Sean Mckinnon

Media Essay

Quiz shows were a new type of show that proved to be very popular and enthralling to viewers and thus this is why shows like “who wants to be a millionaire came to power, though what quiz shows were first like is very to different to what we see them as today.

The word quiz possibly originates from the Latin word “Qui es?” meaning “who are you?” Jane Austin too used it to mean “An odd looking thing”; it was also used to define a droll or eccentric person. Later it came to mean a practical joke, we consequently know the word “quiz” is of an indecisive origin. Wireless radio shows first became popular in 1934, it reared a weird fresh programme called “The Symington’s soups film star competition programme”. This was the first quiz show broadcasted and proved to be extremely popular.

In 1955 ITV created a huge number of quiz shows that became popular such as “take your pick” and “double your money”. Nevertheless in the 1970’s and 80’s restrictions on prize money were obligatory and quiz shows utmost of prize would be the equivalent of a small car every four shows. subsequently if more questions resulted in too many mini’s being won, then the pre-recorded shows had to be screened out of succession to break out the “big prizes.

In the 1990’s the beginning of quiz shows with vast amounts of cash such as “who wants to be a millionaire” became popular, some individuals disapprove of these as they are making people gluttonous by contributing huge sums of money. Also people don’t like them since they’re making people wealthy who don’t earn it or haven’t earned it properly. I think quiz shows are so popular as the community like to observe people swear and every so often make fools of themselves. People also like to sense superiority when they know that they are correct and the competitor is mistaken. “Who wants to be a millionaire” started in the 1990’s with its humorous host Chris Tarrant. The shows exclusive selling point is its 1 million pounds top prize. The show also does celebrity editions as verification of its achievements and millionaire winners showing it can be completed.

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The initial round of “who wants to be a millionaire” is called “fastest finger first” this is a rapid round to select a contestant for the core game. “Fastest finger first” is a use of alliteration to emphasise the swiftness necessary. The aim of the game is to answer all fifteen questions and win a million pounds. The first five questions are moderately simple. This is to show that anyone can do it and it makes people feel superior. Once you have answered the five questions you have unquestionably reached £1000. After this the plummet of all money becomes ...

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