or


[10/14/04 - 12:00 AM]
Only Two Exciting Episodes Remain Until Billionaire Mark Cuban Gives Away the Million Dollar Prize - with an Unexpected Twist - on ABC's 'The Benefactor,' October 18 & 25
[via press release from ABC]

QUICK TAKE

ONLY TWO EXCITING EPISODES REMAIN UNTIL BILLIONAIRE MARK CUBAN GIVES AWAY THE MILLION DOLLAR PRIZE - WITH AN UNEXPECTED TWIST - ON ABC'S "THE BENEFACTOR," OCTOBER 18 & 25

Who Will Pass His Test for Success?

How far are you willing to go for one million dollars? This was the question posed to 16 finalists as billionaire businessman and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban got ready to give away one million bucks to a complete stranger.

With only five contestants remaining, Cuban is two heart-pounding episodes away from awarding the prize. He will continue putting the contestants through a series of tests, based on his life experiences, to determine who has what it takes to be successful. All the tests were designed to show the values and characteristics that Cuban feels are important - creativity, competitiveness and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Editors please note: Although originally scheduled to air for eight episodes, "The Benefactor" will conclude with six, due to the recent pre-emption on Monday, October 11 for "Christopher Reeve: A Tribute to Courage" - which was a special edition of "20/20" -- and upcoming election coverage.

In the episode airing MONDAY, OCTOBER 18 ("No. 105," 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), Cuban will send one of the five remaining contestants packing within the first 10 minutes of the show. Meanwhile, he challenges the remaining contestants to give back to the community by allotting each team 48 hours to perform random acts of kindness for the people of Dallas. But that kindness quickly turns to cruelty as the contestants evaluate one another. And those who can't find it in their hearts to complete these tasks to Mark's satisfaction will be cut and lose their chance to win a million dollars.

In the exciting season finale ("No. 106"), airing MONDAY, OCTOBER 25 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), Cuban pays a visit to the remaining contestants' hometowns to meet with their friends and family. But what he learns about some of the players proves shocking, and he will cut the contestants down to the final two. Cuban will then give the remaining two contestants 60 seconds to explain why he should pick them to win the million dollars, and his choice will have a surprising twist.

"Episode No. 105" carries a TV-PG,L parental guideline. A guideline for "No. 106" will be assigned closer to airdate.

"The Benefactor" was created by and is executive-produced by David Young for 12 Yard Productions. Clay Newbill (executive producer, "The Mole," "Celebrity Mole" and "The Bachelorette") of Dog-Fight Industries, and Todd Wagner, CEO of 2929 Productions, are also executive producers. (CLOSED CAPTIONED)





  [october 2004]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· 20/20 (ABC)
· BACHELORETTE, THE (ABC)
· BENEFACTOR, THE (ABC)
· MOLE, THE (ABC)




[03/04/26 - 03:01 PM]
FX's "Disinherited" - New Drama from Emmy Award Winner Peter Gould and T-Street Ordered to Series on FX and Hulu
Victoria Pedretti and Kiera Allen star as a pair of scrappy sisters thrust by an unexpected inheritance into a world of generational wealth and long-buried crimes.
[03/04/26 - 11:31 AM]
"Disney Animation's Songs in Sign Language" to Debut on Disney+ April 27
Directed by veteran Disney animator/director Hyrum Osmond, the featured songs are "The Next Right Thing" (from Frozen 2), "We Don't Talk About Bruno" (from Encanto) and "Beyond" (from Moana 2).
[03/04/26 - 11:03 AM]
Video: HBO Max Releases First Teaser from the DC Studios Series "Lanterns," Starring Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, and Kelly Macdonald
The series is slated to debut later this August on HBO and available to stream on HBO Max.
[03/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix's "Untamed" Season 2 Production Kicks Off in Hawaii
The series will film on location on O'ahu and the island of Hawaii.
[03/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
MTV Announces the Final 18 Episodes of "Jersey Shore Family Vacation," One of TV's Most Influential Reality Franchises, Premiering on Thursday, May 7 at 8PM ET/PT
This farewell season marks the culmination of a franchise that entertained millions with major life milestones, laugh-out-loud chaos, and the unfiltered chemistry that defined an era of reality television.

[03/04/26 - 09:45 AM]
Lifetime Raises the Bar by Expanding Into Premium Vertical Storytelling with "Tides of Temptation," A Micro Drama Feature Executive Produced by Taye Diggs
Serving as a digital offshoot of the just announced upcoming original movie "Terry McMillan Presents: Paradise with You," the project expands the film's universe through a cinematic, mobile-first format designed with feature-level production value.
[03/04/26 - 09:44 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights Three New Original Movies for 2026 Love of a Lifetime Slates Featuring All-Star Casts
Valerie Bertinelli, Henry Czerny, Eric McCormack, Taye Diggs, Heather Hemmens, and Cynthia Bailey are among the featured talent.
[03/04/26 - 09:43 AM]
Lifetime Reteams with Robin Roberts for "Angel in the Rubble" Starring Sherri Shepherd in Remembrance of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11
Slated to premiere in September in remembrance of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the movie is based on Genelle Guzman-McMillan's memoir "Angel in the Rubble: The Miraculous Rescue of 9/11's Last Survivor."
[03/04/26 - 09:42 AM]
Lifetime Expands Roster of Powerhouse Creatives with New Movie Projects Helmed By Queen Latifah and Taraji P. Henson
"Queen Latifah and Taraji P. Henson are extraordinary talents and dynamic producers who share Lifetime's passion for telling powerful stories about women," said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming, A&E, Lifetime and LMN.
[03/04/26 - 09:41 AM]
A+E Global Media Greenlights Two New Digital-First Series Under the History Brand
"Mistakes That Made America" and "Cracking Up" are both due later this year.
[03/04/26 - 09:40 AM]
The History Channel Marks the 25th Anniversary of September 11 with New Two-Hour Special "102 Minutes Inside the Towers"
The documentary offers a deeply immersive and unique perspective through firsthand accounts from those who were inside the Twin Towers.
[03/04/26 - 09:39 AM]
The History Channel Taps Internationally Acclaimed Action Icon Dolph Lundgren to Executive Produce and Host New Series "History's Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren"
Produced by Superluna Studios in association with 3BMG, the eight-episode series takes viewers on a thrilling journey through the gears, guts, and genius behind the machines that reshaped our world.
[03/04/26 - 09:38 AM]
The History Channel Greenlights New Nonfiction Series "Crime and Justice with Tom Selleck" (w.t.)
The 10-episode, one-hour series examines the true stories behind some of the most consequential crimes and investigations in American history.
[03/04/26 - 09:37 AM]
The History Channel Orders "Extraordinary Origins with Ted Danson" (w.t.) A New Series Hosted and Executive Produced by the Multi-Award-Winning Actor
The 10-episode series examines the stories behind some of history's most significant innovations, inventions, and discoveries that helped shape the modern world.
[03/04/26 - 09:36 AM]
The History Channel Greenlights New Nonfiction Series "History's Strange Fortunes with Kevin Bacon" (w.t.)
Stories about money - money made, money lost, and money spent - are woven into the fabric of our nation's history.