out of step from what the rest of the genre was doing at that point. Having said that what the rest of the genre was doing then was not good. Million Dollar Mind Game was an intelligent alternative to the incredibly loud and obnoxious games of that time…a style of game I’m still hoping can make a comeback at some point. And we still haven’t gotten over Frank’s million dollar gamble. Take a look back at several episodes below.