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Milionerzy (pronounced mē-lē-ō-ne-zhi) (English translation: 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 by answering 12 multiple-choice questions correctly. When a contestant gets the second question correct, he will leave with at least 1000 zł. When a contestant gets the seventh question correct, he will leave with at least 40 000 zł.

Players are given three lifelines which include fifty fifty (pół na pół), Ask the Audience (pytanie do publiczności) and Phone-A-Friend (telefon do przyjaciela, in 2017 rules called pytanie do przyjaciela meaning Ask-A-Friend, but host still says it's Phone-A-Friend). From September 2009 to December 2010 Phone-A-Friend was replaced with Ask the Expert (pytanie do eksperta). From March to December 2010, contestants could choose to play in Risk mode, which would give them a fourth lifeline, Switch the Question (zmiana pytania), but 40 000 zł will not be a guaranteed sum.

The first edition (series 1-4) of Milionerzy was produced by Endemol and was broadcasted from 3 September 1999 to 26 January 2003. This edition used old-standard 15-question format, with 1000 zł guaranteed after 5th correct answer, and 32 000 zł guaranteed after 10th correct answer. The second edition (series 5-10) was produced by Intergalactic and was broadcast from 19 January 2008 to 19 December 2010. A third edition (series 11 onward) premiered on 9th February 2017 and it was produced by Jake Vision.

From 2008 to 2010, it was shown every Saturday and Sunday at 6 PM (UTC+1) on the Polish commercial television station TVN and from 2017, it's shown from Monday to Thursday at 8:55 PM (UTC+1).

Game series

Series No. of episodes Time of broadcast Length of episode Format
1 1 - 175 (175) 3rd September 1999 - 28th June 2000 ~20-45 minutes Standard
format
2 176 - 379 (204) 28th August 2000 - 1st July 2001 ~30 minutes
3 380 - 499 (120) 1st September 2001 - 30th June 2002
4 500 - 537 (38) 1st September 2002 - 26th January 2003 ~25 minutes
5 538 - 585 (48) 19th January 2008 - 22nd June 2008 ~42 minutes 12-question
format
6 586 - 615 (30) 6th September 2008 - 14th December 2008
7 616 - 641 (26) 7th March 2009 - 31st May 2009
8 642 - 658 (17) 6th September 2009 - 26th December 2009
9 659 - 673 (15) 7th March 2010 - 27th June 2010 12-question
risk format
10 674 - 688 (15) 12th September 2010 - 19th December 2010
11 689 - 746 (58) 9th February 2017 - 18th May 2017 ~26 minutes
(celebrity specials:
~42 minutes)
12-question
format
12 747 - 801 (55) 5th September 2017 - 7th December 2017
13 802 - 859 (58)

13th February 2018 - 24th May 2018

14 860 - ? September 2018 - ? ? ?

Money tree

From series 5 (9 - 10 without risk mode) of Milionerzy, there are twelve questions which go like this:

Question
No.
Correct Answer
Value
Walk Away
Value
Miss Answer
Value
Amount Lost for a
Wrong Answer
1 500 zł 0 zł 0 zł 0 zł
2 1000 zł 500 zł 0 zł 500 zł
3 2000 zł 1000 zł 1000 zł 0 zł
4 5000 zł 2000 zł 1000 zł 1000 zł
5 10 000 zł 5000 zł 1000 zł 4000 zł
6 20 000 zł 10 000 zł 1000 zł 9000 zł
7 40 000 zł 20 000 zł 1000 zł 19 000 zł
8 75 000 zł 40 000 zł 40 000 zł 0 zł
9 125 000 zł 75 000 zł 40 000 zł 35 000 zł
10 250 000 zł 125 000 zł 40 000 zł 85 000 zł
11 500 000 zł 250 000 zł 40 000 zł 210 000 zł
12 1 000 000 zł 500 000 zł 40 000 zł 460 000 zł

In series 9 and 10 of Milionerzy, the contestant could choose the risk mode, where which go like this:

