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Let's Make a Deal

EW finds out the truth behind a recent ''Millionaire'' retaping

It's not exactly the quiz-show scandals of the '50s, but it appears ABC's ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' did a little rigging of its own. In a Jan. 13 taping, host Regis Philbin interviewed contestant Sean Farrelly's father. The recently retired fellow said he wanted to pursue acting, and dreamed of a guest shot on NBC's ''Law & Order.'' During a break, a ''Millionaire'' rep asked the would-be thespian to reshoot the interview. The problem? He had cited an NBC series. The suggested solution: Substitute ABC's ''The Practice'' for ''L&O.''

''It must have been meant in a joking way,'' says ''Millionaire'' exec producer Michael Davies, who points out that other competing networks' series have been mentioned on the show. ''It certainly wasn't a direction that came from the control room.'' In any case, the stab at corporate synergy was not to be: During his second interview, Dad flubbed his lines -- and failed to mention either show.

Originally posted Jan 26, 2000

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