'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' Celebrates Love, Education & a Major Milestone During February Sweeps

'Millionaire' Partners With Wedding Specialists, the Knot, to Feature Engaged Couples on 'Play To Pay For Your Wedding'

College Students Try to Pay Off Their Tuition Bills on 'College Week,' from Walt Disney World in Florida

'Millionaire' Host, Meredith Vieira, Celebrates Her 500th Show at the Helm of the Syndicated Game Show

NEW YORK, Feb. 3 -- "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," hosted by Meredith Vieira, will showcase a full slate of specialty programming during the month of February. "Millionaire" will kick off the month by partnering with The Knot, the nation's top source for 'all-things-wedding,' in a week-long edition of "Play To Pay For Your Wedding" (February 7-11). The shows will feature engaged couples in the hot seat, working together as a team to win money for the wedding of their dreams. Throughout the special series, home viewers will have the opportunity to participate in The Knot 'Escape to St. Lucia Sweepstakes,' where one lucky person will win a trip for two to the romantic, tropical isle of St. Lucia. "Millionaire" will also bring back its popular annual installment of "College Week" (February 21-25), a five-episode series featuring students trying to win money for their college expenses. Topping off the month, Meredith Vieira will celebrate her 500th Show as the host of the syndicated version of "Millionaire" (Friday, 2/25/05).

"PLAY TO PAY FOR YOUR WEDDING" EDITION (February 7 - 11, 2005):

Testing the adage that "two heads are better than one," "Millionaire" has partnered with wedding specialists, The Knot, to present "Play To Pay For Your Wedding." Engaged couples will play as a team in the hot seat and will be allowed to discuss questions before agreeing on one "Final Answer."

During the week, home viewers will have a chance to win a six-day, seven-night trip for two to the new Coco Palm Resort on the tropical isle of St. Lucia through The Knot 'Escape to St. Lucia Sweepstakes.' Each day Meredith Vieira will ask a special wedding-themed "sweepstakes" question on-air. To enter the contest, viewers go to http://www.theknot.com/millionaire to enter their answer. The winner will be drawn from all correct answers submitted. Contest details and complete official rules can be found at http://www.theknot.com/millionaire (website will be available on 02/07/05).

Each couple that plays during the week will also be given an "early wedding gift" on behalf of "Millionaire" and partners of The Knot. The gifts, which include designer wedding dresses, custom wedding rings, and high-end dinnerware and china sets, will be a surprise to the unsuspecting couple, so that even if they don't win $1 million, no one will walk away empty-handed.

"COLLEGE WEEK" ON MILLIONAIRE (February 21 - 25, 2005):

"Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" brings back its popular annual edition of "College Week," featuring college students in the hot seat, trying to win money to cover their hefty tuition bills. In two previous series featuring college students, the game show has given away almost $600,000 to deserving contestants from across the U.S.

Episodes of "College Week" were taped on January 12, 2005 at the "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire -- PLAY IT!" attraction at the Disney-MGM Studios at the Walt Disney World(R) Resort in Florida. Participating students were treated to an "early Spring Break" with an all-expense paid trip to Florida and access to the various theme parks.

"MILLIONAIRE" & MEREDITH VIEIRA CELEBRATE 500 SHOWS TOGETHER (Friday, 2/25/05):

Having debuted in August of 2002, the syndicated version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" and host Meredith Vieira will be celebrating a major milestone. "Millionaire" will broadcast the 500th episode of the game show on Friday, 2/25/05. In its three years on air, Meredith Vieira has asked more than 10,000 questions to 943 hot seat contestants and has given away $26,023,000 to contestants from all over the country!

Meredith Vieira and the "Millionaire" Team:

Meredith Vieira, host of the half-hour program, is fresh off of her 2004 Daytime Emmy nomination. A critically-acclaimed broadcaster and moderator of ABC's "The View," Vieira has brought her own unique style to the game show. "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" is produced by the same Emmy Award-winning team, Valleycrest Productions Ltd., which brought the original "Millionaire" to ABC in 1999. Michael Davies, Paul Smith and Leigh Hampton are executive producers; Vincent Rubino is co-executive producer. The show is currently in its third season, and is distributed in national syndication by Buena Vista Television.

If you would like artwork from "Millionaire," or of Meredith Vieira, please go to http://www.bvtvpress.com (User ID: bvtvpress1, Password: bvtvpress1) to download photos. For more information, please go to http://www.millionairetv.com.

For further information, please contact: Trisha Miller, Publicist, BVTV, +1-212-456-2559, or cell, +1-917-848-5758, tmillsnyc@yahoo.com

SOURCE Buena Vista Television
Web Site: http://www.millionairetv.com