Question
No.
Correct Answer
Value
Walk Away
Value
Miss Answer
Value
Amount Lost for a
Wrong Answer
1 500 zł 0 zł 0 zł 0 zł
2 1000 zł 500 zł 0 zł 500 zł
3 2000 zł 1000 zł 1000 zł 0 zł
4 5000 zł 2000 zł 1000 zł 1000 zł
5 10 000 zł 5000 zł 1000 zł 4000 zł
6 20 000 zł 10 000 zł 1000 zł 9000 zł
7 40 000 zł 20 000 zł 1000 zł 19 000 zł
8 75 000 zł 40 000 zł 1000 zł 39 000 zł
9 125 000 zł 75 000 zł 1000 zł 74 000 zł
10 250 000 zł 125 000 zł 1000 zł 124 000 zł
11 500 000 zł 250 000 zł 1000 zł 249 000 zł
12 1 000 000 zł 500 000 zł 1000 zł 499 000 zł

In series 1 - 4 of Milionerzy, there were fifteen questions which went like this:

Question
No.
Correct Answer
Value
Walk Away
Value
Miss Answer
Value
Amount Lost for a
Wrong Answer
1 100 zł 0 zł 0 zł 0 zł
2 200 zł 100 zł 0 zł 100 zł
3 300 zł 200 zł 0 zł 200 zł
4 500 zł 300 zł 0 zł 300 zł
5 1000 zł 500 zł 0 zł 500 zł
6 2000 zł 1000 zł 1000 zł 0 zł
7 4000 zł 2000 zł 1000 zł 1000 zł
8 8000 zł 4000 zł 1000 zł 3000 zł
9 16 000 zł 8000 zł 1000 zł 7000 zł
10 32 000 zł 16 000 zł 1000 zł 15 000 zł
11 64 000 zł 32 000 zł 32 000 zł 0 zł
12 125 000 zł 64 000 zł 32 000 zł 32 000 zł
13 250 000 zł 125 000 zł 32 000 zł 93 000 zł
14 500 000 zł 250 000 zł 32 000 zł 218 000 zł
15 1 000 000 zł 500 000 zł 32 000 zł 468 000 zł

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 see the fourth different stage design.

The first logo of Milionerzy from 1999 was very different to standard the model used in other editions of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. It was a violet rhombus on one of vertexes and rings stooding on themselves on background of "Milionerzy" caption [3]. 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 with gold question marks.

The first and second version of the opening credits were similar with people looking and aiming on the 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 [4].

Except for the opening credits, no big changes were made on graphics and sounds. The new edition has refreshed graphics: the fields with questions and answers are navy-blue and blue (earlier black) and smaller than in first edition of Milionerzy, and the field with won prize is blue (earlier brown and navy-blue). Also some sound effects and music we can hear in the background when player answers a question, changed.

The second edition of Milionerzy was recorded in the TVP studio in Kraków, 44, Nowohucka St. The first edition was recorded in the Warsaw-based WFDiF studio, 21, Chełmcka St. from 1999 until 2001 in the TVP studio on 17, Woronicza St until 2003.

Questions for million zlotys

In Milionerzy, sixteen questions for one million zlotys appeared, three times while celebrity couples appreard in special episodes. Thirteen times the player or celebrity couple walked away, and one time (in special edition with participation of children), the player answered the question incorrectly. Only two contestants were able to answer their question correctly and win the top prize.
For all of the questions see: Milionerzy/Final Questions

Top prize and biggest winners in Milionerzy

The list is sorted chronologically and only 250 000 zł prizes and bigger are shown:

