The Return of Millionaire on ABC?

Several websites are publishing rumours that-- in the wake of the success of Slumdog Millionaire (Best Picture - Drama award winner at the Golden Globes)-- ABC is considering a multi-night, multi-week network prime time revival of the series this Summer to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the show's North American debut. The network is said to be keen on securing original host Regis Philbin's commitment to return. The Rege's gig hosting CBS's Password was recently suddenly interrupted when CBS announced it was dropping the series from its Sunday night schedule. (It was scoring solid household and viewer ratings but skewing old demographically.) It is too early to ascertain whether the new series will incorporate any of the new elements (such as timeclock limits) from the Meredith Vierra hosted daytime strip or (alternatively) the elements introduced in ABC's own earlier Super Millionaire revival (which included a $10 million top prize.) Hopefully, at a minimum, they will bring back the phone-in contestant selection and "fastest finger" hot seat contestant qualification rounds MIA from the half-hour syndicated version. ABC is also developing a prime time revival of The Superstars competition series (that used to air on Sunday afternoons)-- pairing celebrities with athletes in paired teams-- for its Summer schedule. These two additions could make ABC's schedule more competitive with CBS (home of Big Brother) and NBC (home of America's Got Talent) this Summer.