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Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Season 11 Episodes
Season 11 Episode Guide
11 Episodes 2009 - 2009
Episode 1
Brad/Rob/Gary
Sun, Aug 9, 2009
The series returns to prime time, marking the 10th anniversary of its debut, with changes to the show including time limits on the questions; replacing the 50/50 lifeline with a "double dip" where the contestant can offer two different answers; and an additional "ask the expert" lifeline with a guest celebrity expert. Also, a celebrity appears on each episode to answer a single question to win $50,000 for charity. Among the regular contestants, Brad Abbey wins $1,000, and Rob Placek wins $25,000. Gary Cousins answers the $2,000 question and will continue in the hot seat on the next episode. Celebrity contestant Katy Perry gets her question right and wins $50,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. However, none of the contestants use the "ask the expert" lifeline to call tonight's expert, Sam Donaldson.
Episode 2
Gary/Michelle/John
Mon, Aug 10, 2009
Gary Cousins chooses to stop and leave with $4,000, and Michelle Ribeiro chooses to stop and leave with $16,000. Another contestant, John Zimcosky, will continue on the next episode after answering the $25,000 question. Guest expert George Stephanopoulos is unable to answer a question about "Seinfeld," but has no trouble with a question about the subject of the McCain-Feingold Act (campaign finance reform). Celebrity contestant Vanessa Williams wins $50,000 for the The Young Performing Arts Project.
Episode 3
John/Brian/Anthony
Tue, Aug 11, 2009
Returning contestant John Zimcosky ends his run in the Hot Seat with $25,000. The other regular contestants are Brian Slope, who walks away with $50,000, and Anthony Sloan, who answers the $16,000 question and will return on the next episode. Celebrity contestant Sherri Shepherd wins $50,000 for the March of Dimes. Expert Wolf Blitzer is called on for questions about which R&B group recorded the Obama tribute "Solid (as Barack)" and the animal pictured on the cover of a book about foie gras.
Episode 4
Anthony/Trevor/Angela
Wed, Aug 12, 2009
Contestants, selected by calling a phone number, are chosen based on their ability to arrange 4 answers to a question in the correct order the fastest.
Episode 5
Angela/Jacob/Eddie
Thu, Aug 13, 2009
Angela Watt returns from the previous episode and finishes with $1,000. Jacob Shaha finishes with $25,000, and Eddie Lawhorn answers the $50,000 question and will return on the next episode. Celebrity contestant Shawn Johnson wins $50,000 for charity. Guest expert Candy Crowley is called on for a question about which famous author is buried in Tarzana, California.
Episode 6
Eddie/Rebecca/Ellen/Leah
Sun, Aug 16, 2009
Eddie Lawhorn finishes his run on the show by walking away with $50,000. New contestant Rebecca Kesler also walks away with $50,000, Ellen Gaines leaves with $0, and Leah Asbury answers the $2,000 question and will return on the next episode. Expert Connie Chung struggles with a question about which characters on "The Simpsons" have the same voice artist, but she is able to identify the Secret Service code names of Malia and Sasha Obama. Celebrity contestant Rachael Ray wins $50,000 which she will split between two charities.
Episode 7
Leah/Lee-Ann/Jennifer
Mon, Aug 17, 2009
Continuing contestant Leah Asbury walks away with $50,000. Lee-Ann Whitlock wins $1,000, and Jennifer Kiesel answers the $4,000 question and will continue on the next episode. Novelist Jodi Picoult, as the expert on this episode, correctly identifies the occupation of WALL·E the robot, but struggles with a question about what group of birds can be called a "venue" or a "kettle." Celebrity contestant Patricia Heaton agonizes her way through a math-based question to win $50,000 for charity.
Episode 8
Jennifer/Nik/Leslie
Tue, Aug 18, 2009
Returning contestant Jennifer Kiesel leaves with $1,000. Nik Bonaddio walks away with $100,000, and Leslie Salyer answers the $8,000 question and will continue on the next episode. Expert Gwen Ifill errs in identifying the addressee of Richard Nixon's resignation letter but identifies the source of the quote "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." Celebrity contestant Wynonna Judd wins $50,000 for charity.
Episode 9
Leslie/Donald/Richard/Chris
Wed, Aug 19, 2009
On the ninth episode of the tenth anniversary celebration, returning contestant Leslie Salyer ends up with $1,000. Richard Mason ends up with $25,000 and Donald Leake ends up with $1,000. Chris Maslowski answers the $1,000 question and will return on the following episode. Celebrity contestant Snoop Dogg wins $50,000 for charity. Expert Ken Jennings is unable to identify the person who gave the 2009 commencement address at Tulane and noted that she was a celebrity without having gone to college (Ellen DeGeneres).
Episode 10
Chris/Liz/Jim
Thu, Aug 20, 2009
The tenth anniversary celebration continues on night 10 with expert Mo Rocca and celebrity contestant Steve Nash.
Episode 11
Jim/Ken
Sun, Aug 23, 2009
On the last night of the tenth anniversary celebration, Meredith Vieira steps in as host for the final question so that Regis can play for charity as the celebrity contestant.