Date of showing Series Prize Player's name
5th March 2000 1 250 000 zł Krzysztof Karwowski
5th May 2000 250 000 zł Jarosław Olejnicki
8th October 2000 2 250 000 zł Marek Janowski
21st October 2000 500 000 zł Władysław Kostrzewski
17th February 2001 250 000 zł Stanisław Pietrasiewicz
28th February 2001 250 000 zł Katarzyna Dobras
12th March 2001 250 000 zł Jerzy Zadrożny
21st May 2001 500 000 zł Zbigniew Chrzanowski
24th September 2001 3 250 000 zł Tomasz Micorek
14th October 2001 500 000 zł Jerzy Mirski
16th December 2001 250 000 zł Artur Wiśniewski
25th December 2001 250 000 zł Edyta Olszówka and Olaf Lubaszenko
(Celebrity Edition)
9th February 2002 250 000 zł Szczepan Gardecki
23th September 2002 4 250 000 zł Gogoł family
(Family Edition)
25th December 2002 250 000 zł Aleksandra Woźniak and Rafał Królikowski
(Celebrity Edition)
29th March 2008 5 250 000 zł Elżbieta Orłowska
5th April 2008 500 000 zł Paulina Kowalczyk
27th April 2008 250 000 zł Dorota Kwiecińska
18th May 2008 500 000 zł Dagna Sieńko
7th September 2008 6 250 000 zł Marek Kraśnicki
22nd November 2008 500 000 zł Rafał Tomański
7th December 2008 500 000 zł Renata Dancewicz and Piotr Adamczyk
(Celebrity Edition)
19th April 2009 7 250 000 zł Marcin Bobrowski
25th April 2008 500 000 zł Marzena Rogowska
1st November 2009 8 250 000 zł Tomasz Radko
26th December 2009 250 000 zł Szymon Hołownia and Marcin Prokop
(Celebrity Edition)
28th March 2010 9 1 000 000 zł Krzysztof Wójcik
2nd May 2010 250 000 zł Jakub Tomys
20th June 2010 250 000 zł Jędrzej Wiczkowski
10th October 2010 10 250 000 zł Magdalena Lula
24th October 2010 500 000 zł Katarzyna Zaręba
19th December 2010 500 000 zł Karolina Korwin-Piotrowska and Michał Piróg
(Celebrity Edition)
8th March 2017 11 250 000 zł Jakub Rudnicki
15th March 2017 500 000 zł Sonia Ciuk
29th March 2017 250 000 zł Katarzyna Kołaczkowska
12th April 2017 250 000 zł Ilona Rasińska
15th April 2017 500 000 zł Kinga Rusin and Piotr Kraśko
(Celebrity Edition)
14th September 2017 12 250 000 zł Alicja Bańczyk
16th October 2017 500 000 zł Remigiusz Skubisz
25th October 2017 250 000 zł Agnieszka Dachterska
8th November 2017 250 000 zł Maciej Krawiec
7th December 2017 500 000 zł Zbigniew Zamachowski and Borys Szyc
(Celebrity Edition)
21st February 2018 13 250 000 zł Hanna Czapla
21st March 2018 1 000 000 zł Maria Romanek
27th March 2018 250 000 zł Magdalena Rybicka
28th March 2018 250 000 zł Andrzej Gręziak
18th April 2018 250 000 zł Bartosz Kołecki
25th April 2018 250 000 zł Łukasz Półrolniczak

For all winners see: Milionerzy/List of Winners

Miasteczko


16 000 zł (9 of 15) - Not Timed
Hydrogen cyanide, so called prussic acid, smells like:
'Phone-A-Friend' lifeline used
⬥ A: Atropa belladonna ⬥ B: Anise
⬥ C: Bitter almonds ⬥ D: Durian
Wojciech didn't know, so he called his friend Michał Małecki. At first, he also didn't know, after 15 seconds he guessed A:, but Lucyna Siudym, who was sitting in the same room as Michał, said it's 100% C:.

'50:50' lifeline was used probably at 32 000 zł question, which was skipped.


64 000 zł (11 of 15) - Not Timed
The Channel Islands are dependencies of:
⬥ A: France ⬥ B: United Kingdom
⬥ C: Denmark ⬥ D: Belgium
125 000 zł (12 of 15) - Not Timed
Which famous writer, actor and jazz musician hid under pseudonym Sullivan?
'Ask The Audience' lifeline used
⬥ A: Vladimir Vysotsky ⬥ B: Boris Vian
⬥ C: Jack Kerouac ⬥ D: Al Weber
Ask the Audience Results: A: 10% ⬥ B: 16% ⬥ C: 6% ⬥ D: 68%
After using 'Ask The Audience' lifeline, Wojciech said D: was his final answer, but when Hubert Urbański asked for locking answer D:, the contestant said 'No, no.' Episode ends, in the next one Wojciech shows a VHS with his gameplay, at which he said he had an inkling it's B: and decided to walk away. The correct answer was B:.

Records and faux pas

  • In Milionerzy, the record was, when, first time in second series, all contestants answered correctly in fastest fingers round at question "Put the following Australian cities in alphabetical order."
  • In Milionerzy, the record for going the farthest without using a lifeline was:
    • In the first run (1999-2003), in normal episode it was 250 000 zł (or 500 000 zł). The contestant, Waldemar Myszkiewicz won 32 000 zł after an incorrect answer to the 500 000 zł question (maybe without touching any lifeline).
    • In special episodes, it was 500 000 zł. The contestant, Filip Łapiński won 32 000 zł, after an incorrect answer to the million zlotys question.See the Questions for million zlotys articles' parts for more informations
    • In the second run (2008-2010), it was 125 000 zł. Two contestants, Paulina Kowalczyk and Rafał Tomański both won 500 000 zł, having 2 lifelines on a final question (50:50 and Audience).See the Questions for million zlotys articles' parts for more informations
    • In third run (since 2017) Łukasz Połrolniczak went up to 125 000 zł without touching lifeline. He won 250 000 zł.
  • In Milionerzy there were three occasions in which a player lost because of a bad question and were bought back to play again.
    • The first player, Janusz Kornecki was asked for 32 000 zł, "Who invented the steam engine exploiting circular motion?". He went for James Watt, but correct answer was Charles Algernon Parsons. After complaining to program's producers, his answer was recognized as correct. The player won a guaranteed 32 000 zł. However, he was asked for 64 000 zł, "Who was the founder of The Police?". He answered Sting, but the correct answer was Stewart Copeland. Again Kornecki complaining to program's producers. This time he thought, that both answers were correct. [5]
    • The second player, Waldemar Jabłoński was asked, "How many cuts are on kaiser rolls?" for 500 zł. He answered "4," but the correct answer was "5," so he won nothing. [6] After it was recognizing that his answer was correct, he answered the next question incorrectly and left with nothing again.
    • The third player was asked a question about author of the picture: "The Luncheon on the Grass" and answered Claude Monet, but correct answer was Édouard Manet. However, Monet also painted a lesser known picture with the same title, so the player was allowed to continue playing.
  • In series 11, Ola Bojarska also lost because of a bad question, but as of 2018, she haven't been brought back.
  • In Milionerzy, some players answered their first questions incorrectly.
    • In the first version of Milionerzy, one player got the question, "How people in Poland state a person who is calm and shaky?" and he answered "anielska woda" (angelic water) instead of the correct answer, "cicha woda" (still water).
    • In the second version, one player was asked, "A penitent is a person acceding to…" and answered "judicial process", but the correct answer was "confession"[7].
    • Another player got a question about the breed of Ludwik Dorn's dog. After using all lifelines, he answered French Bulldog, which was incorrect. The correct answer was Giant Schnauzer.
    • In 2017 Kuba Gołębiowski was asked to complete the lyrics of polish song call "Góralu czy Ci nie żal...". He was confident that it was "porzucać lasów i hal", but it was the wrong answer. The correct answer was "odchodzić od stron ojczystych".
  • There were occasions in which the audience gets a question wrong. Three players decided to trust the audience and ended up answering incorrectly. Two of them each won a guaranteed 1000 zł while one left the studio with nothing. One more player decided to walk away with 8000 zł.

External links

References

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